Matthew 17
Holman Christian Standard Bible
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 transformed[a] in front of them, and His face shone like the sun. Even 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 make[b] three tabernacles here: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”(D)
5 While he was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud covered[c] them, and a voice from the cloud said:
This is My beloved Son.
I take delight in Him.
Listen to Him!(E)
6 When the disciples(F) heard it, they fell facedown and were terrified.
7 Then Jesus came up, touched them, and said, “Get up; don’t be afraid.”(G) 8 When they looked up they saw no one except Him[d]—Jesus alone. 9 As they were coming down from the mountain, Jesus commanded them,(H) “Don’t tell anyone about the vision until the Son of Man is raised[e] from the dead.”
10 So the disciples questioned Him, “Why then do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?”(I)
11 “Elijah is coming[f] and will restore everything,” He replied.[g](J) 12 “But I tell you: Elijah has already come, and they didn’t recognize 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.”[h](K) 13 Then the disciples understood that He spoke to them about John the Baptist.
The Power of Faith 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[i] and suffers severely. 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 rebellious[j] 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,[k] and it[l] came out of him,(O) and from that moment[m] 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[n] told them. “For I assure you: If you have faith the size of[o] a mustard seed, you will tell this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move.(P) Nothing will be impossible for you.(Q) [21 However, this kind does not come out except by prayer and fasting.]”[p]
The Second Prediction of His Death
22 As(R) they were meeting[q] 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 double-drachma tax[r] approached Peter and said, “Doesn’t your Teacher pay the double-drachma tax?”(S)
25 “Yes,” he said.
When he went into the house, Jesus spoke to him first,[s] “What do you think, Simon? Who do earthly kings collect tariffs or taxes from? From their sons or from strangers?”[t](T)
26 “From strangers,” he said.[u]
“Then the sons are free,” Jesus told him. 27 “But, so we won’t offend them, go to the sea, cast in a fishhook, and take the first fish that you catch. When you open its mouth you’ll find a coin.[v] Take it and give it to them for Me and you.”(U)
Footnotes
- Matthew 17:2 Or transfigured
- Matthew 17:4 Other mss read wish, let’s make
- Matthew 17:5 Or enveloped; Ex 40:34-35
- Matthew 17:8 Other mss omit Him
- Matthew 17:9 Other mss read Man has risen
- Matthew 17:11 Other mss add first
- Matthew 17:11 Other mss read Jesus said to them
- Matthew 17:12 Lit suffer by them
- Matthew 17:15 Lit he is moonstruck; thought to be a form of epilepsy
- Matthew 17:17 Or corrupt, or perverted, or twisted; Dt 32:5
- Matthew 17:18 Lit rebuked him or it
- Matthew 17:18 Lit the demon
- Matthew 17:18 Lit hour
- Matthew 17:20 Other mss read your unbelief,” Jesus
- Matthew 17:20 Lit faith like
- Matthew 17:21 Other mss omit bracketed text; Mk 9:29
- Matthew 17:22 Other mss read were staying
- Matthew 17:24 Jewish men paid this tax to support the temple; Ex 30:11-16. A double-drachma could purchase 2 sheep.
- Matthew 17:25 Lit Jesus anticipated him by saying
- Matthew 17:25 Or foreigners
- Matthew 17:26 Other mss read Peter said to Him
- Matthew 17:27 Gk stater, worth 2 double-drachmas
Matthew 17
Modern English Version
The Transfiguration(A)
17 After six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother and brought them up to a high mountain alone, 2 and was transfigured before them. His face shone as the sun, and His garments became white as the light. 3 Suddenly Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him.
4 Then Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If You wish, let us make three tabernacles here: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”
5 While he was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased. Listen to Him.”
6 When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces and were filled with awe. 7 But Jesus came and touched them and said, “Rise, and do not be afraid.” 8 When they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only.
9 As they came down the mountain, Jesus commanded them, “Tell the vision to no one until the Son of Man is risen from the dead.”
10 His disciples asked Him, “Why then do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?”
11 Jesus answered, “Elijah truly does first come and will restore all things. 12 But I tell you that Elijah has already come, and they did not know him, but did to him whatever they pleased. Likewise, the Son of Man will also suffer at their hands.” 13 Then the disciples understood that He was speaking to them of John the Baptist.
The Healing of a Boy with a Demon(B)
14 When they came to the crowd, a man came to Him and knelt before Him, saying, 15 “Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is an epileptic and suffers terribly. He often falls into the fire and often into the water. 16 I brought him to Your disciples, but they could not heal him.”
17 Then Jesus answered, “O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him here to Me.” 18 Jesus rebuked the demon, and he came out of him. And the child was healed instantly.
19 Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast him out?”
20 Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief. For truly I say to you, if you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. And nothing will be impossible for you. 21 But this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.”
Jesus Again Foretells His Death and Resurrection(C)
22 While they were staying in Galilee, Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men, 23 and they will kill Him, and He will be raised on the third day.” And they were extremely sorrowful.
Payment of the Temple Tax
24 When they came to Capernaum, those who collected tax money came to Peter and said, “Does your Teacher not pay the tax[a]?”
25 He said, “Yes.”
And when he came home, Jesus stopped him, saying, “What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth take custom or taxes? From their own sons or from strangers?”
26 Peter said to Him, “From strangers.”
Jesus said to him, “Then the sons are free. 27 However, lest we offend them, go to the sea and cast a hook, and take the first fish that comes up. And when you open its mouth, you will find a coin. Take it and give it to them for you and Me.”
Footnotes
- Matthew 17:24 Gk. 2 drachmas, or two days’ wages.
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The Holy Bible, Modern English Version. Copyright © 2014 by Military Bible Association. Published and distributed by Charisma House.