# Matthew 17 📖: The Transfiguration [[📚 Explore the Bible Books]] [[-Matthew Overview]] | [[Matthew 16]] | [[Matthew 18]] > [!info] Table of Contents > [[#📜 Scripture Text (NET)]] > [[#🤔 Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights]] > [[#🧠 Chapter Summary]] > [[#✝️ Christ in This Chapter]] > [[#🔎 Key Observations / 🛟 Life Application]] > [[#💬 Discussion Questions]] > [[#✍️ Key Verses to Remember]] > [[#🔗 Related Passages]] > [[#🙏 Devotional Reflection]] > [[#📂 Internal Notes]] ## 📜 Scripture Text (NET) (The NET Bible: New English Translation. Biblical Studies Press, 2005) ### The Transfiguration **Principle**: Jesus is more than we can ever imagine. [[#Verse 01]] Six days later Jesus took with him Peter, James, and John the brother of James, and led them privately up a high mountain.  [[#Verse 02]] And he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light.  [[#Verse 03]] Then Moses and Elijah also appeared before them, talking with him.  [[#Verse 04]] So Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you want, I will make three shelters—one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”  [[#Verse 05]] While he was still speaking, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my one dear Son, in whom I take great delight. Listen to him!”  [[#Verse 06]] When the disciples heard this, they were overwhelmed with fear and threw themselves down with their faces to the ground.  [[#Verse 07]] But Jesus came and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Do not be afraid.”  [[#Verse 08]] When they looked up, all they saw was Jesus alone. [[#Verse 09]] As they were coming down from the mountain, Jesus commanded them,“Do not tell anyone about the vision until the Son of Man is raised from the dead.”  [[#Verse 10]] The disciples asked him, “Why then do the experts in the law say that Elijah must come first?”  [[#Verse 11]] He answered, “Elijah does indeed come first and will restore all things.  [[#Verse 12]] And I tell you that Elijah has already come. Yet they did not recognize him, but did to him whatever they wanted. In the same way, the Son of Man will suffer at their hands.”  [[#Verse 13]] Then the disciples understood that he was speaking to them about John the Baptist. ### The Disciples’ Failure to Heal **Principle**: God gives us the dignity of being part of the process. Our part is to trust Him. [[#Verse 14]] When they came to the crowd, a man came to him, knelt before him,  [[#Verse 15]] and said, “Lord, have mercy on my son, because he has seizures and suffers terribly, for he often falls into the fire and into the water.  [[#Verse 16]] I brought him to your disciples, but they were not able to heal him.”  [[#Verse 17]] Jesus answered, “Youunbelieving and perverse generation! How much longer must I be with you? How much longer must I endure you? Bring him here to me.”  [[#Verse 18]] Then Jesus rebuked the demon and it came out of him, and the boy was healed from that moment.  [[#Verse 19]] Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why couldn’t we cast it out?”  [[#Verse 20]] He told them, “It was because of your little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; nothing will be impossible for you.” ### Second Prediction of Jesus’ Death and Resurrection **Principle**: Jesus knows- and leads the way. [[#Verse 22]] When they gathered together in Galilee, Jesus told them, “The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men.  [[#Verse 23]] They will kill him, and on the third day he will be raised.” And they became greatly distressed. ### The Temple Tax **Principle**: Jesus takes care of the little things. [[#Verse 24]] After they arrived in Capernaum, the collectors of the temple tax came to Peter and said, “Your teacher pays the double drachma tax, doesn’t he?”  [[#Verse 25]] He said, “Yes.” When Peter came into the house, Jesus spoke to him first,“What do you think, Simon? From whom do earthly kings collect tolls or taxes—from their sons or from foreigners?”  [[#Verse 26]] After he said, “From foreigners,” Jesus said to him, “Then the sons are free.  [[#Verse 27]] But so that we don’t offend them, go to the lake and throw out a hook. Take the first fish that comes up, and when you open its mouth, you will find a four drachma coin. Take that and give it to them for me and you.” # ==📖 Verse-by-Verse Commentary== ##### Verse 01 ##### Verse 02 ##### Verse 03 ##### Verse 04 ##### Verse 05 ##### Verse 06 ##### Verse 07 ##### Verse 08 ##### Verse 09 ##### Verse 10 ##### Verse 11 ##### Verse 12 ##### Verse 13 ##### Verse 14 ##### Verse 15 ##### Verse 16 ##### Verse 17 ##### Verse 18 ##### Verse 19 ##### Verse 20 ##### Verse 21 ##### Verse 22 ##### Verse 23 ##### Verse 24 ##### Verse 25 ##### Verse 26 ##### Verse 27 ## 🤔 Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights 1. The Greek word for transfigured (17:2) is *metamorphoo*, the root of the English word "metamorphosis." 2. Paul uses the same word for believers being transformed (Romans 12:2; 2 Corinthians 3:18). 3. Tradition places the Transfiguration on Mount Tabor, though many scholars suggest Mount Hermon because it is near Caesarea Philippi. 4. Moses and Elijah represent the Law and the Prophets. Both also met with God on a mountain (Exodus 33:18-23; 1 Kings 19:8-13). 5. The bright cloud (17:5) recalls the cloud of God's glory at Sinai and over the tabernacle (Exodus 24:15-16; 40:34). 6. Peter's idea of shelters (17:4) may echo the Feast of Tabernacles, when Israel lived in temporary shelters. 7. The Father's words echo Psalm 2:7, Isaiah 42:1, and Deuteronomy 18:15, where Moses said to listen to the coming prophet. 8. The Greek word for the boy's condition (17:15) literally means "moonstruck," an ancient term for seizures. 9. The two-drachma tax (17:24) was the annual half-shekel temple tax paid by Jewish men (Exodus 30:13). 10. The coin in the fish's mouth (17:27) was likely a stater, worth four drachmas, enough to pay the tax for both Jesus and Peter. ## 🧠 Chapter Summary > [!note] 🌱 Still growing. This section is on its way. ## ✝️ Christ in This Chapter Christ is the glorious Son whom the Father commands us to hear (17:5). On the mountain His divine glory shone, and Peter later wrote that he was an eyewitness of His majesty (2 Peter 1:16-18). ## 🔎 Key Observations / 🛟 Life Application > [!note] 🌱 Still growing. This section is on its way. ## 💬 Discussion Questions 1. Peter wanted to build three shelters, as if Moses, Elijah, and Jesus were equals (17:4-5). Why does the Father point only to Jesus? 2. The disciples could not drive out the demon because of their little faith (17:19-20). What does mustard-seed faith look like? 3. Jesus paid the temple tax to avoid giving offense, even though He did not owe it (17:24-27). What does this teach about laying down our rights? ## ✍️ Key Verses to Remember - 📖 verse 2: Jesus is transfigured; His face shines like the sun and His clothes become white as light. - 📖 verse 5: The Father declares that Jesus is His dear Son and commands, Listen to Him. - 📖 verse 20: Faith as small as a mustard seed can move mountains. - 📖 verses 22-23: Jesus again predicts His betrayal, death, and resurrection. ## 🔗 Related Passages - 🔗 [[2 Peter 01#Verse 16.|2 Peter 1:16-18]] - Peter recalls being an eyewitness on the holy mountain. - 🔗 [[Exodus 34#Verse 29.|Exodus 34:29-35]] - Moses' face shines after speaking with God. - 🔗 [[Malachi 04#Verse 04.|Malachi 4:4-5]] - Remember the law of Moses; I will send Elijah. - 🔗 [[Deuteronomy 18#Verse 15.|Deuteronomy 18:15]] - God will raise up a prophet like Moses; listen to Him. - 🔗 [[Psalm 02#Verse 07.|Psalm 2:7]] - You are My Son. - 🔗 [[Matthew 11#Verse 14.|Matthew 11:14]] - John is the Elijah who was to come. - 🔗 [[Matthew 21#Verse 21.|Matthew 21:21]] and [[Luke 17#Verse 06.|Luke 17:6]] - Faith that moves mountains and uproots trees. - 🔗 [[Matthew 16#Verse 21.|Matthew 16:21]] and [[Matthew 20#Verse 18.|Matthew 20:18-19]] - Jesus predicts His death and resurrection. - 🔗 [[Exodus 30#Verse 13.|Exodus 30:13]] - The half-shekel temple tax. ## 🙏 Devotional Reflection 📝 SOAP: [[Matthew 17 - SOAP|A Glimpse of Glory]] ## 📂 Internal Notes