Matthew 17 - Prayer Tents

Matthew 17

New Living Translation

The Transfiguration

17Six days later Jesus took Peter and the two brothers, James and John, and led them up a high mountain to be alone.

2As the men watched, Jesus' appearance was transformed so that his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as light.

3Suddenly, Moses and Elijah appeared and began talking with Jesus.

4Peter exclaimed, "Lord, it's wonderful for us to be here! If you want, I'll make three shelters as memorials[1] - one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah."

5But even as he spoke, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy. Listen to him."

6The disciples were terrified and fell face down on the ground.

7Then Jesus came over and touched them. "Get up," he said. "Don't be afraid."

8And when they looked up, Moses and Elijah were gone, and they saw only Jesus.

9As they went back down the mountain, Jesus commanded them, "Don't tell anyone what you have seen until the Son of Man[2] has been raised from the dead."

10Then his disciples asked him, "Why do the teachers of religious law insist that Elijah must return before the Messiah comes?[3]"

11Jesus replied, "Elijah is indeed coming first to get everything ready.

12But I tell you, Elijah has already come, but he wasn't recognized, and they chose to abuse him. And in the same way they will also make the Son of Man suffer."

13Then the disciples realized he was talking about John the Baptist.

Jesus Heals a Demon-Possessed Boy

14At the foot of the mountain, a large crowd was waiting for them. A man came and knelt before Jesus and said,

15"Lord, have mercy on my son. He has seizures and suffers terribly. He often falls into the fire or into the water.

16So I brought him to your disciples, but they couldn't heal him."

17Jesus said, "You faithless and corrupt people! How long must I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring the boy here to me."

18Then Jesus rebuked the demon in the boy, and it left him. From that moment the boy was well.

19Afterward the disciples asked Jesus privately, "Why couldn't we cast out that demon?"

20"You don't have enough faith," Jesus told them. "I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, `Move from here to there,' and it would move. Nothing would be impossible."

21[4]

Jesus Again Predicts His Death

22After they gathered again in Galilee, Jesus told them, "The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of his enemies.

23He will be killed, but on the third day he will be raised from the dead." And the disciples were filled with grief.

Payment of the Temple Tax

24On their arrival in Capernaum, the collectors of the Temple tax[5] came to Peter and asked him, "Doesn't your teacher pay the Temple tax?"

25"Yes, he does," Peter replied. Then he went into the house. But before he had a chance to speak, Jesus asked him, "What do you think, Peter[6]? Do kings tax their own people or the people they have conquered?[7]"

26"They tax the people they have conquered," Peter replied. "Well, then," Jesus said, "the citizens are free!

27However, we don't want to offend them, so go down to the lake and throw in a line. Open the mouth of the first fish you catch, and you will find a large silver coin[8]. Take it and pay the tax for both of us."

[1] Matthew 17:4Greek three tabernacles
[2] Matthew 17:9"Son of Man" is a title Jesus used for himself
[3] Matthew 17:10Greek that Elijah must come first?
[4] Matthew 17:21Some manuscripts add verse 21, But this kind of demon won't leave except by prayer and fasting. Compare Mark 9.29
[5] Matthew 17:24Greek the two-drachma [tax]; also in 17.24b. See Exod 30.13-16; Neh 10.32-33
[6] Matthew 17:25Greek Simon
[7] Matthew 17:25Greek their sons or others?
[8] Matthew 17:27Greek a stater [a Greek coin equivalent to four drachmas]