Matthew 17:1
Outline:
I. \\#Matt 1:1-3:17\\ The Presentation of the King
II. \\#4:1-7:29\\ The Person of the King
III. \\#8:1-11:1\\ The Power of the King
IV. \\#Matthew 11:2-14:13\\ Decisions Concerning the King
V. \\#Matt 14:13-16:12\\ Training the Disciples
VI. \\#Matt 16:13-20\\ Decision by the Disciples
VII. \\#Matthew 16:21-20:28\\ Final Instructions of the King
A. \\#Matt 16:21-23\\ A New Emphasis
B. \\#Matt 16:24-28\\ A Higher Degree of Commitment
C. \\#Matt 17:1-13\\ A Preview of His Glory
D. \\#Matt 17:14-21\\ A Higher Degree of Service
E. \\#Matt 17:22-23\\ A Continual Reminder
F. \\#Matt 17:24-27\\ A New Relationship and An Abiding
Respect
G. \\#Matt 18:1-35\\ Instructions on Getting Along
1. \\#18:1-6\\ Be Humble
2. \\#18:7-10\\ Be Self-Controlled
3. \\#18:11-14\\ Be Active in the Work
4. \\#18:15-18\\ Be Ready to Heal Rifts
5. \\#18:19-20\\ Be Aware of His Presence
6. \\#18:21-35\\ Be Forgiving
I. \\#Matt 17:1-13\\ A Preview of His Glory
A. \\#1\\ The setting
1. "And after six days" - The time reference connects this
event with the promise Jesus gave in the last verse of
chapter 16. This event is the partial fulfillment of
promise.
Matt 16:28 Verily I say unto you, There be some standing
here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the
Son of man coming in his kingdom.
2. "Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John" - Only three
disciples are allowed to see this event. These three are
sometimes called Jesus’ inner circle.
a. \\#Mark 5:35-43\\
b. \\#Mark 14:32-42\\
3. "into an high mountain apart." - The name of the mountain
is not given. Most believe it was Mount Tabor.
B. \\#2-3\\ The events
1. \\#2\\ "And was transfigured before them" - The glory that
was Jesus’ began to shine forth through His flesh. We
must remember that though He was veiled in human flesh,
He was still the Lord God Almighty.
2. \\#3\\ "…there appeared unto them Moses and Elias"
Moses and Elijah appeared with Jesus and spoke with Him.
a. Why those men? The answer is not known.
(1) Some might think it was because Elijah never died
\\#2Ki 2:11-12\\, but then why Moses, for he did
die \\#De 34:5, Josh 1:1\\.
(2) Others believe these two are paired together
because they will be the two future witnesses
who will minister, die, and be raised by the
Lord \\#Rev 11:3-13\\. But here again, Moses
did die and the Scripture says that death comes
but one time \\#He 9:7\\.
b. Regardless of why these men were chosen to speak with
Jesus, they did come and speak with Him. Just as
curious is the fact that Peter, James, and John
seemed to recognize these ancient miracle workers
without any introductions.
C. \\#4\\ Peter’s Reaction
1. Peter’s thought was to build three shrines on the
mountain, one to Jesus, one to Moses, and one to Elijah.
2. This is another of those times when Peter was not
thinking with all cylinders firing. It was probably
Peter’s desire to honor all three for their service, but
there simply is no comparing a man, living or dead, to
Jesus, the Son of God!
D. \\#5\\ God’s Reaction to Peter
1. "While he yet spake… a bright cloud overshadowed them"
God steps in to correct Peter.
2. "This is my beloved Son" - God the Father elevated Jesus
for He is of God.
E. \\#6-13\\ The Aftermath
1. \\#6\\ Fear - "they fell on their face, and were sore
afraid." To be in the presence of God, in all of His
power and glory, must be a frightening thing.
2. \\#7\\ Comfort - "be not afraid" - Yet, our blessed Lord
makes us feel at home in God’s presence.
3. \\#8\\ Absence - "they saw no more, save Jesus only" - The
heavenly visitors were gone, the cloud had disappeared,
and Jesus had veiled His glory once again.
4. \\#9\\ Charge - "Tell the vision to no man"
a. Jesus again tells His disciples to keep what they have
seen to themselves. This is that same oft repeated
charge which He has given:
(1) \\#Matt 8:4\\
(2) \\#Mark 7:36\\
(3) \\#Matt 16:20\\
(4) \\#Lu 8:56\\
b. On this occasion, Jesus adds a time limit.
(1) "…until the Son of man be risen again from the
dead."
(2) This time limit lends evidence to the thought
that Jesus simply did not NEED the witness of
others while He was on earth. His words and His
works spoke loudly enough.
5. \\#10-13\\ Explanation
a. \\#10\\ A Question
(1) One of the three disciples, contemplating
upon the events of the day, asked why the
the scribes teach that Elijah must come before
the Messiah.
Mal 4:5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet
before the coming of the great and dreadful day of
the LORD:
(2) The question tells us that the disciples had
missed any connection between John the
Baptist’s coming and the promise of Elijah.
(a) They were no doubt looking for a literal
fulfillment of the promise of Elijah’s
coming.
(b) Now that they have literally seen Elijah
and Moses, standing on the earth talking to
Jesus, they wonder how it is the Messiah
has come but Elijah did not return first.
(3) I notice:
(a) The disciple quotes what he had heard from
the scribes and not from the Scriptures.
While in this case, the scribes had taught
correctly; it is always best to go directly
to the Source of God’s truth, the Bible
itself.
(b) The events of that day caused at least one
of the disciples to think of the Messiah
coming to set up the kingdom. Now that
they knew who Jesus was \\#Matt 16:16\\
and had seen His glory \\#Matt 17:2\\, they
were expecting His reign.
(c) Yet for all of this, they seemed to have
missed Jesus’ teaching that He was to die
and rise again \\#Matt 16:21, 17:9\\.
i. True, Peter attempted to correct Jesus
for saying it, but once he was rebuked
for doing that, the very thought of
Jesus’ death and resurrection seemed
to have disappeared from their minds.
ii. Jesus repeatedly spoke of it.
iii. They just quit hearing it.
b. \\#11-12\\ An Explanation
(1) Jesus’ answer is that Elijah had come and the
people did what they wanted with him.
(2) Then Jesus adds that they will do the same with
Him—and once again, the disciples hear and even
understand that John the Baptist fulfilled the
role of Elijah, but they miss what Jesus said
would happen to Him. The people would kill
Jesus like Herod had killed John.
c. \\#13\\ An Understanding - While there was much the
disciples did not comprehend, they did understand
that John the Baptist fulfilled, at least in part,
the prophecy of Malachi 4:5.
II. \\#Matt 17:14-21\\ A Higher Degree of Service
A. \\#14-16\\ Setting
1. While Jesus with Peter, James, and John had been on the
mountain, the remaining nine disciples were attempting
to help a child described as a lunatic.
a. "lunatick"
(1) The word means "moon-struck."
(2) The disease itself is normally compared thought
to be epilepsy except some believed it worsened
with increase of the moon.
b. \\#18\\ In this case, the word is misused in that the
problem was not epilepsy at all but demon possession.
2. \\#16\\ "they could not cure him." - On the one hand, it
is good that the disciples now have the confidence to
attempt great works for God. On the other hand, it is
bad in that they still lack the needed power.
B. \\#17\\ Jesus’ Rebuke
1. This rebuke of this passage stings much because it is not
directed to the scribes and Pharisees but to Jesus’ own
disciples.
2. Jesus called His disciples:
a. "faithless"
(1) Either meaning they did not have enough faith to
do help this man and his son or that the faith
they had was not in the proper condition to
to help this man and his son.
(2) I believe the problem was the latter.
(3) While we typically think of faith as only the
ability to believe that God is able and willing,
it is obviously more.
(4) The disciples would have had that ability for
Jesus had already sent them to do these kinds of
works \\#Matt 10:5-8\\ and they had done them
successfully \\#Lu 10:7\\.
(5) Yet, though they believed, their faith still
lacked something.
(6) While believing may be the essence of faith, some
thing else provides it power. What?
b. "perverse"
(1) Meaning "to turn away from the right way, to
oppose."
(2) By attempting to do this miracle with their faith
in the condition it was, these men had erred
greatly.
3. Then Jesus turned to help the man and child in need.
C. \\#18\\ Jesus’ Heals
1. The Bible simply tells us that Jesus cast the devil out
of the child, and he was cured from that point onward.
2. Not much detail is given to the miracle because Matthew’s
point was not to showcase Jesus’ miracle. His purpose
was to showcase the disciple’s need.
D. \\#19-21\\ A Higher Degree of Service Required
1. \\#19\\ "Why could not we cast him out?" - The disciples
wanted to know the reason for their inability as well.
2. \\#20\\ Jesus’ Answer
a. \\#19\\ "Because of your unbelief." - While that may
sound like the disciples simply did not believe
enough, that is unlikely for two reasons.
(1) First, as already mentioned, they had already
done these kinds of miracles so they KNEW they
could do them. Past experiences are great
faith BUILDERS.
Ro 1:17 For therein is the righteousness of God
revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The
just shall live by faith.
(2) Second, because Jesus goes on to say the very
LEAST amount of faith is all that is required
to do mightier miracles than these.
Matt 17:20 … 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.
b. What was needed was more prayer and fasting.
(1) I do not believe the problem was in the essence
of their believing, but its lack of power.
(a) Perhaps we need to think of faith in the
terms of power.
(b) While a small charge of explosives is all
that is required to blow a tin can into the
air, a much more powerful charge is
required to blow a hole in a piece of
steel.
(c) So is faith. A little bit of believing
(i.e. the belief of one feeble Christian)
is capable of moving a mountain, if it is
empowered.
(2) And what powers faith? Prayer and fasting
Matt 17:21 Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by
prayer and fasting.
(3) What is it about prayer and fasting that might
empower our faith?
(a) That is another of those unanswered
questions.
(b) However, it might be that both prayer and
faith:
i. …require and feed a spiritual hunger.
ii. …demonstrate dependence and self
discipline.
iii. …open the mind and heart of God to His
people.
iv. …increase awareness of our sinful
condition.
v. …fulfills the desire of God that we
fellowship with Him.
(4) Regardless of whether we ever understand HOW
prayer and fasting increases our faith’s power,
it is only important that we know it does and
that we pray and fast.
III. \\#Matt 17:22-23\\ A Continual Reminder
A. Since \\#Matt 16:21\\, Jesus continues to tell His disciples
what will happen to Him in Jerusalem with great detail.
1. \\#22\\ He will betrayed.
2. \\#23\\ He will be killed.
3. He will rise on the third day.
B. Even though Jesus speaks with great clarity, the disciples
must dismiss His statements as something that is spirit and
beyond their grasp.
IV. \\#Matt 17:24-27\\ A New Relationship and An Abiding Respect
A. \\#24-26\\ A New Relationship
1. \\#24\\ Capernaum - Jesus has returned to His city
headquarters along the Sea of Galilee.
2. Once there, Peter is asked if Jesus paid taxes.
a. The question was probably being asked by the tax
collector because the taxes were due.
b. Peter answers in the affirmative.
c. Peter had been with Jesus for 3 years and no doubt
knew this from personal experience with Jesus.
3. \\#25\\ As Peter is about to enter the house, Jesus stops
Peter to ask a question concerning taxes.
a. The question is not a rebuke to Peter.
(1) Peter had answered truthfully.
(2) The question was a lesson.
b. The question: Who pays taxes? the children or
strangers?
(1) To understand the question, we must remember
that kings ruled during that time period and
the taxes that were collected became the
personal property of the king.
(2) It was the king who made the tax laws, including
deciding who would pay taxes and who would be
exempt. Typically, a king would not require
taxes of his own children or even some more
distant family members and friends. Exemption
was the privilege of being related to or
knowing royalty.
(3) Who was then taxed? Those who were not family
and friends. "Strangers" was what Jesus called
them.
c. \\#26\\ Peter answers Jesus question correctly. Those
not related or known to the king must pay taxes but
the king’s children do not.
d. "Then are the children free."
(1) "Free" as in they do not have to pay taxes.
(2) In this statement, Jesus was declaring that
neither He nor Peter were required to pay taxes.
(a) Why? Because they were Children of the King.
(b) Actually, Jesus is the King and Peter, along
with all Christians, are His children.
4. This subtle exchange shows the new relationship
Christians have with God through Jesus. We are His sons
and daughters.
B. \\#27\\ An Abiding Respect
1. "Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them" - It was
not Jesus’ desire to offend the government. Not that He
feared them, but because it is the will of God that men
show respect to government.
a. With Jesus’ departure near, and especially since the
religious and political leaders will play such a
major role in Jesus’ death, Jesus begins to teach His
disciples the importance of respecting government and
authority.
b. God will later speak through Paul in clear wording to
this effect.
Romans 13:1 Let every soul be subject unto the higher
powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers
that be are ordained of God.
2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth
the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall
receive to themselves damnation.
3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to
the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power?
do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of
the same:
2. The miraculous supply - Jesus then commands Peter to go
fishing to catch the money needed for the taxes. Was this
a miracle? CERTAINLY!
3. The fact that Jesus paid taxes to a nation that occupied
Israel and to a king that will kill Him and His disciples
says that we should likewise pay our taxes.
4. Christies are to have an abiding respect for their
governments, whether good or bad. Why? Because even the
worst governments will keep some measure of order and
justice if only so that he can oppress the people with
some measure of order.
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