The Transfiguration

17 ^(A)Six days later Jesus *took with Him ^(B)Peter and ^[a]James and John his brother, and *led them up on a high mountain by themselves. ² And He was transfigured before them; and His face shone like the sun, and His garments became as white as light. ³ And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him. ⁴ Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, ^(C)I will make three ^[b]tabernacles here, one for You, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” ⁵ While he was still speaking, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and behold, ^(D)a voice out of the cloud said, “^(E)This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased; listen to Him!” ⁶ When the disciples heard this, they fell ^[c]face down to the ground and were terrified. ⁷ And Jesus came to them and touched them and said, “Get up, and ^(F)do not be afraid.” ⁸ And lifting up their eyes, they saw no one except Jesus Himself alone.

^9 (G)As 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 wished. 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 Demoniac

^14 (M)When they came to the crowd, a man came up to Jesus, falling on his knees before Him and saying, ¹⁵ “^[f]Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is a ^[g](N)lunatic and is very ill; for he often falls into the fire and often into the water. ¹⁶ I brought him to Your disciples, and they could not cure him.” ¹⁷ And Jesus answered and said, “You unbelieving and perverted 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 cured ^[h]at once.

¹⁹ Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not drive it out?” ²⁰ And He *said to them, “Because of the littleness of your 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 to you. ²¹ [^[j](S)But this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.”]

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

The Tribute Money

²⁴ When they came to Capernaum, those who collected ^(V)the ^[l]two-drachma tax came to Peter and said, “Does your teacher not pay ^(W)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 ^(X)customs or ^(Y)poll-tax, from their sons or from strangers?” ²⁶ When Peter said, “From strangers,” Jesus said to him, “Then the sons are ^[n]exempt. ²⁷ However, so that we do not ^[o](Z)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 ^[p]a shekel. Take that and give it to them for you and Me.”

^2 (A)Six days later, Jesus *took with Him ^(B)Peter and ^[a]James and John, and *brought them up on a high mountain by themselves. And He was transfigured before them; ³ and ^(C)His garments became radiant and exceedingly white, as no launderer on earth can whiten them. ⁴ Elijah appeared to them along with Moses; and they were talking with Jesus. ⁵ Peter *said to Jesus, “^(D)Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; ^(E)let us make three ^[b]tabernacles, one for You, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” ⁶ For he did not know what to answer; for they became terrified. ⁷ Then a cloud ^[c]formed, overshadowing them, and ^(F)a voice ^[d]came out of the cloud, “^(G)This is My beloved Son, ^[e]listen to Him!” ⁸ All at once they looked around and saw no one with them anymore, except Jesus alone.

^9 (H)As they were coming down from the mountain, He ^(I)gave them orders not to relate to anyone what they had seen, ^[f]until the Son of Man rose from the dead. ¹⁰ They ^[g]seized upon ^[h]that statement, discussing with one another ^[i]what rising from the dead meant. ¹¹ They asked Him, saying, “Why is it that the scribes say that ^(J)Elijah must come first?” ¹² And He said to them, “Elijah does first come and restore all things. And yet how is it written of ^(K)the Son of Man that ^(L)He will suffer many things and be treated with contempt? ¹³ But I say to you that Elijah has ^[j]indeed come, and they did to him whatever they wished, just as it is written of him.”

All Things Possible

^14 (M)When they came back to the disciples, they saw a large crowd around them, and some scribes arguing with them. ¹⁵ Immediately, when the entire crowd saw Him, they were ^(N)amazed and began running up to greet Him. ¹⁶ And He asked them, “What are you discussing with them?” ¹⁷ And one of the crowd answered Him, “Teacher, I brought You my son, possessed with a spirit which makes him mute; ¹⁸ and ^[k]whenever it seizes him, it ^[l]slams him to the ground and he foams at the mouth, and grinds his teeth and ^[m]stiffens out. I told Your disciples to cast it out, and they could not do it.” ¹⁹ And He *answered them and *said, “O unbelieving generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring him to Me!” ²⁰ They brought ^[n]the boy to Him. When he saw Him, immediately the spirit threw him into a convulsion, and falling to the ground, he began rolling around and foaming at the mouth. ²¹ And He asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood. ²² It has often thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, take pity on us and help us!” ²³ And Jesus said to him, “‘If You can?’ ^(O)All things are possible to him who believes.” ²⁴ Immediately the boy’s father cried out and said, “I do believe; help my unbelief.” ²⁵ When Jesus saw that ^(P)a crowd was ^[o]rapidly gathering, He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You deaf and mute spirit, I ^[p]command you, come out of him and do not enter him ^[q]again.” ²⁶ After crying out and throwing him into terrible convulsions, it came out; and the boy became so much like a corpse that most of them said, “He is dead!” ²⁷ But Jesus took him by the hand and raised him; and he got up. ²⁸ When He came ^(Q)into the house, His disciples began questioning Him privately, “Why could we not drive it out?” ²⁹ And He said to them, “This kind cannot come out by anything but prayer.”

Death and Resurrection Foretold

^30 (R)From there they went out and began to go through Galilee, and He did not want anyone to know about it. ³¹ For He was teaching His disciples and telling them, “^(S)The Son of Man is to be ^[r]delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill Him; and when He has been killed, He will rise three days later.” ³² But ^(T)they ^[s]did not understand this statement, and they were afraid to ask Him.

^33 (U)They came to Capernaum; and when He ^[t]was in ^(V)the house, He began to question them, “What were you discussing on the way?” ³⁴ But they kept silent, for on the way ^(W)they had discussed with one another which of them was the greatest. ³⁵ Sitting down, He called the twelve and *said to them, “^(X)If anyone wants to be first, ^[u]he shall be last of all and servant of all.” ³⁶ Taking a child, He set him ^[v]before them, and taking him in His arms, He said to them, ³⁷ “^(Y)Whoever receives ^[w]one child like this in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me does not receive Me, but Him who sent Me.”

Dire Warnings

^38 (Z)John said to Him, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name, and ^(AA)we tried to prevent him because he was not following us.” ³⁹ But Jesus said, “Do not hinder him, for there is no one who will perform a miracle in My name, and be able soon afterward to speak evil of Me. ^40 (AB)For he who is not against us is ^[x]for us. ⁴¹ For ^(AC)whoever gives you a cup of water to drink ^[y]because of your name as followers of Christ, truly I say to you, he will not lose his reward.

⁴² “^(AD)Whoever causes one of these ^[z]little ones who believe to stumble, it ^[aa]would be better for him if, with a heavy millstone hung around his neck, he ^[ab]had been cast into the sea. ^43 (AE)If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life crippled, than, having your two hands, to go into ^[ac](AF)hell, into the ^(AG)unquenchable fire, ⁴⁴ [^[ad]where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.] ⁴⁵ If your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life lame, than, having your two feet, to be cast into ^[ae](AH)hell, ⁴⁶ [^[af]where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.] ^47 (AI)If your eye causes you to stumble, throw it out; it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye, than, having two eyes, to be cast into ^[ag](AJ)hell, ^48 (AK)where their worm does not die, and ^(AL)the fire is not quenched.

⁴⁹ “For everyone will be salted with fire. ⁵⁰ Salt is good; but ^(AM)if the salt becomes unsalty, with what will you ^[ah]make it salty again? ^(AN)Have salt in yourselves, and ^(AO)be at peace with one another.”

The Transfiguration

^28 (A)Some eight days after these sayings, He took along ^(B)Peter and John and James, and ^(C)went up on the mountain ^(D)to pray. ²⁹ And while He was ^(E)praying, the appearance of His face ^(F)became different, and His clothing became white and ^[a]gleaming. ³⁰ And behold, two men were talking with Him; and they were Moses and Elijah, ³¹ who, appearing in ^[b]glory, were speaking of His ^(G)departure which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. ³² Now Peter and his companions ^(H)had been overcome with sleep; but when they were fully awake, they saw His glory and the two men standing with Him. ³³ And as ^[c]these were leaving Him, Peter said to Jesus, “^(I)Master, it is good for us to be here; ^(J)let us make three ^[d]tabernacles: one for You, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah”—^(K)not realizing what he was saying. ³⁴ While he was saying this, a cloud ^[e]formed and began to overshadow them; and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. ³⁵ Then ^(L)a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “^(M)This is My Son, My Chosen One; listen to Him!” ³⁶ And when the voice ^[f]had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And ^(N)they kept silent, and reported to no one in those days any of the things which they had seen.

^37 (O)On the next day, when they came down from the mountain, a large crowd met Him. ³⁸ And a man from the crowd shouted, saying, “Teacher, I beg You to look at my son, for he is my ^[g]only boy, ³⁹ and a spirit seizes him, and he suddenly screams, and it throws him into a convulsion with foaming at the mouth; and only with difficulty does it leave him, mauling him as it leaves. ⁴⁰ I begged Your disciples to cast it out, and they could not.” ⁴¹ And Jesus answered and said, “You unbelieving and perverted generation, how long shall I be with you and put up with you? Bring your son here.” ⁴² While he was still approaching, the demon ^[h]slammed him to the ground and threw him into a convulsion. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, and healed the boy and gave him back to his father. ⁴³ And they were all amazed at the ^[i](P)greatness of God.

^(Q)But while everyone was marveling at all that He was doing, He said to His disciples, ⁴⁴ “Let these words sink into your ears; ^(R)for the Son of Man is going to be ^[j]delivered into the hands of men.” ⁴⁵ But ^(S)they ^[k]did not understand this statement, and it was concealed from them so that they would not perceive it; and they were afraid to ask Him about this statement.

The Test of Greatness

^46 (T)An argument ^[l]started among them as to which of them might be the greatest. ⁴⁷ But Jesus, ^(U)knowing ^[m]what they were thinking in their heart, took a child and stood him by His side, ⁴⁸ and said to them, “^(V)Whoever receives this child in My name receives Me, and whoever receives Me receives Him who sent Me; ^(W)for the one who is least among all of you, this is the one who is great.”

^49 (X)John answered and said, “^(Y)Master, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name; and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow along with us.” ⁵⁰ But Jesus said to him, “Do not hinder him; ^(Z)for he who is not against you is ^[n]for you.”

⁵¹ When the days were approaching for ^(AA)His ^[o]ascension, He ^[p]was determined ^(AB)to go to Jerusalem; ⁵² and He sent messengers on ahead of Him, and they went and entered a village of the ^(AC)Samaritans to ^[q]make arrangements for Him. ⁵³ But they did not receive Him, ^(AD)because ^[r]He was traveling toward Jerusalem. ⁵⁴ When His disciples ^(AE)James and John saw this, they said, “Lord, do You want us to ^(AF)command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?” ⁵⁵ But He turned and rebuked them, [^[s]and said, “You do not know what kind of spirit you are of; ⁵⁶ for the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them.”] And they went on to another village.

Exacting Discipleship

^57 (AG)As they were going along the road, ^(AH)someone said to Him, “I will follow You wherever You go.” ⁵⁸ And Jesus said to him, “The foxes have holes and the birds of the ^[t]air have ^[u]nests, but ^(AI)the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” ⁵⁹ And He said to another, “^(AJ)Follow Me.” But he said, “Lord, permit me first to go and bury my father.” ⁶⁰ But He said to him, “Allow the dead to bury their own dead; but as for you, go and ^(AK)proclaim everywhere the kingdom of God.” ⁶¹ Another also said, “I will follow You, Lord; but ^(AL)first permit me to say good-bye to those at home.” ⁶² But Jesus said to him, “^(AM)No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”