Matthew 17
New International Reader's Version
Jesus’ Appearance Is Changed
17 After six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John the brother of James with him. He led them up a high mountain. They were all alone. 2 There in front of them his appearance was changed. His face shone like the sun. His clothes became as white as the light. 3 Just then Moses and Elijah appeared in front of them. Moses and Elijah were talking with Jesus.
4 Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters. One will be for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”
5 While Peter was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them. A voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, and I love him. I am very pleased with him. Listen to him!”
6 When the disciples heard this, they were terrified. They fell with their faces to the ground. 7 But Jesus came and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Don’t be afraid.” 8 When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus.
9 They came down the mountain. On the way down, Jesus told them what to do. “Don’t tell anyone what you have seen,” he said. “Wait until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”
10 The disciples asked him, “Why do the teachers of the law say that Elijah has to come first?”
11 Jesus replied, “That’s right. Elijah is supposed to come and make all things new again. 12 But I tell you, Elijah has already come. People didn’t recognize him. They have done to him everything they wanted to do. In the same way, they are going to make the Son of Man suffer.” 13 Then the disciples understood that Jesus was talking to them about John the Baptist.
Jesus Heals a Boy Who Is Controlled by a Demon
14 When they came near the crowd, a man approached Jesus. He got on his knees in front of him. 15 “Lord,” he said, “have mercy on my son. He shakes wildly and suffers a great deal. He often falls into the fire or into the water. 16 I brought him to your disciples. But they couldn’t heal him.”
17 “You unbelieving and evil people!” Jesus replied. “How long do I have to stay with you? How long do I have to put up with you? Bring the boy here to me.” 18 Jesus ordered the demon to leave the boy, and it came out of him. He was healed at that moment.
19 Then the disciples came to Jesus in private. They asked, “Why couldn’t we drive out the demon?”
20-21 He replied, “Because your faith is much too small. What I’m about to tell you is true. If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, it is enough. You can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there.’ And it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”
Jesus Speaks a Second Time About His Coming Death
22 They came together in Galilee. Then Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be handed over to men. 23 They will kill him. On the third day he will rise from the dead.” Then the disciples were filled with deep sadness.
Jesus Pays the Temple Tax
24 Jesus and his disciples arrived in Capernaum. There the people who collect the temple tax came to Peter. They asked him, “Doesn’t your teacher pay the temple tax?”
25 “Yes, he does,” he replied.
When Peter came into the house, Jesus spoke first. “What do you think, Simon?” he asked. “Who do the kings of the earth collect taxes and fees from? Do they collect them from their own children or from others?”
26 “From others,” Peter answered.
“Then the children don’t have to pay,” Jesus said to him. 27 “But we don’t want to make them angry. So go to the lake and throw out your fishing line. Take the first fish you catch. Open its mouth. There you will find the exact coin you need. Take it and give it to them for my tax and yours.”
Matthew 17
New King James Version
Jesus Transfigured on the Mount(A)
17 Now (B)after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, led them up on a high mountain by themselves; 2 and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light. 3 And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him. 4 Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, [a]let us make here three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”
5 (C)While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, (D)“This is My beloved Son, (E)in whom I am well pleased. (F)Hear Him!” 6 (G)And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces and were greatly afraid. 7 But Jesus came and (H)touched them and said, “Arise, and do not be afraid.” 8 When they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only.
9 Now as they came down from the mountain, Jesus commanded them, saying, “Tell the vision to no one until the Son of Man is risen from the dead.”
10 And His disciples asked Him, saying, (I)“Why then do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?”
11 Jesus answered and said to them, “Indeed, Elijah is coming [b]first and will (J)restore all things. 12 (K)But I say to you that Elijah has come already, and they (L)did not know him but did to him whatever they wished. Likewise (M)the Son of Man is also about to suffer at their hands.” 13 (N)Then the disciples understood that He spoke to them of John the Baptist.
A Boy Is Healed(O)
14 (P)And when they had come to the multitude, a man came to Him, kneeling down to Him and saying, 15 “Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is [c]an epileptic and suffers severely; for he often falls into the fire and often into the water. 16 So I brought him to Your disciples, but they could not cure him.”
17 Then Jesus answered and said, “O [d]faithless and (Q)perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him here to Me.” 18 And Jesus (R)rebuked the demon, and it came out of him; and the child was cured from that very hour.
19 Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?”
20 So Jesus said to them, “Because of your [e]unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, (S)if you have faith as 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. 21 [f]However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.”
Jesus Again Predicts His Death and Resurrection(T)
22 (U)Now while they were [g]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 the third day He will be raised up.” And they were exceedingly (V)sorrowful.
Peter and His Master Pay Their Taxes
24 (W)When they had come to [h]Capernaum, those who received the [i]temple tax came to Peter and said, “Does your Teacher not pay the temple tax?”
25 He said, “Yes.”
And when he had come into the house, Jesus anticipated him, saying, “What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth take customs or taxes, from their sons or from (X)strangers?”
26 Peter said to Him, “From strangers.”
Jesus said to him, “Then the sons are free. 27 Nevertheless, lest we offend them, go to the sea, cast in a hook, and take the fish that comes up first. And when you have opened its mouth, you will find a [j]piece of money; take that and give it to them for Me and you.”
Footnotes
- Matthew 17:4 NU I will make
- Matthew 17:11 NU omits first
- Matthew 17:15 Lit. moonstruck
- Matthew 17:17 unbelieving
- Matthew 17:20 NU little faith
- Matthew 17:21 NU omits v. 21.
- Matthew 17:22 NU gathering together
- Matthew 17:24 NU Capharnaum, here and elsewhere
- Matthew 17:24 Lit. double drachma
- Matthew 17:27 Gr. stater, the exact temple tax for two
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Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
