Matthew 17:1-13

Easy-to-Read Version

Jesus Is Seen With Moses and Elijah^(A)

17 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. ² While these followers watched him, Jesus was changed. His face became bright like the sun, and his clothes became white as light. ³ Then two men were there, talking with him. They were Moses and Elijah.

⁴ 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.”

⁵ While Peter was talking, a bright cloud came over them. A voice came from the cloud and said, “This is my Son, the one I love. I am very pleased with him. Obey him!”

⁶ The followers with Jesus heard this voice. They were very afraid, so they fell to the ground. ⁷ But Jesus came to them and touched them. He said, “Stand up. Don’t be afraid.” ⁸ The followers looked up, and they saw that Jesus was now alone.

⁹ As Jesus and the followers were coming down the mountain, he gave them this command: “Don’t tell anyone about what 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.”

¹⁰ The followers asked Jesus, “Why do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come^[a] before the Messiah comes?”

¹¹ Jesus answered, “They are right to say Elijah is coming. And it is true that Elijah will make all things the way they should be. ¹² But I tell you, Elijah has already come. People did not know who he was, and they treated him badly, doing whatever they wanted to do. It is the same with the Son of Man. Those same people will make the Son of Man suffer.” ¹³ Then the followers understood that when Jesus said Elijah, he was really talking about John the Baptizer.