The Transfiguration

1And Jesus said to them, “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, there are [a]some of those who are standing here who will not taste (experience) death before they see the kingdom of God after it has come with power.”

2Six days later, Jesus took with Him Peter and James and John, and led them up on a high mountain by themselves. And He was transfigured (changed in form) before them [and began to shine brightly with divine and regal glory]; 3and His clothes became radiant and dazzling, intensely white, as no launderer on earth can whiten them. 4Elijah appeared to them along with Moses, and they were having a conversation with Jesus. 5Peter responded and said to Jesus, “Rabbi (Master), it is good for us to be here; let us make three [sacred] tents--one for You, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” 6For he did not [really] know what to say because they were terrified [and stunned by the miraculous sight]. 7Then a cloud formed, overshadowing them, and [b]a voice came out of the cloud, “This is My beloved Son. Listen to Him and obey Him!” 8Suddenly they looked around and no longer saw anyone with them, except Jesus alone.

9As they were coming down from the mountain, Jesus expressly ordered them not to tell anyone what they had seen, until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. 10So they [carefully and faithfully] kept the matter to themselves, [c]discussing and questioning [with one another] what it meant to rise from the dead. 11They asked Him, saying, “Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first [before the Messiah comes]?” 12He answered them, “Elijah does come first and restores and reestablishes all things. And yet how is it written of the Son of Man that He will suffer many things [grief and physical distress] and be treated with contempt [utterly despised and rejected]? 13But I say to you that Elijah has in fact come [already], and they [d]did to him whatever they wished, just as it is written [in Scripture] of him.”

All Things Possible

14When they came [back] to the [other nine] disciples, they saw a large crowd around them, and scribes questioning and arguing with them. 15Immediately, when the entire crowd saw Jesus, they were startled and began running up to greet Him. 16He asked them, “What are you discussing with them?” 17One of the crowd replied to Him, “Teacher, I brought You my son, possessed with a spirit which makes him unable to speak; 18and whenever it seizes him [intending to do harm], it throws him down, and he foams [at the mouth], and grinds his teeth and becomes stiff. I told Your disciples to drive it out, and they could not do it.” 19He replied, “O unbelieving (faithless) generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring him to Me!” 20They brought the boy to Him. When the [demonic] spirit saw Him, immediately it threw the boy into a convulsion, and falling to the ground he began rolling around and foaming at the mouth. 21Jesus asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he answered, “Since childhood. 22The demon has often thrown him both into fire and into water, intending to kill him. But if You can do anything, take pity on us and help us!” 23Jesus said to him, “[You say to Me,] ‘If You can?’ All things are possible for the one who believes and trusts [in Me]!” 24Immediately the father of the boy cried out [with a desperate, piercing cry], saying, “I do believe; help [me overcome] my unbelief.” 25When Jesus saw that a crowd was rapidly gathering [around them], He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You deaf and mute spirit, I command you, come out of him and never enter him again!” 26After screaming out and throwing him into a terrible convulsion, it came out. The boy looked so much like a corpse [so still and pale] that many [of the spectators] said, “He is dead!” 27But Jesus took him by the hand and raised him; and he stood up. 28When He had gone indoors, His disciples began asking Him privately, “Why were we unable to drive it out?” 29He replied to them, “This kind [of unclean spirit] cannot come out by anything but prayer [to the Father].”

Death and Resurrection Foretold

30They went on from there and began to go through Galilee. Jesus did not want anyone to know it, 31because He was teaching His disciples [and preparing them for the future]. He told them, “The Son of Man is to be betrayed and handed over to men [who are His enemies], and they will kill Him; and when He has been killed, He will rise [from the dead] three days later.” 32But [e]they did not understand this statement, and they were afraid to ask Him [what He meant].

33They arrived at Capernaum; and when He was in the [f]house, He asked them, “What were you discussing and arguing about on the road?” 34But they kept quiet, because on the road they had discussed and debated with one another which one [of them] was the greatest. 35Sitting down [to teach], He called the twelve [disciples] and said to them, “If anyone wants to be first, he must be last of all [in importance] and a servant of all.” 36Taking a child, He set him before them; and taking him in His arms, He said to them, 37“Whoever receives and welcomes one child such as this in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me receives not [only] Me, but Him who sent Me.”

Dire Warnings

38John said to Him, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name, and we tried to stop him because he was not accompanying us [as Your disciple].” 39But Jesus said, “Do not stop him; for there is no one who will perform a miracle in My name, and be able soon afterward to speak evil of Me. 40For he who is not against us is for us. 41For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because of your name as followers of Christ, I assure you and most solemnly say to you, he will not lose his reward.

42“But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe and trust in Me to stumble [that is, to sin or lose faith], it would be better for him if a heavy millstone [one requiring a donkey’s strength to turn it] were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea. 43If your hand causes you to stumble and sin, cut it off [that is, remove yourself from the source of temptation]! It is better for you to enter life crippled, than to have two hands and go into [g]hell, into the unquenchable fire, 44[h][where THEIR WORM DOES NOT DIE, AND THE FIRE IS NOT PUT OUT.] 45If your foot causes you to stumble and sin, cut it off [that is, remove yourself from the source of temptation]! It would be better for you to enter life lame than to have two feet and be thrown into hell, 46[i][where THEIR WORM DOES NOT DIE, AND THE FIRE IS NOT PUT OUT.] 47If your eye causes you to stumble and sin, throw it out [that is, remove yourself from the source of temptation]! It would be better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye, than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell, 48where THEIR WORM [that feeds on the dead] DOES NOT DIE, AND THE FIRE IS NOT PUT OUT.

49“For everyone will be salted with fire. 50Salt is good and useful; but if salt has lost its saltiness (purpose), how will you make it salty? Have salt within yourselves continually, and be at peace with one another.”

[a] 1 Probably a reference to Peter, John, and James who were to witness the transfiguration a few days later.
[b] 7 See note Matt 3:17.
[c] 10 The doctrine of the resurrection was a well-known teaching of the Pharisees, so much so that Paul, an educated man, used it to turn the religious leaders against themselves (Acts 23:6-10). The three fishermen were, however, familiar with some of the prophetic Scriptures, but were confused by Jesus’ statements regarding His death and resurrection.
[d] 13 This is a reference to Herod’s imprisoning and beheading John the Baptist (6:17-28).
[e] 32 Cf v 10.
[f] 33 Probably Peter’s home.
[g] 43 See note Matt 5:22.
[h] 44 Vv 44 and 46 are not found in early mss.
[i] 46 Vv 44 and 46 are not found in early mss.