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  • Matthew 17
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Overview of Matthew

    • I. Conclusion of Jesus’ Ministry in Galilee and Nearby Regions (14:1–18:35)

      • Death of John the Baptist (14:1-12)

      • Jesus feeds about 5,000 men, as well as women and children (14:13-21)

      • Jesus walks on water (14:22-33)

      • Healings in Gennesaret (14:34-36)

      • Issue about ritual washing of hands (15:1-9)

      • Defilement comes from the heart (15:10-20)

      • Phoenician woman’s great faith (15:21-28)

      • Jesus heals many ailments (15:29-31)

      • Jesus feeds 4,000 men, as well as women and children (15:32-39)

      • Pharisees and Sadducees ask for a sign from heaven (16:1-4)

      • Jesus warns against leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees (16:5-12)

      • Peter identifies Jesus as the Christ (16:13-17)

      • Jesus gives Peter the keys of the Kingdom (16:18-20)

      • Jesus foretells his death and resurrection (16:21-23)

      • Requirements of true discipleship (16:24-28)

      • Jesus’ transfiguration (17:1-13)

      • Jesus heals a demon-possessed boy (17:14-18)

      • Faith the size of a mustard grain (17:19, 20)

      • Jesus again foretells his death and resurrection (17:22, 23)

      • Tax paid with coin from the mouth of a fish (17:24-27)

      • Who is the greatest in the Kingdom? (18:1-6)

      • Stumbling blocks (18:7-10)

      • Illustration of the lost sheep (18:12-14)

      • How to settle differences and gain a brother (18:15-20)

      • Illustration of the unforgiving slave (18:21-35)

Matthew 17:1

  • a lofty mountain: Possibly Mount Hermon, which is near Caesarea Philippi. (See study note on Mt 16:13.) It reaches a height of 2,814 m (9,232 ft) above sea level. The transfiguration may have taken place on one of the spurs of Mount Hermon.​—See App. B10.

Media
  • Mount Hermon

    Matthew 17:1-9
  • Mount Hermon As Seen From the Hula Valley Nature Reserve

Marginal References
  • +Mr 9:2-8; Lu 9:28-36
Publications Index
  • it-2 1061, 1120; ia 193; w10 1/1 27; w08 3/15 31; w00 4/1 12-13; w91 9/15 20-21

Matthew 17:2

  • he was transfigured: Or “he was transformed; his appearance was changed.” The same Greek verb (me·ta·mor·phoʹo) occurs at Ro 12:2.

Footnotes
  • *

    Or “white.”

Marginal References
  • +Mt 16:28; Re 1:13, 16
Publications Index
  • it-2 1120-1121; w97 5/15 11-14; w91 9/15 20-23

Matthew 17:3

  • look!: See study note on Mt 1:20.

Publications Index
  • w05 1/15 16-17; w97 5/15 11-14; w95 4/15 24-25; sh 252, 254

Matthew 17:4

Publications Index
  • jy 144; gt 60; w88 1/1 8

Matthew 17:5

  • a voice: The second of three instances in the Gospel accounts where Jehovah is reported as speaking audibly to humans.​—See study notes on Mt 3:17; Joh 12:28.

    whom I have approved: Or “with whom I am well-pleased.”​—See study notes on Mt 3:17; 12:18.

Marginal References
  • +Mt 3:17; Joh 12:28
  • +Ps 2:7; Isa 42:1; 2Pe 1:17, 18
  • +De 18:15; Mr 9:7; Lu 9:35; Ac 3:22, 23; Heb 2:3
Publications Index
  • kr 6; lr 15; w00 4/1 14; w99 9/15 22; w92 2/15 15

Matthew 17:9

  • Son of man: See study note on Mt 8:20.

Marginal References
  • +Mt 16:20; Mr 9:9
Publications Index
  • it-2 1121; w00 4/1 13-14; w91 9/15 21

Matthew 17:10

Marginal References
  • +Mr 9:11
Publications Index
  • it-2 1121; jy 144; gt 60; w88 1/1 8

Matthew 17:11

Marginal References
  • +Isa 40:3; Mal 4:5, 6; Mt 11:13, 14; Mr 9:12; Lu 1:17
Publications Index
  • it-1 712-713; g94 6/8 8-9; si 174-175

Matthew 17:12

Marginal References
  • +Mr 9:13
  • +Mt 16:21; Lu 23:24, 25
Publications Index
  • it-1 712-713; jy 144; g94 6/8 8-9; gt 60; si 173; rs 318-319; w88 1/1 8

Matthew 17:13

Publications Index
  • it-1 712-713; g94 6/8 8-9; rs 318-319

Matthew 17:14

  • knelt down: In the ancient Near East, kneeling was a posture that expressed respect, especially when petitioning superiors.

Marginal References
  • +Lu 9:37

Matthew 17:15

  • an epileptic: See study note on Mt 4:24.

Marginal References
  • +Mr 9:17-29; Lu 9:38-42
Publications Index
  • it-2 430

Matthew 17:17

Footnotes
  • *

    Or “corrupt; perverse.”

Marginal References
  • +De 32:5, 20
Publications Index
  • jy 146; gt 61; w88 1/15 8

Matthew 17:18

Marginal References
  • +Mt 8:13; 9:22; 15:28; Joh 4:51, 52

Matthew 17:19

Publications Index
  • jy 147; gt 61; w88 1/15 8

Matthew 17:20

  • your little faith: The Greek expression is related to the term rendered “you with little faith” at Mt 6:30; 8:26; 14:31; 16:8; Lu 12:28. Jesus does not imply that his disciples were entirely without faith but, rather, that their faith needed to be stronger.​—See study notes on Mt 6:30; 8:26.

    truly: See study note on Mt 5:18.

    the size of a mustard grain: Or “as small as a mustard seed.”​—See study notes on Mt 13:31, 32.

Marginal References
  • +Mt 21:21; Mr 11:23; Lu 17:6
Publications Index
  • it-2 445; jy 147; w08 1/15 30; g96 8/8 22-23; w91 9/15 15; gt 61; w88 1/15 8-9; w88 12/15 25-26; w87 7/15 3-4

Matthew 17:21

  • Some ancient manuscripts here read: “However, this kind does not come out except by prayer and fasting.” (See study note on Mr 9:29.) But these words do not appear in the earliest and most reliable manuscripts and are evidently not part of the inspired Scriptures.​—See App. A3.

Matthew 17:22

Marginal References
  • +Mt 20:18; Lu 9:44, 45
Publications Index
  • jy 148

Matthew 17:23

Marginal References
  • +Mt 16:21; Mr 9:31
Publications Index
  • jy 148

Matthew 17:24

  • Capernaum: See study note on Mt 4:13.

    the two drachmas tax: Lit., “the double drachmas.” (See App. B14.) Various temple services were maintained through taxation. (Ex 30:12-16) Apparently, by Jesus’ day it had become customary for each adult male Jew to contribute a fixed amount as an annual temple tax.

Marginal References
  • +Ex 30:13, 14; 2Ch 24:6, 9; Ne 10:32
Publications Index
  • it-1 502, 626, 648; it-2 427, 540, 1069; jy 148; nwt 1795; cf 111; w02 9/1 10; gt 62; w88 2/1 8; w87 12/1 28-29

Matthew 17:25

Publications Index
  • it-2 619; jy 148; cf 111-112; w02 9/1 10; w99 3/15 17; w94 11/15 28; gt 62; w88 2/1 8

Matthew 17:26

  • the sons are tax-free: In Jesus’ day, the family members of monarchs were known to be tax-exempt.

Publications Index
  • it-2 1069; jy 148; cf 111-112; w02 9/1 10; w99 3/15 17; w94 11/15 28; gt 62; w88 2/1 8

Matthew 17:27

  • fishhook: The only occurrence in the Christian Greek Scriptures of the Greek word rendered “fishhook,” likely a baited hook cast into the water on the end of a line. Every other mention of fishing equipment in the Christian Greek Scriptures refers to nets.

    silver coin: Lit., “stater.” This coin was considered to be the tetradrachma. (See App. B14.) It was worth four drachmas, the equivalent of a shekel, which was exactly the amount required to pay the temple tax for two.​—Ex 30:13.

Marginal References
  • +1Co 10:32; 2Co 6:3
Publications Index
  • it-2 1034; nwt 1795; w12 8/1 20; w08 2/1 15; g02 2/22 18-19; w94 11/15 28; gt 62; w88 2/1 8

Parallel Translations

Click a verse number to display parallel Bible verses.

Parallel Account

Matt. 17:1Mr 9:2-8; Lu 9:28-36
Matt. 17:5Mr 9:7; Lu 9:35
Matt. 17:9Mr 9:9
Matt. 17:10Mr 9:11
Matt. 17:11Mr 9:12
Matt. 17:12Mr 9:13
Matt. 17:14Lu 9:37
Matt. 17:15Mr 9:17-29; Lu 9:38-42
Matt. 17:22Lu 9:44, 45
Matt. 17:23Mr 9:31

General

Matt. 17:2Mt 16:28; Re 1:13, 16
Matt. 17:5Mt 3:17; Joh 12:28
Matt. 17:5Ps 2:7; Isa 42:1; 2Pe 1:17, 18
Matt. 17:5De 18:15; Ac 3:22, 23; Heb 2:3
Matt. 17:9Mt 16:20
Matt. 17:11Isa 40:3; Mal 4:5, 6; Mt 11:13, 14; Lu 1:17
Matt. 17:12Mt 16:21; Lu 23:24, 25
Matt. 17:17De 32:5, 20
Matt. 17:18Mt 8:13; 9:22; 15:28; Joh 4:51, 52
Matt. 17:20Mt 21:21; Mr 11:23; Lu 17:6
Matt. 17:22Mt 20:18
Matt. 17:23Mt 16:21
Matt. 17:24Ex 30:13, 14; 2Ch 24:6, 9; Ne 10:32
Matt. 17:271Co 10:32; 2Co 6:3
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According to Matthew

17 Six days later Jesus took Peter and James and his brother John along and led them up into a lofty mountain by themselves.+ 2 And he was transfigured before them; his face shone as the sun, and his outer garments became brilliant* as the light.+ 3 And look! there appeared to them Moses and E·liʹjah conversing with him. 4 Then Peter said to Jesus: “Lord, it is fine for us to be here. If you wish, I will erect three tents here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for E·liʹjah.” 5 While he was still speaking, look! a bright cloud overshadowed them, and look! a voice out of the cloud+ said: “This is my Son, the beloved, whom I have approved.+ Listen to him.”+ 6 At hearing this, the disciples fell facedown and became very much afraid. 7 Then Jesus came near, and touching them, he said: “Get up. Have no fear.” 8 When they looked up, they saw no one but Jesus himself. 9 As they were descending from the mountain, Jesus commanded them: “Tell the vision to no one until the Son of man is raised up from the dead.”+

10 However, the disciples put the question to him: “Why, then, do the scribes say that E·liʹjah must come first?”+ 11 In reply he said: “E·liʹjah is indeed coming and will restore all things.+ 12 However, I say to you that E·liʹjah has already come, and they did not recognize him but did whatever they wanted with him.+ In this way also, the Son of man is going to suffer at their hands.”+ 13 Then the disciples perceived that he spoke to them about John the Baptist.

14 When they came toward the crowd,+ a man approached him, knelt down to him, and said: 15 “Lord, have mercy on my son, because he is an epileptic and is ill. He falls often into the fire and often into the water.+ 16 I brought him to your disciples, but they could not cure him.” 17 In reply Jesus said: “O faithless and twisted* generation,+ how long must I continue with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring him here to me.” 18 Then Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him, and the boy was cured from that hour.+ 19 Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said: “Why could we not expel it?” 20 He said to them: “Because of your little faith. For truly I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard grain, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.”+ 21 ——

22 It was while they were gathered together in Galʹi·lee that Jesus said to them: “The Son of man is going to be betrayed into men’s hands,+ 23 and they will kill him, and on the third day he will be raised up.”+ And they were very much grieved.

24 After they arrived in Ca·perʹna·um, the men collecting the two drachmas tax approached Peter and said: “Does your teacher not pay the two drachmas tax?”+ 25 He said: “Yes.” However, when he entered the house, Jesus spoke to him first and said: “What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth receive duties or head tax? From their sons or from the strangers?” 26 When he said: “From the strangers,” Jesus said to him: “Really, then, the sons are tax-free. 27 But that we do not cause them to stumble,+ go to the sea, cast a fishhook, and take the first fish that comes up, and when you open its mouth, you will find a silver coin. Take that and give it to them for me and you.”

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