Matthew Henry’s Modern English CommentaryMatthew 17

The Transfiguration of Jesus This section describes a remarkable event in Jesus’s life: the Transfiguration. Jesus takes three disciples up a mountain, where his appearance changes, and he is joined by Moses and Elijah. This event shows Jesus’s glory as the Son of God and connects him with the Law and the Prophets. It is a powerful confirmation to the disciples of who Jesus is and prepares them for his coming suffering.v. 1: Jesus takes Peter, James, and John up a high mountain by themselves. He chooses these three disciples because they will be leaders among the apostles. Sometimes, Jesus allows certain followers to witness special events to strengthen their faith.

v. 2: On the mountain, Jesus is transfigured before them—his face shines like the sun, and his clothes become as white as light (Matthew 17:2 ). This change shows Jesus’s divine glory. For a moment, the disciples see him as he truly is, the Son of God. His shining appearance reminds us of how Moses’s face shone when he spoke with God (Exodus 34:29-35 ), but Jesus’s glory is even greater.

v. 3: Suddenly, Moses and Elijah appear and talk with Jesus. Moses represents the Law, and Elijah represents the Prophets. Their presence with Jesus shows that he is the fulfillment of both the Law and the Prophets (Luke 24:27 ). It also reminds the disciples that Jesus’s mission is connected to God’s promises in the Old Testament.

v. 4: Peter, amazed and afraid, offers to make three shelters—one for Jesus, one for Moses, and one for Elijah. He wants to honor them and keep the moment going. But Peter does not fully understand what is happening. He puts Jesus on the same level as Moses and Elijah, not realizing that Jesus is above them.

v. 5: While Peter is still speaking, a bright cloud covers them, and a voice from the cloud says, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; listen to him!” (Matthew 17:5 ). This is God the Father speaking, just as he did at Jesus’s baptism (Matthew 3:17 ). The Father emphasizes that Jesus is greater than Moses and Elijah, and the disciples must listen to him.

v. 6: The disciples fall facedown in fear when they hear the voice. This shows how overwhelming it is to be in God’s presence. Sometimes, God’s power and holiness make people afraid, but it is also a sign of respect and awe.

v. 7: Jesus comes to the disciples, touches them, and tells them to get up and not be afraid. Jesus comforts them and shows that he is still their loving teacher and friend, even in the midst of amazing events.

v. 8: When the disciples look up, they see only Jesus. Moses and Elijah are gone. This shows that Jesus alone is central to God’s plan. After the vision, the disciples’ focus should be on Jesus alone.

v. 9: As they come down the mountain, Jesus tells the disciples not to tell anyone what they have seen until he has risen from the dead. He wants them to keep this event secret for now because people do not yet understand what kind of Messiah he is. Only after the resurrection will they be able to share the full meaning of what happened.

The Expulsion of a DemonThis passage tells the story of Jesus healing a boy who was suffering from a severe condition caused by demonic possession. The event occurs right after Jesus came down from the mountain where he was transfigured. Even after experiencing glory on the mountain, Jesus remained accessible and compassionate toward the needs of the people. The boy’s father approached Jesus with desperation and faith, seeking help for his son after the disciples had failed to heal him.v. 14-15: A man came to Jesus, kneeling before him, and said, Lord, have mercy on my son. The boy was suffering greatly because of a condition that made him fall into fire and water. The father described him as “lunatic,” which suggests that the condition affected his mind and body severely, possibly in cycles. This condition was made worse by the influence of a demon, which sought to harm the child. The father’s request shows the deep love and concern parents have for their children. When children cannot pray for themselves, parents should pray for them with faith and urgency.

v. 16: The father explained his disappointment: I brought him to your disciples, but they could not heal him. Although Jesus had given his disciples power to cast out demons (Matthew 10:1 ), they were unable to help in this case. This failure reminds us that even those who serve Jesus must depend on him fully. Jesus allowed this failure to happen to teach the disciples humility and to show that his power, not theirs, was the source of miracles. It also highlights that some situations require even greater faith and effort in prayer.

v. 17: Jesus responded with a rebuke, saying, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I suffer you? This was directed toward the crowd, including the scribes who were likely mocking the disciples’ failure (Mark 9:14 ). Jesus expressed frustration at their lack of faith and spiritual maturity. He wanted them to grow in their trust and understanding so they could rely on God and not always require his physical presence to solve their problems.

v. 18: Jesus commanded the demon to leave the boy, and it immediately obeyed. The boy was healed from that moment. This miracle shows Jesus’ absolute authority over Satan and his power to heal completely. It also reminds us that when other sources of help fail, we are always welcome to bring our needs to Jesus. His compassion and ability to heal remain constant.

v. 19: Later, the disciples asked Jesus privately, Why couldn’t we cast it out? This shows their humility in seeking to learn from their mistakes. When we face failure in our spiritual lives or ministries, we should take time to reflect and ask God for understanding. Honest self-examination helps us grow and improve in our faith.

v. 20: Jesus explained that their failure was due to their lack of faith. He said, 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. Even a small amount of genuine faith, when placed in God, can accomplish great things. The disciples’ faith had weakened, possibly because they doubted their authority or misunderstood their role in God’s work. Jesus encourages us to trust in his promises and act with confidence in his power.

v. 21: Jesus added, This kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting. Some situations require greater spiritual preparation and dependence on God. Prayer strengthens our faith, while fasting helps us focus and rely on God’s power instead of our own strength. This reminds us that spiritual battles often require deeper devotion and discipline to overcome. Prayer and fasting are tools to help us draw closer to God and receive his help in defeating the enemy.

Christ's Sufferings ForetoldIn this passage, Jesus again tells his disciples about his coming suffering and death. He had already spoken about this before (Matthew 16:21 ), but because it was difficult for the disciples to accept, he repeats it. Sometimes God must speak important truths to us more than once before we truly understand. Jesus’ willingness to face suffering, even though he knew all that would happen, shows his great love for us.v. 22: Jesus tells his disciples that he will be betrayed into the hands of men. He knows exactly what will happen to him, but he still chooses to go through with it for our salvation. The betrayal would come from someone close to him, and he would be handed over to people who should have shown him kindness and gratitude, but instead would become his enemies (Acts 2:23 ).

v. 23: Jesus continues, saying that he will be killed, but on the third day he will rise again. His death was necessary to fulfill God’s plan and to bring forgiveness for sins, because without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness (Hebrews 9:22 ). Jesus always adds the promise of resurrection to give hope to his disciples. Even though he would die, he would not stay dead. The disciples, however, were very sad when they heard this. Their sorrow showed their love for Jesus, but also that they did not yet fully understand why he had to suffer and rise again (Matthew 16:22 ).

Our Lord's Payment of TributeThis passage tells how Jesus paid the temple tribute, even though he was not required to do so. The story shows both Jesus’ humility and his wisdom. Through this event, Jesus teaches about our duty to respect laws and support God’s work, and he also reveals his divine nature through a miracle.v. 24: When Jesus arrived at Capernaum, the collectors of the temple tax came to Peter. This tax was not for the Roman government, but was a religious contribution to support the temple and its services (Exodus 30:12 ). The collectors respectfully asked Peter if Jesus paid the tribute. Peter quickly answered that Jesus did pay. Jesus, though the Son of God and not required to pay, chose to do so. He set an example of obeying the law and supporting the worship of God. Even though there were problems and corruption in the temple, Jesus still supported what was right (Romans 13:7 ).

v. 25-26: When Peter entered the house, Jesus spoke to him first, showing his knowledge of what had happened. Jesus asked Peter if kings collect taxes from their own children or from others. Peter replied, "From others." Jesus then said, Then are the children free. This meant that, as God’s Son, Jesus was not required to pay the temple tax. The temple belonged to his Father, so he had a special right. However, Jesus explains that believers, though children of God, are still to obey civil laws and respect authorities (Romans 13:1 ).

v. 27: Even though Jesus had the right not to pay, he chose to pay the tax so that he would not offend others or cause misunderstanding. He told Peter to go and catch a fish, and in its mouth Peter would find a coin—enough to pay the tax for both of them. This miracle shows Jesus’ power over creation and his care for even small needs. He teaches us to be humble, to avoid unnecessary offense, and to trust God’s provision. The amount found was just enough, teaching us to be content with what God provides and not to desire more than we need (Psalm 19:11 ). Jesus paid for Peter as well, showing kindness to a friend and reminding us to do good for others when we are able.