Matthew 17
17
Sunlight Poured from His Face
1-3Six days later, three of them saw that glory. Jesus took Peter and the brothers, James and John, and led them up a high mountain. His appearance changed from the inside out, right before their eyes. Sunlight poured from his face. His clothes were filled with light. Then they realized that Moses and Elijah were also there in deep conversation with him.
4Peter broke in, “Master, this is a great moment! What would you think if I built three memorials here on the mountain—one for you, one for Moses, one for Elijah?”
5While he was going on like this, babbling, a light-radiant cloud enveloped them, and sounding from deep in the cloud a voice: “This is my Son, marked by my love, focus of my delight. Listen to him.”
6-8When the disciples heard it, they fell flat on their faces, scared to death. But Jesus came over and touched them. “Don’t be afraid.” When they opened their eyes and looked around all they saw was Jesus, only Jesus.
9Coming down the mountain, Jesus swore them to secrecy. “Don’t breathe a word of what you’ve seen. After the Son of Man is raised from the dead, you are free to talk.”
10The disciples, meanwhile, were asking questions. “Why do the religion scholars say that Elijah has to come first?”
11-13Jesus answered, “Elijah does come and get everything ready. I’m telling you, Elijah has already come but they didn’t know him when they saw him. They treated him like dirt, the same way they are about to treat the Son of Man.” That’s when the disciples realized that all along he had been talking about John the Baptizer.
With a Mere Kernel of Faith
14-16At the bottom of the mountain, they were met by a crowd of waiting people. As they approached, a man came out of the crowd and fell to his knees begging, “Master, have mercy on my son. He goes out of his mind and suffers terribly, falling into seizures. Frequently he is pitched into the fire, other times into the river. I brought him to your disciples, but they could do nothing for him.”
17-18Jesus said, “What a generation! No sense of God! No focus to your lives! How many times do I have to go over these things? How much longer do I have to put up with this? Bring the boy here.” He ordered the afflicting demon out—and it was out, gone. From that moment on the boy was well.
19When the disciples had Jesus off to themselves, they asked, “Why couldn’t we throw it out?”
20“Because you’re not yet taking God seriously,” said Jesus. “The simple truth is that if you had a mere kernel of faith, a poppy seed, say, you would tell this mountain, ‘Move!’ and it would move. There is nothing you wouldn’t be able to tackle.”
22-23As they were regrouping in Galilee, Jesus told them, “The Son of Man is about to be betrayed to some people who want nothing to do with God. They will murder him—and three days later he will be raised alive.” The disciples felt scared to death.
* * *
24When they arrived at Capernaum, the tax men came to Peter and asked, “Does your teacher pay taxes?”
25Peter said, “Of course.”
But as soon as they were in the house, Jesus confronted him. “Simon, what do you think? When a king levies taxes, who pays—his children or his subjects?”
26-27He answered, “His subjects.”
Jesus said, “Then the children get off free, right? But so we don’t upset them needlessly, go down to the lake, cast a hook, and pull in the first fish that bites. Open its mouth and you’ll find a coin. Take it and give it to the tax men. It will be enough for both of us.”
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Matthew 17: MSG
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THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson. All rights reserved. Used by permission of NavPress. Represented by Tyndale House Publishers.
Matthew 17
17
The Transfiguration
1 And after six days Jesus took along Peter and James and John his brother, and led them up on a high mountain by themselves. 2And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothing became bright as the light. 3And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with him. 4So Peter answered and#*Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“answered”) has been translated as a finite verb said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good that we are here! If you want, I will make here three shelters, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.” 5While#*Here “while” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“speaking”) he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and behold, a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased. Listen to him!” 6And when#*Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“heard”) which is understood as temporal the disciples heard this,#*Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation they fell down on their faces and were extremely frightened. 7And Jesus came and touched them and#*Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“touched”) has been translated as a finite verb said, “Get up and do not be afraid.” 8And when they#*Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“lifted up”) which is understood as temporal lifted up their eyes they saw no one except him—Jesus alone.
9And as#*Here “as” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“were coming down”) they were coming down from the mountain, Jesus commanded them saying, “Tell no one the vision until the Son of Man is raised from the dead.” 10And the disciples asked him, saying, “Then why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?” 11And he answered and#*Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“answered”) has been translated as a finite verb said, “Elijah indeed is coming, and will restore all things. 12But I say to you that Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but did with him whatever they wanted. In the same way also the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands.” 13Then the disciples understood that he had spoken to them about John the Baptist.
A Demon-possessed Boy Healed
14And when they#*Here “when” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“came”) came to the crowd, a man approached him, kneeling down before him 15and saying, “Lord, have mercy on my son, because he has seizures and suffers severely, for often he falls into the fire and often into the water. 16And I brought him to your disciples, and they were not able to heal him.” 17And Jesus answered and#*Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“answered”) has been translated as a finite verb said, “O unbelieving and perverse generation! How long#Literally “until when” will I be with you? How long#Literally “until when” must I put up with you? Bring him here to me!” 18And Jesus rebuked him, and the demon came out of him and the boy was healed from that hour.
19Then the disciples approached Jesus privately and#*Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“approached”) has been translated as a finite verb said, Why#Literally “for what” were we not able to expel it?” 20And he said to them, “Because of your little faith. For truly I say to you, if you have faith like 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.”#Most later Greek manuscripts add v. 21, “But this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.”
Jesus Predicts His Death and Resurrection a Second Time
22Now as#*Here “as” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“were gathering”) they were gathering in Galilee, Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men,#Or possibly “of people,” in a generic sense, although the reference here may be to the specific group responsible for Jesus’ arrest, where it is unlikely women were present 23and they will kill him, and on the third day he will be raised.” And they were extremely distressed.
Paying the Double Drachma Temple Tax
24Now when#*Here “when” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“arrived”) they arrived in Capernaum, the ones who collected the double drachma tax#This refers to the half-shekel annual tax paid by Jewish males to support the temple; over time the name of the coin commonly used to pay the tax came to be used for the tax itself came up to Peter and said, “Does your teacher not pay the double drachma tax?” 25He said, “Yes.” And when he#*Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“came”) which is understood as temporal came into the house, Jesus spoke to him first, saying, “What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth collect tolls or taxes—from their own sons, or from foreigners?” 26And when he#*Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“said”) which is understood as temporal said, “From foreigners,” Jesus said to him, “Then the sons are free. 27But so that we do not give offense to them, go out to the sea, cast a line with#*The words “a line with” are not in the Greek text but are implied a hook, and take the first fish that comes up. And when you#*Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“open”) which is understood as temporal open its mouth, you will find a four-drachma coin. Take that and#*Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“take”) has been translated as a finite verb give it#*Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation to them for me and you.”
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