Matthäus 17 | New International Reader’s Version

Jesus’ appearance is changed

1 After six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John the brother of James with him. He led them up a high mountain. They were all alone. 2 There in front of them his appearance was changed. His face shone like the sun. His clothes became as white as the light. 3 Just then Moses and Elijah appeared in front of them. Moses and Elijah were talking with Jesus. 4 Peter said to Jesus, ‘Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters. One will be for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.’ 5 While Peter was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them. A voice from the cloud said, ‘This is my Son, and I love him. I am very pleased with him. Listen to him!’ 6 When the disciples heard this, they were terrified. They fell with their faces to the ground. 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. 9 They came down the mountain. On the way down, Jesus told them what to do. ‘Don’t tell anyone what you have seen,’ he said. ‘Wait until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.’ 10 The disciples asked him, ‘Why do the teachers of the law say that Elijah has to come first?’ 11 Jesus replied, ‘That’s right. Elijah is supposed to come and make all things new again. 12 But I tell you, Elijah has already come. People didn’t recognise him. They have done to him everything they wanted to do. In the same way, they are going to make the Son of Man suffer.’ 13 Then the disciples understood that Jesus was talking to them about John the Baptist.

Jesus heals a boy who is controlled by a demon

14 When they came near the crowd, a man approached Jesus. He got on his knees in front of him. 15 ‘Lord’, he said, ‘have mercy on my son. He shakes wildly and suffers a great deal. He often falls into the fire or into the water. 16 I brought him to your disciples. But they couldn’t heal him.’ 17 ‘You unbelieving and evil people!’ Jesus replied. ‘How long do I have to stay with you? How long do I have to put up with you? Bring the boy here to me.’ 18 Jesus ordered the demon to leave the boy, and it came out of him. He was healed at that moment. 19 Then the disciples came to Jesus in private. They asked, ‘Why couldn’t we drive out the demon?’ 20 He replied, ‘Because your faith is much too small. What I’m about to tell you is true. If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, it is enough. You can say to this mountain, “Move from here to there.” And it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.’

Jesus speaks a second time about his coming death

22 They came together in Galilee. Then Jesus said to them, ‘The Son of Man is going to be handed over to men. 23 They will kill him. On the third day he will rise from the dead.’ Then the disciples were filled with deep sadness.

Jesus pays the temple tax

24 Jesus and his disciples arrived in Capernaum. There the people who collect the temple tax came to Peter. They asked him, ‘Doesn’t your teacher pay the temple tax?’ 25 ‘Yes, he does,’ he replied. When Peter came into the house, Jesus spoke first. ‘What do you think, Simon?’ he asked. ‘Who do the kings of the earth collect taxes and fees from? Do they collect them from their own children or from others?’ 26 ‘From others’, Peter answered. ‘Then the children don’t have to pay,’ Jesus said to him. 27 ‘But we don’t want to make them angry. So go to the lake and throw out your fishing line. Take the first fish you catch. Open its mouth. There you will find the exact coin you need. Take it and give it to them for my tax and yours.’

English Standard Version

The Transfiguration

1 And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. 2 And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light. 3 And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. 4 And Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.” 5 He was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son,* with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” 6 When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces and were terrified. 7 But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Rise, and have no fear.” 8 And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only. 9 And as they were coming down the mountain, Jesus commanded them, “Tell no one the vision, until the Son of Man is raised from the dead.” 10 And the disciples asked him, “Then why do the scribes say that first Elijah must come?” 11 He answered, “Elijah does come, and he will restore all things. 12 But I tell you that Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but did to him whatever they pleased. So also the Son of Man will certainly suffer at their hands.” 13 Then the disciples understood that he was speaking to them of John the Baptist.

Jesus Heals a Boy with a Demon

14 And when they came to the crowd, a man came up to him and, kneeling before him, 15 said, “Lord, have mercy on my son, for he has seizures and he suffers terribly. For often he falls into the fire, and often into the water. 16 And I brought him to your disciples, and they could not heal him.” 17 And Jesus answered, “O faithless and twisted generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him here to me.” 18 And Jesus rebuked the demon,* and it* came out of him, and the boy was healed instantly.* 19 Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?” 20 He said to them, “Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.”*

Jesus Again Foretells Death, Resurrection

22 As they were gathering* in Galilee, Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is about to be delivered into the hands of men, 23 and they will kill him, and he will be raised on the third day.” And they were greatly distressed.

The Temple Tax

24 When they came to Capernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma tax went up to Peter and said, “Does your teacher not pay the tax?” 25 He said, “Yes.” And when he came into the house, Jesus spoke to him first, saying, “What do you think, Simon? From whom do kings of the earth take toll or tax? From their sons or from others?” 26 And when he said, “From others,” Jesus said to him, “Then the sons are free. 27 However, not to give offense to them, go to the sea and cast a hook and take the first fish that comes up, and when you open its mouth you will find a shekel.* Take that and give it to them for me and for yourself.”

Matthäus 17 | New International Reader’s Version English Standard Version