Matthew 17

Thought on This Chapter

MT 17:1 And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart,

MT 17:2 And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.

MT 17:3 And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him.

MT 17:4 Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.

A question that people sometimes have is, will we know each other in heaven. We see the answer here in these verses. Moses has been dead for a very long time and he is still recognizable as Moses. And the same with Elijah. They have retained their identity. They are the same people as they were in this life, except without sin. They both were talking with Jesus. They can talk, reason, and think. We are going to get to have great conversations in Heaven. We will fellowship once again with all of our loved ones that passed on before us (of course only if they were saved). Not only will we fellowship with loved ones, but imagine getting to sit down and have a chat with Moses, Joseph, Elijah, David, Ruth, Peter, or Paul. Fellowshipping with those that we read about in the Word of God. And I look forward to getting to know all the saints of God that we never hear about. The millions of people who just quietly served God in some little known out of the way place. But by far the greatest, will be being with Jesus.

Thought On This Chapter

MT 17:19 Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out?

MT 17:20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.

Unbelief is a terrible thing. Unbelief is so terrible that it sends people to hell. Belief saves; unbelief condemns.

Since the saved have enough belief in God to trust His promise of salvation should they not have enough belief to believe all of God's other promises? You would think that we all would, but all too often that is not the case. Many don't believe God enough to tithe or give to missions, or witness to others, or to discipline their children, or to be faithful. The list goes on and on. Many today do not believe that they can have a large number saved any given Sunday.

In these verses we see a connection between unbelief and the limiting of God's work. The disciples could not cast the devil out because they did not believe. They were believers in Jesus. What they didn't believe was that God would really do a work thru them in casting the devil out. We see here followers of Jesus not believing in God's power to use them to do a great work. We have the very same problem today. The churches could have a huge impact on their communities if they would believe that God will do a great work thru them.

Jesus tells them that is was because of unbelief that they failed and then Jesus them tells them that a little amount of faith can do big things.

If we are all honest, we will all admit that we do always believe in God's promises and in His ability to do a great work thru us. So what do we do about it. Pray and ask for forgiveness, and then ask God to help your unbelief.

Mar 9:24 And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.

King James Bible Main Index:

Matthew 17 [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15] [16] [17] [18] [19] [20] [21] [22] [23] [24] [25] [26] [27] [28]

MT 17:1 And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart,

MT 17:2 And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.

MT 17:3 And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him.

MT 17:4 Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.

MT 17:5 While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.

MT 17:6 And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid.

MT 17:7 And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid.

MT 17:8 And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only.

MT 17:9 And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, saying, Tell the vision to no man, until the Son of man be risen again from the dead.

MT 17:10 And his disciples asked him, saying, Why then say the scribes that Elias must first come?

MT 17:11 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things.

MT 17:12 But I say unto you, That Elias is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed. Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them.

MT 17:13 Then the disciples understood that he spake unto them of John the Baptist.

MT 17:14 And when they were come to the multitude, there came to him a certain man, kneeling down to him, and saying,

MT 17:15 Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatick, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water.

MT 17:16 And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him.

MT 17:17 Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me.

MT 17:18 And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour.

MT 17:19 Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out?

MT 17:20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.

MT 17:21 Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.

MT 17:22 And while they abode in Galilee, Jesus said unto them, The Son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of men:

MT 17:23 And they shall kill him, and the third day he shall be raised again. And they were exceeding sorry.

MT 17:24 And when they were come to Capernaum, they that received tribute money came to Peter, and said, Doth not your master pay tribute?

MT 17:25 He saith, Yes. And when he was come into the house, Jesus prevented him, saying, What thinkest thou, Simon? of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own children, or of strangers?

MT 17:26 Peter saith unto him, Of strangers. Jesus saith unto him, Then are the children free.

MT 17:27 Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee.

Outline of Matthew Chapter 17

C. The transfiguration
1. Jesus takes only Peter, James, and John up into a high mountain
2. Jesus was transfigured before them
a. His face shined as the sun
b. His clothes were as white as the light
3. Jesus talks to Moses and Elias
4. Peter wants to build 3 tabernacles
5. God the father testifies of Jesus
a. This is my son
b. In Him I am well pleased
c. Hear Him
d. The disciples are sore afraid
6. Jesus tells them to arise
7. Jesus tells them to tell no man until He is risen from the dead
8. The disciples ask about Elias coming first
a. Jesus says that Elias has already come
b. They understood that He was talking about John the Baptist
D. The healing of the lunatic
1. The lunatic was sore vexed
2. The disciples could not cure him
3. Jesus cast out the devil
4. The disciples ask Jesus why they could not cast him out
5. Jesus answers
a. because of your unbelief
b. This kind only goes out by prayer and fasting
VIII. A visit to Galilee
A. Jesus teaches what will happen to him
1. He will be betrayed
2. He will be killed
3. He will be raised the third day
4. This made the disciples exceeding sorry
B. Peter asked if Jesus pays tribute
1. Peter says yes
2. Jesus asks Peter a question about kings and tribute
a. Kings collect tribute from strangers
b. The kings children are free
3. Jesus tells Peter to go catch a fish
a. The fish will have a piece of money in its mouth
b. Give the money to them for tribute

Two times in this chapter Jesus teaches His disciples that He will be risen from the dead. And yet they do not believe it until they see Him risen.

Before you are too hard on the disciples, think about how many promises in God's book that you have not fully believed.

How many Christians have not believed in Tithing until they have seen it work.

It is our sinful nature to not believe. Our prayer needs to be Lord help our unbelief.