Jesus’ Appearance is Changed(A)
17 Six days later, Jesus took Peter, James, and his brother John and led them up a high mountain by themselves. 2 His appearance was changed in front of them, his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as light. 3 Suddenly, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Jesus.[a]
4 Then Peter told Jesus, “Lord, it’s good that we’re here! If you want, I’ll set up three shelters[b]—one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” 5 He was still speaking when a bright cloud suddenly overshadowed them.
A voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love. I am pleased with him. Keep on listening to him!”
6 When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces and were terrified.
7 But Jesus came up to them and touched them, saying, “Get up, and stop being afraid.” 8 When they raised their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus all by himself.
9 On their way down the mountain, Jesus ordered them, “Don’t tell anyone about this vision until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”
10 So the disciples asked him, “Why, then, do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?”
11 He answered them, “Elijah is indeed coming and will restore all things. 12 But I tell you that Elijah has already come, yet people[c] did not recognize him and treated him just as they pleased. In the same way, the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands.” 13 Then the disciples understood that he had been speaking to them about John the Baptist.
Jesus Heals a Boy with a Demon(B)
14 As they approached the crowd, a man came up to Jesus,[d] knelt down in front of him, 15 and said, “Sir,[e] have mercy on my son, because he is an epileptic and suffers terribly. Often he falls into fire and often into water. 16 I brought him to your disciples, but they couldn’t heal him.”
17 Jesus replied, “You unbelieving and perverted generation! How long must I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring him here to me!” 18 Then Jesus rebuked the demon and it came out of him, and the boy was healed that very hour.
19 Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and asked, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?”
20 He told them, “Because of your lack of faith.[f] I tell all of you[g] with certainty, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you. 21 But this kind does not come out except by prayer and fasting.”[h]
Jesus Again Predicts His Death and Resurrection(C)
22 While they were gathering together[i] in Galilee, Jesus told them, “The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into human hands. 23 They will kill him, but he will be raised on the third day.” Then they were filled with grief.
Questions about the Temple Tax
24 When they came to Capernaum, the collectors of the temple tax[j] came up to Peter and asked, “Your teacher pays the temple tax,[k] doesn’t he?”
25 He answered, “Yes.”
When Peter[l] went home,[m] Jesus spoke to him first and asked him, “What do you think, Simon? From whom do kings on the earth collect tolls or tributes? From their own subjects,[n] or from foreigners?”
26 “From foreigners,” he replied.
So Jesus told him, “In that case, the subjects[o] are exempt. 27 However, so that we don’t offend them, go to the sea and throw in a hook. Take the first fish that comes up, open its mouth, and you will find a coin.[p] Take it and give it to them for me and you.”
Footnotes
- Matthew 17:3 Lit. him
- Matthew 17:4 Or tents
- Matthew 17:12 Lit. they
- Matthew 17:14 Lit. him
- Matthew 17:15 Or Lord
- Matthew 17:20 Other mss. read your little faith
- Matthew 17:20 The Gk. pronoun you is pl.
- Matthew 17:21 Other mss. lack this verse
- Matthew 17:22 Other mss. read were staying
- Matthew 17:24 Lit. didrachma
- Matthew 17:24 Lit. didrachma
- Matthew 17:25 Lit. he
- Matthew 17:25 Or went into the house
- Matthew 17:25 Lit. sons
- Matthew 17:26 Lit. sons
- Matthew 17:27 Lit. stater, a coin worth two didrachmas