Matthew Chapter 17

Matthew 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.

Matthew 17:1 And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart,

Matthew 17:1

Matthew 17:2 And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.

Matthew 17:3 And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him.

Why Moses and Elijah? Two suggestions: These two men characterize two different things: The Law and The Prophets. The Law came by Moses, the Prophet Elijah was an uniquely empowered Prophet. Other Prophets were powerful in their writings but, Elijah called down fire from heaven, shut the rain off for 3 ½ years! Mentioned by our Lord and his brother James

Why Moses and Elijah? Another distinction between them that is provocative – Moses died! In Moses we can typify the dead in Christ that are saved. Elijah did not die, he was translated. So he can typify those that are at the throne without having tasted death (the “rapture,” those that were translated without death).

Matthew 17:4 Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.

Matthew 17:5 While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.

2 Peter 1: For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17 For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. 18 And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.

Matthew 17:6 And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid.

Matthew 17:7 And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid.

Matthew 17:8 And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only.

Matthew 17:9 And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, saying, Tell the vision to no man, until the Son of man be risen again from the dead.

Matthew 17:10 And his disciples asked him, saying, Why then say the scribes that Elias must first come?

Matthew 17:11 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things.

Matthew 17:12 But I say unto you, That Elias is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed. Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them.

Matthew 17:13 Then the disciples understood that he spake unto them of John the Baptist.

Future Kingdom in View? All the elements of the future Kingdom are here in Matthew 17: We have Jesus in glory, not His humiliation. Moses is in glory, also radiant and shinning, he represents the redeemed through death Matt 13:43; Luke 9:30-34 Elijah is there in glory, and he represents those that have entered the kingdom through the translation or rapture. 1 Cor 15:50-51; 1 Thes 4:13-17

Future Kingdom in View? If that is the case who is Peter, James and John? They are Israel or the remnant in the flesh, the 12 apostles will rule over the 12 tribes Ezek 37:21-27 After they came down from the mountain, the multitude at the foot of the mountain might be those who were brought into the kingdom after it is established as is described Isa 11:10-12

The Two Witnesses Revelation 11 Temple measured11:1-2 - Outer Court to Gentiles: 42 months Two Witnesses11: empowered: 1260 days

The Two Witnesses (Revelation 11:3) And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth. Should translate: “The two witnesses of mine”; Emphatic construction

The Two Olive Trees (Revelation 11:4) These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth. Zerubbabel & Joshua, who re-established Israel Zech 4:10-14 Continuous filling by the Holy Spirit Zech 4:12

The Two Witnesses (Revelation 11:5-6) 5 And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed. 6 These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will.

The Two Witnesses 3 were expected:John 1: MessiahMal 3:1-3, ElijahMal 4:5-6 - MosesDeut 18:15-19 John the Baptist: “I am not.” John 1:19-20; Mat 11:14; 17: He did not “turn the hearts of the children” as Malachi predicted, nor usher in the “great and dreadful day,” etc.

The Two Witnesses Two ministries were unfinished: - MosesNum 20:12 Deut 3: Elijah1 Kgs 17:1; 19:13-16 Staff Meeting? Matt 17 - connected with Second Coming Luke 9:31 1 Pet 1: Pet 1:6-18

The Two Witnesses Unique Powers Elijah - Fire from heaven 1 Kgs 18:37 2 Kgs 1:10-12; Jer 5:14 - Shut heaven 1 Kgs 17:1 3 ½ years! Luk 4:25; Jas 5:17-18 Moses - Water into blood: Ex 7: Plagues Ex 8-12

The Two Witnesses TransfigurationMatt 17:3 ResurrectionLuke 24:4-7 AscensionActs 1:9-11

Matthew 17:14 And when they were come to the multitude, there came to him a certain man, kneeling down to him, and saying,

Matthew 17:15 Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatic, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water.

Matthew 17:16 And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him.

Matthew 17:17 Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me.

Matthew 17:18 And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour.

Matthew 17:19 Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out?

Matthew 17:20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: 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.

Matthew 17:20 Mustard Seed

Matthew 17:21 Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.

Matthew 17:22 And while they abode in Galilee, Jesus said unto them, The Son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of men

Matthew 17:23 And they shall kill him, and the third day he shall be raised again. And they were exceeding sorry.

Matthew 17:24 And when they were come to Capernaum, they that received tribute money came to Peter, and said, Doth not your master pay tribute?

Matthew 17:25 He saith, Yes. And when he was come into the house, Jesus prevented him, saying, What thinkest thou, Simon? of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own children, or of strangers?

Matthew 17:26 Peter saith unto him, Of strangers. Jesus saith unto him, Then are the children free.

Matthew 17:27 Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee.

Matthew 17:27 McGee: His method of getting the tax money was certainly novel, to say the least. Now our Lord demonstrates that He has recovered all that Adam lost. The creatures were obedient to Him. The fish as well as Peter followed His command.

End of Matthew Chapter 17