Looking Back at Matthew 16

Jesus reveals He is the Messiah. Jesus predicts His suffering, death, and resurrection.

Jesus calls His followers to deny themselves, take up their cross, and follow Him.

The disciples struggle to accept God's plan because it doesn't match their expectations.

Our Struggle Today

We also live with competing ideas about who Jesus is.

We are tempted to shape Jesus around our comfort, preferences, and culture instead of Scripture.

We often want a Savior without sacrifice and a kingdom without a cross. Setting Up Matthew 17

Before the disciples face the cross, Jesus gives Peter, James, and John a glimpse of His glory. The Transfiguration reminds them—and us—that the cross is not the end of the story. Today we'll see who Jesus really is and hear the Father's simple command: "Listen to Him."

MATTHEW 17

Matthew 17:1–27 CSB

1 After six days Jesus took Peter, James, and his brother John and led them up on a high mountain by themselves. 2 He was transfigured in front of them, and his face shone like the sun; his clothes became as white as the light. 3 Suddenly, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with him. 4 Then Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it’s good for us to be here. If you want, I will set up three shelters here: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” 5 While he was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud covered 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 facedown and were terrified. 7 Jesus came up, touched them, and said, “Get up; don’t be afraid.” 8 When they looked up they saw no one except Jesus alone. 9 As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus commanded them, “Don’t tell anyone about the vision until the Son of Man is raised from the dead.” 10 So the disciples asked him, “Why then do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?” 11 “Elijah is coming and will restore everything,” he replied. 12 “But I tell you: Elijah has already come, and they didn’t recognize him. On the contrary, they did whatever they pleased to him. In the same way the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands.” 13 Then the disciples understood that he had spoken to them about John the Baptist. 14 When they reached the crowd, a man approached and knelt down before him. 15 “Lord,” he said, “have mercy on my son, because he has seizures and suffers terribly. He often falls into the fire and often into the water. 16 I brought him to your disciples, but they couldn’t heal him.” 17 Jesus replied, “You unbelieving and perverse generation, how long will I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring him here to me.” 18 Then Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him, and from that moment the boy was healed. 19 Then the disciples approached Jesus privately and said, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?” 20 “Because of your little faith,” he told them. “For truly I tell you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will tell this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” 22 As they were gathering together in Galilee, Jesus told them, “The Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men. 23 They will kill him, and on the third day he will be raised up.” And they were deeply distressed. 24 When they came to Capernaum, those who collected the temple tax approached Peter and said, “Doesn’t your teacher pay the temple tax?” 25 “Yes,” he said. When he went into the house, Jesus spoke to him first, “What do you think, Simon? From whom do earthly kings collect tariffs or taxes? From their sons or from strangers?” 26 “From strangers,” he said. “Then the sons are free,” Jesus told him. 27 “But, so we won’t offend them, go to the sea, cast in a fishhook, and take the first fish that you catch. When you open its mouth you’ll find a coin. Take it and give it to them for me and you.”

THE TRANSFIGURATION Matthew 17:1–13

Matthew 17:1 CSB

1 After six days Jesus took Peter, James, and his brother John and led them up on a high mountain by themselves.

6 days at Cauesarea Phillippi Jesus took Peter, James, and John

Matthew 17:2 CSB

2 He was transfigured in front of them, and his face shone like the sun; his clothes became as white as the light.

The greek word transfigured when translated;

refers to a thorough dramatic change like the eng word metamorphosis

HE was transformed into HIS glory which would lead to his own kingdom

Matthew 17:3 CSB

3 Suddenly, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with him.

Elijah had never died.

Moses had died, and the LORD buried him, but no one knew where his grave was.

God causes both of these famous Old Testament prophets to appear in glory as representatives of Old Testament believers.

Moses was the prototypical prophet;

but he spoke of Jesus as the definitive prophet whose words must be heeded.

Elijah’s ministry courageously stood for the law of Moses;

but Jesus as the definitive teacher of that law brings it to its ultimate goal.

Matthew 17:4–5 CSB

4 Then Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it’s good for us to be here. If you want, I will set up three shelters here: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” 5 While he was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased. Listen to him!”

Confronted with the amazing scene of Moses and Elijah speaking with a gloriously transformed Jesus;

Peter proposed the construction of temporary shelters for all three of them.

Peter was on the wrong track, since his proposal did not reflect the sole sufficiency of Jesus for his disciples.

Setting up three tents for Moses, Elijah, and Jesus would have had two erroneous effects: it would have belittled Jesus with faint praise, and arrogated Moses and Elijah to a status that belongs only to Jesus.

A voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” I am manifested through his preaching. I am glorified through his humility. So listen to him without hesitation.

JESUS HAS NO EQUAL

Jesus alone deserves your EVERYTHING

Stop trying to put him on equal footing with other spiritual authorities or traditions.

When you encounter his true glory

Listen to him and obey him above all else

Be ALL IN

THE POWER OF JESUS OVER A DEMON Matthew 17:14–21

Matthew 17:14–16 CSB

14 When they reached the crowd, a man approached and knelt down before him. 15 “Lord,” he said, “have mercy on my son, because he has seizures and suffers terribly. He often falls into the fire and often into the water. 16 I brought him to your disciples, but they couldn’t heal him.”

The seizures were likely demonic in origin.

The Scripture shows that this man is very weak in faith.

This is evident from many things: from Christ’s saying, “All things are possible to him who believes,” and from the fact that the man himself as he approached said, “Help my unbelief.”

Matthew 17:17 CSB

17 Jesus replied, “You unbelieving and perverse generation, how long will I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring him here to me.”

Deuteronomy 32:5 CSB

5 His people have acted corruptly toward him; this is their defect—they are not his children but a devious and crooked generation.

Peter’s hasty response to the glory of the Lord is corrected by the same heavenly voice heard at Jesus’ baptism!

Jesus rebukes the people of His day for their weak faith and distorted perception;

which may have been aimed at His disciples.

Matthew 17:20–21 CSB

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

A mustard seed is a very small seed.

A minuscule amount of faith can overcome overwhelming obstacles.

Moving a mountain was a metaphor for accomplishing an impossible task. Nothing that Christ authorizes his followers to do will be impossible.

1 True faith must be based upon some command or promise of God. Expecting to perform some spectacular stunt in order to gratify a personal whim is not faith but presumption.

Your struggles don’t persist because Jesus lacks power—they persist because you lack faith in his promises

Stop relying on your own strength.

Bring your deepest needs directly to Jesus and trust that he can do what you cannot.

THE SECOND PREDICTION OF HIS DEATH Matthew 17:22–23

Matthew 17:22–23 CSB

22 As they were gathering together in Galilee, Jesus told them, “The Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men. 23 They will kill him, and on the third day he will be raised up.” And they were deeply distressed.

This is Jesus’s second major prediction of his death since Peter’s confession in 16:13–20.

Each prediction adds additional details.

This prophecy adds that Jesus will be thrust into the hands of men by an act of betrayal.

Matthew’s first reference to Jesus’ impending betrayal by Judas Iscariot.

The disciples are grieved;

but they do not dispute this prediction, as Peter did the first time.

God’s plan includes suffering! Yours and Jesus’!

The cross isn’t a tragedy or a detour;

it’s the centerpiece of redemption.

When Jesus’ path seems painful or confusing;

trust that he knows what he’s doing and that resurrection follows.

PAYING THE TEMPLE TAX Matthew 17:24–27

Matthew 17:24 CSB

24 When they came to Capernaum, those who collected the temple tax approached Peter and said, “Doesn’t your teacher pay the temple tax?”

Every Jewish man 20 years and older was required to pay the temple tax;

which was used for the general maintenance of the temple.

These were not the “tax collectors” vilified by the Jewish community as traitors because they worked for Rome.

Prior to 70 AD;

those who gathered the temple tax were seen as carrying out a legitimate occupation since the money was used for the temple

Matthew 17:25–26 CSB

25 “Yes,” he said. When he went into the house, Jesus spoke to him first, “What do you think, Simon? From whom do earthly kings collect tariffs or taxes? From their sons or from strangers?” 26 “From strangers,” he said. “Then the sons are free,” Jesus told him.

Because Jesus’s disciples were children of the true King;

they were exempt from the obligation to support the temple.

This had enormous implications for Jewish Christians.

If temple taxes were no longer obligatory;

sacrifices and other offerings were also now optional.

Matthew 17:27 CSB

27 “But, so we won’t offend them, go to the sea, cast in a fishhook, and take the first fish that you catch. When you open its mouth you’ll find a coin. Take it and give it to them for me and you.”

Though Jesus insisted that the temple tax was not obligatory for his disciples, he gladly paid it to avoid offending his fellow Jews.

His action provided an important model for believers who dealt with issues of ritual later in the early church.

This astounding miracle clearly demonstrates Christ’s omniscience.

He knew which one of all the fish in the Sea of Galilee had a stater in its mouth.

He knew the location of that one fish. And he knew it would be the first fish Peter would catch

You Are Free In Jesus!

But freedom isn’t about insisting on your rights;

it’s about using your liberty wisely to serve others and remove barriers to their faith.

Sometimes the most powerful witness is surrendering what you could claim.

Jesus is God’s Son, worthy of human worship and obedience

God revealed Christ’s heavenly glory in the transfiguration and thus confirmed Peter’s confession.

Listen to Him. Trust Him. Follow Him completely.