Matthew 17: The Transfiguration of Jesus
The Transfiguration
Chapter with Audio
17 And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. 2 And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light. 3 And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. 4 And Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.” 5 He was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” 6 When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces and were terrified. 7 But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Rise, and have no fear.” 8 And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only.
9 And as they were coming down the mountain, Jesus commanded them, “Tell no one the vision, until the Son of Man is raised from the dead.” 10 And the disciples asked him, “Then why do the scribes say that first Elijah must come?” 11 He answered, “Elijah does come, and he will restore all things. 12 But I tell you that Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but did to him whatever they pleased. So also the Son of Man will certainly suffer at their hands.” 13 Then the disciples understood that he was speaking to them of John the Baptist.
Jesus Heals a Boy with a Demon
14 And when they came to the crowd, a man came up to him and, kneeling before him, 15 said, “Lord, have mercy on my son, for he has seizures and he suffers terribly. For often he falls into the fire, and often into the water. 16 And I brought him to your disciples, and they could not heal him.” 17 And Jesus answered, “O faithless and twisted generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him here to me.” 18 And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him, and the boy was healed instantly. 19 Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?” 20 He said to them, “Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.”
Jesus Again Foretells Death, Resurrection
22 As they were gathering in Galilee, Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is about to be delivered into the hands of men, 23 and they will kill him, and he will be raised on the third day.” And they were greatly distressed.
The Temple Tax
24 When they came to Capernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma tax went up to Peter and said, “Does your teacher not pay the tax?” 25 He said, “Yes.” And when he came into the house, Jesus spoke to him first, saying, “What do you think, Simon? From whom do kings of the earth take toll or tax? From their sons or from others?” 26 And when he said, “From others,” Jesus said to him, “Then the sons are free. 27 However, not to give offense to them, go to the sea and cast a hook and take the first fish that comes up, and when you open its mouth you will find a shekel. Take that and give it to them for me and for yourself.”
Chapter Analysis
Matthew 17: The Transfiguration And The Power Of Faith
Jesus Is Transfigured
📖 Matthew 17:1–8
¹ After six days, Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother up on a high mountain by themselves.
² He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became white as the light.
³ Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Jesus.
⁴ Peter said to Jesus that it was good for them to be there and offered to make three tabernacles: one for Jesus, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.
⁵ While Peter was still speaking, a bright cloud overshadowed them. A voice from the cloud said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him.”
⁶ When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces and were greatly afraid.
⁷ Jesus came and touched them, telling them to arise and not be afraid.
⁸ When they lifted their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only.
🔹 The Truth
Jesus revealed His glory before Peter, James, and John.
Moses and Elijah appeared, but the Father directed attention to His beloved Son.
Jesus is greater than Moses and Elijah, and He must be heard.
🔹 The Promise
God has revealed His beloved Son, and His people are called to hear Him.
✅ Conclusion
The transfiguration shows the glory of Christ and the Father’s command: hear Him.
Elijah Has Come
📖 Matthew 17:9–13
⁹ As they came down from the mountain, Jesus commanded them not to tell the vision to anyone until the Son of Man had risen from the dead.
¹⁰ His disciples asked why the scribes said Elijah must come first.
¹¹ Jesus answered that Elijah truly comes first and will restore all things.
¹² But He told them Elijah had already come, and they did not know him, but did to him whatever they wished. In the same way, the Son of Man would also suffer at their hands.
¹³ Then the disciples understood He was speaking to them of John the Baptist.
🔹 The Truth
John the Baptist fulfilled the role of Elijah in preparing the way.
The people rejected John, and Jesus would also suffer at their hands.
God’s plan included both glory and suffering.
🔹 The Promise
God fulfills His Word, even when people fail to recognize His messenger.
✅ Conclusion
The disciples needed to understand that the path of the Messiah included rejection and suffering before glory.
Jesus Heals A Demon-Possessed Boy
📖 Matthew 17:14–21
¹⁴ When they came to the multitude, a man came to Jesus, kneeling before Him.
¹⁵ He asked the Lord to have mercy on his son, who was epileptic and suffered severely, often falling into the fire and water.
¹⁶ He had brought him to the disciples, but they could not cure him.
¹⁷ Jesus answered, “O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you?” Then He told them to bring the boy to Him.
¹⁸ Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him. The child was cured from that very hour.
¹⁹ The disciples came to Jesus privately and asked why they could not cast it out.
²⁰ Jesus told them it was because of their unbelief. If they had faith as a mustard seed, they would say to the mountain, “Move from here to there,” and it would move; nothing would be impossible for them.
²¹ This kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.
🔹 The Truth
The disciples failed because of unbelief.
Jesus had complete authority over the demon.
Faith depends on God’s power, not human ability.
🔹 The Promise
Even faith as small as a mustard seed can trust the power of God.
✅ Conclusion
The boy was delivered when brought to Jesus. The lesson is not confidence in ourselves, but faith in God.
Jesus Again Foretells His Death And Resurrection
📖 Matthew 17:22–23
²² While they were staying in Galilee, Jesus told them that the Son of Man was about to be betrayed into the hands of men.
²³ They would kill Him, and the third day He would be raised up. The disciples were exceedingly sorrowful.
🔹 The Truth
Jesus knew He would be betrayed and killed.
He also clearly promised His resurrection on the third day.
The disciples felt sorrow but did not yet fully understand the victory to come.
🔹 The Promise
Jesus would rise again on the third day.
✅ Conclusion
Jesus did not walk blindly toward the cross. He knew the suffering ahead and the resurrection beyond it.
The Temple Tax
📖 Matthew 17:24–27
²⁴ When they came to Capernaum, those who received the temple tax asked Peter whether his Teacher paid the temple tax.
²⁵ Peter said yes. When he came into the house, Jesus spoke first and asked whether kings of the earth take customs or taxes from their own sons or from strangers.
²⁶ Peter answered that they take them from strangers. Jesus said the sons are free.
²⁷ Nevertheless, so they would not offend them, Jesus told Peter to go to the sea, cast in a hook, and take the first fish that came up. When he opened its mouth, he would find a coin. He was to take it and give it for Jesus and Peter.
🔹 The Truth
Jesus, as the Son, was free from obligation in a unique way.
He chose not to cause unnecessary offense.
He showed supernatural provision even in a small practical matter.
🔹 The Promise
The Lord can provide exactly what is needed in ways people could never plan.
✅ Conclusion
The temple tax account shows both Jesus’ Sonship and His humble wisdom in avoiding needless offense.
Summary Conclusion
Matthew 17 reveals the glory of Jesus in the transfiguration, the Father’s command to hear His Son, the fulfillment connected to John the Baptist, Jesus’ authority over demons, His clear prediction of death and resurrection, and His wise handling of the temple tax. The chapter shows that Jesus is glorious, authoritative, obedient, and worthy to be heard above all.
Final Questions For You
- Why did the Father say, “Hear Him,” when Jesus was transfigured?
- What does the disciples’ failure to cast out the demon teach about faith and dependence on God?
- How does Jesus’ prediction of His death and resurrection help us understand His mission?