The Cost of Discipleship and Transfiguration

Text: Matthew 16:21-17:23

Matthew 16:21–17:23 ESV

21 From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. 22 And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you.” 23 But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.” 24 Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. 26 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul? 27 For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done. 28 Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.” 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. 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.” 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.

Review of Peter’s Confession (Mt. 16:13-20)

The church was founded on Peter in the sense that God used Peter to get it started

Peter was the first to be granted authority, but his authority was rooted in the truth of the gospel proclamation (“keys to the Kingdom”)

This passage has absolutely nothing to do with the Pope (Bishop of Rome), papal infallibility, papal/apostolic succession

The authority and “position” of Peter is later ascribed to all the apostles, and ultimately to the Church in general.

Part of this authority (‘binding/loosing’) is exercised through the act of Church discipline (Mt. 18:18).

The Cost of Discipleship

Matthew 16:21–28 ESV

21 From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. 22 And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you.” 23 But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.” 24 Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. 26 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul? 27 For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done. 28 Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”

Why did Jesus call Peter “Satan?” Why such a strong rebuke? While Peter’s response seemed loving, it was actually prompted by Satan. Satan did not want Jesus to accomplish his mission.

Peter seems to be genuinely concerned for Jesus’ wellbeing, and yet Jesus strongly rebukes him. What does this tell us about the nature of true, biblical love? True love is rooted in truth and pursuit of what is godly. It is not loving to tell someone what they want to hear if it is not true.

1 Corinthians 13:4–6 ESV

4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.

Discussion: In what ways do you think we sometimes set our minds on 'the things of man' instead of 'the things of God'? How do people sometimes trade their souls away for the things of this world?

Jesus says in Matthew 16:28 “ Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.” To what event do you think he is referring when he says “see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom?” Top possibilities include 1) the transfiguration (Mt. 17:1-8), 2) his resurrection (Mt. 28:1-10), 3) the outpouring of the Spirit at Pentecost (Acts 2), 4) the destruction of the Temple and Jerusalem in AD 70, or 5) more generally referring to all the above.

The ESV Study Bible Chapter 16

This predicted event has been variously interpreted as referring to: (1) Jesus’ transfiguration (17:1–8); (2) his resurrection; (3) the coming of the Spirit at Pentecost; (4) the spread of the kingdom through the preaching of the early church; (5) the destruction of the temple and Jerusalem in A.D. 70; or (6) the second coming and final establishment of the kingdom.

The Transfiguration

Matthew 17:1–13 ESV

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.

What other person in Scripture was overshadowed by a cloud and voice from heaven, whose face shone brightly after such encounter? Moses in his encounter on Mt. Sinai (Ex. 19:16-20; 34:29-33)

What is the significance of Moses and Elijah’s appearance alongside of Jesus? Moses represents the Law, the Old Covenant. Elijah represents the Prophets. Together, they represent the Law and the Prophets. Also, Micah had prophesied that Elijah’s second coming would correspond with the coming of the New Covenant. When both of these figures appear together, this indicates divine approval of Jesus and the fulfillment of the prophecies pointing towards the arrival of a New Covenant.

The “mountain” calls to mind Moses and Elijah, both of whom received revelation on a mountain (Ex 19; 24; 1 Ki 19)…

Moses’ face shone because it reflected something of God’s glory (Ex 34:29–30). But as for Jesus, he himself was transfigured. The verb metamorphoō (“transfigure,” “transform,” “change in form,” GK 3565) suggests a change of inmost nature that may be outwardly visible (cf. Ex 34:29) or quite invisible (Ro 12:2; 2 Co 3:18).

Jesus’ appearance alongside Moses also confirms that he was the foretold “prophet like Moses”

Deuteronomy 18:15–18 ESV

15 “The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brothers—it is to him you shall listen— 16 just as you desired of the Lord your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly, when you said, ‘Let me not hear again the voice of the Lord my God or see this great fire any more, lest I die.’ 17 And the Lord said to me, ‘They are right in what they have spoken. 18 I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers. And I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him.

Malachi 4 ESV

“For behold, the day is coming, burning like an oven, when all the arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble. The day that is coming shall set them ablaze, says the Lord of hosts, so that it will leave them neither root nor branch. 2 But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall. 3 And you shall tread down the wicked, for they will be ashes under the soles of your feet, on the day when I act, says the Lord of hosts. 4 “Remember the law of my servant Moses, the statutes and rules that I commanded him at Horeb for all Israel. 5 “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes. 6 And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with a decree of utter destruction.”

What do you think of Peter’s offer to build three tents? Why do you think he felt prompted to say this, and was it appropriate? Peter may be trying to show hospitality, or he may just be rambling incoherently out of shock. In either case, Peter fails to perceive that Jesus is clearly higher than either Moses or Elijah.

Peter, speaking for the three (“it is good for us to be here”), sensing something of the greatness of what he, James, and John are seeing, suggests building three skēnas (“tabernacles”). While the word looks back to the tabernacle in the wilderness, forerunner of the temple, the idea of building “tabernacles” also reflects the Feast of Tabernacles, when Jews built shelters for themselves and lived in them for seven days (cf. Lev 23:42–43). The feast had eschatological overtones. So Peter may have been saying that in gratitude for witnessing Jesus’ transfiguration and recognizing the imminent dawn of the messianic age, he would build three “tabernacles”—one for Jesus, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.

The rebuke that follows does not offer criticism of Peter’s eschatology, nor even of its timing, but is administered solely because what Peter blurted out compromised Jesus’ uniqueness. Jesus was transfigured; they must bear witness concerning him (v. 5). Mark says Peter spoke out of fear, Luke that he made his suggestion as Moses and Elijah were about to leave. Mark and Luke point out the foolishness of Peter’s remark. Matthew simplifies and so highlights the christological error of Peter.

D. A. Carson, “Matthew,” in The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Matthew–Mark (Revised Edition), ed. Tremper Longman III and David E. Garland, vol. 9 (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2010), 437–438.

There is a time to speak, and a time to be silent!

In context of Jesus’ presence alongside two legendary figures of Judaism, what does the voice from heaven indicate? It indicates Jesus’ vast superiority to both Moses and Elijah; Jesus is greater than the Law and Prophets.

Who does Jesus say is the fulfillment of the prophesied “Elijah” in Malachi 4:5? John the Baptist

Jesus Heals a Demoniac

Matthew 17:14–21 ESV

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.”

Mark 9:14–29 ESV

14 And when they came to the disciples, they saw a great crowd around them, and scribes arguing with them. 15 And immediately all the crowd, when they saw him, were greatly amazed and ran up to him and greeted him. 16 And he asked them, “What are you arguing about with them?” 17 And someone from the crowd answered him, “Teacher, I brought my son to you, for he has a spirit that makes him mute. 18 And whenever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid. So I asked your disciples to cast it out, and they were not able.” 19 And he answered them, “O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him to me.” 20 And they brought the boy to him. And when the spirit saw him, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth. 21 And Jesus asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood. 22 And it has often cast him into fire and into water, to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” 23 And Jesus said to him, “ ‘If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.” 24 Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!” 25 And when Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.” 26 And after crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse, so that most of them said, “He is dead.” 27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose. 28 And when he had entered the house, his disciples asked him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?” 29 And he said to them, “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer.”

What do you think about demons and the spiritual realm? True or False:

True Demons are real and can cause effects in the physical realm.

False Every physical illness is caused by demons/spiritual warfare.

False No physical illnesses are caused by demons/spiritual warfare.

True Satan/Demons have the ability to cause severe illness, injury, and even death.

True Demons still oppress and possess people today.

Why were the disciples unable to cast out the demon? (v. 19-20) They lacked the faith. They may have come to take for granted their powers of exorcism or thought these powers were inherently theirs, instead of relying upon God through prayer.

The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, Volume 9: Matthew–Mark (Revised Edition) Commentary

They had been given authority over evil spirits (6:7) and had successfully driven out many demons before this incident (6:13). Why their failure now? Jesus answered, “This kind can come out only by prayer” (v. 29). Apparently, they had taken for granted the power given to them or had come to believe that it was inherent in them. So they no longer depended prayerfully on God for it, and their failure showed their lack of faith.

Alternatively, the Faithlife Study Bible argues:

Faithlife Study Bible Chapter 9

This seems to refer to the prayer of the petitioner—the father in this instance (v. 24) rather than the exorcist. Although it is possible that the disciples were attempting to exorcise the demon without praying—just using a command.

*Side Note on the textual issue in Mt. 17:21 and Mk. 9:29*

Some manuscripts insert verse 21: “But this kind never comes out except by prayer and fasting.” This verse is not present in what most scholars consider to be the most reliable manuscripts, and was likely inserted by a scribe to harmonize the passage with Mark’s account.

Discussion: In the parallel passage in Mark 9:29 (and in Mt. 17:21 in the KJV) it says “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer [and fasting].” What do you think: are there special categories of demons that require extra effort, or is Jesus referring to all demons when he says “this kind?”

Option 1: “this kind” means demons as a general class of beings.

The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, Volume 9: Matthew–Mark (Revised Edition) Commentary

“This kind” is probably not meant to distinguish this demon as a particularly powerful type, but rather indicates that demons in general are too powerful to respond to merely human intervention. Only in God’s power can believers drive them out.

The Cost of Discipleship (repeated)

Matthew 17:22–23 ESV

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.

Food for thought: Jesus has just revealed his glory to three of his disciples and has cast out a demon that no one else could cast out. Now, he reminds his disciples again of his impending death. The Son of God in whom the Father is well pleased, the prophet who is superior to Moses and Elijah, God himself is about to be rejected, mocked, tortured, and murdered by the very people that should have welcomed him. Do we expect better treatment than Jesus? Are we willing to pay the cost of being a disciple of Christ?