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Matthew 17:22-23 Back to Start

Introduction/context

Matthew 17:22–23 

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.

For context sake, we begin in chapter 16. Look with me at…

Matthew 16:21–23 

21 From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day. 

22 Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, “Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!” 

23 But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.”

Romans 8:5–8  “ For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity (an enemy) against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. 8 So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.”

Matthew 16:24–26 

24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. 

25 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. 

26 For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?

What did our soul cost? Galatians 3:13  “ Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”),” His cross cured our ills/sins

Matthew 17:1–3 

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.

Jesus takes the three with Him to show His glory, confirm with 3 witnesses and his other witnesses are the law & prophets. Turn to:

John 5:31–35  “ “If I bear witness of Myself, My witness is not true. 32 There is another who bears witness of Me, and I know that the witness which He witnesses of Me is true. 33 You have sent to John, and he has borne witness to the truth. 34 Yet I do not receive testimony from man, but I say these things that you may be saved. 35 He was the burning and shining lamp, and you were willing for a time to rejoice in his light.” (a prophet many thought & jesus said was in spirit elijah)

John 5:36  “ But I have a greater witness than John’s; for the works which the Father has given Me to finish—the very works that I do—bear witness of Me, that the Father has sent Me.” (this why jesus said if rejected or said works were devil couldnt be forgiven)

John 5:37–38  “ And the Father Himself, who sent Me, has testified of Me. You have neither heard His voice at any time, nor seen His form. 38 But you do not have His word abiding in you, because whom He sent, Him you do not believe.” (not because he chose or elected or forced you to believe. But you didnt. They didnt. )

John 5:39–40  “ You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. 40 But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.”

1 John 5:7–8  “ For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one. 8 And there are three that bear witness on earth: the Spirit (witnesses/works), the water (when father said son), and the blood (of the new covenant); and these three agree as one.”

Matthew 17:17–18 When they come down they encounter demon possesed kid/seizures disciples couldn't cast out

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. (anything we ask in His name? but who does it?)

Jesus can command all things from nature to even a malignant powerful being that seeks to destroy the image of God.

Matthew 17:20–21 They asked why couldn't we 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.”

Faith is not blind. If we accept the testimony of the disciples given in our scriptures, we have historical evidence as Paul said to Festus & Agrippa, Acts 26:26  “ For the king, before whom I also speak freely, knows these things; for I am convinced that none of these things escapes his attention, since this thing was not done in a corner.”

There are extrabiblical testimonies to the marvel of Christ that came to this earth. Roman historians, early christians and bishops who wrote of the apostles, their teachings and manners and the like.

the effects of Christianity have spread from jerusalem to cover our planet. most try to equate it with colonialism, and the like, but much of the positive change in every culture on the planet, happened because of Christianity.

our faith is not blind. Romans 4:5  “ But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness,”

Finally, we end where this begin. The entire reason we came to this.

Matthew 17:22–23 

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.

Son of Man, this is not just saying Jesus is a jew or even a human being, and remember he took on flesh, this is also denoting that he is the Son of God, the Word made flesh

We all know the betrayal began not with Judas, but with the leaders who wanted to murder Him, when Jesus healed the man with the withered hand in a synagogue on the sabbath we see how they responded Luke 6:11  “ But they were filled with rage, and discussed with one another what they might do to Jesus.” back in Matthew 12:14  “ Then the Pharisees went out and plotted against Him, how they might destroy Him.”

Judas yes, is the one who betrays Matthew 26:14–16  “ Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests 15 and said, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver (same word as betrayed into the hands of) Him to you?” And they counted out to him thirty pieces of silver. 16 So from that time he sought opportunity to betray Him.” and a most amazing thing was written, John 19:17–19  “ And He, bearing His cross, went out to a place called the Place of a Skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha, 18 where they crucified Him, and two others with Him, one on either side, and Jesus in the center. 19 Now Pilate wrote a title and put it on the cross. And the writing was: JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS” Matthew 27:35–38  “ Then they crucified Him, and divided His garments, casting lots, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet: “They divided My garments among them, And for My clothing they cast lots.” 36 Sitting down, they kept watch over Him there. 37 And they put up over His head the accusation written against Him: THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS 38 Then two robbers were crucified with Him, one on the right and another on the left.”

John 2:19  “ Jesus answered and said to them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.””

They will kill him. Jesus was beaten, humiliated, then nailed to a wooden cross - John 19:1–3  “ So then Pilate took Jesus and scourged Him. 2 And the soldiers twisted a crown of thorns and put it on His head, and they put on Him a purple robe. 3 Then they said, “Hail, King of the Jews!” And they struck Him with their hands.”

He will rise, they missed it or just again, or just like man, sufffered from unbelief. No one had ever truly resurrected in the manner jesus spoke of. Folks had resuscitated, they would be restored to life and die later. But Jesus spoke of

Even His enemies remembered what he said, Matthew 27:62–66  “ On the next day, which followed the Day of Preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees gathered together to Pilate, 63 saying, “Sir, we remember, while He was still alive, how that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise.’ 64 Therefore command that the tomb be made secure until the third day, lest His disciples come by night and steal Him away, and say to the people, ‘He has risen from the dead.’ So the last deception will be worse than the first.” 65 Pilate said to them, “You have a guard; go your way, make it as secure as you know how.” 66 So they went and made the tomb secure, sealing the stone and setting the guard.”

So this is the truth of it. I know we keep beating this same drum, Romans 6:3–4  “ Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.”

Romans 6:5–11  “ For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, 6 knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. 7 For he who has died has been freed from sin. 8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, 9 knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him. 10 For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. 11 Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Romans 10:9–11  “ because if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and thus has righteousness and with the mouth one confesses and thus has salvation. 11 For the scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.””