A Deeper Look at Matthew:  An End-Times Bible Study
Copyright 2012
 
 
Matthew 17
 
            Six days later, Peter chooses three of the disciples - Peter, James, and John his brother, and brings them up on a high mountain.  There, He was, "transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light (Matthew 17:2.)"
            Moses and Elijah appear and talk with Jesus.  Peter, speaking up, asks Jesus, if He wills, to make three tabernacles - one for Him, Moses, and Elijah.  While speaking, a bright cloud overshadows them - and a voice from the cloud says, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him (Matthew 17:5)."  When they hear this, the disciples fall on their faces and become afraid.  Jesus then touches them and tells them to get up and not be afraid.  Upon getting up, the only one that is there is Jesus.
            So, they all head down the mountain and Jesus commands them to not tell anyone what they saw until "the Son of man be risen again from the dead (Matthew 17:9b)."
            Many Bible scholars argue that what was said here in Matthew 17:1-9 is what Jesus spoke of at the end of Matthew 16 when He says some will not see death until they see "the Son of man coming in his kingdom."  Frankly, I don't know what else Jesus could have spoken of when He made this statement, as none of His disciples are around today to witness His Second Coming.
            In Matthew 17:10, Jesus is asked by His disciples why the scribes say (this prophecy is found in Malachi 4:5) Elijah must come first [before the great and dreadful day of the LORD.]  Jesus replies to them that Elijah has come already and they knew him not, but had done to him what they liked.  He went on to say He would suffer a similar fate.  Now, the disciples understood that Jesus spoke of John the Baptist.
            What could this mean?  It can only mean one thing - John the Baptist was a reincarnated Elijah.  To confirm this, note what Jesus tells prophetess Linda Newkirk in her prophecy of July 3, 1997: "Child, at one time it [reincarnation] was spoken of regularly, and most certainly known among all apostles.  Yet, to know of reincarnation is not necessary for salvation.  It is necessary for greater understanding..."  The link for this is at: http://www.prophecies.org/DOCS/Book%201/WordWisd.htm.  Some will discount reincarnation as "new age," but those who have ears to hear will hear.  A final point to consider here is Luke 9:19:  "They [the disciples] said, John the Baptist; but some say, Elias; and others say, that one of the old prophets is risen again (reincarnated)."
            In Matthew 17:14, a certain man comes up to Jesus, kneels down before Him, and begs Him to heal his son.  He tells Jesus that his son is "lunatick (insane)" and would often fall into the fire or water.  The man begs Him to have mercy on his son.  The man tells Jesus that he brought his son before Jesus' disciples but even they could not heal him.
            Jesus responds, saying, "O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you?  How long shall I suffer you?  Bring him hither to me."  So, Jesus rebukes the devil, it leaves, and the child is made whole from that very hour.
            Jesus' disciples then approach Him and ask why they were not able to cast out the devil.  Jesus responds, saying, "Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.  Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting."
            Let us take note of what Jesus said here.  First, if you need something done in your life, like a miracle, you need to have faith.  If you don't believe it can or will happen - IT WILL NOT HAPPEN.  Jesus says here that you don't need a lot of faith, either.  All you need is faith like a grain of mustard seed, and a mustard seed is very small!  Finally, Jesus says that the type of demon this young man had only goes out through "prayer and fasting."  Apparently, some demons are harder to cast out than others.
            While staying in Galilee, Jesus tells them that He will be betrayed into the hands of men and they will kill Him and the third day He shall be raised again.   And, Matthew 17:23 ends, saying they "were exceeding sorry."
            This is why Jesus is the BEST Savior.  He gave up thirty-three years in heaven, came down to earth, and was tortured and killed to save us sinners from hell.  Jesus gave it all up for us.  Jesus says later in John 15:13, "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends."  Jesus gave it all up for you and I.  Do you know Him as your Savior?  That is all that will matter in the end.
            At the end of Matthew 17, upon coming to Capernaum, the tax collectors come up to Peter and ask him if Jesus pays his taxes.  (Who knows why Peter was asked this, but seeing how hated Jesus was by the religious leaders and the lawyers, I would not be surprised if the tax collectors hated Him too).  Peter tells them He does and when he tries to enter a house, Jesus prevents him, asking him, "What thinkest thou, Simon?  Of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute?  Of their own children or strangers?"
            Peter responds, saying, "Of strangers."
            Jesus then says to him, "Then the children are free.  Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee."
            Comparing this to America today, most of the government's revenues come from taxes on the American people.  It was not always this way, however.  The government used to get its money from tariffs placed on foreign goods sold in the United States.  Apparently, the American government is now against the American people.  No wonder, the US is an empire in decline.