The Transfiguration

17 And after six days Jesus took along 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 clothing became bright as the light. And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with him. So Peter answered and[a] said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good that we are here! If you want, I will make here three shelters, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.” While[b] he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and behold, a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased. Listen to him!” And when[c] the disciples heard this,[d] they fell down on their faces and were extremely frightened. And Jesus came and touched them and[e] said, “Get up and do not be afraid.” And when they[f] lifted up their eyes they saw no one except him—Jesus alone.

And as[g] they were coming down from the mountain, Jesus commanded them saying, “Tell no one the vision until the Son of Man is raised from the dead.” 10 And the disciples asked him, saying, “Then why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?” 11 And he answered and[h] said, “Elijah indeed is coming, and will restore all things. 12 But I say to you that Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but did with him whatever they wanted. In the same way also the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands.” 13 Then the disciples understood that he had spoken to them about John the Baptist.

A Demon-possessed Boy Healed

14 And when they[i] came to the crowd, a man approached him, kneeling down before him 15 and saying, “Lord, have mercy on my son, because he has seizures and suffers severely, for often he falls into the fire and often into the water. 16 And I brought him to your disciples, and they were not able to heal him.” 17 And Jesus answered and[j] said, “O unbelieving and perverse generation! How long[k] will I be with you? How long[l] must 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 from that hour.

19 Then the disciples approached Jesus privately and[m] said, Why[n] were we not able to expel it?” 20 And he said to them, “Because of your little faith. For truly I say to you, if you have faith like a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.”[o]

Jesus Predicts His Death and Resurrection a Second Time

22 Now as[p] they were gathering in Galilee, Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men,[q] 23 and they will kill him, and on the third day he will be raised.” And they were extremely distressed.

Paying the Double Drachma Temple Tax

24 Now when[r] they arrived in Capernaum, the ones who collected the double drachma tax[s] came up to Peter and said, “Does your teacher not pay the double drachma tax?” 25 He said, “Yes.” And when he[t] came into the house, Jesus spoke to him first, saying, “What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth collect tolls or taxes—from their own sons, or from foreigners?” 26 And when he[u] said, “From foreigners,” Jesus said to him, “Then the sons are free. 27 But so that we do not give offense to them, go out to the sea, cast a line with[v] a hook, and take the first fish that comes up. And when you[w] open its mouth, you will find a four-drachma coin. Take that and[x] give it[y] to them for me and you.”

Footnotes

  1. Matthew 17:4 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“answered”) has been translated as a finite verb
  2. Matthew 17:5 Here “while” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“speaking”)
  3. Matthew 17:6 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“heard”) which is understood as temporal
  4. Matthew 17:6 *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  5. Matthew 17:7 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“touched”) has been translated as a finite verb
  6. Matthew 17:8 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“lifted up”) which is understood as temporal
  7. Matthew 17:9 Here “as” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“were coming down”)
  8. Matthew 17:11 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“answered”) has been translated as a finite verb
  9. Matthew 17:14 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“came”)
  10. Matthew 17:17 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“answered”) has been translated as a finite verb
  11. Matthew 17:17 Literally “until when”
  12. Matthew 17:17 Literally “until when”
  13. Matthew 17:19 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“approached”) has been translated as a finite verb
  14. Matthew 17:19 Literally “for what”
  15. Matthew 17:20 Most later Greek manuscripts add v. 21, “But this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.”
  16. Matthew 17:22 Here “as” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“were gathering”)
  17. Matthew 17:22 Or possibly “of people,” in a generic sense, although the reference here may be to the specific group responsible for Jesus’ arrest, where it is unlikely women were present
  18. Matthew 17:24 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“arrived”)
  19. Matthew 17:24 This refers to the half-shekel annual tax paid by Jewish males to support the temple; over time the name of the coin commonly used to pay the tax came to be used for the tax itself
  20. Matthew 17:25 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“came”) which is understood as temporal
  21. Matthew 17:26 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“said”) which is understood as temporal
  22. Matthew 17:27 The words “a line with” are not in the Greek text but are implied
  23. Matthew 17:27 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“open”) which is understood as temporal
  24. Matthew 17:27 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“take”) has been translated as a finite verb
  25. Matthew 17:27 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation

Moses and Elijah Appear with Jesus(A)

17 After six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John (the brother of James) and led them up a high mountain where they could be alone.

Jesus’ appearance changed in front of them. His face became as bright as the sun and his clothes as white as light. Suddenly, Moses and Elijah appeared to them and were talking with Jesus.

Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it’s good that we’re here. If you want, I’ll put up three tents here—one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”

He was still speaking when a bright cloud overshadowed them. Then a voice came out of the cloud and said, “This is my Son, whom I love and with whom I am pleased. Listen to him!”

The disciples were terrified when they heard this and fell facedown on the ground. But Jesus touched them and said, “Get up, and don’t be afraid!” As they raised their heads, they saw no one but Jesus.

On their way down the mountain, Jesus ordered them, “Don’t tell anyone what you have seen. Wait until the Son of Man has been brought back to life.”

10 So the disciples asked him, “Why do the experts in Moses’ Teachings say that Elijah must come first?”

11 Jesus answered, “Elijah is coming and will put everything in order again. 12 Actually, I can guarantee that Elijah has already come. Yet, people treated him as they pleased because they didn’t recognize him. In the same way they’re going to make the Son of Man suffer.”

13 Then the disciples understood that he was talking about John the Baptizer.

Jesus Cures a Demon-Possessed Boy(B)

14 When they came to a crowd, a man came up to Jesus, knelt in front of him, 15 and said, “Sir, have mercy on my son. He suffers from seizures. Often he falls into fire or water. 16 I brought him to your disciples, but they couldn’t cure him.”

17 Jesus replied, “You unbelieving and corrupt generation! How long must I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring him here to me!”

18 Jesus ordered the demon to come out of the boy. At that moment the boy was cured.

19 Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and asked, “Why couldn’t we force the demon out of the boy?”

20 He told them, “Because you have so little faith. I can guarantee this truth: If your faith is the size of a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” [a]

Jesus Again Foretells That He Will Die and Come Back to Life(C)

22 While they were traveling together in Galilee, Jesus told them, “The Son of Man will be betrayed and handed over to people. 23 They will kill him, but on the third day he will be brought back to life.” Then the disciples became very sad.

Paying the Temple Tax

24 When they came to Capernaum, the collectors of the temple tax came to Peter. They asked him, “Doesn’t your teacher pay the temple tax?”

25 “Certainly,” he answered.

Peter went into the house. Before he could speak, Jesus asked him, “What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the world collect fees or taxes? Is it from their family members or from other people?”

26 “From other people,” Peter answered.

Jesus said to him, “Then the family members are exempt. 27 However, so that we don’t create a scandal, go to the sea and throw in a hook. Take the first fish that you catch. Open its mouth, and you will find a coin. Give that coin to them for you and me.”

Footnotes

  1. 17:20 Some manuscripts and translations add verse 21: “However, this kind ⌞of demon⌟ goes away only by prayer and fasting.”