Matthew 17:7 - Printer Friendly

ESV: But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Rise, and have no fear.”

NIV: But Jesus came and touched them. 'Get up,' he said. 'Don't be afraid.'

NASB: And Jesus came to them and touched them and said, 'Get up, and do not be afraid.'

CSB: Jesus came up, touched them, and said, "Get up; don't be afraid."

NLT: Then Jesus came over and touched them. 'Get up,' he said. 'Don’t be afraid.'

KJV: And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid.

NKJV: But Jesus came and touched them and said, “Arise, and do not be afraid.”

Peter, James, and John have fallen on their faces in reverence. They have been overshadowed by the presence of God the Father in a cloud, hearing His voice command them to listen to His Son, Jesus (Matthew 17:1–6). They apparently remained in that position as the scene dissolved. The presence of God in the cloud departed. Moses and Elijah disappeared from view. Jesus, "transfigured" into a radiant image, has returned to His familiar earthly state.

Jesus now approaches the three of them and touches them. He tells them to rise and not to be afraid—a common reassurance given to those who see God's messengers (Matthew 28:5; Luke 2:10). Jesus treats them with gentleness and kindness following their terrifying glimpse of the glory and power of heaven. He surely understands how deeply terrified they have been. He comforts them by showing that He remains with them as they have known Him.

Matthew 17:1–13 follows Jesus' prediction that some of the disciples won't die before seeing Him coming in His kingdom (Matthew 16:28). Peter, James, and John see Jesus transfigured—radiating the glory of God––while talking with Moses and Elijah. Peter blunders in his attempt to contribute to the moment. The voice of God the Father identifies Jesus as His Son and commands the disciples to listen to Him. Jesus tells the three not to tell anyone else what they've seen until after He is raised from the dead. He answers their question about a prophecy involving Elijah.

Jesus takes Peter, James, and John up on a high mountain. There, they see Him "transfigured" into a shining, divine form. They also see Christ speaking with Moses and Elijah but are commanded not to speak of this event until later. Jesus heals a demon-afflicted boy after the disciples cannot cast the demon out. Jesus very clearly tells the disciples He will be delivered into the hands of men, killed, and raised on the third day. After explaining why He is exempt from a temple tax, Jesus agrees to pay it and tells Peter to find the money in the mouth of a fish.

Matthew 17 begins with the fulfillment of Jesus' prediction at the end of the previous chapter: that some of those present would not die before seeing Him coming in His kingdom. Jesus casts out a demon, predicts His death, and commands Peter to pay a temple tax with a coin from the mouth of a fish. This leads Matthew back to extensive records of Jesus' teachings, continuing through chapter 20.

The Gospel of Matthew clearly shows the influence of its writer's background, and his effort to reach a specific audience. Matthew was one of Jesus' twelve disciples, a Jewish man, and a former tax collector. This profession would have required literacy, and Matthew may have transcribed some of Jesus' words as they were spoken. This book is filled with references to the Old Testament, demonstrating to Israel that Jesus is the Promised One. Matthew also includes many references to coins, likely due to his former profession. Matthew records extensive accounts of Jesus' teaching, more than the other three Gospels.

Accessed 5/3/2024 12:29:36 AM