The big picture
Matthew 17 opens in verse 1 with “And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up…”, reaches its middle movement near verse 14 with “And when they were come to the multitude, there came to him a certain man, kneeling down…”, and closes in verse 27 with “Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and…” Repeated or prominent terms include Jesus, disciples, Elias, Peter, first. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
Matthew · King James Version · 27Matthew 17:1-7
1–7: After six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and…
Matthew 17:1–7 opens with “And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an…” and reaches “And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on The Transfiguration, disciples overwhelmed, and Jesus healing the suffering boy after descending the mountain, with particular weight carried by Jesus, afraid, cloud.
Context that brings the passage to life
“And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart,” The number six makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.
“And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.” The line’s distinctive content terms include face, light, raiment. Its relationship to verses 1 and 3 shows what work it does in this passage.
Matthew 17:1-7
King James Version1And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart,
2And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.
3And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him.
4Then 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.
5While 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.
6And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid.
7And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid.
Matthew 17:8-14
8–14: When they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only.
Matthew 17:8–14 opens with “And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only.” and reaches “And when they were come to the multitude, there came to him a certain man, kneeling down to him…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on The Transfiguration, disciples overwhelmed, and Jesus healing the suffering boy after descending the mountain, with particular weight carried by Elias, Jesus, disciples.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 1 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only.” Naming Jesus keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
Matthew 17:8-14
King James Version8And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only.
9And 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.
10And his disciples asked him, saying, Why then say the scribes that Elias must first come?
11And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things.
12But 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.
13Then the disciples understood that he spake unto them of John the Baptist.
14And when they were come to the multitude, there came to him a certain man, kneeling down to him, and saying,
Matthew 17:15-21
15–21: Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatick, and sore vexed: for…
Matthew 17:15–21 opens with “Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatick, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the…” and reaches “Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on The Transfiguration, disciples overwhelmed, and Jesus healing the suffering boy after descending the mountain, with particular weight carried by Jesus, disciples, long.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 2 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatick, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into…” The verse names Lord rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.
Matthew 17:15-21
King James Version15Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatick, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water.
16And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him.
17Then 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.
18And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour.
19Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out?
20And 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.
21Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.
Matthew 17:22-27
22–27: While they abode in Galilee, Jesus said unto them, The Son of man shall…
Matthew 17:22–27 opens with “And while they abode in Galilee, Jesus said unto them, The Son of man shall be betrayed into the…” and reaches “Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on The Transfiguration, disciples overwhelmed, and Jesus healing the suffering boy after descending the mountain, with particular weight carried by Jesus, tribute, children.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 2 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“And while they abode in Galilee, Jesus said unto them, The Son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of men:” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
Matthew 17:22-27
King James Version22And while they abode in Galilee, Jesus said unto them, The Son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of men:
23And they shall kill him, and the third day he shall be raised again. And they were exceeding sorry.
24And when they were come to Capernaum, they that received tribute money came to Peter, and said, Doth not your master pay tribute?
25He 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?
26Peter saith unto him, Of strangers. Jesus saith unto him, Then are the children free.
27Notwithstanding, 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.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
Matthew 17:1 begins with “And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart,”
Where the chapter turns
Matthew 17:13 forms a natural hinge: “Then the disciples understood that he spake unto them of John the Baptist.”
The final note
Matthew 17:27 leaves the reader with “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…”
A word trail through the chapter
The words Jesus, disciples, Elias, Peter, first, mountain help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
What does the covenant promise besides descendants?
Kings, land and an enduring relationship in which God is their God.
How are Isaac and Ishmael distinguished without erasing either?
Isaac carries the named covenant line; Ishmael is heard and promised fruitfulness and twelve princes.
KJV words made clear
- behold
- look, or pay close attention
- unto
- to
- thee
- you
- thou
- you
- thy
- your
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.