Matthew 17

King James Version

Full text for Matthew Chapter 17

1¶ And 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.›

12‹But 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.

14¶ And 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.›

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

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

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

24¶ And 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.›

27‹Notwithstanding, 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.›

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Jesus is transfigured before Peter, James, and John on a high mountain, where Moses and Elias appear, and a voice from heaven declares Him God's beloved Son. Afterward, Jesus heals a demon-possessed boy, rebuking His disciples for their unbelief and emphasizing prayer and fasting. He then foretells His death and resurrection and miraculously provides money for the temple tribute through Peter.

Medium Summary

Jesus takes Peter, James, and John to a high mountain where He is transfigured, His face shining and raiment white, as Moses and Elias appear and converse with Him. A bright cloud overshadows them, and a voice from heaven proclaims Jesus as the beloved Son, instructing the disciples to hear Him. Descending, Jesus clarifies that John the Baptist fulfilled the prophecy of Elias's coming. Later, Jesus heals a lunatick boy whom His disciples could not cure, attributing their failure to unbelief and stressing the power of faith, prayer, and fasting. Finally, Jesus again foretells His impending suffering and resurrection, and miraculously provides the temple tribute money from a fish's mouth for Himself and Peter.

Long Summary

After six days, Jesus leads Peter, James, and John up a high mountain, where He is transfigured before them, His face shining like the sun and His raiment becoming white as light. Moses and Elias then appear, conversing with Jesus, prompting Peter to suggest building three tabernacles. While Peter speaks, a bright cloud overshadows them, and a voice from the cloud declares, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him." The disciples fall on their faces in fear until Jesus touches them, bidding them to rise without fear, and they see only Jesus. As they descend, Jesus charges them not to tell the vision until He is risen from the dead, and clarifies that John the Baptist was the prophesied Elias, who suffered at the hands of men, foreshadowing the Son of man's suffering. Upon returning to the multitude, a man kneels before Jesus, pleading for his lunatick son whom the disciples could not heal. Jesus rebukes the "faithless and perverse generation" and casts out the devil, curing the child instantly. When the disciples privately ask why they failed, Jesus attributes it to their unbelief, teaching that faith as small as a mustard seed can move mountains, and that some kinds of demons require prayer and fasting. While in Galilee, Jesus reiterates to His disciples that the Son of man will be betrayed, killed, and raised on the third day, causing them great sorrow. Lastly, in Capernaum, when asked about paying tribute, Jesus instructs Peter to cast a hook into the sea, where he finds a coin in the mouth of the first fish, providing the tribute for both Jesus and himself, demonstrating His divine authority.

Core Concepts

  • The TransfigurationJesus' divine glory is revealed to Peter, James, and John on a high mountain, where His appearance is transformed, and He is seen conversing with Moses and Elias. This event confirms His divine nature and foreshadows His future glory.
  • Divine SonshipA voice from a bright cloud declares Jesus as God's "beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased," commanding the disciples to "hear ye him." This public declaration from heaven affirms Jesus' unique relationship with God the Father.
  • Elias's ReturnJesus explains that John the Baptist fulfilled the prophecy of Elias's coming, who was rejected and suffered, just as the Son of man would also suffer. This clarifies Old Testament prophecy and connects John's ministry to Jesus's mission.
  • Faith and UnbeliefJesus rebukes His disciples for their unbelief when they fail to cast out a demon, teaching that even a small amount of faith can accomplish seemingly impossible tasks. He emphasizes that lack of faith hinders divine power.
  • Prayer and FastingJesus states that certain types of spiritual strongholds "goeth not out but by prayer and fasting." This highlights the spiritual disciplines required for overcoming particular demonic influences and exercising spiritual authority.
  • Foretelling of SufferingJesus twice reiterates to His disciples that He will be betrayed, killed, and raised on the third day. These prophecies prepare His disciples for His impending passion and resurrection, though they are initially sorrowful.
  • Divine Authority over TributeJesus, though exempt as the Son of God, miraculously provides the temple tribute money through Peter finding a coin in a fish's mouth. This demonstrates His sovereign power over creation and His wisdom in avoiding offense while asserting His divine sonship.