New Testament · Gospel

Matthew 17

Glory on the Mountain

Three disciples witness Jesus transfigured in blinding light alongside Moses and Elijah. Then they come back down to a world that still needs healing.

Berean Standard Bible BSB KJV

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1After six days Jesus took with Him Peter, James, and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves.

2There He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light.

3Suddenly Moses and Elijah appeared before them, talking with Jesus.

4Peter 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.”

5While Peter was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Listen to Him!”

6When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown in terror.

7Then Jesus came over and touched them. “Get up,” He said. “Do not be afraid.”

8And when they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus.

9As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus commanded them, “Do not tell anyone about this vision until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”

10The disciples asked Him, “Why then do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?”

11Jesus replied, “Elijah does indeed come, and he will restore all things.

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

13Then the disciples understood that He was speaking to them about John the Baptist.

14When they came to the crowd, a man came up to Jesus and knelt before Him.

15“Lord, have mercy on my son,” he said. “He has seizures and is suffering terribly. He often falls into the fire or into the water.

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

17“O unbelieving and perverse generation!” Jesus replied. “How long must I remain with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring the boy here to Me.”

18Then Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of the boy, and he was healed from that moment.

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

20“Because you have so little faith,” He answered. “For truly I tell you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”

22When they gathered together in Galilee, Jesus told them, “The Son of Man is about to be delivered into the hands of men.

23They will kill Him, and on the third day He will be raised to life.” And the disciples were deeply grieved.

24After they had arrived in Capernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma tax came to Peter and asked, “Does your Teacher pay the two drachmas?”

25“Yes,” he answered.

26“From others,” Peter answered.

27“But so that we may not offend them, go to the sea, cast a hook, and take the first fish you catch. When you open its mouth, you will find a four-drachma coin. Take it and give it to them for My tax and yours.”

Understand This

Matthew 17, explained

What Matthew 17 is saying

Jesus takes Peter, James, and John up a high mountain where He is transfigured—His face shining like the sun, His clothes becoming dazzling white, with Moses and Elijah appearing alongside Him. The Father's voice from a cloud echoes the baptism declaration. Descending, Jesus heals a demon-possessed boy the disciples could not cure and again predicts His death and resurrection. He provides the temple tax through a coin found in a fish's mouth.

The background behind it

The Transfiguration likely occurred on Mount Hermon near Caesarea Philippi. Moses and Elijah represent the Law and the Prophets converging on Jesus. The divine command 'Listen to Him' echoes Deuteronomy 18:15, identifying Jesus as the prophet-like-Moses. The temple tax episode addresses the relationship between Jesus's community and Jewish institutional life.

Themes running underneath

The Transfiguration is a proleptic revelation of Jesus's eschatological glory, confirming His identity between two passion predictions. The disciples' failure to exorcise the boy highlights the gap between delegated authority and faith's practice. The temple tax episode shows Jesus navigating institutional obligations with both freedom and grace.

Why it still matters

Mountain experiences are real but temporary; Jesus leads His followers back down into a world of suffering that needs their faithful engagement. The Transfiguration assures believers that the glory is coming, even when the path runs through the cross.

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Scripture text: Berean Standard Bible — used by permission, Bible Hub.