Matthew — Chapter 17

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1After six days Jesus took with Him Peter, James, and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves.

2There He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light.

3Suddenly Moses and Elijah appeared before them, talking with Jesus.

4Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If You wish, I will put up three shelters—one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”

5While Peter was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Listen to Him!”

6When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown in terror.

7Then Jesus came over and touched them. “Get up,” He said. “Do not be afraid.”

8And when they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus.

9As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus commanded them, “Do not tell anyone about this vision until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”

10The disciples asked Him, “Why then do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?”

11Jesus replied, “Elijah does indeed come, and he will restore all things.

12But I tell you that Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but have done to him whatever they wished. In the same way, the Son of Man will suffer at their hands.”

13Then the disciples understood that He was speaking to them about John the Baptist.

14When they came to the crowd, a man came up to Jesus and knelt before Him.

15“Lord, have mercy on my son,” he said. “He has seizures and is suffering terribly. He often falls into the fire or into the water.

16I brought him to Your disciples, but they could not heal him.”

17“O unbelieving and perverse generation!” Jesus replied. “How long must I remain with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring the boy here to Me.”

18Then Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of the boy, and he was healed from that moment.

19Afterward the disciples came to Jesus privately and asked, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?”

20“Because you have so little faith,” He answered. “For truly I tell you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”

21

22When they gathered together in Galilee, Jesus told them, “The Son of Man is about to be delivered into the hands of men.

23They will kill Him, and on the third day He will be raised to life.” And the disciples were deeply grieved.

24After they had arrived in Capernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma tax came to Peter and asked, “Does your Teacher pay the two drachmas?”

25“Yes,” he answered. When Peter entered the house, Jesus preempted him. “What do you think, Simon?” He asked. “From whom do the kings of the earth collect customs and taxes: from their own sons, or from others?”

26“From others,” Peter answered. “Then the sons are exempt,” Jesus said to him.

27“But so that we may not offend them, go to the sea, cast a hook, and take the first fish you catch. When you open its mouth, you will find a four-drachma coin. Take it and give it to them for My tax and yours.”

1And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart,

2And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.

3And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him.

4Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.

5While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.

6And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid.

7And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid.

8And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only.

9And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, saying, Tell the vision to no man, until the Son of man be risen again from the dead.

10And his disciples asked him, saying, Why then say the scribes that Elias must first come?

11And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things.

12But I say unto you, That Elias is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed. Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them.

13Then the disciples understood that he spake unto them of John the Baptist.

14And when they were come to the multitude, there came to him a certain man, kneeling down to him, and saying,

15Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatick, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water.

16And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him.

17Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me.

18And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour.

19Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out?

20And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.

21Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.

22And while they abode in Galilee, Jesus said unto them, The Son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of men:

23And they shall kill him, and the third day he shall be raised again. And they were exceeding sorry.

24And when they were come to Capernaum, they that received tribute money came to Peter, and said, Doth not your master pay tribute?

25He saith, Yes. And when he was come into the house, Jesus prevented him, saying, What thinkest thou, Simon? of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own children, or of strangers?

26Peter saith unto him, Of strangers. Jesus saith unto him, Then are the children free.

27Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee.

1And after six days Jesus taketh with him Peter, and James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into a high mountain apart:

2and he was transfigured before them; and his face did shine as the sun, and his garments became white as the light.

3And behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elijah talking with him.

4And Peter answered, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, I will make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah.

5While he was yet speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold, a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.

6And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid.

7And Jesus came and touched them and said, Arise, and be not afraid.

8And lifting up their eyes, they saw no one, save Jesus only.

9And as they were coming down from the mountain, Jesus commanded them, saying, Tell the vision to no man, until the Son of man be risen from the dead.

10And his disciples asked him, saying, Why then say the scribes that Elijah must first come?

11And he answered and said, Elijah indeed cometh, and shall restore all things:

12but I say into you, that Elijah is come already, and they knew him not, but did unto him whatsoever they would. Even so shall the Son of man also suffer of them.

13Then understood the disciples that he spake unto them of John the Baptist.

14And when they were come to the multitude, there came to him a man, kneeling to him, saying,

15Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is epileptic, and suffereth grievously; for oft-times he falleth into the fire, and off-times into the water.

16And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him.

17And Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I bear with you? bring him hither to me.

18And Jesus rebuked him; and the demon went out of him: and the boy was cured from that hour.

19Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast it out?

20And he saith unto them, Because of your little faith: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.

21[But this kind goeth not out save by prayer and fasting.]

22And while they abode in Galilee, Jesus said unto them, The Son of man shall be delivered up into the hands of men;

23and they shall kill him, and the third day he shall be raised up. And they were exceeding sorry.

24And when they were come to Capernaum, they that received the half-shekel came to Peter, and said, Doth not your teacher pay the half-shekel?

25He saith, Yea. And when he came into the house, Jesus spake first to him, saying, What thinkest thou, Simon? the kings of the earth, from whom do they receive toll or tribute? from their sons, or from strangers?

26And when he said, From strangers, Jesus said unto him, Therefore the sons are free.

27But, lest we cause them to stumble, go thou to the sea, and cast a hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a shekel: that take, and give unto them for me and thee.

1Six days later Jesus took with him Peter, James, and John the brother of James, and led them privately up a high mountain.

2And he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light.

3Then Moses and Elijah also appeared before them, talking with him.

4So Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you want, I will make three shelters—one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”

5While he was still speaking, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my one dear Son, in whom I take great delight. Listen to him!”

6When the disciples heard this, they were overwhelmed with fear and threw themselves down with their faces to the ground.

7But Jesus came and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Do not be afraid.”

8When they looked up, all they saw was Jesus alone.

9As they were coming down from the mountain, Jesus commanded them, “Do not tell anyone about the vision until the Son of Man is raised from the dead.”

10The disciples asked him, “Why then do the experts in the law say that Elijah must come first?”

11He answered, “Elijah does indeed come first and will restore all things.

12And I tell you that Elijah has already come. Yet they did not recognize him, but did to him whatever they wanted. In the same way, the Son of Man will suffer at their hands.”

13Then the disciples understood that he was speaking to them about John the Baptist.

14When they came to the crowd, a man came to him, knelt before him,

15and said, “Lord, have mercy on my son because he has seizures and suffers terribly, for he often falls into the fire and into the water.

16I brought him to your disciples, but they were not able to heal him.”

17Jesus answered, “You unbelieving and perverse generation! How much longer must I be with you? How much longer must I endure you? Bring him here to me.”

18Then Jesus rebuked the demon and it came out of him, and the boy was healed from that moment.

19Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why couldn’t we cast it out?”

20He told them, “It was because of your little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; nothing will be impossible for you.”

21[This verse is not included in the NET; see KJV/ASV for the traditional rendering.]

22When they gathered together in Galilee, Jesus told them, “The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men.

23They will kill him, and on the third day he will be raised.” And they became greatly distressed.

24After they arrived in Capernaum, the collectors of the temple tax came to Peter and said, “Your teacher pays the double drachma tax, doesn’t he?”

25He said, “Yes.” When Peter came into the house, Jesus spoke to him first, “What do you think, Simon? From whom do earthly kings collect tolls or taxes—from their sons or from foreigners?”

26After he said, “From foreigners,” Jesus said to him, “Then the sons are free.

27But so that we don’t offend them, go to the lake and throw out a hook. Take the first fish that comes up, and when you open its mouth, you will find a four-drachma coin. Take that and give it to them for me and you.”

1After six days, Jesus took with him Peter, James, and John his brother, and brought them up into a high mountain by themselves.

2He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his garments became as white as the light.

3Behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them talking with him.

4Peter answered, and said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you want, let’s make three tents here: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”

5While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them. Behold, a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Listen to him.”

6When the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces, and were very afraid.

7Jesus came and touched them and said, “Get up, and don’t be afraid.”

8Lifting up their eyes, they saw no one, except Jesus alone.

9As they were coming down from the mountain, Jesus commanded them, saying, “Don’t tell anyone what you saw, until the Son of Man has risen from the dead.”

10His disciples asked him, saying, “Then why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?”

11Jesus answered them, “Elijah indeed comes first, and will restore all things,

12but I tell you that Elijah has come already, and they didn’t recognize him, but did to him whatever they wanted to. Even so the Son of Man will also suffer by them.”

13Then the disciples understood that he spoke to them of John the Baptizer.

14When they came to the multitude, a man came to him, kneeling down to him, and saying,

15“Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is epileptic, and suffers grievously; for he often falls into the fire, and often into the water.

16So I brought him to your disciples, and they could not cure him.”

17Jesus answered, “Faithless and perverse generation! How long will I be with you? How long will I bear with you? Bring him here to me.”

18Jesus rebuked him, the demon went out of him, and the boy was cured from that hour.

19Then the disciples came to Jesus privately, and said, “Why weren’t we able to cast it out?”

20He said to them, “Because of your unbelief. For most certainly I tell you, if you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you will tell this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.

21But this kind doesn’t go out except by prayer and fasting.”

22While they were staying in Galilee, Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is about to be delivered up into the hands of men,

23and they will kill him, and the third day he will be raised up.” They were exceedingly sorry.

24When they had come to Capernaum, those who collected the didrachma coins came to Peter, and said, “Doesn’t your teacher pay the didrachma?”

25He said, “Yes.” When he came into the house, Jesus anticipated him, saying, “What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth receive toll or tribute? From their children, or from strangers?”

26Peter said to him, “From strangers.” Jesus said to him, “Therefore the children are exempt.

27But, lest we cause them to stumble, go to the sea, cast a hook, and take up the first fish that comes up. When you have opened its mouth, you will find a stater coin. Take that, and give it to them for me and you.”

Summary
Authorship & Background
Map & Geography
Commentary
Videos
Articles
Reflection

Summary

Jesus takes Peter, James, and John up a high mountain, where he is transfigured before them, his face shining like the sun and his clothes turning white as light, as Moses and Elijah appear speaking with him and a voice from heaven again declares him God's beloved Son (vv. 1-8). As they come down, Jesus tells them not to speak of it until after his resurrection and explains that John the Baptist already fulfilled the coming of Elijah (vv. 9-13). At the foot of the mountain he heals a boy tormented by a demon that the disciples had been unable to cast out, attributing their failure to little faith and saying that faith even as small as a mustard seed can move mountains (vv. 14-21). Jesus again predicts to his disciples that he will be betrayed, killed, and raised on the third day, filling them with grief (vv. 22-23). The chapter closes with Jesus, to avoid giving offense over the temple tax, miraculously providing the coin from a fish's mouth for Peter to pay it for both of them (vv. 24-27).

Authorship & Background

Author: Matthew (see Chapter 1 notes for full authorship details).
Historical Context: Chapter 17 records three events: the Transfiguration (vv.1-13), the healing of a demon-possessed boy (vv.14-21), and the second prediction of Jesus' death (vv.22-23), followed by the Temple tax incident (vv.24-27).
The Transfiguration: Six days after Peter's confession at Caesarea Philippi, Jesus takes Peter, James, and John up a high mountain (likely Mount Hermon, 9,200 feet). There His divine glory breaks through His human form — His face shines like the sun, His clothes become white as light. Moses (representing the Law) and Elijah (representing the Prophets) appear with Him, confirming that Jesus is the fulfillment of both.
Classification: Gospel — Narrative
Key Themes: three disciples taken up a mountain and shown a glory breaking through ordinary human form, his face did shine as the sun, Moses and Elijah appearing beside him before a voice repeats the words from the baptism with one addition, hear ye him, a boy the disciples cannot heal met first with exasperation and then with an explanation of size, faith as a grain of mustard seed, a second passion prediction answered in four words, they were exceeding sorry, and an episode found only in this Gospel, a temple tax paid though Jesus argues the sons of the king are exempt from it, the coin pulled from a fish's mouth
The Transfiguration (vv.1-13): Six days after, and the three taken up are the same three who will be taken into Gethsemane. Matthew describes the change in two comparisons, his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light. Moses and Elias appear, Peter offers to build three tabernacles, and the voice from the cloud repeats the words from the baptism with three added, hear ye him. The disciples fall on their faces and are touched and told to rise, and Matthew's closing note is quiet, they lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only. Coming down, the question about Elijah is answered by identifying him with a man already dead.
The Boy the Disciples Could Not Heal (vv.14-21): The father's complaint is about the disciples rather than the illness, I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him, and the first response is exasperated, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? The healing is one clause. Then the private question, why could not we cast him out? and the answer is about size, because of your unbelief, for verily I say unto you, if ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place, and it shall remove.
The Father's Voice: "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him" (v.5). The same declaration as at the baptism (3:17) with one addition: "hear ye him." The disciples are commanded to listen to Jesus above Moses and Elijah — He is greater than both.
The Demon-Possessed Boy: The disciples failed to cast out the demon. Jesus attributes their failure to unbelief (v.20). This is a picture of the church's powerlessness when faith is weak — and a reminder that spiritual authority flows from dependent faith, not technique.
The Tribute Money (vv.22-27): The second passion prediction is given in two verses and Matthew records the reaction in four words, and they were exceeding sorry. Then an episode found only in this Gospel, and it is about a temple tax. Peter answers for his master before asking him, and the argument put to him afterwards is about family, do the kings of the earth take custom of their own children, or of strangers? The conclusion is that they are exempt, and the tax is paid anyway, notwithstanding, lest we should offend them. The coin comes out of a fish's mouth, and it is enough for two.

Map & Geography

  • "A high mountain" (v.1): Traditionally identified as Mount Tabor in Galilee, though Mount Hermon (near Caesarea Philippi, the setting of ch.16) is more likely geographically — it is the highest peak in the region (~9,200 ft).
  • Capernaum (v.24): Jesus returned to Capernaum, where the Temple tax collectors approached Peter. This was Jesus' home base in Galilee.

Places on this map

  • Mount TaborMount Tabor, IsraelA steep isolated dome rising 1,300 feet straight out of the Jezreel Valley, unmistakable from every direction. Barak mustered on it because chariots could not follow him up, and later tradition made it the mount of transfiguration. Wikipedia
  • Galileenorthern IsraelThe northern hill country above the Jezreel Valley, wetter and greener than Judah and crossed by the trade road to Damascus. That traffic is why Judeans considered it mixed and provincial, and why Jesus grew up hearing more than one language. Wikipedia
  • Mount HermonSyria / Lebanon / Golan borderThe 9,200-foot southern end of the Anti-Lebanon range, snow-covered most of the year and visible from much of Galilee. Its snowmelt feeds the springs that become the Jordan, and it marked the northern limit of Israel's conquests. Wikipedia
  • Caesarea PhilippiBanias, Golan HeightsAt the foot of Mount Hermon, where a spring bursts out of a cliff beside a grotto of Pan, about 25 miles north of the Sea of Galilee. Peter's confession is made here, in the most conspicuously pagan place in the region. Wikipedia
  • CapernaumKfar Nahum, IsraelA fishing village on the north-west shore of the Sea of Galilee, on the road running from the coast to Damascus. A customs post and a garrison explain the tax collector and the centurion; the harbour and the synagogue explain why Jesus made it his base. Wikipedia

Towns sit on their excavated or traditional site. Regions, rivers and seas are ringed rather than dotted, because for those a single point is only an anchor. Coastlines from Natural Earth.

Commentary

  • Enduring Word (David Guzik): enduringword.com Guzik examines the significance of the Transfiguration, why Moses and Elijah appeared, Peter's misguided suggestion of three tabernacles, the disciples' failure with the demon-possessed boy, and the Temple tax miracle.
  • Jamieson-Fausset-Brown (1871): blueletterbible.org A critical and explanatory commentary on the whole Bible, more concise than Matthew Henry and closer to the Hebrew and Greek, with attention to historical and geographical detail. Public domain.
  • Matthew Henry's Exposition (1710): blueletterbible.org A devotional verse-by-verse commentary in the Puritan tradition, still among the most widely read three centuries on. Public domain.

Videos

Matthew 17 Summary in 5 Minutes - Quick Bible Study
2BeLikeChrist

Matthew 16:13-17:13 | Who is Jesus? | Bible Study
Spoken Gospel

Matthew 17:14-17:27 | Taxes to Caesar | Bible Study
Spoken Gospel

Articles

  • GotQuestions.org: gotquestions.org On the whole book: an overview of the book of Matthew -- who wrote it, when, why, and how it fits the rest of Scripture.

Links open on the publisher's own site. Nothing here is reproduced on this page.

Reflection

  • Listen to Him Above All (v.5) — The Father's voice from the cloud commands the disciples to listen to Jesus, not to any other voice, however good. What competing voices are you listening to more than Christ's?
  • Jesus Alone Remains (v.8) — When the vision fades, Moses and Elijah are gone and only Jesus is left standing. What traditions, teachers, or past experiences do you need to let fade so Christ alone has the final word?
  • Faith Over Formula (v.20) — The disciples fail to heal the boy because of unbelief, and Jesus says even faith the size of a mustard seed can move mountains. Are you relying on method and routine instead of genuine trust in God's power?
  • Deeper Battles Need Deeper Preparation (v.21) — Jesus points to prayer and fasting as the path through certain strongholds that don't yield easily. What spiritual discipline are you neglecting that might be the key to breakthrough where you feel stuck?
  • Freedom Surrendered for Others (v.27) — Though exempt, Jesus pays the Temple tax so as not to needlessly offend. Where might you need to set aside your own rights for the sake of others — not because you're wrong, but because love chooses not to cause offense?