Frameworks:
Matthew's Gospel, chapter 17
(The
objective of these ‘Frameworks' is to provide an easy-to-read
layout of the text in order then to use these individual verses
for verse-by-verse study or meditation. To focus each
verse we have also added in italic a description of what is happening)
FRAMEWORKS:
Matthew, chapter 17
v.1-13
The Transfiguration
v.14-20
Jesus Heals a Demon-Possessed Boy
v.22,23
Jesus Predicts His Death a Second Time
v.24-27
Peter & Temple Tax
v.1-13
The Transfiguration
v.1
(Jesus the ‘inner
three' with him up the mountain) After
six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother
of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves.
v.2
(there he appears
ultra-bright) There
he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun,
and his clothes became as white as the light.
v.3
(then appear
Moses & Elijah) Just
then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with
Jesus.
v.4
(Peter suggests
making shelter for each of them) Peter
said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish,
I will put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one
for Elijah.”
v.5
(God speaks
audibly) While
he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice
from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I
am well pleased. Listen to him!”
v.6
(this terrifies
the three disciples) When
the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified.
v.7
(Jesus reassures
them) But
Jesus came and touched them. “Get
up,”
he said. “Don't
be afraid.”
v.8
(there is no
one there except Jesus) When
they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus.
v.9
(Jesus instructs,
don't tell of this for now) As
they were coming down the mountain, Jesus instructed them, “Don't
tell anyone what you have seen, until the Son of Man has been
raised from the dead.”
v.10
(the disciples
ask about the teaching about Elijah coming) The
disciples asked him, “Why then do the teachers of the law say
that Elijah must come first?”
v.11
(Yes replies
that yes, he will come) Jesus
replied, “To
be sure, Elijah comes and will restore all things.
v.12
(but in fac
he has already) But
I tell you, Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize
him, but have done to him everything they wished. In the same
way the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands.”
v.13
(they realise
he is talking about John the Baptist) Then
the disciples understood that he was talking to them about John
the Baptist.
v.14-20
Jesus Heals a Demon-Possessed Boy
v.14
(back down the
mountain they are greeted by a man) When
they came to the crowd, a man approached Jesus and knelt before
him.
v.15
(he tells of
his possessed son) “Lord,
have mercy on my son,” he said. “He has seizures and is suffering
greatly. He often falls into the fire or into the water.
v.16
(the disciples
there obviously couldn't help) I
brought him to your disciples, but they could not heal him.”
v.17
(Jesus chides
them) “You
unbelieving and perverse generation,”
Jesus replied, “how
long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you?
Bring the boy here to me.”
v.18
(Jesus delivers
him) Jesus
rebuked the demon, and it came out of the boy, and he was healed
at that moment.
v.19
(the disciples
enquire why they were powerless) Then
the disciples came to Jesus in private and asked, “Why couldn't
we drive it out?”
v.20
(lack of faith,
replies Jesus, you can anything if you have a little bit)
He
replied, “Because
you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith
as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move
from here to there,' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible
for you.”
v.22,23
Jesus Predicts His Death a Second Time
v.22,23
(back in Galilee
he against warns them what is coming) When
they came together in Galilee, he said to them, “The
Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men. They
will kill him, and on the third day he will be raised to life.”
And
the disciples were filled with grief.
v.24-27
Peter & Temple Tax
v.24
(back in Capernaum,
tax collectors approach Peter) After
Jesus and his disciples arrived in Capernaum, the collectors of
the two-drachma temple tax came to Peter and asked, “Doesn't your
teacher pay the temple tax?”
v.25
(Peter affirms
Jesus pays the temple tax but Jesus picks him up on this)
“Yes,
he does,” he replied. When
Peter came into the house, Jesus was the first to speak. “What
do you think, Simon?”
he asked. “From
whom do the kings of the earth collect duty and taxes—from their
own children or from others?”
v.26
(Peter answers
Jesus' query) “From
others,” Peter answered. “Then
the children are exempt,”
Jesus said to him.
v.27
(Jesus tells
him how to satisfy the tax collectors through a miracle of provision)
“But
so that we may not cause offense, go to the lake and throw out
your line. Take the first fish you catch; open its mouth and you
will find a four-drachma coin. Take it and give it to them for
my tax and yours.”