Matthew 17

In Matthew 17, we witness pivotal moments in Jesus' ministry that reveal His divine nature and authority. The chapter opens with the Transfiguration, a supernatural event where Jesus is revealed in His heavenly glory before three of His disciples. Following this, Jesus performs a miraculous healing, foretells His suffering, and teaches about faith and obedience. These events deepen the disciples' understanding of Jesus' identity as the Son of God and challenge them to grow in faith.

Matthew 17:1-3 (NKJV)
1 Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, led them up on a high mountain by themselves;
2 and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light.
3 And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him.

Jesus takes Peter, James, and John, His closest disciples, up a mountain to reveal a glimpse of His divine glory. In His transfiguration, Jesus’ radiant appearance symbolizes His holiness and divine nature, reminding the disciples of His heavenly authority. The appearance of Moses and Elijah, representing the Law and the Prophets, emphasizes that Jesus fulfills both, and their presence foreshadows His upcoming sacrifice and the coming kingdom.

Matthew 17:4 (NKJV)
4 Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, let us make here three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”

Peter, overwhelmed by the experience, suggests building three tabernacles to honor Jesus, Moses, and Elijah, perhaps intending to preserve the moment. His response reflects his admiration and reverence, but he misunderstands the significance of the vision, missing that Jesus alone is the focus. Peter’s reaction reveals the disciples' growing yet imperfect understanding of Jesus’ divine mission.

Matthew 17:5-6 (NKJV)
5 While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!”
6 And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces and were greatly afraid.

God’s voice interrupts Peter, emphasizing that Jesus is His beloved Son and deserves the disciples’ full attention. This divine affirmation underscores Jesus' unique status above Moses and Elijah. The disciples’ fear in response to God’s voice highlights their awe of God’s holiness and the overwhelming nature of witnessing His glory firsthand.

Matthew 17:7-8 (NKJV)
7 But Jesus came and touched them and said, “Arise, and do not be afraid.”
8 When they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only.

After God’s powerful revelation, Jesus comforts the disciples, assuring them that they do not need to fear. His touch and words calm them, revealing His compassion and understanding of their human frailty. As they look up and see only Jesus, they are reminded of His central role and the focus of their faith.

Matthew 17:9-10 (NKJV)
9 Now as they came down from the mountain, Jesus commanded them, saying, “Tell the vision to no one until the Son of Man is risen from the dead.”
10 And His disciples asked Him, saying, “Why then do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?”

Jesus instructs the disciples to keep the vision private until after His resurrection, likely to prevent misunderstandings about His mission. The disciples, still grappling with the prophecies, ask about Elijah, reflecting a common expectation that Elijah’s return would precede the Messiah’s coming. Their question shows their ongoing struggle to align their beliefs with Jesus’ teachings.

Matthew 17:11-13 (NKJV)
11 Jesus answered and said to them, “Indeed, Elijah is coming first and will restore all things.
12 But I say to you that Elijah has come already, and they did not know him but did to him whatever they wished. Likewise the Son of Man is also about to suffer at their hands.”
13 Then the disciples understood that He spoke to them of John the Baptist.

Jesus clarifies that the “Elijah” they awaited had come in the form of John the Baptist, who prepared the way for Him. Yet, just as John was rejected and suffered, Jesus also anticipates rejection and suffering. This conversation deepens the disciples’ understanding of the prophetic fulfillment and foreshadows Jesus’ path to the cross.

Matthew 17:14-18 (NKJV)
14 And when they had come to the multitude, a man came to Him, kneeling down to Him and saying,
15 “Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is an epileptic and suffers severely; for he often falls into the fire and often into the water.
16 So I brought him to Your disciples, but they could not cure him.”
17 Then 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 here to Me.”
18 And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him; and the child was cured from that very hour.

A father brings his demon-possessed son to Jesus for healing, explaining that the boy suffers from seizures and is often thrown into fire or water by the demon. The disciples, who had previously been given authority to heal (Matthew 10:1), were unable to cure him. Jesus expresses frustration with the lack of faith of both the disciples and the generation they represent, calling them a "faithless and perverse generation." He then rebukes the demon, and the boy is immediately healed. This passage highlights the importance of faith in God's power, as Jesus later explains to His disciples that their inability to heal the boy was due to their lack of faith (Matthew 17:20). Jesus' response also reveals His disappointment that His disciples, despite being given authority and having witnessed His miracles, still struggled with doubt. His frustration emphasizes the need for trust in God's ability to work through them and serves as a lesson about the power of faith in overcoming obstacles.

Matthew 17:19-21 (NKJV)
19 Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?”
20 So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as 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.
21 However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.”

When the disciples fail to heal the demon-possessed boy, it highlights that their inability stemmed from a lack of genuine faith and full reliance on God's power. They had experienced success in the past when they trusted in God’s strength, but now, they had started to depend more on their own abilities, which led to their failure. Jesus’ response teaches them that true faith is not about how much faith one has, but how deeply that faith is rooted in God's power. Even a small amount of sincere faith, when placed in God, can accomplish great things. The disciples' failure was a lesson about the importance of staying connected to God and depending on Him for strength.

Additionally, Jesus emphasizes that prayer and fasting are essential practices for strengthening faith. These spiritual disciplines help individuals focus on God and build the trust needed to overcome significant challenges. Prayer and fasting are not just about requesting God's intervention, but about developing a deeper connection with Him, which helps believers cultivate the kind of faith necessary to confront the challenges that arise in their walk with God.

In summary, this passage teaches that true faith is not in the quantity but in the sincerity of trust in God's power. The disciples' failure served as a reminder that their reliance should be entirely on God, and that prayer and fasting are key to nurturing and sustaining the kind of faith that can lead to miracles and victories.

Matthew 17:22-23 (NKJV)
22 Now while they were staying in Galilee, Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men,
23 and they will kill Him, and the third day He will be raised up.” And they were exceedingly sorrowful.

Jesus again foretells His death and resurrection, preparing His disciples for the difficult events ahead. This prophecy grieves them, as they struggle to comprehend the necessity of His suffering. Their sorrow reflects their love for Jesus and their incomplete understanding of His mission.

Matthew 17:24-27 (NKJV)
24 When they had come to Capernaum, those who received the temple tax came to Peter and said, “Does your Teacher not pay the temple tax?”
25 He said, “Yes.” And when he had come into the house, Jesus anticipated him, saying, “What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth take customs or taxes, from their sons or from strangers?”
26 Peter said to Him, “From strangers.” Jesus said to him, “Then the sons are free.
27 Nevertheless, lest we offend them, go to the sea, cast in a hook, and take the fish that comes up first. And when you have opened its mouth, you will find a piece of money; take that and give it to them for Me and you.”

The temple tax collectors ask Peter if Jesus pays the temple tax. Jesus, knowing the situation, explains to Peter that the “sons of the King” (referring to Himself as God’s Son) are exempt from the tax, just as the priests in the Old Testament were exempt from paying tithes because of their special role in God’s service. However, Jesus chooses to pay the tax anyway, to avoid causing offense. He instructs Peter to catch a fish, and when he does, he finds a coin in its mouth to cover the tax for both of them.

Since Jesus had chosen His disciples to follow Him in ministry, they were also part of God’s work, just like the priests in the Old Testament. As such, they too would be exempt from paying the temple tax, as they were engaged in the ministry of God's kingdom. Jesus' decision to pay the tax, even though He was exempt, highlights His humility and His desire to avoid unnecessary conflict. It also demonstrates the principle that those who are dedicated to God’s work—like the disciples—share in the freedom that comes from their special role in God’s service.