Matthew 17

Jesus brings his “inner circle” up on a mountain with Him, He is transformed, and Moses and Elijah appear with Him. Peter is so overcome by what he sees that he suggests that they should stay! Is that the problem, or is it that he seems to be putting Moses and Elijah on par with Jesus? God reminds the disciples (and us) that Jesus is absolutely unique and the one who should be listened to!

Jesus warns them not to say anything about what they saw, and they ask if the scribes are wrong concerning their prediction that Elijah would come first.

Malachi 4:5-6 (WEB) “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and terrible day of Yahweh comes. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to the children and the hearts of the children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the earth with a curse.”

While we believe that another forerunner will come before Jesus returns (Revelation 11:3), Jesus shows us that John the Baptist functioned in that role when he came the first time.

Isn’t it interesting that Jesus asked them not to say anything until he had risen from the dead. It seemed to go right past them!

While they were gone, the rest of the disciples tried to cure a man’s son but couldn’t. Verse 21 is missing in some translations. Many scholars believe that it shouldn’t be there because it’s missing in a few manuscripts, but it’s actually in the majority! It says, “but this kind doesn’t go out except by prayer and fasting.” I believe the verse describes the faith that the disciples are supposed to have. Not just a “I can call on miracles whenever I want” faith, but the kind that has a deep and abiding relationship with God that they can rely on when a particular moment comes. The disciples wanted to turn on the lamp, but it was unplugged, and that’s why Jesus called them faithless and unbelieving. Do we live that way too?

The final event involves the payment of the temple tax. Jesus implies that they don’t have to pay it, but has Peter pay it anyway! There are some very important words for us to live our lives by here: “lest we cause them to stumble.” Living by God’s law is offensive enough to a world that doesn’t believe, so we should do what we can to not offend when it comes to the laws of the land.

Thought for the day: Matthew records Jesus predicting his death, and the disciples are sorrowful. Does the truth of God’s Word ever distress you? It should if you are being challenged by it!

Hebrews 4:12 (WEB) “For the word of God is living and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and is able to discern the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”