Matthew 17

International Standard Version

Jesus’ Appearance is Changed^(A)

17 Six days later, Jesus took Peter, James, and his brother John and led them up a high mountain by themselves. ² His appearance was changed in front of them, his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as light. ³ Suddenly, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Jesus.^[a]

⁴ Then Peter told Jesus, “Lord, it’s good that we’re here! If you want, I’ll set up three shelters^[b]—one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” ⁵ He was still speaking when a bright cloud suddenly overshadowed them.

A voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love. I am pleased with him. Keep on listening to him!”

⁶ When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces and were terrified.

⁷ But Jesus came up to them and touched them, saying, “Get up, and stop being afraid.” ⁸ When they raised their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus all by himself.

⁹ On their way down the mountain, Jesus ordered them, “Don’t tell anyone about this vision until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”

¹⁰ So the disciples asked him, “Why, then, do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?”

¹¹ He answered them, “Elijah is indeed coming and will restore all things. ¹² But I tell you that Elijah has already come, yet people^[c] did not recognize him and treated him just as they pleased. In the same way, the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands.” ¹³ Then the disciples understood that he had been speaking to them about John the Baptist.

Jesus Heals a Boy with a Demon^(B)

¹⁴ As they approached the crowd, a man came up to Jesus,^[d] knelt down in front of him, ¹⁵ and said, “Sir,^[e] have mercy on my son, because he is an epileptic and suffers terribly. Often he falls into fire and often into water. ¹⁶ I brought him to your disciples, but they couldn’t heal him.”

¹⁷ Jesus replied, “You unbelieving and perverted generation! How long must I be 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 healed that very hour.

¹⁹ Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and asked, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?”

²⁰ He told them, “Because of your lack of faith.^[f] I tell all of you^[g] with certainty, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you. ²¹ But this kind does not come out except by prayer and fasting.”^[h]

Jesus Again Predicts His Death and Resurrection^(C)

²² While they were gathering together^[i] in Galilee, Jesus told them, “The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into human hands. ²³ They will kill him, but he will be raised on the third day.” Then they were filled with grief.

Questions about the Temple Tax

²⁴ When they came to Capernaum, the collectors of the temple tax^[j] came up to Peter and asked, “Your teacher pays the temple tax,^[k] doesn’t he?”

²⁵ He answered, “Yes.”

When Peter^[l] went home,^[m] Jesus spoke to him first and asked him, “What do you think, Simon? From whom do kings on the earth collect tolls or tributes? From their own subjects,^[n] or from foreigners?”

²⁶ “From foreigners,” he replied.

So Jesus told him, “In that case, the subjects^[o] are exempt. ²⁷ However, so that we don’t offend them, go to the sea and throw in a hook. Take the first fish that comes up, open its mouth, and you will find a coin.^[p] Take it and give it to them for me and you.”