17:1 And 1a after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and
John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high
mountain apart,
(1) Christ in his present company is humble in the gospel, but
all the while he is Lord both of heaven and earth.
(a) Luke counts eight days, containing in that number the
first and last, and Matthew speaks but of the days
between them.
17:2 And was b transfigured before them: and his face did
shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.
(b) Changed into another colour.
17:5 While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed
them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This
is c my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye
him.
(c) The word "my" distinguishes Christ from other children.
For he is God's natural son, we by adoption; therefore
he is called the first begotten among the brethren,
because although he is by right the only son, yet he is
chief among many, in that he is the source and head of
the adoption.
17:6 And when the disciples heard [it], they d fell on their
face, and were sore afraid.
(d) Fell down flat on their faces and worshipped him, as in
(Mt 2:11).
17:9 And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged
them, saying, Tell the e vision to no man, until the Son
of man be risen again from the dead.
(e) Which they saw, otherwise the word used in this place
is usually used in referring to that which is seen in a
dream.
17:142 And when they were come to the multitude, there came
to him a [certain] man, f kneeling down to him, and
saying,
(2) Men are unworthy of Christ's goodness, yet nonetheless he
pays attention to them.
(f) As men used to do when making supplication.
17:15 Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is g lunatick, and
sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft
into the water.
(g) They that at certain times of the moon are troubled
with the falling sickness, or any other kind of
disease: but in this case, we must so understand it,
that besides the natural disease he had a demonic
derangement.
17:193 Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why
could not we cast him out?
(3) Incredulity and distrust hinder and break the direction of
God's benefits.
17:214 Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by h prayer and
fasting.
(4) The remedy against distrust.
(h) To help us to understand the watchfulness and diligence
of earnest prayer, which cannot be without sobriety.
17:225 And while they abode in Galilee, Jesus said unto them,
The Son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of men:
(5) Our minds must be prepared more and more for the offence of
the cross.
17:246 And when they were come to Capernaum, they that
received tribute [money] came to Peter, and said, Doth i
not your master k pay l tribute?
(6) In that Christ willingly obeys Caesar's edicts, he shows
that civil policy is not taken away by the Gospel.
(i) He does not deny, but he asks.
(k) Should he not pay?
(l) They that were from twenty years of age to fifty, paid
half a shekel to the Sanctuary, (Ex 30:13). This
was an Attic didrachma which the Roman exacted after
they had subdued Judea.
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 m children, or of strangers?
(m) By children we must not understand subjects who pay
tribute, but natural children.
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 n piece of money: that take, and give unto them
for me and thee.
(n) The word used here is "stater", which is in value
four didrachmas; every drachma is about five pence.
