Matthew 17

V1 – The Lord Jesus seemed to have an inside team of disciples who were closer to him than the rest. Peter, James, and John, in particular, were the closest.

These three saw him at his highest moments of glory, like the raising of Jairus’s daughter, the transfiguration (which we see in these coming verses in this chapter), and the garden of Gethsemane when the Lord prayed before He was to be crucified, and He wanted them to watch with him.

Later in the early church, Peter becomes a very prominent leader in the church in Jerusalem (Peter was the leader of the apostles), James becomes the first apostle who is martyred, and John is the one who sees the Revelation as He is exiled in Patmos.

The Lord intentionally revealed his glory and his moments of pain more to these three. He puts them close so that they can know him deeper. They later become very instrumental in the strengthening of the Church.

The Lord still does the same for some of us today. He draws us even closer when He is preparing us for something, which may be a hardship or ministry, and He ensures to ensure we are well prepared. Glory be to His name.

V2 – What was the transfiguration?

It is a transformation to a glorified body. As for us, our bodies will also be transformed when He appears. I long for this day! See what Philippians says:

Philippians 3:21 NLT

He will take our weak mortal bodies and change them into glorious bodies like his own, using the same power with which he will bring everything under his control.

V5 – In this verse, the father testifies of the son that He brings him great joy. For us, we now have been made sons through Jesus. We should really be very interested in making the Lord have great joy. What was unique about Jesus in his relationship with the Father? – He was obedient and humble. Jesus was very focused on doing the will of the Father and was also always in communion with the Father.

Take time and check this article: 10 Attributes Of Jesus’ Relationship With His Father (And what we can learn from them)

V10 – After seeing Moses and Elijah in the Transfiguration, the disciples are confused and are, therefore inquisitive about the issue of Elijah coming before the Messiah. They now want Jesus to clear up their confusion. And the Lord does — He makes it clear that Elijah has already come. He was John the Baptist.

What do we do when something is unclear or when we hear confusing teaching? We need to check and confirm if that’s really what the word of God says. This was a quality that the Bereans had. Paul was teaching something they had not had before, so they searched the scriptures to see if they said that. They are compared to the people of Thessalonica, who, it seems, were not very open-minded.

Acts 17:11

And the people of Berea were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, and they listened eagerly to Paul’s message. They searched the Scriptures day after day to see if Paul and Silas were teaching the truth.

An even better way of living is not to wait first to hear these different teachings and even inputs from the world. We feast on God’s word and know him so that when anything other than the truth is taught, we will know. This is what Hebrews says:

Hebrews 13:8-9a

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings. 

V20 – The disciples could not cast out the demon disturbing the boy. When they ask Jesus, look at how Jesus replies. Check these different bible versions:

How do you build your faith in God? How do you build your trust in Him? How do you cast off doubt on God’s power?

The more you know Him, the more you realize that He is good and kind and that He cares for you personally, and that He wants to do you good, then you start resting on Him and in his awesome Power, and you are no longer afraid, and nothing remains impossible.

Jesus says in vs 20:

Matthew 17: 20 NLT

“I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it would move. Nothing would be impossible.

V24 – The temple tax collectors come to ask for this tax from Jesus. But Jesus explains through his conversation with Peter that this is actually misplaced.

When we read Exodus 30:13-16, we learn that this temple tax was actually an offering for the Israelites to atone for their lives:

Exodus 30:13-16 NLT;

Each person who is counted must give a small piece of silver as a sacred offering to the Lord. (This payment is half a shekel,[a] based on the sanctuary shekel, which equals twenty gerahs.) All who have reached their twentieth birthday must give this sacred offering to the Lord. When this offering is given to the Lord to purify your lives, making you right with him, the rich must not give more than the specified amount, and the poor must not give less. Receive this ransom money from the Israelites, and use it for the care of the Tabernacle. It will bring the Israelites to the Lord’s attention, and it will purify your lives.”

So, now Jesus explains that free people do not need to pay the temple tax because He had come. He was symbolically talking about the purpose of his death and how He will pay one sacrifice (his life) to atone for all people, the rich and the poor alike. And now, no one needs to do anything more to atone; Jesus paid it all!

Our call is now to live for him. To love him and obey what He says so we can be like Him.