Matthew 17

Devotionals, Articles, and Bible Study Resources on Matthew 17

1After six days Jesus took with Him Peter, James, and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves.
2There He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light.
3Suddenly Moses and Elijah appeared before them, talking with Jesus.
4Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If You wish, I will put up three shelters — one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”
5While Peter was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Listen to Him!”
6When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown in terror.
7Then Jesus came over and touched them. “Get up,” He said. “Do not be afraid.”
8And when they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus.
9As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus commanded them, “Do not tell anyone about this vision until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”
10The disciples asked Him, “Why then do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?”
11Jesus replied, “Elijah does indeed come, and he will restore all things.
12But I tell you that Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but have done to him whatever they wished. In the same way, the Son of Man will suffer at their hands.”
13Then the disciples understood that He was speaking to them about John the Baptist.
14When they came to the crowd, a man came up to Jesus and knelt before Him.
15“Lord, have mercy on my son,” he said. “He has seizures and is suffering terribly. He often falls into the fire or into the water.
16I brought him to Your disciples, but they could not heal him.”
17“O unbelieving and perverse generation!” Jesus replied. “How long must I remain with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring the boy here to Me.”
18Then Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of the boy, and he was healed from that moment.
19Afterward the disciples came to Jesus privately and asked, “Why couldn’ t we drive it out?”
20“Because you have so little faith,” He answered. “For truly I tell you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”
22When they gathered together in Galilee, Jesus told them, “The Son of Man is about to be delivered into the hands of men.
23They will kill Him, and on the third day He will be raised to life.” And the disciples were deeply grieved.
24After they had arrived in Capernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma tax came to Peter and asked, “Does your Teacher pay the two drachmas?”
25“Yes,” he answered. When Peter entered the house, Jesus preempted him. “What do you think, Simon?” He asked. “From whom do the kings of the earth collect customs and taxes: from their own sons, or from others?”
26“From others,” Peter answered. “Then the sons are exempt,” Jesus declared.
27“But so that we may not offend them, go to the sea, cast a hook, and take the first fish you catch. When you open its mouth, you will find a four-drachma coin. Take it and give it to them for My tax and yours.”
— Matthew 17

Related Resources from Heartlight

It Is Good To Be Here!
Illustration of Matthew 17:2-8 NLT

Illustration of Matthew 17:2-8 NLT -- While these followers watched him, Jesus was changed. His face became bright like the sun. And his clothes became white as light. Then two men were there, talking with Jesus. The men were Moses and Elijah. Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good that we are here. If you want, I will put three tents here—one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah." While Peter was talking, a bright cloud came over them. A voice came from the cloud. The voice said, "This (Jesus) is my Son and I love him. I am very pleased with him. Obey him!" The followers with Jesus heard this voice. They were very afraid, so they fell to the ground. But Jesus came to the followers and touched them. Jesus said, "Stand up. Don't be afraid." The followers looked up, and they saw Jesus was now alone.

Faith or Frustration?
Illustration of Matthew 17:14-18 NLT

Illustration of Matthew 17:14-18 NLT -- Jesus and the followers went back to the people. A man came to Jesus and bowed before him. The man said, "Lord, be kind to my son. He has epilepsy and is suffering very much. My son often falls into the fire or into the water. I brought my son to your followers, but they could not heal him." Jesus answered, "You people have no faith. Your lives are all wrong. How long must I stay with you? How long must I continue to be patient with you? Bring the boy here." Jesus gave a strong command to the demon inside the boy. Then the demon came out of the boy, and the boy was healed.

Elijah Has Come
Illustration of Matthew 17:10-13 NLT

Illustration of Matthew 17:10-13 NLT -- The followers asked Jesus, "Why do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first {before the Christ comes}?" Jesus answered, "They are right to say that Elijah is coming. And it is true that Elijah will make all things the way they should be. But I tell you, Elijah has already come. People did not know who he was. People did to him all the {bad} things they wanted to do. It is the same with the Son of Man. Those same people will make the Son of Man suffer." Then the followers understood that Jesus meant that John the Baptizer was really Elijah.

Taxes?
Illustration of Matthew 17:24-27 NLT

Illustration of Matthew 17:24-27 NLT -- Jesus and his followers went to Capernaum. In Capernaum some men came to Peter. They were the men that collected the two-drachma tax. They asked, "Does your teacher pay the two-drachma tax?" Peter answered, "Yes, Jesus pays the tax." Peter went into the house where Jesus was. Before Peter could speak, Jesus said to him, "The kings on the earth get different kinds of taxes from people. But who are the people that pay the taxes? Are these people the king's children? Or is it other people that pay the taxes? What do you think?" Peter answered, "The other people pay the taxes." Jesus said, "Then the children of the king don't have to pay taxes. But we don't want to make these tax collectors angry. So {pay the tax in this way}: Go to the lake and fish. After you catch the first fish, open the fish's mouth. Inside its mouth you will find a four-drachma coin. Take that coin and give it to the tax collectors. That will pay the tax for you and me."

Just a Mustard Seed
Illustration of Matthew 17:19-20 NLT

Illustration of Matthew 17:19-20 NLT -- Then the followers came to Jesus alone. They said, "We tried to force the demon out of the boy, but we could not. Why were we not able to make the demon go out?" Jesus answered, "You were not able to make the demon go out, because your faith is too small. I tell you the truth. If your faith is as big as a mustard seed, then you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there.' And it will move. All things will be possible for you."

Saddened by the Shadow of the Cross
Illustration of Matthew 17:22-23 NLT

Illustration of Matthew 17:22-23 NLT -- Later, the followers met together in Galilee. Jesus said to the followers, "The Son of Man will be given into the control of men. Those men will kill the Son of Man. But on the third day the Son of Man will be raised from death." The followers were very sad {to hear that Jesus would be killed}.

"Do" the "Do"
Illustration of Matthew 17:20

I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you. - Matthew 17:20

A bright cloud enveloped them, and a...
Illustration of Matthew 17:5

Illustration of Matthew 17:5 -- A bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!"

Alone Together
Illustration of Matthew 17:1 NLT

Illustration of Matthew 17:1 NLT -- Six days later, Jesus took Peter, James, and John the brother of James and went up on a high mountain. They were all alone there.

Heavenly affirmation
Illustration of Matthew 17:5

Inspirational illustration of Matthew 17:5 -- A bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, "This my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!"

The Key to Telling
Illustration of Matthew 17:9 NLT

Illustration of Matthew 17:9 NLT -- Jesus and the followers were walking down the mountain. Jesus commanded the followers, "Don't tell any person about the things you saw on the mountain. Wait until the Son of Man has been raised from death. Then you can tell people about what you saw."

Cross References for Matthew 17

Cross References Provided by Open Bible

The Berean Standard Bible

The Berean Standard Bible (BSB) is a modern, clear, and faithful translation based on the best available Greek and Hebrew manuscripts. Ideal for reading, study, and sharing, it entered the public domain in 2023. For more information, visit berean.bible.