Mat 17 | HCSB | STEP | After six days Jesus took Peter , James , and his brother John and led them up on a high mountain by themselves .

Matthew 17

The Transfiguration

1 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 ^{▼▼Or transfigured} in front of them, and His face shone like the sun. Even His clothes became as white as the light. ^d 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 ^{▼▼Other mss read wish, let’s make} three ^{▼▼tabernacle: Or tent, or shelter, terms used for temporary housing}tabernacles here: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” ^g

5 While he was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud covered ^{▼▼Or enveloped; Ex 40:34-35} them, and a voice from the cloud said:

This is My beloved Son.
I take delight in Him.
Listen to Him! ⁱ

6 When the disciples ^j heard it, they fell facedown and were terrified.

7 Then Jesus came up, touched them, and said, “Get up; don’t be afraid.” ^k 8 When they looked up they saw no one except Him ^{▼▼Other mss omit Him} – Jesus alone. 9 As they were coming down from the mountain, Jesus commanded them, ^m “Don’t tell anyone about the vision until the ^{▼▼Son of Man: The most frequent title Jesus used for Himself; Dn 7:13}Son of Man is raised ^{▼▼Other mss read Man has risen} from the dead.”

10 So the disciples questioned Him, “Why then do the ^{▼▼scribe(s): A professional group in Judaism that copied the law of Moses and interpreted it, especially in legal cases}scribes say that Elijah must come first?” ^q

11 “Elijah is coming ^{▼▼Other mss add first} and will restore everything,” He replied. ^{▼▼Other mss read Jesus said to them
,} ^t 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.” ^{▼▼Lit suffer by them
,} ^v 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, ^w a man approached and knelt down before Him. 15 “Lord,” he said, “have mercy on my son, because he has seizures ^{▼▼Lit he is moonstruck; thought to be a form of epilepsy} 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.” ^y

17 Jesus replied, “You unbelieving and rebellious ^{▼▼Or corrupt, or perverted, or twisted; Dt 32:5} generation! How long will I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring him here to Me.” ^aa 18 Then Jesus rebuked the demon, ^{▼▼Lit rebuked him or it} and it ^{▼▼Lit the demon} came out of him, ^ad and from that moment ^{▼▼Lit hour} 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 ^{▼▼Other mss read your unbelief,” Jesus} told them. “For ^{▼▼I assure you: This is a phrase used only by Jesus to testify to the certainty and importance of His words; in Mt, Mk and Lk it is literally Amen, I say to you, and in Jn it is literally Amen, amen, I say to you.}I assure you: If you have faith the size of ^{▼▼Lit faith like} a mustard seed, you will tell this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. ^ai Nothing will be impossible for you. ^aj [ 21 However, this kind does not come out except by prayer and fasting.]” ^{▼▼Other mss omit bracketed text; Mk 9:29}

The Second Prediction of His Death

22 As ^al they were meeting ^{▼▼Other mss read were staying} 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 ^{▼▼Jewish men paid this tax to support the temple; Ex 30:11-16. A double-drachma could purchase 2 sheep.} approached Peter and said, “Doesn’t your Teacher pay the double-drachma tax?” ^ao

25 “Yes,” he said.When he went into the house, Jesus spoke to him first, ^{▼▼Lit Jesus anticipated him by saying} “What do you think, Simon? Who do earthly kings collect tariffs or taxes from? From their sons or from strangers?” ^{▼▼Or foreigners
,} ^ar

26 “From strangers,” he said. ^{▼▼Other mss read Peter said to Him}“Then the sons are free,” Jesus told him. 27 “But, so we won’t ^{▼▼cause the downfall of/ causes to sin: The Greek word skandalizo has a root meaning of "snare" or "trap," but has no real English counterpart.}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. ^{▼▼Gk stater, worth 2 double-drachmas} Take it and give it to them for Me and you.” ^av