Day Seventeen – Thursday, January 23, 2025

One Year Journey Through the New Testament

Matthew 17

Welcome to our journey through the New Testament!

The Transfiguration

Mark 9:2–13; Luke 9:28–36; 2 Pet. 1:17, 18 (Parallel)

1 Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, led them up on a high mountain by themselves; ² and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light. ³ And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him. ⁴ Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, let us make here three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”⁵ While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!” ⁶ And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces and were greatly afraid. ⁷ But Jesus came and touched them and said, “Arise, and do not be afraid.” ⁸ When they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only.

The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982), Mt 17:1–8.

Points to Ponder:

• This is one of the most dramatic events of the earthly ministry of Jesus. His disciples had seen some pretty amazing things, but the transfiguration was a feast for the senses.
• It seems that the team may have had about a week of no activity since the last debate with the Pharisees. This is not certain, but the wording seems to suggest it. They went up on a high mountain, and Jesus changed, shining like the sun.
• Two spiritual figures, presumed to be Elijah and Moses (great prophets) appeared and had a conversation with Jesus. How astounding this must have been for the disciples!
• Peter, boisterous as usual, wanted to build three tents for the three shining figures and never leave the mountain.
• About this time, a voice boomed from a cloud much like at the baptism of Jesus, and the Father spoke His approval of the Son. The disciples hit the ground in fear.
• Jesus told them to get up and not be afraid, which they did. By this time, though, Moses and Elijah were gone, and the cloud had disappeared.

After the Mountain

⁹ Now as they came down from the mountain, Jesus commanded them, saying, “Tell the vision to no one until the Son of Man is risen from the dead.”¹⁰ And His disciples asked Him, saying, “Why then do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?”¹¹ Jesus answered and said to them, “Indeed, Elijah is coming first and will restore all things. ¹² But I say to you that Elijah has come already, and they did not know him but did to him whatever they wished. Likewise the Son of Man is also about to suffer at their hands.” ¹³ Then the disciples understood that He spoke to them of John the Baptist.

The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982), Mt 17:9–13.

Points to Ponder:

• Jesus instructed the disciples to keep this event to themselves until after He rose from the dead.
• The disciples then began to ask questions about Elijah. Why did the scribes say he must come first?
• Jesus explained that he had already come, but the scribes did not recognize him and persecuted him.
• They they realized that Jesus spoke of John the Baptist.
• He also told them that He must die by the actions of the same religious leaders.

Instruction About Faith

Mark 9:14–29; Luke 9:37–42

¹⁴ And when they had come to the multitude, a man came to Him, kneeling down to Him and saying, ¹⁵ “Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is an epileptic and suffers severely; for he often falls into the fire and often into the water. ¹⁶ So I brought him to Your disciples, but they could not cure him.”¹⁷ Then Jesus answered and said, “O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him here to Me.” ¹⁸ And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him; and the child was cured from that very hour.¹⁹ Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?”²⁰ So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you. ²¹ However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.”

The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982), Mt 17:14–21.

Points to Ponder:

• Jesus came upon a multitude and a man approached Him on behalf of His epileptic son. He explained that his son had nearly been killed by fire and water during seizures. He then said that he had brought him to the disciples, but they could not help him.
• Jesus called out the faithlessness of those who could not take authority over this disease and called for the boy. He rebuked the oppressive demonic disease and the child was cured.
• When the disciples later asked why they could not cast out the demon, Jesus told them that they lacked faith.
• He then shares the analogy of the tiny mustard seed, and assured them that even with small faith, great things could be accomplished.
• He finished by stating that demonic forces only come out by prayer and fasting. God, help us to be prepared for spiritual warfare when accosted by demonic forces.

Instruction About Jesus’ Death

Mark 9:30–32; Luke 9:43–45

²² Now while they were staying in Galilee, Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men, ²³ and they will kill Him, and the third day He will be raised up.” And they were exceedingly sorrowful.

The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982), Mt 17:22–23.

Points to Ponder:

• Jesus, while resting in Galilee, announced His impending betrayal and murder, and His resurrection just days later.
• While the disciples were sad, they knew this was His plan for the salvation of the world.

Instruction About Taxes

²⁴ When they had come to Capernaum, those who received the temple tax came to Peter and said, “Does your Teacher not pay the temple tax?”²⁵ He said, “Yes.”And when he had come into the house, Jesus anticipated him, saying, “What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth take customs or taxes, from their sons or from strangers?”²⁶ Peter said to Him, “From strangers.”Jesus said to him, “Then the sons are free. ²⁷ Nevertheless, lest we offend them, go to the sea, cast in a hook, and take the fish that comes up first. And when you have opened its mouth, you will find a piece of money; take that and give it to them for Me and you.”

The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982), Mt 17:24–27.

Points to Ponder:

• Jesus gives Peter an answer to the question of the tax collectors.
• It was in the form of a question: “Peter, do kings take tax from their subjects or from their vanquished enemies and strangers?
• Peter said that they take taxes from strangers. Jesus then said that the sons are free, then.
• Yet, He would still pay the tax. He sent Peter to the lake to catch one fish with a line. In that fish’s mouth would be a coin that would pay for both His and Peter’s temple tax.
• Jesus showed Peter that He could provide in many different and mysterious ways. He can do the same for you and me today. Believe that God’s provision is always enough and always right on time.

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All Scriptures from New King James Version unless otherwise noted.

Join us this afternoon at 5:00 pm for a discussion of this chapter live online. Live@5 with Dr. Greg Sloop can be found on Facebook on the Dr. Greg Sloop page or on the Kannapolis Church of God Facebook page or Youtube page.