Matthew 17

Matthew 17:1-13

Chapter 43 The Message of the Transfiguration“And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light. And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him. 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. 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. And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid. And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid.

And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only. 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. And his disciples asked him, saying, Why then say the scribes that Elias must first come? And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things. 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.

Then the disciples understood that he spake unto them of John the Baptist.” (Matthew 17:1-13) In Matthew 17, the Holy Spirit takes us up on the mount of transfiguration. He does not tell us which mountain it was, lest foolish men make it an idolatrous “holy place.” But it was one of the high mountains around Jerusalem. There our Lord Jesus Christ was transfigured before Peter, James, and John. They saw his majesty and his excellent glory. The order in which this event is recorded is beautiful and full of instruction. It was six days after the events recorded in chapter 16. In that chapter… The Lord Jesus warned his disciples to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees (v.16), and reproved their unbelief (Matthew 17:8-12). Peter made his great confession of Christ (Matthew 17:13-20). Our Lord gave words of instruction about his sufferings, death, and resurrection (Matthew 17:21). Peter rebuked the Son of God and was rebuked by him (Matthew 17:22-23). Our Lord spoke of the cost of following him (Matthew 17:24-26) And he spoke of his coming glory (Matthew 17:27-27) “And after six days.” — The disciples thought on these things for six days. Then the Lord called Peter, James, and John to himself and took them up on the mount. He had told them about his suffering. Now he would show them something of his glory. The hearts, which had been saddened by those plain statements regarding his sufferings and death, must be gladdened by the vision of his reward and glory. “Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart.” — Luke tells us that they came up into this high mountain “to pray.” What a prayer meeting it was! Did you notice that Peter is still in the favored circle? Six days earlier he had greatly sinned in rebuking his Master. But Christ did not remember it. He did not bear the offence in mind. He freely forgave Peter’s sin. He loved Peter still. How thankful we ought to be for such a Savior! He will not impute sin to his own (Romans 4:8). The Transfiguration “And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light. And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him. 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. 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” (Matthew 17:2-5). There is much in these verses which is shrouded in mystery; and we will leave it there. That which God has not revealed we are content not to know. We will not curiously pry into God’s secrets. Robert Hawker wrote… “We know that ‘the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us’ (John 1:14). And we know also, that ‘in him,’ that is, Christ, ‘dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily” (Colossians 2:9). All that we can possibly frame to ourselves of this transfiguration therefore is, that the Godhead shone forth in the manhood in a more than ordinary manner. The Son of God was pleased to manifest himself in his double-nature glory more than in the usual appearances of Christ in the days of his flesh. It was a moment of peculiar manifestation of the glories of his person. It was the personal glory of the God-Man, as God-Man.” Still, there is much in these verses which is intended for our instruction and edification. We have before us a striking demonstration of the glory in which Christ and his people will appear when he comes the second time. The transfiguration was a revelation of our Lord’s true dignity. Here the corner of the veil was lifted to show Peter, James, and John the glory which awaited Christ as the reward of his agony upon the cross (2 Peter 1:16; John 1:14). It was also a picture of the glory which awaits every believer. J. C. Ryle said, “There is laid up for Jesus, and all that believe on him, such glory as the heart of man never conceived.” (1 John 3:1-2) These verses also give us a clear, factual demonstration of life after death and of the resurrection of the body. Moses had been dead and buried for 1500 years. Elijah “went up by a whirlwind into heaven” 900 years before this. Yet, here they stood on the mount talking to the Lord Jesus. Peter, James, and John saw them and heard them; and they knew immediately who they were, though they had never seen them or even a picture of them. That fact clearly demonstrates the universal teaching of Holy Scripture that there is life after death and that there is a coming day of resurrection. And I think we may safely infer from this that God’s elect will know one another in the resurrection. Something Better When the Lord Jesus was transfigured before Peter, James, and John, his face shined like the sun and his garments were as white as the light. Peter later tells us that they were “eyewitnesses of his majesty” (2 Peter 1:16) and heard God’s voice “from the excellent glory” (2 Peter 1:17). But there is something better than that. Peter tells us that the written Word of God is a more sure and dependable revelation than his experience upon the mountain of transfiguration (2 Peter 1:19). In this day of imaginary extrabiblical revelation, Peter’s words need to be remembered. We must never interpret the written Word of God by our experiences, no matter how glorious. Rather, we are to interpret our experiences by God’s written Word. Peter’s Proposal “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 17:4). — Peter was simply overwhelmed. Who can blame him for making his proposal that three tabernacles should be made? Who would not wish to abide in such a mountain and in such a state? After seeing and hearing the things he saw and heard upon the mount of transfiguration, and after hearing such a testimony “from the excellent glory,” and after having made such a great confession of faith regarding the Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew 16:15-19), who would ever have imagined that Peter would later deny his God and Savior? But he did (Matthew 26:69-75). And there is not a more blessed example in all the Word of God of that which he was later inspired to write. — We “are kept by the power of God, through faith unto salvation” (1 Peter 1:5). Who could write those words with more force and gratitude than Peter? He knew, by blessed experience, that the safety and security of God’s elect is altogether, at all times, and in all circumstances a matter of pure, free grace. God the Son This event is recorded to show us, by divine testimony, that the Lord Jesus Christ is infinitely superior to all who are born of women (Matthew 17:4-5). Peter, bewildered by the heavenly vision, suggested that three tabernacles ought to be built: one for Moses, one for Elijah, and one for Christ. In his confusion, Peter seems to have placed the lawgiver and the prophet side by side with Christ, as though they were equal to him. Immediately, Moses and Elijah were engulfed in a cloud, and a voice came forth from the cloud saying, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.” That voice was meant to teach Peter and us that Jesus Christ alone is the Son of God, the Savior of men, and the One in whom and by whom God is well-pleased. As the rising of the sun eclipses every star and causes them to fade away, even so the rising of Christ, the Sun of Righteousness, in the earth eclipses all who ever came before him. Once Christ has come, Moses, the law, has nothing more to say. He met the law’s demands. And the prophets, represented by Elijah, are no longer to be pried into as mysterious secrets. He fulfilled all the prophets. “This is my beloved Son.” — With those words, God the Father publicly owned and identified himself with Jesus, the Son of Mary, as his own dearly beloved Son. The babe of Bethlehem, the man of Nazareth, the suffering One of Calvary is himself “God over all, blessed forever.” Christ is the only begotten Son of God (John 3:16), the eternally begotten Son of God (Proverbs 8:22-23), and the Son co-equal with his Father (John 5:18; John 10:33; 1 John 5:7). Christ is co-essential with the Father, so essentially one with the Father that without Christ there would be no God (John 1:1-3). We who believe are the sons of God by adoption and grace; but Christ is the Son of God by nature and essence. He is the Son as none others are. This voice from heaven announced the fulfillment of the prophecies, which foretold the coming of One who would be both God and man in one Person (Isaiah 7:14; Isaiah 9:6; Micah 5:2; Zechariah 13:7). The Lord Jesus Christ is the Beloved Son of God. God the Father loves the Son as the Son. Particularly, this is spoken to show us that the Father loves and delights in the Son because of his obedience as the Mediator and Substitute for sinners (Proverbs 8:30; John 3:35; John 10:17). The Lord Jesus Christ is the embodiment, revelation, and medium of divine love. God loves sinners in Christ and because of Christ (John 17:23-24; Romans 5:8; 1 John 3:16; 1 John 4:8-10). This is the first, essential thing to be learned: Jesus Christ our Savior is himself God, the eternal Son, well-beloved by his Father. It is his Godhead that gives infinite merit and efficacy to all that he does. He who is God is an all-sufficient, effectual Substitute for sinners. Well-pleased “This is my beloved Son in whom I am well-pleased.”— God the Father speaks from heaven to Peter, James, and John, and by them to us, declaring that he is well pleased with his dear Son, and only with his Son. Moses was there, but God was not pleased with him. Elijah was there; but God was not pleased with him. Peter was there; but God was not pleased with him. James was there; but God was not pleased with him. And John was there; but God was not pleased with him. God never has been and never can be pleased with any sinful man. But God always has been and always must be well pleased with his dear Son, the God-man. It goes without saying that God the Father is essentially well pleased with his Son as his Son. But here we are told that God the Father is well pleased with his Son as the God-man Mediator. God was well pleased with his Son eternally, as our Surety and Mediatoral Representative in the covenant of grace (Isaiah 42:21). He is well pleased, honored by, and delights in the representative life of his Son, by which he brought in everlasting righteousness for us (Matthew 3:13-17). God is well pleased with the substitutionary, sin atoning death of his Son, by which he both satisfied divine justice and put away the sins of his people (Isaiah 53:10; Psalms 85:9-11). He is well pleased with the heavenly intercession of his Son as our Advocate and great High Priest (1 John 2:1-2).

God is well pleased with the providential rule of his Son as the sovereign King of the universe (Isaiah 42:1-4). As our Savior said of his earthly life, he might say of his heavenly rule, “I do always those things that please him” (John 8:29). And God shall be well pleased with the results of his Son’s covenant engagements and mediatoral rule (1 Corinthians 15:24-28). Christ, as the Mediator, as the God-man, shall present his kingdom to the eternal Father, that God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit may be forever glorified (Revelation 19:1-7). But the voice that was heard from heaven did not say, “This is my beloved Son with whom I am well pleased,” but “This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.” God is well pleased with his people in his Son. Imagine that! The holy, righteous, just, and true God, Lord of heaven and earth, is honored by, delights in, and well pleased with us in his Son! In our natural condition we are all displeasing to God. This is our miserable state by nature. But our God is well pleased with us for Christ’s sake, because he is in Christ. He was well pleased with us in Christ eternally (Ephesians 1:6). He is well pleased with all that we offer to him and do for him in Christ (1 Peter 2:5). And he is always, immutably well pleased with us in Christ (Jeremiah 23:6; Jeremiah 33:16). Hear Him “Hear ye him.” — The God of glory commands us to hear Christ our Surety, to hear all that he declares and reveals, as our Prophet, Priest, and King, and to hear him with confident faith, to receive and accept him in all the fulness of his person and work as the God-man, our Savior. Our God here tells us to be completely well pleased with him as the Lord our Righteousness, just as he is completely well pleased with him. He would have us, by faith, to look upon ourselves in Christ, just as he looks upon us in Christ, to reckon ourselves to be what he reckons us to be (Romans 6:11): justified, righteous, holy, accepted, without sin, blameless, spotless, and unreproveable — well-pleasing to God! Are you well pleased with Christ? He who is well pleased with Christ alone as his Wisdom, Righteousness, Sanctification, and Redemption, accepts Christ as all, looks to Christ for all, pleads Christ in all, makes Christ to be what God makes him, the whole of salvation, as the sole means of salvation. When the Holy Spirit declares of God’s elect that we are “accepted in the Beloved” (Ephesians 1:6), he is not merely telling us that God accepts our repentance, our faith, our prayers, and our works for Christ’s sake (though that is true). He is telling us that we are accepted as one with the Beloved. As such, because we are in him and one with him, “the fulness of him that filleth all in all,” we are well pleasing to our God in him. And that can never change! As John Kent put it… “Christ exalted is our song, Sung by all the blood-bought throng; To His throne our shouts shall rise, God with us by sacred ties. Shout, believer, to thy God! He hath once the wine-press trod; Peace procured by blood divine; Cancelled all thy sins and mine. Here thy bleeding wounds are healed; Sin condemned and pardon sealed; Grace her empire still maintains; Love without a rival reigns. In thy Surety thou art free; His dear hands were pierced for thee; With His spotless garment on, Holy as the Holy One! Oh, the heights and depths of grace! Shining with meridian blaze; Here the sacred records show Sinners black, but comely too. Saints dejected, cease to mourn, Faith shall soon to vision turn; Ye the kingdom shall obtain, And with Christ exalted reign.” “Hear ye him.” — With these words, God the Father also informs us that Christ alone is the great Prophet and Teacher in his kingdom. No voice is to be heard in the church and kingdom of God, but the voice of Christ. His doctrine alone is the doctrine of his church. His Word alone is our authoritative rule of faith and practice. Grace Experienced In Matthew 17:6-8, Matthew gives us a beautiful picture of the experience of grace. “And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid. And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid. And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only.” I am certain that I am not stretching the text when I tell you that the things described in these three verses is a beautiful, spiritual picture of what happens when the Lord Jesus comes to sinners in his saving power and performs his saving operations of grace. Here is the power by which sinners are born of God in regeneration. — “Jesus came and touched them.” When touched by his omnipotent hand, we were called by his omnipotent voice. — “Arise.” And being called, he assures us that all is well, saying, “Be not afraid.” And, as soon as sinners are born of God, raised up from the dead by him, hearing his voice, “They see no man, save Jesus only” as Savior and Lord (1 Corinthians 1:30). “Oh! for grace,” wrote Hawker, “to possess such faith in Jesus, as may raise our souls above all fears, while conscious of a union with Christ, and acceptance in Christ. The sudden departure of Moses and Elias may serve to teach us, that none but Jesus can be our abiding comfort. Everything here below is short and transitory. Oh! What a blessed thought it is. Jesus hath said, ‘Lo! I am with you always’ (Matthew 28:20).” Elijah “And his disciples asked him, saying, Why then say the scribes that Elias must first come? And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things. 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. Then the disciples understood that he spake unto them of John the Baptist” (Matthew 17:10-13). Here our Lord explains the ministry of John the Baptist. Malachi prophesied, that prior to the Messiah’s coming, Elijah would come again to prepare the way for him (Malachi 4:5-6). Here, our Lord states plainly that Malachi was talking about John the Baptist. Indeed, like Elijah and John the Baptist, all true Gospel preachers are sent of God as forerunners to prepare the way of the Lord by declaring to men the gospel of God’s free, sovereign, saving grace in Christ (Isaiah 52:7; Romans 10:13-17).

Matthew 17:8

Chapter 44 “Jesus Only” “And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only.” (Matthew 17:8) Peter, James, and John were with the Lord Jesus on the mount of transfiguration. There they saw the Savior transfigured before them. We do not know what that vision was like. But we do know that it was a dazzling display of his divine glory and majesty (2 Peter 1:16-18; John 1:14; 1 John 1:2). Suddenly, Moses and Elijah appeared on the mountain with them and talked to Christ about the death he must accomplish at Jerusalem (Luke 9:32). Needless to say, Peter, James, and John were awestruck!

I would be too. Wouldn’t you? When Peter saw and heard Moses and Elijah, he blurted out, “Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles, one for thee, one for Moses, and one for Elijah!” The Lord Jesus said nothing. But while Peter was yet talking, “A cloud overshadowed them.” God simply snuffed out Moses and Elijah. He took them out of the picture. “And behold a voice spoke out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.” Moses and Elijah were removed from the scene for a reason. The Old covenant was vanishing away. The dawn of a new day and a new covenant had come. When the Lord God said, “This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him,” he was saying to Peter, James, and John, and to you and me, “Moses and Elijah have been fulfilled. Moses and Elijah have nothing more to say or do. All that they said and all that they did was in preparation for and pointed to the coming of my beloved Son. Here he is. ‘Hear ye him!’ Moses and Elijah, the Law and the Prophets have no other function.” At Sinai the people were forbidden to make any approach to the presence of God. They were not allowed to even touch the mountain. In the tabernacle and in the temple a thick, thick veil stood before the most holy place, constantly separating the people from God. The law did nothing to bring sinners into God’s presence. It never could (Romans 8:34; Hebrews 10:1-4). In fact, it did just the opposite.

The law forbade men from even trying to approach the holy Lord God! No one could ever approach the God of heaven and earth until the law was fulfilled, its curse removed, and sin was put away by the satisfaction of God’s justice. The Lord Jesus, so to speak, came down the mountain to the people, tore down the veil, and by the blood of his cross opened to fallen men a way of access to the Lord God (Hebrews 10:19-23). When the disciples saw Christ in his glory and heard God speak from heaven, they fell on their faces. They realized that they were in the awesome presence of the glory of God and were terrified by it. That is always what happens when a sinner realizes who he is before the holy Lord God (Job 40:3-5; Job 42:5-6; Isaiah 6:1-8; Daniel 10:8). Then, after they fell before him in utter terror, we read that “Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid” (Matthew 17:7). God the Son, having assumed our nature for the express purpose of redeeming us and, thereby, showing us how greatly he loves us, here reveals that his whole heart towards his own is love, and bids his chosen never to be afraid. “And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only” (Matthew 17:8). When the law has been honored, fulfilled, and silenced and you look up to see the One by whose obedience it has been fully satisfied, you will see “Jesus only.” When you are made to understand that all the prophets have been fulfilled and you look up to see who fulfilled all those prophetic visions and promises given in the Old Testament, you will see “no man, save Jesus only.” The Lord Jesus Christ alone is our salvation, comfort, strength, and hope. Our Savior “Jesus only” is Our Savior (Matthew 1:21; Acts 4:12; 1 Corinthians 1:30-31). In the matter of salvation Christ stands entirely alone. We put no trust in the flesh, in ourselves, or in anything we do or experience. We trust “Jesus only” (Philippians 3:3; Romans 11:6; Galatians 5:2; Galatians 5:4). We trust Christ alone for righteousness (Romans 3:24-26; Romans 4:25 to Romans 5:1; Jeremiah 23:6; Jeremiah 33:16). “Jesus only” is that Holiness we must have, without which none can see God (Hebrews 12:14). We trust “Jesus only” for redemption (2 Corinthians 5:21; Galatians 3:13; 1 Peter 1:18-21; 1 Peter 3:15).

We trust “Jesus only” for sanctification (1 Corinthians 1:30; Hebrews 10:10-14). We trust “Jesus only” for preservation in grace (2 Timothy 1:12). We trust “Jesus only” for our resurrection and glorification (Psalms 16:9-11). Either Christ alone is my Savior, or I have no Savior! Either he completely saves, or he does not save at all. If so much as the will to be saved depends upon me, I cannot be saved (John 5:46).

If, after having been saved for fifty years, I should be required to reach back and drag my foot across the threshold of heaven, I would sink at last into hell. “Salvation is of the Lord!” “By the grace of God I am what I am!” Our Lord “Jesus only” is our Lord and Master. — “Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord” (2 Peter 1:2). I know that the Lord Jesus Christ is the sovereign Monarch of the universe and the Ruler of all men, the wicked as well as the righteous. But he is the Lord of his people willingly, by our voluntary consent (1 Corinthians 12:3). True faith voluntarily surrenders all things to the rule of Christ (Luke 14:24-33). True faith trusts Christ’s providential rule of all things, saying, “Thy will be done.” True faith is obedient to Christ the Lord. The Church of God is a Kingdom under the rule of Christ by voluntary consent, willingly obedient to his Word, his ordinances, and his will. He is our Master, and we are happy and thankful that he is. Our Rule “Jesus only” is our rule of life. We are not slaves under the dominion of the law. We are children, walking in the path of our Elder Brother because we love him and seek the honor of his name (John 13:15). Our rule of life is not the ten commandments, but the whole revealed will of God given to us in Holy Scripture. It is summarized in two commandments, two motivating forces by which we are governed in all things: faith and love (1 John 3:23). Our Hope “Jesus only” is our hope before God (Colossians 1:27; Lamentations 3:24-26). My hope is built on nothing less Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness. I dare not trust the sweetest frame, But wholly lean on Jesus’ name. When all around my soul gives way, He then is all my hope and stay. On Christ the Solid Rock I stand, All other ground is sinking sand. Our only assurance and peace is Christ (Romans 5:1). All who know him gladly confess, “I am a poor sinner and nothing at all; but Jesus Christ is my all in all!” Christ alone is our plea before and advocate with the Father (1 John 2:1-2). Christ alone is able to present us faultless before the presence of God’s glory. And he will do it (Ephesians 5:25-27;Jude 1:24-25). “Bold shall I stand in that great day, For who aught to my charge shall lay, While through Christ’s blood absolved I am From sins tremendous guilt and blame?” Our Reward “Jesus only” is our reward in heaven. “Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee. My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever” (Psalms 73:25-26). In heaven’s eternal glory we want nothing and hope for nothing but “Jesus only”. He is the Crown we seek and the beauty we desire (Isaiah 28:5). “When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up” (Psalms 27:10). Soon we shall be with Christ (John 14:1-3). Soon we shall see his face (Revelation 22:4). When we see him, we shall be like him (1 John 3:2). We shall be fully satisfied with him (Revelation 21:1-4). And the Son of God shall be fully satisfied with us! (Isaiah 53:11). Imagine that! Our All “Jesus only” is our all. As the Spirit of God states it in Colossians 3:11, “Christ is all, and in all.” To him every knee shall bow. Christ is all in all in creation, redemption, providence, grace, glory. He is all in all in his church and in the hearts of all his people. Christ is all in the Book of God, the sum and substance of the whole Bible. He is the living Word of whom the written Word speaks.

The Lord Jesus Christ is not one of many revelations. He is the revelation of the invisible God. Christ is not one of many words. He is the Word of God (John 1:1-3; John 18). You and I cannot see God, know God, speak to God, be spoken to by God, or come to God except by Christ (John 14:6 : Matthew 11:25-27). Christ is the Way. – Without him, there is no going to God.

Christ is the Truth. – Without him, there is no knowing God. Christ is the Life. – Without him, there is no living before God. There is no prophet like Christ our Prophet. He is unrivalled in his excellence as the Revelation of the invisible God. When we read the promises of God, we understand that Christ is the first promise in the sacred Word, and the whole of every promise that follows. In him all the promises of God are yea and amen. When we read the law of God, we rejoice to know that “Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.” When we read of the sacrifices, we rejoice to know that Christ has, by his one sacrifice fulfilled them all, for by that one sacrifice he has “perfected forever them that are sanctified.” When we read the prophets, our hearts leap with joy because “to him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.”

Matthew 17:14-21

Chapter 45 Only by Prayer and Fasting “And when they were come to the multitude, there came to him a certain man, kneeling down to him, and saying, Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatick, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water. And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him. 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. And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour. Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out? 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. Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.” (Matthew 17:14-21) In this passage of Scripture we have the healing of the lunatic by the word of our Lord. It was a miracle that the disciples were not able to perform because of their unbelief. While the Lord Jesus was in the mount of transfiguration, a certain man brought his epileptic son to the disciples. But the disciples were unable to help him. Mark’s more detailed account of this event (Mark 9) shows us that this all took place in the midst of large crowd of jeering adversaries. The disciples tried in vain to cast out the evil spirit and cure the child of his seizures. You can imagine the father’s disappointment. When the Lord Jesus appeared, he immediately appealed to him, saying, “Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatick, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water. And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him.” This is one of those miracles that is recorded by Matthew, Mark, and Luke. It is reported to us three times because the Holy Spirit intends for us to recognize the importance of and learn the spiritual lessons taught by it. So, without introduction, let me show you what these lessons are. A Good Father Blessed are those children who have such a good father. The best parents are those who seek the mercy of God for their children. This young man’s father recognized the great need of his son. He recognized that his son’s needs were primarily spiritual, not physical. He realized that his boy was possessed of a devil (Mark 9; Luke 9). Blessed is that son, blessed is that daughter whose parents earnestly seek the salvation of their souls. This man recognized his son’s great need was the mercy of God found in Christ (Matthew 17:15). He brought his needy son to the Lord’s disciples, hoping for his cure (Matthew 17:16). These were the men he knew had been used of God for the healing of many. Therefore, he brought his son to them. Blessed are those children who have parents who bring them to the house of God, whose parents see to it that they hear the preaching of the gospel. That is the means by which God gives life and faith to chosen sinners, the means by which he communicates mercy to the needy (Romans 10:17; 1 Peter 1:23-25). But it took more than the work of the disciples to cast out the evil spirit and cure the child; and it takes more than the voice of a preacher to save a sinner. The Word preached must be accompanied by the power of God, or it will accomplish nothing. Let us, like this man, take our children and their needs directly to the Savior, making intercession, earnest intercession, on their behalf (Matthew 17:14-15). Here is something that must not be overlooked, when this man brought his child to the Savior, he obtained the mercy he craved for his son (Matthew 17:18). I would not make more of this fact than is warranted by the Scriptures; but it is a fact that ought to encourage every believing mother and father to bring their children, in the arms of faith, to the Son of God by prayer. — I do not find a single example of anyone bringing a needy soul to Christ during his earthly ministry who did not obtain the mercy craved for the one brought to the Savior. Satan’s Influence We have before us a pitiful example of the destructive influence of Satan upon those who are under his influence. This young man was possessed of a devil. During the days of our Lord’s earthly ministry, demon possession was a very common thing. One reason it was allowed was to give clear evidence of Christ’s power over hell. Another reason why God allowed that horrible evil was to teach us that Satan’s influence is always destructive (Matthew 17:15). Like a roaring lion, he seeks to devour the souls of men (1 Peter 5:8). The old serpent appears to seek the destruction of young souls especially. Thousands upon thousands of young men and women seem to be wholly given over to Satan’s influence, and are “taken captive at his will” to the destruction of their souls (2 Timothy 2:26). Ignorant, indulgent parents often look upon the reckless rebellion of their children as a passing phase. They excuse a child’s disregard for authority, moral perversity, and pleasure seeking behavior as “sowing their wild oats” of youth. How foolish! How irresponsible! Do not overlook the fact that this young man was raised by a man who believed and worshipped and loved the Lord Jesus Christ. Many look upon parents whose children are rebels as though the parents themselves must be bad parents. Such thoughts arise from hearts full of pride and self-righteousness. David was a man after God’s own heart. Yet, his sons and daughters were all, except Solomon, reprobate rebels. Though this man’s son had been under Satan’s dominion for a long time, though it appeared that he would ultimately be destroyed (or destroy himself) by Satan’s devices, he obtained mercy. What a blessed, sweet, revelation that fact is! Satan was given permission to torment this young man to make way for the greater manifestation of Christ’s glory in healing him. As God gave Satan permission to afflict Job, that he might show his goodness and grace more gloriously, he often allows the fiend of hell to cast his chosen into the fires of their own lusts for a season, that he may snatch them as brands from the fire by his omnipotent mercy. We must never despair of those who seem most in need of mercy. When the Son of God spoke to this young man, he was immediately cured, immediately healed, immediately saved from the grasp of Satan. When we read of our Lord’s miracles like this one, we should be encouraged to believe that he may yet repeat his wonderful work in the lives of others today. Faithless and Perverse In Matthew 17:17 we read, “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.” These words are often misunderstood. Our Lord Jesus was not here speaking to his disciples, but to the jeering multitude, and specifically to the scribes and Pharisees who had mocked his disciples for their failure. Those words, “O faithless and perverse generation,” he never used n speaking to or about his disciples. Though, like his disciples today, their faith was often weak, they were not faithless. Neither were they a perverse, rebellious, and stubborn generation; though, like us, there was much perversity in them. The Pharisees, on the other hand, though they were highly respected religious leaders, were just that, a “faithless and perverse generation,” just as their fathers had been (Deuteronomy 32:5). The Lord Jesus demanded that the child be brought to him publicly, before those “faithless and perverse” people, that he might publicly shame them. Faith and Unbelief Yet, when the disciples asked why they could not cast out the evil spirit, our Savior said plainly, “Because of your unbelief” (Matthew 17:19-20). Sadly, there is much unbelief in the most faithful believers. These disciples were believers. Yet, they could not perform the work before them because of their unbelief. The weakness of their faith is often set before us, and in many ways, in the Scriptures. It is set before us for the encouragement of God’s people in every age (Romans 15:4). It is faith in Christ, not great faith, just faith in Christ that is the evidence and assurance of a God-wrought salvation in our souls (Hebrews 11:2; 1 John 5:1). The weakest faith in Christ is as truly the evidence of grace as the strongest. A drop of dew is as truly water as all the rivers of the world. It is of the same nature and quality, though not the same in quantity. So it is with God-given faith. That faith, which is the gift and operation of God the Holy Spirit, is the evidence and proof of our union with Christ, of our election, redemption, and regeneration by his grace (Acts 13:39; Acts 13:48). Yet, we must not fail to see that nothing so greatly hinders our usefulness as our unbelief. These disciples truly trusted Christ as their Savior and Lord. Yet, their unbelief made it impossible for them to perform the miracle they had been commissioned to perform (Matthew 10:8). I am fully aware of God’s sovereignty, divine predestination, and eternal election. I know that the purpose of God stands forever, and that it is altogether immutable. But we must never blame God for our failures.

The word of God lays the blame upon our unbelief, and nowhere else. Peter sank because of unbelief (Matthew 14:31). Israel’s failure to obtain the blessedness that might have been theirs was because of their unbelief (Isaiah 48:18; Matthew 13:58; Mark 6:5-6). The disciples failed to grasp the good news of Christ’s resurrection because “they believed not” (Mark 16:11-14). I often wonder what blessings I have missed, what works I have been unable to perform, and what wonders I have failed to see because of my unbelief (John 11:40). Let us not pass over this matter lightly. Faith is the key to success in our warfare. Unbelief is the path to heartache, trouble, and defeat. As faith languishes, usefulness languishes. The same Israelites, who went through the Red Sea in triumph, became cowards on the borders of Canaan, and could not enter the land because of unbelief (Hebrews 3:19). Faith’s Power Our Savior says, “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). I think there is an obvious reference here to Zechariah 4:7. — “Who art thou, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain.” Zerubbabel, of course, typified our Lord Jesus Christ. And our Savior here declares that if we look to him, if we trust him, no obstacle will be too great for us to overcome, no work too difficult for us to perform, and nothing shall be impossible to us. That is not to be understood as a blanket promise that we can do anything we want to do, or have anything we want to have, if we just believe and our faith is strong enough. This promise is made to the smallest grain of faith, not to strong faith. If we have true faith in Christ, nothing shall prevent us from glorifying our God, doing the work he has given us to do, and overcoming every obstacle that opposes us or would hinder us in this world. Faith in Christ is the most powerful influence in the world (1 John 5:4). The Word of God gives constant testimony to the power of faith in the lives of God’s elect. It was faith in Christ that caused Joshua and Caleb to give a good report (Numbers 13:30). It was faith in Christ that sustained Job in hope (Job 13:10). It was faith in Christ that caused Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to remain faithful (Daniel 3:17-18). It was faith in Christ that caused the woman who was a sinner to love her Savior (Luke 7:47-50). Hebrews 11 gives us example after example of the power of faith, showing us that faith honors God and God honors faith. In this 20th verse, our Lord once more compares faith to a grain of mustard seed. Mustard seed faith is little faith with a big Object — The Omnipotent Christ! God’s Work God’s work must never be attempted by the arm of the flesh or with careless indifference. — “Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting” (Matthew 17:21). These words were addressed as a gentle rebuke to the disciples, who had perhaps become overly confident of their powers as the servants of Christ (Luke 10:17). Like Israel, puffed up with the fall of Jericho, we are all quick to say, “The men of Ai are but few there is no need for us to put forth all our strength” (Joshua 7:3). But it is a mistake, a fatal mistake, to underrate our foes (Ephesians 6:12). Satan will not be unseated without a fight. “This kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.” So long as we are in this world and seek by faith to serve our God and Savior, let us do so “by prayer and fasting,” by faith in Christ, denying ourselves. As always, we must interpret this statement in Matthew 17:21 in its context. Our Savior is still referring to the message of Zechariah’s vision in Zechariah 4. The vision was about God’s work, the building of his house, the saving of his people, which is the very thing portrayed in the mercy performed upon this demon possessed boy. God’s message to his prophet then is his message to his disciples here, and his message to us today. — The work is all God’s. He uses men to perform his work. He allows us to lay brick, take away stones, and preach the gospel.

But nothing depends upon, or is determined by man. The work is all his. — “This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts. Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain: and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it” (Zechariah 4:6-7). Let us, therefore, serve him with prayer, trusting him, and fasting. By fasting (if I understand it correctly) I mean denying any strength, goodness, power, or ability in ourselves, seeking not our will but his, seeking not our own gratification but his glory.

Matthew 17:22-27

Chapter 46 “Lest We Should Offend Them” “And while they abode in Galilee, Jesus said unto them, The Son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of men: And they shall kill him, and the third day he shall be raised again. And they were exceeding sorry. And when they were come to Capernaum, they that received tribute money came to Peter, and said, Doth not your master pay tribute? 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? Peter saith unto him, Of strangers.

Jesus saith unto him, Then are the children free. 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 17:22-27) During the last six months of his public ministry, our Lord spent less and less time with the multitudes and more and more time in private with his disciples. During these last six months, he constantly gave them intense, careful instruction, both about his betrayal, death, and resurrection for the redemption of our souls and about the principles of his kingdom, the principles of grace, faith, and love by which we are to live in this world for the glory of his name and the advancement of his kingdom. Some of these momentous final words and the events surrounding them are recorded by all four gospel writers. But some were recorded only by one. Matthew 17:22-27 describes an event and a word of instruction recorded by Matthew alone. Christ’s Determination The first thing that demands our attention in this passage is Christ’s determination to suffer and die for his elect. “And while they abode in Galilee, Jesus said unto them, The Son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of men: And they shall kill him, and the third day he shall be raised again. And they were exceeding sorry” (Matthew 17:22-23). Our Lord’s heart was focused upon his death from eternity. He came into the world to suffer and die for his people. And every step he took moved him with predetermined pace to the appointed place and appointed hour when he would lay down his life for the people he loved from everlasting and had come to save. The Lord Jesus seemed to delight in the prospect of his death as our Substitute, because the joy set before him of our everlasting salvation would be accomplished by his great sacrifice (Matthew 16:22-23; Luke 2:48-49; Luke 12:50; John 12:27-28; John 13:27). Because his heart was fixed upon us from eternity, he was determined to die upon the cursed tree and spoke often of the event. Here he tells his disciples, now for the third time, how that he must go to Jerusalem, be betrayed into the hands of men, and die (Matthew 16:21; Matthew 17:12). Our Savior was not the helpless victim of circumstances beyond his control. He voluntarily laid down his life for his sheep (John 10:17-18), and did so by the will, purpose, and determinate counsel of God the Father (Acts 2:23). But let it never be forgotten that the Lord of Glory was betrayed and slain by the hands of wicked men. The Son of man came into the world to save men, and was by a man “betrayed into the hands of men.” For men he lived, and by man he was betrayed. For men he died, and by men he died. Nothing would satisfy the rage of men against him but his blood.

God hating man ever cries, “Give us his blood!” Yet, nothing could satisfy the wrath and justice of God but his blood. When justice found our sins upon him, justice cried, “Give me his blood!” (Hebrews 9:22). And by his precious, sin-atoning blood divine justice is fully and forever satisfied. As our Savior kept his death in the forefront of all his teachings, so too must his servants. “We preach Christ crucified” because nothing is so needful, so vital, so comforting to our souls and so glorious as this: “When we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly…God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:6-8). Then, our Lord assured the disciples that he would, according to the type and prophecy of the Old Testament, rise from the dead on the third day (Psalms 16:9-11; Isaiah 26:19; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4). The last line of Mat 17:23 reads, “And they were exceeding sorry.” Many excuses are offered by which to make less of this than the Holy Spirit does. Some say they sorrowed because they loved the Savior. No doubt that is true. Others say they sorrowed because they were confused and did not understand his doctrine. That too is certainly true. But the Holy Spirit tells us by Mark, that they sorrowed because of their ignorance (Mark 9:32). And their ignorance was rooted in a lack of faith. John Gill explains how their grief might arise from their ignorance of the Lord’s doctrine. “They seem to have overlooked, and to have taken no notice of his rising again from the dead; which might have administered comfort to them, and have relieved them under their melancholy apprehensions of things; but this they understood not, nor indeed truly any part of what he had said; so Mark and Luke intimate. But then it may be said, how came they to be so very sorrowful, if they did not know what was said? To which may be replied, that this might be the reason of their sorrow, because they did not understand what he said, and they were afraid to ask. They could not tell how to reconcile the betraying of him into the hands of men, and his sufferings and death, with their notions, that the Messiah should abide forever, and should set up a temporal kingdom, in great splendor and magnificence. And what he meant by rising again from the dead, they could not devise. They could not tell whether all this was to be understood in a literal, or mystical sense.” How often we grieve when there is no cause! Christ’s death was for the glory of God, by the will of God, and according to the purpose of God. It was the means of their ransom and ours. Our Savior’s death upon the cursed tree was the revelation of God’s glory. It was our Savior’s path to glory, joy, and everlasting dominion, and the accomplishment of their everlasting redemption and ours! Yet, they were exceeding sorry! Why? ¾ Because they had counted on an earthly kingdom, with earthly joys, and earthly honors. These faithful men were so greatly influenced by the religion of the Pharisees that they never questioned the Pharisees’ traditions regarding the Savior’s kingdom. Blinded by tradition, they remained ignorant of his plain teaching, until he was raised from the dead. Therefore, he set the truth before them again and again, in almost the same words. His purpose was to banish from their thoughts, and ours, all dreams of an earthly, Jewish millennial kingdom. His death would be a painful, heavy trial to them. Therefore, he took great care to prepare them for it. Temple Tax Next, we read about a dispute some raised with Peter over paying the Jewish temple tax. “And when they were come to Capernaum, they that received tribute money came to Peter, and said, Doth not your master pay tribute? 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 17:24-25)

This is an issue discussed by none of the other inspired writers. Matthew, who was himself a tax-collector, is the only one who mentions it. But the tribute money here, the tax being discussed was not a tax imposed by Caesar or a political government. That is discussed later on (Matthew 22:17). This tribute money was a temple tax, which the Roman government allowed the Jews to collect. It was a Jewish custom. Originally, it was based upon God’s law. It was the ransom money that every man was to pay for the maintenance of the tabernacle and temple sanctuary (Exodus 30:12-14; 2 Chronicles 24:6-9). From the payment of this redemption money there was no exemption. But it was not a tax levied every year. It was a free gift made by every man numbered among the children of Israel. It was not “tribute” money but “ransom” money. The Jews, by custom, had made the ordinance of God a fashionable, annual ceremony, imposed upon and expected of all professedly religious people. It was a matter of custom which they practiced, as usual, with great show. Religious people in that day, as in ours, who did not know God, made certain that everyone saw their acts of “devotion.” Consequently, when they asked Peter, “Doth not your master pay tribute?” he answered, without hesitancy, though he did not really know for sure, “Yes! Of course he does.” Christ’s Divinity That brings us to the third thing in our text, which is the marvellous demonstration of our Savior’s divine majesty. “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? Peter saith unto him, Of strangers. Jesus saith unto him, Then are the children free. 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 17:25-27). In these verses we see a clear, instructive demonstration of his omniscience and omnipotence as God. These two divine attributes are full of very practical instruction. We cannot be reminded too often that the Lord Jesus Christ, our God and Savior, knows everything that is thought, said, and done in this world (Matthew 17:25). When Peter came into the house, apparently to discuss this matter with the Savior, he “prevented him.” He showed Peter that he had heard every word of his conversation with the tax collectors from the temple. All things are naked before him. Nothing is secret (Hebrews 4:13). A more solemn realization cannot be imagined. Hypocrisy is useless! Concealment is impossible! Christ sees everything, hears everything, and knows everything. We live in the immediate presence of God! We will be wise always to realize that fact. J. C. Ryle wrote… “Let us measure every difficult question as to right and wrong by one simple test. ‘How would I behave if Jesus was standing by my side?’ Such a standard is not extravagant and absurd. It is a standard that interferes with no duty or relation of life. It interferes with nothing but sin!” As he is omniscient (all-knowing), so too our Savior is omnipotent (all-powerful). This is demonstrated by his power over all creation. He told Peter to go catch a fish, assuring him that the first fish caught would have the money needed to pay the tax (Psalms 8:6-8). Here is a blessed fact we must never overlook. Our God will provide for his own. We may safely serve him and confidently trust him. God our Savior is also God our Provider. His name is Jehovah-jireh. — “The Lord will provide” (Genesis 22:14; 1 Samuel 2:30). He often provides our needs supernaturally. And he often does so through the instrumentality he has appointed, by our faith in and obedience to him. (Because he trusted Christ, Peter got his fishing pole and went fishing.) But the provision is God’s and God’s alone! No Offense In these last three verses of Matthew 17 (Matthew 17:25-27), our Savior and Master demonstrated a great willingness to make concession in matters of indifference, rather than give offence. First, He showed Peter that neither he, nor Peter, was under obligation to pay the customary tribute – (Matthew 17:24-26). Do kings require their own children to pay taxes? Of course not. The king’s family is always exempt. But his subjects, and especially the immigrants in his kingdom, are required to pay tribute. Should the Lord Jesus pay redemption-money for himself to God? Should he, who is himself the King’s Son, come under poll-tax to his Father? Even if the tribute money had become a tax to be levied by law, still “are the children free.” Neither the Lord Jesus, nor Peter, was obliged to pay. Our Lord was free; he was not obliged to pay, because he is the Son of God. His disciples were free, because in him they were (and are) the sons of God! Then, the Master gave a lesson that needs to be often repeated about matters of indifference. It was his right not to pay the tribute. But rather than cause needless offence, as he put it, “Lest we should offend them,” he said to Peter, Go get the money and pay the tribute. We must never give up God’s rights as God. But we must always be willing and quick to give up our own. If we must have a quarrel with any, we ought to make certain that it is worthwhile; and the only thing worthwhile is Christ, his cause, his glory, and his gospel. God’s people should never engage in anything that disturbs the peace of society or the lives of other people that is of mere temporary importance. And in the house of God and our own homes we ought to be even more lenient. In all matters of indifference we should be ready and willing to yield to others, especially to our brethren. Sometime ago, a local church with which I have intimate connection, suffered a terrible split. Both groups were faithful men and women I have known for years. There were no gospel issues at stake, nothing involving moral or spiritual compromise. The whole division began with small, personal quibbles. Being asked by both groups to help, I personally called each man in both factions and reasoned with him. I said, “I do not know and do not want to know what the strife is all about; but let me give you my assessment.

Please correct me if I am wrong. There is no division over doctrine, or over moral or spiritual evil, is there?” Each one answered, “No, not really.” So I said, “This whole thing is about personal quibbles?” The reply, without exception, was “Yes. Really, that’s all.” Then I asked, “Would you be willing to break up your family over these things?” “No, of course not,” was the reply. So I urged my friends to each call the other and eat crow. They did. The church has since not only survived, but thrived. Our Master, by example and by precept, teaches us to bend over backwards to avoid offending even self-righteous, legalistic, lost religionists. How much more we should do so among those who are of the household of faith (Ephesians 4:1-7; Ephesians 5:18-21; Philippians 2:1-5). “Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God” (1 Corinthians 10:32). Tribute Paid Beyond those things plainly revealed in this passage there are beautiful blessed spiritual truths beneath the surface. Our Lord Jesus Christ willingly came under tribute for our sakes (Galatians 4:4-6; 2 Corinthians 8:9). By his one payment, a payment which he provided, typified in the ransom money required under the law (Exodus 30:12-14), by the sacrifice of himself, he cleared our debt completely. There were not two coins in the fish’s mouth, one for Peter and one for the Lord Jesus, our Substitute. There was one piece of money, which made payment for both Peter and his Savior. What a picture this is of our complete union with Christ in redemption. Our debt became his. His payment was and is ours. By his one sacrifice both the Surety and those for whom he died must go free! In all things seek the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31). Let us live in the awareness of his presence. Let us live to honor his name. Let us seek to help others by our behavior, molding our lives to Christ’s example. If our Savior performed a miracle then to pay tribute for Peter, we ought to be confident that he will not now fail to supply all our needs. Robert Hawker wrote, “Oh! how blessedly doth every incident in the life of Christ, minister instruction, grace, and comfort?”