The Gospel According to Matthew Chapter 17

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The Gospel According to Matthew Chapter 17

The Bible Text from https://www.bible.com/bible/111/MAT.17.NIV

Things Getting Tense with Transfiguration

The Transfiguration

1 After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain(1) by themselves. (These three were the core group among the disciples.)

2 There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. (This is the most dramatic event proving the Messiahship of Jesus.)

3 Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus. (Moses and Elijah were the two most prominent figures representing the Old Testament. They prove that Jesus is the promised in the Old Testament Messiah.)

4 Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” (This extremely overwhelming happening made Peter to build shrines for the Three.)

5 While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!” (Even a voice came from above confirm‎ing the Messiahship of Jesus.)

6 When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified. (The disciples couldn't handle the impact on them, and gave up voluntary response, and fell asleep in unmanageable awe.) (2, 2Pe. 1:19, the Word vs. Experience)

7 But Jesus came and touched them. “Get up,”he said. “Don’t be afraid.”

8 When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus. (Jesus brought them back to normal and they found Jesus only.)

9 As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus instructed them, “Don’t tell anyone what you have seen, until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.” (Jesus prohibits revealing of this event until the resurrection.)

10 The disciples asked him, “Why then do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first?” (Traditional teachers were saying this. Mal. 4:5-6)

11 Jesus replied, “To be sure, Elijah comes and will restore all things.

12 But I tell you, Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but have done to him everything they wished. In the same way the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands.”

13 Then the disciples understood that he was talking to them about John the Baptist. (Elijah came as John the Baptist earlier than Jesus, testifying the Messiahship of Jesus and killed, so Jesus will suffer and be killed alike.)  (3, AI Sermon)

Jesus Heals a Demon-Possessed Boy (4, Demon Possessed)

14 When they came to the crowd, (came back to the reality after the transfiguration) a man approached Jesus and knelt before him.

15 “Lord, have mercy on my son,” he said. “He has seizures and is suffering greatly. He often falls into the fire or into the water. (his son was suffering and trying to harm himself.)

16 I brought him to your disciples, but they could not heal him.”

17 “You unbelieving and perverse generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? (rebuking His disciples who were not able to cure the sick boy in spite of their previous experiences in Ch. 10) Bring the boy here to me.”

18 Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of the boy, and he was healed at that moment. (Jesus cast out the demon which caused the problem to the boy.)

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

20 He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”[21] (The healing power they had experienced in Ch. 10 was not mechanical but spiritual.)

Jesus Predicts His Death a Second Time (16:21ff)

22 When they came together in Galilee, he said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men.

23 They will kill him, and on the third day he will be raised to life.” And the disciples were filled with grief. (The Messiah came to the world as the Son of Man to suffer and die for our sin.)

The Temple Tax

24 After Jesus and his disciples arrived in Capernaum (NE of Galilee), the collectors of the two-drachma temple tax (tax for the Temple, Ex. 30:11-16) came to Peter and asked, “Doesn’t your teacher pay the temple tax?”

25 “Yes, he does,” he replied. (It was an obligation for adult male, older than 19 year old.)

When Peter came into the house, Jesus was the first to speak. “What do you think, Simon?” he asked. “From whom do the kings of the earth collect duty and taxes—from their own children or from others?”

26 “From others,” Peter answered. “Then the children are exempt,” Jesus said to him.

27 “But so that we may not cause offense- since they don't know the truth yet, go to the lake and throw out your line. Take the first fish you catch; open its mouth and you will find a four-drachma coin. Take it and give it to them for my tax and yours.” (As the owner of the temple, Jesus should have been exempt from paying temple tax, but He proved that He is the Son of God by paying tax with money from the fish's mouth.

(1, Location of Transfiguration) (AI)

The Transfiguration of Jesus traditionally took place on Mount Tabor in Israel, where a Franciscan church now commemorates the site. While the Gospels only describe it as a "high mountain," ancient tradition and many Christians identify it as Mount Tabor, though some scholars argue it could be Mount Hermon.

Key Details About the Location

Traditional Site: Mount Tabor in Lower Galilee is the long-held tradition, favored by Bishop Cyril of Jerusalem in the 4th century.

Alternative View: Some, such as R.H. Fuller and J. Lightfoot, proposed Mount Hermon due to its proximity to the previous event in Caesarea Philippi.

Other Possibilities: Scholars have also suggested other locations, including Mount Meron, Mount Nebo, or spots near Banias.

Description: The Bible describes it as a "high mountain" where Jesus was transfigured before Peter, James, and John, with his face shining like the sun and clothes turning white.

Mount Tabor is a popular pilgrimage site often visited by Christians touring the Holy Land.

(2, Word vs. Experience)  (AI)

The perspective that the Word of God is more important than Peter's witness during the Transfiguration is a central theological conclusion derived from 2 Peter 1:16-21, where Peter himself elevates the "prophetic word" above his own personal experience.

While Peter was an eyewitness to Christ's majesty (the Transfiguration), he argues that the written Scriptures provide a more reliable and secure foundation for faith than even that dramatic supernatural event.

The Hierarchy of Authority: Word vs. Experience

The "More Sure" Word: In 2 Peter 1:19, Peter states that believers have the "prophetic word confirmed" (or "more sure") as a lamp shining in a dark place. This means the Scriptures offer greater certainty and reliability than temporary experiences.

Experience Confirm‎s the Word: The Transfiguration did not supersede the Bible; it confirmed it. Peter uses his experience to prove that the prophetic word was not a "cleverly devised myth".

The Problem with Human Experience: Personal experiences can be fleeting, subjective, and difficult to pass on to others. The Word of God is immutable, objective, and enduring.

The Context of the Transfiguration

Peter's Misstep: When Peter saw Moses and Elijah with Jesus, he offered to build three shelters, trying to equate Jesus with the Law (Moses) and the Prophets (Elijah).

God's Intervention: The Father intervened, saying, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him" (Matthew 17:5). This command makes the voice of God the supreme authority, overruling Peter's suggestion.

The Content of the Word: The "Word of God" here refers to the Old Testament prophesies confirmed by Christ’s life, death, and resurrection, which are superior to a momentary glimpse of glory.

Why the Word is More Important

Universality: Everyone has access to the Bible, whereas only three disciples saw the Transfiguration.

Permanence: The voice from heaven was a passing event, but "the word of the Lord remains forever" (1 Peter 1:25).

Accuracy: Human perception can be flawed, but the prophetic word is not a matter of private interpretation; it is inspired by the Holy Spirit.

(3, AI Sermon on the Transfiguration of Jesus)

https://cafe.daum.net/k331/ULqJ/56

(4, Demon Possessed) (AI)

Demon possession in the Bible refers to the control of a person's body or mind by an evil spirit, frequently featured in the New Testament Gospels during Jesus' ministry. Symptoms include physical impairment (blindness, muteness), violent behavior, supernatural strength, and social isolation. Jesus and his followers cast out these spirits, demonstrating divine power.

Key Biblical Examples & Characteristics:

The Gadarene Demoniac (Mark 5:1-20): A man living in tombs, acting with immense strength, and breaking chains while possessed by a "Legion" of demons.

Blind and Mute Man (Matthew 12:22): A case where a person's physical inability to speak or see is directly attributed to demonic influence.

The Slave Girl (Acts 16:16-18): A girl possessed by a spirit of divination that allowed her to predict the future.

Symptoms: Behaviors described include severe personality changes, self-harm, convulsions, and tearing clothes.

Biblical Context:

Ministry of Jesus: Exorcism was a significant component of Jesus’ ministry to demonstrate his authority over Satan and his kingdom.

Distinct from Sickness: The Bible often distinguishes between curing natural diseases and casting out demons, although demons could cause physical ailments.

Not All Sickness is Possession: Scripture does not attribute all illnesses or sinful acts to demon possession.

Key Considerations:

Occult Involvement: The Bible links demon activity to occult practices, idolatry, and spiritual deception.

Believers and Possession: Many theologians hold that, according to biblical accounts, a true Christian cannot be possessed by a demon because the Holy Spirit indwells them, although they can be "oppressed".

Source of Authority: Demons are cast out specifically in the name of Jesus and by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Key Scriptures:

     Matthew 8, 9, and 12

     Mark 5

     Luke 4, 8, and 11

     Acts 16