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The Transfiguration

17 Six days later Jesus took Peter and the two brothers, James and John, and led them up a high mountain to be alone. As the men watched, Jesus’ appearance was transformed so that his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as light. Suddenly, Moses and Elijah appeared and began talking with Jesus.

Peter exclaimed, “Lord, it’s wonderful for us to be here! If you want, I’ll make three shelters as memorials[a]—one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”

But even as he spoke, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy. Listen to him.” The disciples were terrified and fell face down on the ground.

Then Jesus came over and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Don’t be afraid.” And when they looked up, Moses and Elijah were gone, and they saw only Jesus.

As they went back down the mountain, Jesus commanded them, “Don’t tell anyone what you have seen until the Son of Man[b] has been raised from the dead.”

10 Then his disciples asked him, “Why do the teachers of religious law insist that Elijah must return before the Messiah comes?[c]

11 Jesus replied, “Elijah is indeed coming first to get everything ready. 12 But I tell you, Elijah has already come, but he wasn’t recognized, and they chose to abuse him. And in the same way they will also make the Son of Man suffer.” 13 Then the disciples realized he was talking about John the Baptist.

Jesus Heals a Demon-Possessed Boy

14 At the foot of the mountain, a large crowd was waiting for them. A man came and knelt before Jesus and said, 15 “Lord, have mercy on my son. He has seizures and suffers terribly. He often falls into the fire or into the water. 16 So I brought him to your disciples, but they couldn’t heal him.”

17 Jesus said, “You faithless and corrupt people! How long must I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring the boy here to me.” 18 Then Jesus rebuked the demon in the boy, and it left him. From that moment the boy was well.

19 Afterward the disciples asked Jesus privately, “Why couldn’t we cast out that demon?”

20 “You don’t have enough faith,” Jesus told them. “I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it would move. Nothing would be impossible.[d]

Jesus Again Predicts His Death

22 After they gathered again in Galilee, Jesus told them, “The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of his enemies. 23 He will be killed, but on the third day he will be raised from the dead.” And the disciples were filled with grief.

Payment of the Temple Tax

24 On their arrival in Capernaum, the collectors of the Temple tax[e] came to Peter and asked him, “Doesn’t your teacher pay the Temple tax?”

25 “Yes, he does,” Peter replied. Then he went into the house.

But before he had a chance to speak, Jesus asked him, “What do you think, Peter?[f] Do kings tax their own people or the people they have conquered?[g]

26 “They tax the people they have conquered,” Peter replied.

“Well, then,” Jesus said, “the citizens are free! 27 However, we don’t want to offend them, so go down to the lake and throw in a line. Open the mouth of the first fish you catch, and you will find a large silver coin.[h] Take it and pay the tax for both of us.”

Footnotes

  1. 17:4 Greek three tabernacles.
  2. 17:9 “Son of Man” is a title Jesus used for himself.
  3. 17:10 Greek that Elijah must come first?
  4. 17:20 Some manuscripts add verse 21, But this kind of demon won’t leave except by prayer and fasting. Compare Mark 9:29.
  5. 17:24 Greek the two-drachma [tax]; also in 17:24b. See Exod 30:13-16; Neh 10:32-33.
  6. 17:25a Greek Simon?
  7. 17:25b Greek their sons or others?
  8. 17:27 Greek a stater [a Greek coin equivalent to four drachmas].

The Transfiguration

17 And (A)six days later Jesus *brought with Him (B)Peter and James and John his brother, 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. And Peter answered and said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, (C)I will make three [a]booths here, one for You, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” While he was still speaking, behold, 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!” And when the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces and were terrified. And Jesus came to them and touched them and said, “Get up, and (F)do not be afraid.” And lifting up their eyes, they saw no one except Jesus Himself alone.

(G)And 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, saying, “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 [b]to him whatever they wished. So also (L)the Son of Man is going to suffer [c]at their hands.” 13 Then the disciples understood that He had spoken to them about John the Baptist.

Jesus Casts Out a Demon

14 (M)And when they came to the crowd, a man came up to Jesus, falling on his knees before Him and saying, 15 [d]Lord, have mercy on my son, for he has [e](N)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, “O 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 cured [f]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 little faith; for truly I say to you, (O)if you have faith [g]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 [h][(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 [i]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 Temple Tax

24 Now when they came to Capernaum, those who collected (V)the [j]two-drachma tax came to Peter and said, “Does your teacher not pay (W)the [k]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)tolls or (Y)taxes, from their sons or from strangers?” 26 And when Peter said, “From strangers,” Jesus said to him, “Then the sons are [l]exempt. 27 However, so that we do not [m](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 a [n]stater. Take that and give it to them for Me and you.”

Footnotes

  1. Matthew 17:4 Or tents, tabernacles, cf. Lev 23:34-43; Deut 16:13-15; Zech 14:16-19
  2. Matthew 17:12 Or in his case; lit in him
  3. Matthew 17:12 Lit by them
  4. Matthew 17:15 Or Sir
  5. Matthew 17:15 Lit moonstruck; Gr seleniazo
  6. Matthew 17:18 Lit from that hour
  7. Matthew 17:20 Lit as
  8. Matthew 17:21 Early mss omit this v
  9. Matthew 17:22 Or betrayed
  10. Matthew 17:24 A Greek silver coin, approx. a laborer’s daily wage
  11. Matthew 17:24 A Greek silver coin, approx. a laborer’s daily wage
  12. Matthew 17:26 Or free
  13. Matthew 17:27 Lit cause them to stumble
  14. Matthew 17:27 Lit standard coin, approx. 4 days of a laborer’s wages