Matthew 17

1Six days later Jesus took Peter, James, and his brother John and led them up a high mountain by themselves.

2There Jesus was changed in front of them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as light.

3Suddenly Moses and Elijah appeared, talking with Jesus.

4Peter said to Jesus: Lord, it is good for us to be here. If You want, I will put up three shelters — one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.

5While Peter was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said: This is my Son, whom I love. I am very pleased with Him. Listen to Him!

6When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified.

7But Jesus came and touched them. He said: Get up. Do not be afraid.

8When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus.

9As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus told them: Do not tell anyone what you have seen, until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.

10The disciples asked Him: Why do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first?

11Jesus replied: Elijah does come, and he will make all things ready.

12But I tell you, Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him. Instead, they did to him whatever they wanted. In the same way, the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands.

13Then the disciples understood that Jesus was talking about John the Baptist.

14When they came back to the crowd, a man came up to Jesus and knelt before Him.

15The father said: Lord, have mercy on my son. He has seizures and suffers terribly. He often falls into the fire or into the water.

16I brought him to Your disciples, but they could not heal him.

17Jesus answered: You people have no faith, and your hearts are turned away from God. How long must I stay with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring the boy here to me.

18Jesus ordered the demon out, and it left the boy. He was healed at that very hour.

19Then the disciples came to Jesus in private and asked: Why couldn't we drive it out?

20Jesus answered: Because your faith is too small. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, Move from here to there, and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.

21But this kind comes out only by prayer and fasting.

22While they were together in Galilee, Jesus said to them: The Son of Man is going to be handed over to men.

23They will kill him, and on the third day he will be raised to life. And the disciples were filled with sorrow.

24When they came to Capernaum, the men who collected the temple tax came to Peter and asked: Does Your teacher not pay the temple tax?

25Yes, He does, Peter answered. When Peter came into the house, Jesus spoke first. He asked: What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth collect taxes — from their own children, or from others?

26From others, Peter answered. Jesus said to him: Then the children are free.

27But so that we do not offend them, go to the lake and throw in a hook. Take the first fish you catch, and when you open its mouth, you will find a coin. Take it and give it to them for my tax and yours.