登山變象

17 六天後,耶穌帶著彼得、雅各和雅各的兄弟約翰暗暗地登上一座高山。 耶穌在他們面前改變了形像,面貌如太陽一樣發光,衣服潔白如光。 忽然,摩西和以利亞一起出現,跟耶穌談話。 彼得對耶穌說:「主啊,我們在這裡好極了。如果你願意,我就在這裡搭三座帳篷,一座給你,一座給摩西,一座給以利亞。」

他正在說話的時候,一朵燦爛的雲彩籠罩他們。雲中傳出聲音:「這是我的愛子,我甚喜悅祂,你們要聽從祂。」

門徒聽見這聲音,便俯伏在地,非常懼怕。 耶穌就過來摸他們,說:「起來吧,別害怕。」 他們抬起頭來,看見只剩下耶穌一個人。

下山時,耶穌叮囑他們:「人子還沒有從死裡復活以前,不要把剛才看見的告訴別人。」

10 門徒問耶穌:「律法教師為什麼說以利亞必須先來?」

11 耶穌回答說:「以利亞的確要來,他將復興一切。 12 但我告訴你們,以利亞已經來了,人們卻不認識他,甚至還任意對待他。人子同樣也會在他們手下受苦。」 13 門徒這才明白耶穌所說的是指施洗者約翰。

治好被鬼附身的孩子

14 他們回到山下眾人聚集的地方。有一個人過來跪在耶穌跟前,說: 15 「主啊!救救我的兒子吧!他患了癲癇症,痛苦極了,曾經幾次跌進火中,掉進水裡。 16 我帶他去見你的門徒,但他們卻不能治好他。」

17 耶穌說:「唉!這世代又不信又敗壞的人啊,我要跟你們在一起待多久?我要容忍你們多久呢?把他帶來吧。」 18 耶穌斥責附在孩子身上的鬼,鬼就離開了那孩子,從此他就好了。

19 事後,門徒私下問耶穌:「我們為什麼趕不走那鬼呢?」

20 耶穌說:「你們的信心太小了。我實在告訴你們,你們若有像芥菜種那樣大的信心,就算叫這座山從這裡移到那裡,它也會移開,你們將沒有辦不到的事。 21 至於這一類的鬼,你們必須禱告和禁食才能把牠趕走。」

耶穌第二次預言受害和復活

22 他們聚集在加利利的時候,耶穌對他們說:「人子將要被出賣,交在人手裡。 23 他們將殺害祂,第三天祂將復活。」門徒聽了,十分憂愁。

從魚口得稅錢

24 他們來到迦百農,有幾個收聖殿稅的來問彼得:「你們的老師不納聖殿稅嗎?」

25 彼得說「納!」他進了屋,還沒開口,耶穌便問他:「西門,你有何看法?世上的君王向誰徵收賦稅?向自己的兒子呢,還是向外人呢?」

26 彼得答道:「向外人。」

耶穌說:「所以兒子不用納稅。 27 但為了避免得罪這些人,你就去湖邊釣魚,把釣上來的第一條魚的嘴打開,裡面有一個錢幣,拿它去繳你我的稅好了。」

The Transfiguration

17 (A)Six days later, Jesus *took with Him (B)Peter and [a]James, and his brother John, and *led them up on a high mountain by themselves. And He was transfigured before them; and His face shone like the sun, and His garments became as white as light. And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him. Peter responded and said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good that we are here. If You want, (C)I will make three [b]tabernacles here: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” While he was still speaking, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and behold, (D)a voice from the cloud said, “(E)This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to Him!” When the disciples heard this, they fell [c]face down to the ground and were terrified. And Jesus came to them and touched them and said, “Get up, and (F)do not be afraid.” And raising their eyes, they saw no one except Jesus Himself alone.

(G)When they were coming down from the mountain, Jesus commanded them, saying, (H)Tell the vision to no one until (I)the Son of Man has (J)risen from the dead.” 10 And His disciples asked Him, “Why then do the scribes say that (K)Elijah must come first?” 11 And He answered and said, “Elijah is coming and will restore all things; 12 but I say to you that Elijah already came, and they did not recognize him, but did [d]to him whatever they wanted. So also (L)the Son of Man is going to suffer [e]at their hands.” 13 Then the disciples understood that He had spoken to them about John the Baptist.

The Demon-possessed Boy

14 (M)When they came to the crowd, a man came up to [f]Jesus, falling on his knees before Him and saying, 15 [g]Lord, have mercy on my son, because he (N)has seizures and suffers terribly; for he often falls into the fire and often into the water. 16 And I brought him to Your disciples, and they could not cure him.” 17 And Jesus answered and said, “You unbelieving and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring him here to Me.” 18 And Jesus rebuked him, and the demon came out of him, and the boy was healed [h]at once.

19 Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?” 20 And He *said to them, “Because of your meager faith; for truly I say to you, (O)if you have faith [i]the size of (P)a mustard seed, you will say to (Q)this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and (R)nothing will be impossible for you.[j]

22 (S)And while they were gathering together in Galilee, Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be [k]handed over to men; 23 and (T)they will kill Him, and He will be raised on the third day.” And they were deeply grieved.

The Temple Tax

24 Now when they came to Capernaum, those who collected (U)the [l]two-drachma tax came to Peter and said, “Does your teacher not pay (V)the [m]two-drachma tax?” 25 He *said, “Yes.” And when he came into the house, Jesus spoke to him first, saying, “What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth collect (W)customs or [n](X)poll-tax, from their sons or from strangers?” 26 When Peter said, “From strangers,” Jesus said to him, “Then the sons are [o]exempt. 27 However, so that we do not (Y)offend them, go to the sea and throw in a hook, and take the first fish that comes up; and when you open its mouth, you will find a [p]stater. Take that and give it to them for you and Me.”

Footnotes

  1. Matthew 17:1 Or Jacob
  2. Matthew 17:4 Or sacred tents
  3. Matthew 17:6 Lit on their faces
  4. Matthew 17:12 Lit in him; or in his case
  5. Matthew 17:12 Lit by them
  6. Matthew 17:14 Lit Him
  7. Matthew 17:15 Or Sir
  8. Matthew 17:18 Lit from that hour
  9. Matthew 17:20 Lit like
  10. Matthew 17:20 Late mss add (traditionally v 21): But this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting
  11. Matthew 17:22 Or betrayed
  12. Matthew 17:24 Equivalent to about two denarii or two days’ wages for a laborer, paid as a temple tax
  13. Matthew 17:24 Equivalent to about two denarii or two days’ wages for a laborer, paid as a temple tax
  14. Matthew 17:25 I.e., a tax on each person in the census
  15. Matthew 17:26 Lit free
  16. Matthew 17:27 A silver four-drachma Greek coin