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. read more
Only six days intervened before the three disciples witnessed the transfiguration of the Lord Jesus. Luke says, "about eight days after these things," for no doubt he counts the day the Lord spoke, and the day of the transfiguration, while Matthew counts only the intervening days. We are not told what mountain was the scene of this wondrous event, but the high mountain apart reminds us of the majestic greatness of the coming kingdom, high above and apart from the institutions of men. He alone... read more
FIRST STATEMENT OF HIS DEATH In the first of these chapters there are several revelations, from one of which we take the title of the lesson. We need not dwell on the first section (Matthew 16:1-4 ), in which Jesus once more rebukes the Pharisees and Sadducees. Nor need we dwell on the second section which is self-explanatory (Matthew 16:5-12 ). But at the third (Matthew 16:13-16 ) we reach something of much importance. Of course, Jesus knew what men said of Him, but the question of... read more
Chapter 71 Prayer Almighty God, we do this day join the Church of all times and all lands, and praise thy name because of thy grace and thy truth. We are part of a great Church, the whole of which thou alone canst see. We have come to the spirits of the just made perfect, to the general assembly and Church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven, and to this great host we add our voice that the hymn of praise which goes up to thee may thereby be strengthened because of our personal... read more
"And when they were come to the multitude, there came to him a certain man, kneeling down to him, and saying, (15) Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is a lunatic, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water. (16) And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him. (17) Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me. (18) And Jesus rebuked the... read more
I brought him to thy disciples. By these words the man here mentioned privately accuses the apostles, though the impossibility of the cure is not always to be attributed to the weakness of God's servants, but sometimes to the want of faith in the afflicted. (St. Jerome) --- Stand astonished at the folly of this man! how he accuses the apostles before Jesus! But Christ frees them from this inculpation, imputing the fault entirely to the man himself. For it is evident, from many circumstances,... read more
14-21 The case of afflicted children should be presented to God by faithful and fervent prayer. Christ cured the child. Though the people were perverse, and Christ was provoked, yet care was taken of the child. When all other helps and succours fail, we are welcome to Christ, may trust in him, and in his power and goodness. See here an emblem of Christ's undertaking as our Redeemer. It encourages parents to bring children to Christ, whose souls are under Satan's power; he is able to heal them,... read more
Matthew 17 THE TRANSFIGURATION, WITH which this chapter opens, furnished a view of the kingdom, inasmuch as Jesus Himself, shining as the sun, was the central figure, and with Him in heavenly conditions were Moses and Elias, whilst three disciples in earthly conditions had a share in it. The “bright cloud” which overshadowed them was evidently the reappearance of that which once dwelt on the tabernacle, and out of it spoke the voice of God the Father, declaring Jesus to be the Son, the beloved... read more
The Healing of a Lunatic. Matthew 17:14-Ecclesiastes : The return to the people: v. 14. And when they were come to the multitude, there came to Him a certain man, kneeling down to Him and saying, v. 15. Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is lunatic and sore vexed; for ofttimes he falleth into the fire and oft into the water. v. 16. And I brought him to Thy disciples, and they could not cure him. While Jesus had been on the mountain with the three disciples overnight, a multitude had... read more
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Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - Matthew 17:1-27
5. The Coming Glory; the Helpless Disciples and the Power of the King. The Tribute Money. CHAPTER 17 1. The Transfiguration. (Matthew 17:1-13 .) 2. The Helpless Disciples and the Power of the King. (Matthew 17:14-21 .) 3. The Second Announcement of His Death and Resurrection. (Matthew 17:22-23 .) 4. The Tribute Money.( Matthew 17:24-27 .) The first part of this chapter gives us the record of the transfiguration of our Lord Jesus Christ. The portion before us is one of the richest in the... read more