Matthew 17

Matthew 17:4

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.

O Lord, how glorious a light is this! How happy were it, if we might continue here, and enjoy this blessed sight still! Below, there is nothing but trouble and danger towards thee: let us keep ourselves well where we are: and, if it please thee, let us build three Tabernacles; one for Thee, one for Moses, one for Elias: as for us, we could be content to lie abroad, so we might be sure of such a presence.

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.

Do not make report of this my glorious Transfiguration to any man whomsoever; till that my Resurrection shall have convinced the world of my Divine Power, which, in the mean time, must lie shrouded under my manifold infirmities.

Matthew 17:10

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

And his disciples, hearing him to speak of his Resurrection, and supposing that his glorious manifestation of his kingdom to the world should be effected before any suffering that he should undergo, asked him, saying, Master, if thy kingdom be so near, how is it that we hear not of the coming of Elias? for we have been taught by the Scribes, that Elias must come before that great day.

Matthew 17:15

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.

Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is, at certain set seasons of the moon, sore vexed with a devil; who violently handleth him, and casteth him sometimes into the fire, and sometimes into the water.

Matthew 17:17

O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you?

O ye faithless and perverse Scribes and Pharisees, ye have been insulting upon my disciples, for that they could not eject this devil, and now think to find the same advantage against me: how long shall I be pained by being amongst you?

Matthew 17:21

Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.

Howbeit, this kind of devils requires more than the ordinary means of ejection, to dispossess them; for, whereas ye have cast out others by your sole command, there must be more done to these more stiff and tenacious spirits: besides command, here must be earnest prayer unto the God of Spirits; and, because devotion is apt to grow dull and faint, here must be an exercise of fasting and abstinence, to set an edge upon it and to stir it up. XVII. 25, 26. What thinkest thou, Simon? of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own children,

Matthew 17:27

Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast a 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 thee and me.

Yet, however I might justly challenge this freedom, lest they, who know not the just ground of my immunity, should be scandalized at my forbearance, as if I did not yield due homage and respect to secular powers: go thou to the sea, and cast in a hook, and take up the first fish that is caught, and in his mouth thou shalt find a piece of silver, of the value of two shillings sixpence: that take, and give it to them for me and for thyself, in whose house I abide.