Matthew 17:1
17:1 And {1} {a} after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and
     John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high
     mountain apart,

 (1) Christ in his present company is humble in the gospel, but
     all the while he is Lord both of heaven and earth.
     (a) Luke counts eight days, containing in that number the
         first and last, and Matthew speaks but of the days
         between them.

Matthew 17:2
17:2 And was {b} transfigured before them: and his face did
     shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.

     (b) Changed into another colour.

Matthew 17:5
17:5 While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed
     them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This
     is {c} my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye
     him.

     (c) The word "my" distinguishes Christ from other children.
         For he is God's natural son, we by adoption; therefore
         he is called the first begotten among the brethren,
         because although he is by right the only son, yet he is
         chief among many, in that he is the source and head of
         the adoption.

Matthew 17:6
17:6 And when the disciples heard [it], they {d} fell on their
     face, and were sore afraid.

     (d) Fell down flat on their faces and worshipped him, as in
         Matthew 2:11.


Matthew 17:9
17:9 And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged
     them, saying, Tell the {e} vision to no man, until the Son
     of man be risen again from the dead.

     (e) Which they saw, otherwise the word used in this place
         is usually used in referring to that which is seen in a
         dream.

Matthew 17:14
17:14 {2} And when they were come to the multitude, there came
      to him a [certain] man, {f} kneeling down to him, and
      saying,

 (2) Men are unworthy of Christ's goodness, yet nonetheless he
     pays attention to them.
     (f) As men used to do when making supplication.

Matthew 17:15
17:15 Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is {g} lunatick, and
      sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft
      into the water.

      (g) They that at certain times of the moon are troubled
          with the falling sickness, or any other kind of
          disease: but in this case, we must so understand it,
          that besides the natural disease he had a demonic
          derangement.

Matthew 17:19
17:19 {3} Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why
      could not we cast him out?

 (3) Incredulity and distrust hinder and break the direction of
     God's benefits.

Matthew 17:21
17:21 {4} Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by {h} prayer and
      fasting.

 (4) The remedy against distrust.
     (h) To help us to understand the watchfulness and diligence
         of earnest prayer, which cannot be without sobriety.

Matthew 17:22
17:22 {5} And while they abode in Galilee, Jesus said unto them,
      The Son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of men:

 (5) Our minds must be prepared more and more for the offence of
     the cross.

Matthew 17:24
17:24 {6} And when they were come to Capernaum, they that
      received tribute [money] came to Peter, and said, Doth {i}
      not your master {k} pay {l} tribute?

 (6) In that Christ willingly obeys Caesar's edicts, he shows
     that civil policy is not taken away by the Gospel.
     (i) He does not deny, but he asks.
     (k) Should he not pay?
     (l) They that were from twenty years of age to fifty, paid
         half a shekel to the Sanctuary, Exodus 30:13.
  This
         was an Attic didrachma which the Roman exacted after
         they had subdued Judea.

Matthew 17:25
17:25 He saith, Yes. And when he was come into the house, Jesus
      prevented him, saying, What thinkest thou, Simon? of whom
      do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their
      own {m} children, or of strangers?

      (m) By children we must not understand subjects who pay
          tribute, but natural children.

Matthew 17:27
17:27 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 {n} piece of money: that take, and give unto them
      for me and thee.

      (n) The word used here is "stater", which is in value
          four didrachmas; every drachma is about five pence.