17.1. Six days later Jesus took with him Peter, James, and John the brother of James, and led them privately up a high mountain.

 

Six days after Peter had taken Jesus aside and remonstrated with Him for saying that He would suffer and die at Jerusalem and Jesus had rebuke Satan that He takes Peter, James and John up a high mountain to be alone.  

 

17.2. And he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light.

 

While they were there Jesus was transfigured before their eyes.   The word used in the original is "metamorphoo" this is where the English word metamorphosis comes from meaning to change into another form.  His body remained the same shape and substance, that is it was still flesh He was still man but His Divinity "God in the flesh"  was manifest in its glorious form.   This was reflected in His face like the noonday son and on the clothes that He wore.

 

17.3. Then Moses and Elijah also appeared before them, talking with him. 

 

As the disciples stood there in awesome wonder Moses and Elijah came and talked with Jesus.  The Bible clearly tells us that Moses died and God buried him. Let us not be surprised that Moses now appeared in a body that was recognizable to the disciples for the dead in Christ are not a vapour or ghostly specter but have a form. Remember that the rich man who was in Hades recognized Abraham and Lazarus in Paradise (Luke 16:23).  Elijah was taken up into heaven in a chariot of fire (2 Kings 2:11). There has been much surmising as to what Moses and Elijah were talking to Jesus about the most common being that it was concerning His forthcoming death on the cross.  However,  it is clearly not recording in the gospel what was said.   None of the three disciples who were there say anything about hearing what was said they only saw. Whatever they were talking about was not for the disciples or us to know.

 

17.4. So Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you want, I will make three shelters – one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.

 

Completely awestricken by what they saw Peter realizing they were very privileged to be there wanted to make three booths, shelters, for each of them.  This type of  shelter would only be made as a temporary measure usually made of the branches of trees. Obviously Peter was not expected Moses and Elijah to remain long.

 

17.5. While he was still speaking, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my one dear Son, in whom I take great delight. Listen to him!"    

 
Even while he was speaking a bright cloud of light enveloped them and the voice of God spoke from it declaring that Jesus was His "dearly beloved Son" in whom He takes great delight in.

 

17.6. When the disciples heard this, they were overwhelmed with fear and threw themselves down with their faces to the ground.

 

On hearing this voice the disciples were overwhelmed with fear and threw themselves down with their faces to the ground.

 

17.7 - 8. But Jesus came and touched them. "Get up," he said. "Do not be afraid."  When they looked up, all they saw was Jesus alone.

 

Jesus came over and touched them to dispel their fears and told them to get up. When they lifted up their heads it was only Jesus that they saw Moses and Elijah had gone.

 

17.9. As they were coming down from the mountain, Jesus commanded them, "Do not tell anyone about the vision until the Son of Man is raised from the dead."

 

As they were coming down the mountain Jesus told them that they were not to tell anyone about the vision they had seen not even to the other nine disciples until after His resurrection.   John refers to it at the beginning of his gospel (John 1:14).

 

17.10. The disciples asked him, "Why then do the experts in the law say that Elijah must come first?"

 

In the light of what they saw the disciples could not understand why the experts in the scriptures said that Elijah had to come before the Messiah.

 

17.11. He answered, "Elijah does indeed come first and will restore all things.

 

Jesus affirms that they were quite correct in what they said Elijah does come before the Messiah prepare the way.

 

17.12. And I tell you that Elijah has already come. Yet they did not recognize him, but did to him whatever they wanted. In the same way, the Son of Man will suffer at their hands."

 

He goes on to say that Elijah has already come but he was not recognized and that they did not treat him right.  In the same way they will treat the Son of Man who will suffer much at their hands.

 

17.13. Then the disciples understood that he was speaking to them about John the Baptist.

 

The disciples realized that Jesus was speaking to them about John the Baptist.

 

17.14 - 15. When they came to the crowd, a man came to him, knelt before him, and said, "Lord, have mercy on my son, because he has seizures and suffers terribly, for he often falls into the fire and into the water.

When they came down from the mountain they were confronted by a man who came and knelt before Jesus.  He cries upon the Lord to have pity on him and have mercy on his son who suffers terribly from epilepsy and often fell into the fire and water.

 

17.16. I brought him to your disciples, but they were not able to heal him."

 

This man had brought his son to the disciples who remained at the foot of the mountain but they could not heal him.

 

17.17. Jesus answered, "You unbelieving and perverse generation! How much longer must I be with you? How much longer must I endure you? Bring him here to me."

 

It was not to his disciples that Jesus addressed His remarks but to the unbelieving Jews who had twisted the word of God to suit themselves. Barnes says that the word perverse means "that which is twisted or turned from the proper direction; and is often used of the eyes, when one or both are turned from their natural position."  He asks how long must He put up with their faithlessness then aks the father to bring his son to him.

 

17.18. Then Jesus rebuked the demon and it came out of him, and the boy was healed from that moment.

 

In the case of this boy the epilepsy was caused by a demon and Jesus commands it to come out of him which it immediately did and the boy was healed.  We must make it clear that not all epilepsy is caused by demon possession.

 

17.19. Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, "Why couldn't we cast it out?"

 

Afterwards the disciples came to Jesus and asked Him why it was that they could not cast out the demon. Jesus had previously sent His disciples out on the own and given them power over unclean spirits (Matthew 10:1).

 

17.20. He told them, "It was because of your little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move; nothing will be impossible for you."

 

On this occasion He tells them that they did not have enough faith. In fact it must have been smaller than a mustard seed for He says if they had faith that was no greater than the size of a mustard seed they could move mountains and nothing would be impossible for them.

 

17.21. However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting."

 

However the kind of demon that had possessed this boy could not be cast out by faith alone but needed pray and fasting.

 

 

17.22. When they gathered together in Galilee, Jesus told them, "The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men.

 

When they came together in Galilee Jesus told them that he would be betrayed and delivered into the hands of His enemies.

 

17.23. They will kill him, and on the third day he will be raised." And they became greatly distressed.

 

These would kill Him but on the third day He will be raised from the dead.   On hearing this the disciples became deeply grieved.

 

17.24. After they arrived in Capernaum, the collectors of the temple tax came to Peter and said, "Your teacher pays the double drachma tax, doesn't he?"

 

On arriving in Capernaum those who collected the temple tax came and asked Peter if Jesus paid the half shekel tax (Exodus 30:13 - 14).

 

17.25. He said, "Yes." When Peter came into the house, Jesus spoke to him first, "What do you think, Simon? From whom do earthly kings collect tolls or taxes – from their sons or from foreigners?"

 

Peter answered yes and that went into his house.   Before he could say anything Jesus asked him who did he think the kings of the earth collected  taxes from - their own sons or from strangers ?

 

17.26. After he said, "From foreigners," Jesus said to him, "Then the sons are free.

 

Peter answered that they collected it from foreigners.   Jesus said that if this was so then the sons are free.

 

17.27. But so that we don't offend them, go to the lake and throw out a hook. Take the first fish that comes up, and when you open its mouth, you will find a four drachma coin. Take that and give it to them for me and you."

 

Even so, in order not to cause any trouble and to give a reason for the Jewish leaders to make accusations against Him Jesus instructs Peter to go to the lake and throw out his line. He was to open the mouth of the first fish he catches and he would find enough money to pay His and Peter's temple tax.