25: The Transfiguration (Mt 17:1-27)

I.       The Basics

A.     Setting

The transfiguration is closely linked to Peter’s confession of Jesus as the Christ in the previous chapter. Now that the Lord had revealed His identity fully to the disciples, He gave them a glimpse of His heavenly glory. But this glory can only be achieved through suffering, and for this reason, the transfiguration story is enveloped by two predictions about the sufferings, death, and resurrection that were waiting for Jesus. After coming down from the mountain, Jesus would go on to Jerusalem to fulfill the work that He came to do.

B.     Key Verse

            “When they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only” (17:8).

C.     Did You Know…?

1.       Temple tax (17:24): The didrachmon or 2 drachma piece was used among Jews for the half-shekel required for the annual Temple tax… This regulation derived from the atonement-money prescribed in Ex. 30:11-16, which, according to Maimonides, later developed into a regular annual poll-tax. ^7/840 All Jewish males over 20 years old paid an annual half-shekel tax (about two days’ wages) to support the temple…In Jesus’ day, the tax was collected a month before Passover…. ^1/1446

II.    Observation

A.     Outline

(17:1-8)

(17:9-13)

(17:14-21)

(17:22-23)

(17:24-27)

B.     Key Words/Phrases

III. Segment Analysis

A.     17:1-8

1. Who did Jesus bring with Him to go up the mountain? Why these three people?

2. What could be the significance behind the appearance of Moses and Elijah?

3. Why was Peter’s comment in verse 4 inappropriate? Recall 16:22,23.

4. What can we learn about Jesus from the words spoken by the voice from heaven?

5a. What was the purpose of the transfiguration? See also 16:21-28

5b. What are the teachings behind “they saw no one but Jesus only”?

B.     17:9-13

6a. What were the disciples referring to about the coming of Elijah?

6b. How was John the Baptist the Elijah? How did he “restore all things”?

C.     17:14-21

7. Why did Jesus make the comment in 17?

8. What does verse 20 teach us about faith?

9. Why are prayer and fasting necessary for the driving out of this kind of demon?

D.     17:22-23

10. What does the disciples’ exceeding sorrow tell us about them?

E.     17:24-27

11. Why were Jesus and the disciples exempt from tax?

12. What lessons can we learn from the Lord in paying the temple tax?