Matthew 17
1 And after six days Jesus taketh with him Peter, and James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into a high mountain apart:
A week after Jesus [said that], he took Peter, James, and John, the [younger] brother of James, and led them up a high mountain where they were away from other people.
2 and he was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his garments became white as the light.
[While they were there, the three disciples] saw that Jesus’ appearance was changed. His face shone like the sun, and his clothing [shone and] became as brilliant as light.
3 And behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elijah talking with him.
Suddenly Moses and Elijah, [who were important prophets many years ago], appeared and started talking with him.
4 And Peter answered, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, I will make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah.
Peter [saw them and] said to Jesus, “Lord, it is wonderful for us to be here! If you want [me to], I will make three shelters, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”
5 While he was yet speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold, a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.
While Peter was speaking, a bright cloud [appeared and] covered them. [They heard God] speaking [about Jesus from] inside the cloud. He said [to them], “This is my Son. I love him. He pleases me very much. [So] you must listen to him!”
6 And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid.
When the three disciples heard [God speaking], they were terrified. [As a result], they fell prostrate on the ground.
7 And Jesus came and touched them and said, Arise, and be not afraid.
But Jesus went to them and touched them [and] said [to them], “Stand up! Do not be afraid any more!”
8 And lifting up their eyes, they saw no one, save Jesus only.
And when they looked up [MTY], they saw that Jesus was the only one [who was still there].
9 And as they were coming down from the mountain, Jesus commanded them, saying, Tell the vision to no man, until the Son of man be risen from the dead.
When they were walking down the mountain, Jesus commanded them, “Do not tell anyone what you saw [on the mountain top] until [God has caused me], the one who has come from heaven, to become alive again after I die.”
10 And his disciples asked him, saying, Why then say the scribes that Elijah must first come?
[Those three disciples had just seen Elijah and he did not do anything to prepare people for the coming of the Messiah], so they asked Jesus, “If [what you say is true], why do the men who teach the [Jewish] laws say that it is necessary for Elijah to come [back to earth] before [the Messiah comes]?”
11 And he answered and said, Elijah indeed cometh, and shall restore all things:
Jesus answered [them], “It is true that [God promised that] Elijah would come to prepare many [HYP] [people for the Messiah’s coming].
12 but I say unto you, that Elijah is come already, and they knew him not, but did unto him whatsoever they listed. Even so shall the Son of man also suffer of them.
But note this: Elijah’s [representative] has already come, [and our leaders have seen him], but they did not recognize him [as the one who would come before the Messiah]. Instead, they treated him [badly], just like they desired. And those same rulers will soon treat [me], the one who came from heaven, in the same manner.”
13 Then understood the disciples that he spake unto them of John the Baptist.
Then the three disciples understood that [when he was talking about Elijah], he was referring to John the Baptizer.
14 And when they were come to the multitude, there came to him a man, kneeling to him, and saying,
When [Jesus and the three disciples] returned to the [rest of us disciples] and to the crowd [that had gathered], a man approached Jesus and knelt before him.
15 Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is epileptic, and suffereth grievously: for oft-times he falleth into the fire, and oft-times into the water.
He said [to him], “Sir/Lord, have mercy on my son and [heal him]! He has epilepsy and suffers very much. [Because of this illness], he has fallen in the fire and in the water many times.
16 And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him.
I brought him to your disciples [in order that they might heal him], but they were not able to heal him.”
17 And 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 hither to me.
Jesus responded [by saying to everyone who had gathered there], “[You who have seen how I help people] do not believe [that you can do anything! Your minds] are distorted! How long do I have to be with you [before you] are [able to do what I do] [RHQ]? How long [do] I have to endure your [not believing] [RHQ]? Bring the boy here to me!”
18 And Jesus rebuked him; and the devil went out from him: and the boy was cured from that hour.
When [they brought the boy to Jesus], Jesus rebuked the demon [that was causing the epilepsy]. [As a result], the demon came out of the boy, and right then the boy was healed.
19 Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast it out?
[Later, some of us] disciples approached Jesus. We asked him privately, “Why were we [(exc)] not able to expel the demon?”
20 And he saith unto them, Because of your little faith: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.
He answered us, “It is because you did not believe very much [in God’s power]. Think about this: Mustard seeds [are very small, but in this area they grow and produce large] [MET] [plants]. [Similarly], if your faith grows until you truly believe [that God will do what you ask him to], you will be able to do anything [LIT]! You [could even] say to this hill, ‘Move from here to there!’ and it would go [where you told it to go].”
22 And while they abode in Galilee, Jesus said unto them, The Son of man shall be delivered up into the hands of men;
When [we disciples] had gathered together in Galilee [district], Jesus said to us, “[I], the one who came from heaven, will soon be handed over {[Someone] will soon hand me, the one who came from heaven, over} to the authorities [SYN].
23 and they shall kill him, and the third day he shall be raised up. And they were exceeding sorry.
They will kill me. But [God] will cause me to become alive again on the third day [after I am killed].” [When we heard that], we became very sad.
24 And when they were come to Capernaum, they that received the half-shekel came to Peter, and said, Doth not your master pay the half-shekel?
When we came to Capernaum [city], the men who collect taxes [for the Temple approached Peter and said to him], “Your teacher pays the [Temple tax], does he not?”
25 He saith, Yea. And when he came into the house, Jesus spake first to him, saying, What thinkest thou, Simon? the kings of the earth, from whom do they receive toll or tribute? from their sons, or from strangers?
He answered [them], “Yes, [he does pay it].” When we came into the house [where Jesus was saying], [before Peter began to talk about paying taxes], Jesus said [to him], “Simon, from whom do you think rulers collect revenue or taxes? [Do they collect taxes] from the citizens of their own [country], or from citizens of countries [they have conquered]?”
26 And when he said, From strangers, Jesus said unto him, Therefore the sons are free.
Peter answered [him], “From [citizens of] other [countries].” Then Jesus said to him, “So citizens of their own [country] do not need to [pay taxes].
27 But, lest we cause them to stumble, go thou to the sea, and cast a hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a shekel: that take, and give unto them for me and thee.
But [even though the Temple is mine, pay the tax for us so that the Temple tax collectors will not become angry with us. In order to get the money to pay it], go to the lake. Cast your [fish line and] hook, and take the first fish that you catch. When you open its mouth, you will find a silver coin [that is worth enough to pay the tax] for you and me. Take that coin and give [it] to the Temple tax collectors.”
