Matthew 17

1 After [a period of] six days [a week] Jesus took [received, chose] with Him Peter [the rock, a disciple], James [the son of Zebedee], and John [the brother of James, an apostle] the brother [a male sibling, a fellow believer] of James, and led [guided, directed] them up a high [lofty] mountain [a place of spiritual encounter, a location of divine revelation] by themselves [alone, in private]. word study 2 There He was transfigured [changed in form, transformed] before them. His face [countenance, presence] shone [radiated light, glowed] like the sun [the celestial body], and His clothes [garments, attire] became as white [pure, clean] as the light [brilliant, shining]. word study 3 Suddenly [and behold] Moses [the Hebrew lawgiver] and Elijah [a prophet of God] appeared [were seen, became visible] before them [to their eyes], talking [communing, conversing] with Jesus [the Christ, the Messiah]. word study 4 Peter [the rock, a disciple of Jesus] said to Jesus, “Lord [Master, the One in authority], it is good [pleasant, beneficial] for us to be here [in this place, at this moment]. If You wish [desire, are willing], I will put up [make, construct] three [a specific number, a triad] shelters [tents, tabernacles] —one for You, one for Moses [the Hebrew lawgiver], and one for Elijah [the prophet, a messenger of God].” word study 5 While Peter was still [yet, ongoing] speaking, a bright [shining, radiant] cloud [a visible mass of water vapor] enveloped [overshadowed, covered] them, and a voice [sound, utterance] from the cloud [out of the heavenly realm] said, “This is My beloved [dearly loved, cherished] Son [the Messiah, the Christ], in whom [in His character, in His person] I am well pleased [delighted, satisfied, to think well of]. Listen [hear, obey, give attention] to Him [to His words, to His teachings]!” word study 6 When the disciples [learners, pupils] heard this, they fell [collapsed, prostrate] facedown [upon their face, in reverence] in terror [sore afraid, exceedingly fearful, very much afraid]. word study 7 Then Jesus [the Savior, God is salvation] came over and touched [made physical contact with, laid his hand on] them. “Get up [arise, stand up, be raised],” He said. “Do not [be not, lest] be afraid [fearful, intimidated, have no fear].” word study 8 And when they looked up [lifting up their eyes, gazing], they saw no one [nobody, none] except Jesus [the Son of God, the Savior]. word study 9 As they were coming down [descending, walking down] the mountain [a high elevation of land], Jesus [Joshua, God is salvation] commanded [ordered, instructed] them, “Do not tell [share, speak] anyone [no one, nothing] about this [the] vision [supernatural sight, spectacle] until [till, when] the Son [child, offspring] of Man [human being, a person] has been raised [arisen, stood up] from the dead [lifeless, deceased].” word study 10 The disciples [pupils, learners] asked Him, “Why then [for what reason, therefore] do the scribes [teachers of the law, scholars] say that Elijah [the prophet, Elias] must [is necessary, has to] come first [before others, beforehand]?” word study 11 Jesus [the Messiah, God’s salvation] replied, “Elijah [the prophet] does indeed [certainly, truly] come [arrive, appear], and he will [is destined to] restore [renew, put right] all [every, complete] things [the universe, creation]. word study 12 But I tell you [declare to you, say unto you] that Elijah [the prophet] has already come [arrived, appeared], and they did not recognize [know, acknowledge] him, but have done [treated, acted] to him whatever [all things, as they wished] they wished [desired, wanted]. In the same way [thus, likewise], the Son [the Messiah] of Man [human nature] will suffer [experience pain, endure] at their hands [by them, under their authority].” word study 13 Then [at that specific point in time] the disciples [learners, pupils] understood [gained spiritual insight, comprehended] that He was speaking [conveying a message, saying] to them about [concerning, regarding] John [the one who baptizes] the Baptist [the one who baptizes, prepares for Jesus’ arrival]. word study 14 When they came [to approach, drew near] to the crowd [multitude, a large group of people], a man [human, a person] came up to Jesus [the Messiah, the Savior] and knelt [fell down on his knees, worshiped] before Him [in reverence, with respect]. word study 15 “Lord [Master, God, the One in authority], have mercy [show compassion, pity] on my son [child, boy],” he said. “He has seizures [is epileptic, lunatick, loses his mind] and is suffering [experiencing pain, distress] terribly [badly, grievously]. He often [frequently, many times] falls into the fire [flames, intense heat] or into the water [liquid]. word study 16 I brought [led, took] him to Your disciples [pupils, followers], but they could not [were unable, lacked the power] heal [cure, restore to health] him [the boy, the one afflicted].” word study 17 “O [faithless, unbelieving] unbelieving and perverse [twisted] generation [of people]!” Jesus replied. “How long must I remain [with you, in your midst] with you? How long must I put up [endure, bear] with you? Bring the boy here [to this place, near me] to Me [to my presence].” word study 18 Then Jesus [the Greek name for Joshua, meaning God is salvation] rebuked [to warn or scold, using His divine authority] the demon [an evil spirit or unclean being], and it came out [departed, was cast out] of the boy [a child, a young servant], and he was healed [cured, restored to health] from that moment [hour, a specific point in time]. word study 19 Afterward [then, at a later time] the disciples [learners, followers] came to Jesus [Joshua, God’s salvation] privately [apart, in a secluded manner] and asked, “Why couldn’t [were we not able] we drive [expel, cast out] it [the demon, evil spirit] out [away, from the person]?” word study 20 “Because you have so little [unbelief, lack of trust] faith,” He answered. “For truly [verily, in truth] I tell you, if you have faith [trust, confidence in God] the size of a [grain of] mustard seed, you can say to this mountain [high elevation], ‘Move from here [this place, hence] to there [yonder place, that location],’ and it will move [change location, depart]. Nothing [no thing, none] will be impossible [unable to be done, beyond power] for you.” word study 22 When they gathered together [abode, stayed] in Galilee [the region of Galilee], Jesus [the Son of God, Joshua] told them, “The Son [a son or child] of Man [a human being] is about [to ensue] to be delivered [surrendered or yielded up] into the hands [power or instrument] of men [human beings]. word study 23 They will [put to death, kill] kill Him, and on the third [following] day He will be [raised to life, come again from the dead, through resurrection, to new life] raised to life.” And the disciples were [exceedingly, very] deeply grieved [sorrowful, grieved]. word study 24 After they had arrived [come to, entered] in Capernaum [a town in Palestine], the collectors [those who received, gatherers] of the two-drachma [equivalent to the Jewish half-shekel Temple tax] tax came to Peter [the rock, a disciple of Jesus] and asked, “Does your Teacher [instructor, rabbi] pay [fulfill, render] the two drachmas [a coin worth two drachmas, Temple tax]?” word study 25 “Yes,” he answered [affirmatively, with certainty]. When Peter entered [came into, stepped across the threshold of] the house, Jesus preempted [spoke before, anticipated] him. “What do you think [suppose, consider], Simon [Peter, the rock]?” He asked. “From whom do the kings [rulers, sovereigns] of the earth [the world, the land] collect [receive, gather] customs [taxes, tolls] and taxes [tribute, revenue]: from their own sons [children, offspring], or from others [strangers, foreigners]?” word study 26 “From [other people’s, strangers’] others,” Peter [the rock, a disciple] answered. “Then [in that case, therefore] the sons [children, descendants] are [exist as, have the state of being] exempt [free, unrestricted],” Jesus [God is salvation, the Messiah] declared. word study 27 “But so that we may not [cause them to stumble] offend them, go to the sea [large body of water], cast a hook [fishhook, bent tool], and take the first fish [a created creature] you catch. When you open its mouth [the physical opening, symbol of speech], you will find a four-drachma coin [stater, a type of coin or weight, enough to pay the tax]. Take it [receive, accept] and give it to them for My tax [tribute, a payment to the authorities] and yours [as a representative of Me].” word study