LESSON 6
THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MATTHEW
CHPTRS. 16-19
Chapter 17
JESUS TRANSFIGURED, TRIUMPHANT, AND TAXED
Matthew 17:1-27
Matt. 17:1-27 Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, led them up on a high mountain by themselves;2 and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light.3 And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him.4 Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, let us make here three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”5 While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!”6 And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces and were greatly afraid.7 But Jesus came and touched them and said, “Arise, and do not be afraid.”8 When they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only.9 Now as they came down from the mountain, Jesus commanded them, saying, “Tell the vision to no one until the Son of Man is risen from the dead.”10 And His disciples asked Him, saying, “Why then do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?”11 Jesus answered and said to them, “Indeed, Elijah is coming first and will restore all things.12 “But I say to you that Elijah has come already, and they did not know him but did to him whatever they wished. Likewise the Son of Man is also about to suffer at their hands.”13 Then the disciples understood that He spoke to them of John the Baptist.14 And when they had come to the multitude, a man came to Him, kneeling down to Him and saying,15 “Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is an epileptic and suffers severely; for he often falls into the fire and often into the water.16 “So I brought him to Your disciples, but they could not cure him.”17 Then Jesus answered and said, “O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him here to Me.”18 And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him; and the child was cured from that very hour.19 Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?”20 So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.21 “However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.”22 Now while they were staying in Galilee, Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men,23 “and they will kill Him, and the third day He will be raised up.” And they were exceedingly sorrowful.24 When they had come to Capernaum, those who received the temple tax came to Peter and said, “Does your Teacher not pay the temple tax?”25 He said, “Yes.” And when he had come into the house, Jesus anticipated him, saying, “What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth take customs or taxes, from their sons or from strangers?”26 Peter said to Him, “From strangers.” Jesus said to him, “Then the sons are free.27 “Nevertheless, lest we offend them, go to the sea, cast in a hook, and take the fish that comes up first. And when you have opened its mouth, you will find a piece of money; take that and give it to them for Me and you.”
17:1-27 THE TRANSFORMING OF YAH SHUA And after day six Yah Shua takes Kepha and Yaaqub and Yah Chanan his brother, and ascends them to a high mountain alone: and Yah Shua transforms in front of them: and his face enlightens as the sun and his garment whitens as the light: and Mosheh and Eli Yah manifest to them, wording with him: And Kepha answers and words to Yah Shua, My Lord, it is well for us to be here: and if you will, we work here three tabernacles — one for you and one for Mosheh and one for Eli Yah. And while he is wording, behold, a brightly lighted cloud overshadows upon them: and a voice being from the cloud, is wording, This is my beloved Son, in whom I will: Hear him!— and when the disciples hear they fall upon their faces and are greatly awestricken: and Yah Shua approaches toward them and words, Rise, and awe not! And they lift their eyes and see no human except if Yah Shua only. And when they descend from the mountain Yah Shua misvahs, wording to them, Word not this sight, until the Son of humanity rises from the dead.
YAH CHANAN THE BAPTIZER IS THE ELI YAH TO COME And his disciples ask him, wording, So why word the scribes that Eli Yah must come first? And Yah Shua answers them, wording, Eli Yah indeed comes first and shelems all: and I word to you, that behold, Eli Yah has come and they know him not but worked in him all — whatever they willed: Thus also the Son of humanity prepares to suffer of them. Then the disciples comprehend that he words to them concerning Yah Chanan the Baptizer. YAH SHUA REBUKES A DEMON And they go toward the congregation, and a man approaches him— eulogizing to him upon his knees, and wording, My Lord, befriend concerning me: my son has been a lunatic and works evilly: for many times he falls into the fire and many times into the water: and I offered him to your disciples, and they are not able to heal him. Yah Shua answers and words, O generation that trusts not and perverted! Until when have I been with you? Until when endure I you? Bring him here to me. And Yah Shua reproves the demon within and he ejects from him: and the lad is healed from that day. Then the disciples approached toward Yah Shua alone, and word to him, Why were we not able to heal him? Yah Shua words to them, Because you trust not! Amen! I word to you, if you trust as a grain of mustard seed, when you word to this mountain, Depart hence!— it departs:— and naught whatever is impossible to you — and this kind ejects not except by fasting and by prayer. YAH SHUA PROPHESIES HIS DEATH AND RESURRECTION And when they return to Gelila, Yah Shua words to them, The Son of humanity is prepared to be shelemed through the hands of sons of humanity and they slaughter him and on day three he rises.— and they sorrow greatly.
THE TWO DRACHMA And when they come to Kephar Nachum, they approach— they who take the two drachma for the head silver to Kepha, and word to him, Your Rabbi— gives he not the two drachma? He words to them, Yes. And when Kepha enters the house Yah Shua anticipates him, wording to him, What see you, Shimun? The sovereigns of the earth -From whom take they customs or head silver — their sons? Or from aliens? Shimun words to him, From aliens. Yah Shua words to him, And then the sons are sons of liberation: and lest we offend them go to the sea and cast a hook and take the first fish that ascends, open his mouth, and you find a stater: take that, and give for me and for you. Aramaic NC
A. Jesus is transfigured.
1. (1-2) The transformation of Jesus before His disciples.
a. Jesus took Peter, James, and John: Jesus did not invite all the disciples, but only these three. Perhaps Jesus did this to prevent the account of this amazing miracle being told of before the time was right (Matthew 17:9). Others have suggested that He did it because these three needed closer supervision than the others. Others say these were His inner three, Peter, James and John.
1). After six days: Luke’s ‘about eight days after Jesus said this’ (Luke 9:28) is based on a Greek way of speaking and means about a week later.
b. Led them up on a high mountain: There have been several suggestions for the location of the Mount of Transfiguration.
· Mount Tabor (about 1,900 feet, 580 meters); but it isn’t high, and isn’t on the way from Caesearea Philippi to Capernaum.
· Mount Hermon (about 9,300 feet, 2,835 meters) is high; but perhaps too high and too cold on its summit, where they seem to have spent the night. It also would not be close to the Jewish crowds that met Jesus immediately on His descent from the mountain (Matthew 17:14, Luke 9:37).
· Mount Miron (about 3,900 feet, 1,190 meters) was the highest mountain in a Jewish area, and is on the way between Caesearea Philippi and Capernaum.
b. He was transfigured before them: The word transfigured speaks of a transformation, not merely a change in outward appearance. The effect was extremely striking; Jesus became so bright in appearance that He was even difficult to look at (like the sun).
1). The verb metamorphoo (transfigure, transform, change in form) suggests a change of inmost nature that may be outwardly visible.
2). Essentially this was not a new miracle, but the temporary cessation of an ongoing one. The real miracle was that Jesus, most of the time, could keep from displaying this glory. Yet John said, “We beheld His glory.” Peter wrote, “We were eyewitnesses of His majesty.”
c. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light: It was His face that did shine as the sun. He wasn’t transformed into another being with another body; it was His own face that shone.
1). Jesus has His disciples with Him when He shines in His glory. He is not glorified apart from them, because they share in His glory. Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me. (John 17:24)
2. (3) Moses and Elijah appear with Jesus.
a. Moses and Elijah: Remarkably, these two Old Testament persons appeared and spoke with the transfigured Jesus. Moses had lived some 1400 years before; Elijah some 900 years before; yet they were alive and in some sort of resurrected, glorified state.
1). It is fair to think that these two particular persons from the Old Testament appeared because they represent the Law (Moses) and the Prophets (Elijah). The sum of Old Testament revelation came to meet with Jesus at the Mount of Transfiguration.
2). We can also say that Moses and Elijah represent those who are caught up to God (Moses at Jude 9 and Elijah at 2 Kings 2:11). More specifically, Moses represents those who die and go to glory, and Elijah represents those who are caught up to heaven without death.
b. Talking with Him: Luke 9:31 tells us the theme of their conversation; they spoke of His decease which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. They spoke of the upcoming work of the cross, and presumably of the resurrection to follow.
3. (4-5) Peter equates Jesus with Moses and Elijah and is dramatically rebuked by a voice from the cloud of God’s glory.
a. Peter suggested the retention of the three in association: Moses, the law-giver; Elijah, the reformer; and Jesus, the Messiah
b. The booths [tabernacles] (the word normally means ‘tents’) would be temporary shelters of branches, such as were erected for the Feast of Tabernacles.
c. A bright cloud overshadowed them: This is the cloud of God’s glory, called the shekinah in the Old Testament. From this cloud of glory, God the Father spoke.
d. This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him! The Father, from heaven, rebuked Peter’s attempt to put Jesus on an equal footing with Moses and Elijah – and while he was still speaking. It was important to interrupt Peter, so that all would know that Jesus is unique and the beloved Son – He deserves our special attention, so Hear Him!
1). One might say that everything that the Father said came from the Scriptures.
· In Psalm 2:7, the Father says to the Son: You are my Son.
· In Isaiah 42:1, the Father says to the Son that He is One in whom My soul delights. Or as Matthew 12:18 quotes the passage: in whom My soul is well pleased!
· In Deuteronomy 18:15, God the Father says through Moses the prophet about the coming Jesus, Him you shall hear.
e. Hear Him! If we should listen to anyone, we should listen to Jesus. One would think that a voice from heaven would say, “Listen to me!” But the Father said, “Hear Him!” Everything points us to Jesus.
Same was said at Jesus’s baptism. Jesus came to John the Baptist while he was baptizing people in the River Jordan. … As soon as Jesus was baptized, he came up out of the water. Heaven was opened and he saw the spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. Then a voice said from heaven, “This is my own dear son with whom I am pleased.” Matt. 3:13-17
Explanations for Matt. 17:1- 27 continued next week.
We will continue with Les.6 next week.
The blessings of the Lord are upon you whether by blood, adoption/sonship or assignment. The blessing of the LORD makes a person rich, and he adds no sorrow with it. Prov. 10:22
David & Mary Sue