Matthew 17:9 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And as they were coming down the mountain, Jesus commanded them, “Tell no one the vision, until the Son of Man is raised from the dead.”

NIV: As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus instructed them, 'Don't tell anyone what you have seen, until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.'

NASB: When they were coming down from the mountain, Jesus commanded them, saying, 'Tell the vision to no one until the Son of Man has risen from the dead.'

CSB: As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus commanded them, "Don't tell anyone about the vision until the Son of Man is raised from the dead."

NLT: As they went back down the mountain, Jesus commanded them, 'Don’t tell anyone what you have seen until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.'

KJV: And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, saying, Tell the vision to no man, until the Son of man be risen again from the dead.

NKJV: Now as they came down from the mountain, Jesus commanded them, saying, “Tell the vision to no one until the Son of Man is risen from the dead.”

Jesus had taken Peter, James, and John up the mountain with Him. He meant for them to see Him in His glory, radiating light from His face and His clothes. He meant for them to see Him talking to Moses and Elijah. Their participation in this moment was intentional. It was intended to convince them and those they would tell that Jesus was truly the Son of God from heaven (Matthew 17:1–8). Now, though, as the four of them walk down the mountain together, Jesus commands them not to tell anyone for the moment. They must wait until He, the Son of Man, is raised from the dead.

This is the final time Jesus will instruct His disciples not to reveal the deepest truths about His identity. Taken together, Jesus seems to want to avoid having the people of Israel revolt against Rome, attempting to make Him king by force. That is not the purpose of His mission (John 6:15). In addition, He means for His resurrection from the dead to be the central evidence to the people that He is the Son of God. This is the sign of Jonah that He has promised to the Jewish religious leaders (Matthew 12:39; 16:4). Perhaps He does not want the report of His glorious appearance on the mountain to overshadow that event.

Matthew doesn't mention it, but Mark's account of this moment reveals that Peter, James, and John were confused by Jesus' mention of His rising from the dead. They wondered what it meant (Mark 9:10). Though Jesus had told them repeatedly what He must soon do, they still did not understand it.

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.