Matthew 17
New Matthew Bible
The transfiguration of Christ upon the Mount of Tabor. He heals the frenzied boy, and pays the tribute levy to Rome.
17 And after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and James’ brother John, and brought them up into a high mountain out of the way. 2 And he was transfigured before them. And his face did shine like the sun, and his clothes were as white as the light. 3 And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him.
4 Then Peter spoke and said to Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here. If you will, let us make here three tabernacles: one for you, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah.
5 While he was yet speaking, behold, a bright cloud covered them. And behold, there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my dear Son, in whom I delight. Hear him!
6 When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces and were sore afraid. 7 And Jesus came and touched them and said, Arise, and do not be afraid. 8 And when they looked up, they saw no one but Jesus only.
9 And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, saying, See that you tell no one about the vision until the Son of man is risen up again from death. 10 And his disciples asked of him, saying, Why then do the scribes say that Elijah must come first? 11 Jesus answered and said to them, Elijah does come first, and restore all things. 12 And I say to you that Elijah has come already, and they did not know him, but have done to him whatever they pleased. In like manner will the Son of man also suffer at their hands. 13 Then the disciples perceived that he was speaking to them of John the Baptist.
14 And when they had come to the people, a certain man came to Jesus and kneeled down to him and said, 15 Master, have mercy on my son, for he is delirious, and is sorely vexed. And often he falls into the fire, and often into the water. 16 And I brought him to your disciples, but they could not heal him. 17 Jesus answered and said, O generation faithless and perverse, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I suffer you? Bring him here to me.
18 And Jesus rebuked the devil, and he came out of him. And the child was healed even at that same hour.
19 Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and asked, Why could we not cast him out? 20 Jesus said to them, Because of your unbelief. For I say truly to you, if you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, Move over there, and it would move; neither should anything be impossible for you to do. 21 However, this kind does not go out but by prayer and fasting.
22 As they passed the time in Galilee, Jesus said to them, The Son of man will be betrayed into the hands of men, 23 and they will kill him; and the third day he will rise again. And they sorrowed greatly.
24 And when they had come to Capernaum, men that collected the poll money came to Peter and asked, Does your teacher pay tribute? 25 He said, Yes. And when he had come into the house, Jesus spoke first to him, saying, What do you think, Simon: from whom do the kings of the earth take tribute or poll money? From their children, or from others? 26 Peter answered, From others. And Jesus said to him, Then the children are free. 27 Nevertheless, lest we offend them, go to the sea and cast in your hook, and take the fish that first comes up. And when you have opened its mouth, you will find a coin. Take it, and pay for me and you.
Matthew 17
Revised Standard Version
The Transfiguration
17 And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain apart. 2 And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his garments became white as light. 3 And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Eli′jah, talking with him. 4 And Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is well that we are here; if you wish, I will make three booths here, one for you and one for Moses and one for Eli′jah.” 5 He was still speaking, when lo, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son,[a] 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, saying, “Rise, and have no fear.” 8 And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only.
9 And as they were coming down the mountain, Jesus commanded them, “Tell no one the vision, until the Son of man is raised from the dead.” 10 And the disciples asked him, “Then why do the scribes say that first Eli′jah must come?” 11 He replied, “Eli′jah does come, and he is to restore all things; 12 but I tell you that Eli′jah has already come, and they did not know him, but did to him whatever they pleased. So also the Son of man will suffer at their hands.” 13 Then the disciples understood that he was speaking to them of John the Baptist.
Jesus Cures a Boy with a Demon
14 And when they came to the crowd, a man came up to him and kneeling before him said, 15 “Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is an epileptic and he suffers terribly; for often he falls into the fire, and often into the water. 16 And I brought him to your disciples, and they could not heal him.” 17 And Jesus answered, “O faithless and perverse generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him here to me.” 18 And Jesus rebuked him, and the demon came out of him, and the boy was cured instantly. 19 Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?” 20 He said to them, “Because of your little faith. 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 to you.”[b]
Jesus Again Foretells His Death and Resurrection
22 As they were gathering[c] in Galilee, Jesus said to them, “The Son of man is to be delivered into the hands of men, 23 and they will kill him, and he will be raised on the third day.” And they were greatly distressed.
Jesus and the Temple Tax
24 When they came to Caper′na-um, the collectors of the half-shekel tax went up to Peter and said, “Does not your teacher pay the tax?” 25 He said, “Yes.” And when he came home, Jesus spoke to him first, saying, “What do you think, Simon? From whom do kings of the earth take toll or tribute? From their sons or from others?” 26 And when he said, “From others,” Jesus said to him, “Then the sons are free. 27 However, not to give offense to 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 shekel; take that and give it to them for me and for yourself.”
Footnotes
- Matthew 17:5 Or my Son, my (or the) Beloved
- Matthew 17:20 Other ancient authorities insert verse 21, “But this kind never comes out except by prayer and fasting”
- Matthew 17:22 Other ancient authorities read abode
Copyright © 2016 by Ruth Magnusson (Davis). Includes emendations to February 2022. All rights reserved.
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1946, 1952, and 1971 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.