Matthew 17
International Children’s Bible
Jesus with Moses and Elijah
17 Six days later, Jesus took Peter, James, and John the brother of James up on a high mountain. They were all alone there. 2 While they watched, Jesus was changed. His face became bright like the sun. And his clothes became white as light. 3 Then two men were there, talking with him. The men were Moses and Elijah.[a]
4 Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good that we are here. If you want, I will put three tents here—one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”
5 While Peter was talking, a bright cloud covered them. A voice came from the cloud. The voice said, “This is my Son and I love him. I am very pleased with him. Obey him!”
6 The followers with Jesus heard the voice. They were so frightened that they fell to the ground. 7 But Jesus went to them and touched them. He said, “Stand up. Don’t be afraid.” 8 When the followers looked up, they saw Jesus was now alone.
9 When Jesus and the followers were coming down the mountain, Jesus commanded them, “Don’t tell anyone about the things you saw on the mountain. Wait until the Son of Man has been raised from death. Then you may tell.”
10 The followers asked Jesus, “Why do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first, before the Christ comes?”
11 Jesus answered, “They are right to say that Elijah is coming. And it is true that Elijah will make everything the way it should be. 12 But I tell you, Elijah has already come. People did not know who he was. They did to him everything they wanted to do. It will be the same with the Son of Man. Those same people will make the Son of Man suffer.” 13 Then the followers understood that Jesus was talking about John the Baptist.
Jesus Heals a Sick Boy
14 Jesus and his followers went back to the crowd. A man came to Jesus and bowed before him. 15 The man said, “Lord, please help my son. He has epilepsy[b] and is suffering very much. He often falls into the fire or into the water. 16 I brought him to your followers, but they could not cure him.”
17 Jesus answered, “You people have no faith. Your lives are all wrong. How long must I stay with you? How long must I continue to be patient with you? Bring the boy here.” 18 Jesus gave a strong command to the demon inside the boy. Then the demon came out, and the boy was healed.
19 The followers came to Jesus when he was alone. They said, “Why couldn’t we force the demon out?”
20 Jesus answered, “You were not able to drive out the demon because your faith is too small. I tell you the truth. If your faith is as big as a mustard seed,[c] you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there.’ And the mountain will move. All things will be possible for you. 21 [That kind of spirit comes out only if you use prayer and give up eating.]”[d]
Jesus Talks About His Death
22 Later, the followers met together in Galilee. Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man will be given into the control of some men. 23 They will kill him, but on the third day he will be raised from death.” And the followers were filled with sadness.
Jesus Talks About Paying Taxes
24 Jesus and his followers went to Capernaum. There some men came to Peter. They were the men who collected the Temple tax. They asked, “Does your teacher pay the Temple tax?”
25 Peter answered, “Yes, Jesus pays the tax.”
Peter went into the house where Jesus was. Before Peter could speak, Jesus said to him, “The kings on the earth collect different kinds of taxes. But who are the people who pay the taxes? Are they the king’s children? Or do others pay the taxes? What do you think?”
26 Peter answered, “Other people pay the taxes.”
Jesus said to Peter, “Then the children of the king don’t have to pay taxes. 27 But we don’t want to make these tax collectors angry. So go to the lake and fish. After you catch the first fish, open its mouth. Inside its mouth you will find a coin. Take that coin and give it to the tax collectors. That will pay the tax for you and me.”
Footnotes
- 17:3 Moses and Elijah Two of the most important Jewish leaders in the past.
- 17:15 epilepsy A disease that causes a person sometimes to lose control of his body, and maybe faint, shake strongly, or not be able to move.
- 17:20 mustard seed This seed is very small, but the plant grows taller than a man.
- 17:21 That . . . eating. Some Greek copies do not contain the bracketed text.
Matthew 17
Christian Standard Bible Anglicised
The Transfiguration
17 After six days(A) Jesus took Peter, James, and his brother John and led them up on a high mountain by themselves.(B) 2 He was transfigured in front of them, and his face shone like the sun; his clothes became as white as the light.(C) 3 Suddenly, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with him. 4 Then Peter said to Jesus, ‘Lord, it’s good for us to be here. If you want, I will set up[a] three shelters here: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.’(D)
5 While he was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud covered[b] them, and a voice from the cloud said, ‘This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased. Listen to him! ’(E) 6 When the disciples(F) heard this, they fell face down and were terrified.
7 Jesus came up, touched them, and said, ‘Get up; don’t be afraid.’(G) 8 When they looked up they saw no one except Jesus alone.
9 As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus commanded them,(H) ‘Don’t tell anyone about the vision until the Son of Man is raised[c] from the dead.’
10 So the disciples asked him, ‘Why then do the scribes say that Elijah must come first? ’(I)
11 ‘Elijah is coming[d] and will restore everything,’ he replied.[e](J) 12 ‘But I tell you: Elijah has already come, and they didn’t recognise him. On the contrary, they did whatever they pleased to him. In the same way the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands.’(K) 13 Then the disciples understood that he had spoken to them about John the Baptist.
The Power of Jesus over a Demon
14 When they reached the crowd,(L) a man approached and knelt down before him. 15 ‘Lord,’ he said, ‘have mercy on my son, because he has seizures[f] and suffers terribly. He often falls into the fire and often into the water. 16 I brought him to your disciples, but they couldn’t heal him.’(M)
17 Jesus replied, ‘You unbelieving and perverse generation, how long will I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring him here to me.’(N) 18 Then Jesus rebuked the demon,[g] and it[h] came out of him,(O) and from that moment[i] the boy was healed.
19 Then the disciples approached Jesus privately and said, ‘Why couldn’t we drive it out? ’
20 ‘Because of your little faith,’ he[j] told them. ‘For truly I tell you, if you have faith the size of[k] a mustard seed, you will tell this mountain, “Move from here to there,” and it will move.(P) Nothing will be impossible for you.’[l](Q)
The Second Prediction of His Death
22 As(R) they were gathering together[m] in Galilee, Jesus told them, ‘The Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men. 23 They will kill him, and on the third day he will be raised up.’ And they were deeply distressed.
Paying the Temple Tax
24 When they came to Capernaum, those who collected the temple tax approached Peter and said, ‘Doesn’t your teacher pay the temple tax? ’(S)
25 ‘Yes,’ he said.
When he went into the house, Jesus spoke to him first,[n] ‘What do you think, Simon? From whom do earthly kings collect tariffs or taxes? From their sons or from strangers? ’[o](T)
26 ‘From strangers,’ he said.[p]
‘Then the sons are free,’ Jesus told him. 27 ‘But, so we won’t offend them, go to the sea, cast in a fish hook, and take the first fish that you catch. When you open its mouth you’ll find a coin.[q] Take it and give it to them for me and you.’(U)
Footnotes
- 17:4 Other mss read Let’s make
- 17:5 Or enveloped; Ex 40:34–35
- 17:9 Other mss read Man has risen
- 17:11 Other mss add first
- 17:11 Other mss read Jesus said to them
- 17:15 Lit he is moonstruck; thought to be a form of epilepsy
- 17:18 Lit rebuked him, or it
- 17:18 Lit the demon
- 17:18 Lit hour
- 17:20 Other mss read your unbelief, Jesus
- 17:20 Lit faith like
- 17:20 Some mss include v. 21: ‘However, this kind does not come out except by prayer and fasting.’
- 17:22 Other mss read were staying
- 17:25 Lit Jesus anticipated him by saying
- 17:25 Or foreigners
- 17:26 Other mss read Peter said to him
- 17:27 Gk stater, worth 2 double-drachmas
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