Bible Commentaries
Matthew 17

The Gospels ComparedGospels Compared

Verses 1-13

Jesus is transfigured on the mountain
Matthew 17:1-13Mark 9:2-13Luke 9:28-36
Matthew 17:1 And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart,Mark 9:2 And after six days Jesus taketh [with him] Peter, and James, and John, and leadeth them up into an high mountain apart by themselves: Luke 9:28 And it came to pass about an eight days after these sayings, he took Peter and John and James, and went up into a mountain to pray.
Matthew 17:2 And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and he was transfigured before them.Luke 9:29 And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered,
and his raiment was white as the light.Mark 9:3 And his raiment became shining, exceeding white as snow; so as no fuller on earth can white them.and his raiment [was] white [and] glistering.
Matthew 17:3 And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him.Mark 9:4 And there appeared unto them Elias with Moses: and they were talking with Jesus.Luke 9:30 And, behold, there talked with him two men, which were Moses and Elias:
Luke 9:31 Who appeared in glory, and spake of his decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem. Luke 9:32 But Peter and they that were with him were heavy with sleep: and when they were awake, they saw his glory, and the two men that stood with him. Luke 9:33 And it came to pass, as they departed from him,
Matthew 17:4 Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.Mark 9:5 And Peter answered and said to Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.Peter said unto Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias:
Mark 9:6 For he wist not what to say; for they were sore afraid.not knowing what he said.
Matthew 17:5 While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: Mark 9:7 And there was a cloud that overshadowed them:Luke 9:34 While he thus spake, there came a cloud, and overshadowed them: and they feared as they entered into the cloud.
and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him.Luke 9:35 And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him.
Matthew 17:6 And when the disciples heard [it], they fell on their face, and were sore afraid. Matthew 17:7 And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid.
Matthew 17:8 And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only.Mark 9:8 And suddenly, when they had looked round about, they saw no man any more, save Jesus only with themselves.Luke 9:36 And when the voice was past, Jesus was found alone. And they kept [it] close, and told no man in those days any of those things which they had seen.
End Luke’s Account
Matthew 17:9 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.Mark 9:9 And as they came down from the mountain, he charged them that they should tell no man what things they had seen, till the Son of man were risen from the dead.
Mark 9:10 And they kept that saying with themselves, questioning one with another what the rising from the dead should mean.
Matthew 17:10 And his disciples asked him, saying, Why then say the scribes that Elias must first come?Mark 9:11 And they asked him, saying, Why say the scribes that Elias must first come?
Matthew 17:11 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things.Mark 9:12 And he answered and told them, Elias verily cometh first, and restoreth all things; and how it is written of the Son of man, that he must suffer many things, and be set at nought.
Matthew 17:12 But I say unto you, That Elias is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed. Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them.Mark 9:13 But I say unto you, That Elias is indeed come, and they have done unto him whatsoever they listed, as it is written of him.
Matthew 17:13 Then the disciples understood that he spake unto them of John the Baptist.

Verses 14-21

Jesus heals a demon-possessed boy
Matthew 17:14-21Mark 9:14-29Luke 9:37-43
Matthew 17:14 And when they were come to the multitude,Mark 9:14 And when he came to [his] disciples, he saw a great multitude about them, and the scribes questioning with them.Luke 9:37 And it came to pass, that on the next day, when they were come down from the hill, much people met him.
Mark 9:15 And straightway all the people, when they beheld him, were greatly amazed, and running to [him] saluted him. Mark 9:16 And he asked the scribes, What question ye with them?
Matthew 17:14 there came to him a [certain] man, kneeling down to him, and saying,Mark 9:17 And one of the multitude answered and said, Luke 9:38 And, behold, a man of the company cried out, saying,
Matthew 17:15 Lord, have mercy on my son: Master, I have brought unto thee my son, Master, I beseech thee, look upon my son: for he is mine only child.
for he is lunatick,which hath a dumb spirit;Luke 9:39 And, lo, a spirit taketh him,
and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water.Mark 9:18 And wheresoever he taketh him, he teareth him: and he foameth, and gnasheth with his teeth, and pineth away: and he suddenly crieth out; and it teareth him that he foameth again, and bruising him hardly departeth from him.
Matthew 17:16 And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him.and I spake to thy disciples that they should cast him out; and they could not.Luke 9:40 And I besought thy disciples to cast him out; and they could not.
Matthew 17:17 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.Mark 9:19 He answereth him, and saith, O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him unto me.Luke 9:41 And Jesus answering said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you, and suffer you? Bring thy son hither.
Mark 9:20 And they brought him unto him: and when he saw him, straightway the spirit tare him; and he fell on the ground, and wallowed foaming.Luke 9:42 And as he was yet a coming, the devil threw him down, and tare [him].
Mark 9:21 And he asked his father, How long is it ago since this came unto him? And he said, Of a child. Mark 9:22 And ofttimes it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters, to destroy him: but if thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us. Mark 9:23 Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things [are] possible to him that believeth. Mark 9:24 And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.
Matthew 17:18 And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour.Mark 9:25 When Jesus saw that the people came running together, he rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him, [Thou] dumb and deaf spirit, I charge thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him.Luke 9:42 And Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, and healed the child, and delivered him again to his father.
Mark 9:26 And [the spirit] cried, and rent him sore, and came out of him: and he was as one dead; insomuch that many said, He is dead. Mark 9:27 But Jesus took him by the hand, and lifted him up; and he arose.
Matthew 17:19 Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out?Mark 9:28 And when he was come into the house, his disciples asked him privately, Why could not we cast him out?Luke 9:43 And they were all amazed at the mighty power of God. But while they wondered every one at all things which Jesus did, he said unto his disciples,
End Luke’s Account
Matthew 17:20 And Jesus said unto them, 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.
Matthew 17:21 Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.Mark 9:29 And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.

Verses 22-23

Jesus predicts his death
Matthew 17:22-23Mark 9:30-32Luke 9:44-45
Matthew 17:22 And while they abode in Galilee,Mark 9:30 And they departed thence, and passed through Galilee; and he would not that any man should know [it].
Jesus said unto them, The Son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of men:Mark 9:31 For he taught his disciples, and said unto them, The Son of man is delivered into the hands of men,Luke 9:44 Let these sayings sink down into your ears: for the Son of man shall be delivered into the hands of men.
Matthew 17:23 And they shall kill him, and the third day he shall be raised again. And they were exceeding sorry.and they shall kill him; and after that he is killed, he shall rise the third day.
Mark 9:32 But they understood not that saying, and were afraid to ask him.Luke 9:45 But they understood not this saying, and it was hid from them, that they perceived it not: and they feared to ask him of that saying.
Bibliographical Information
"Commentary on Matthew 17". "The Gospels Compared". https://studylight.org/commentaries/eng/tgc/matthew-17.html. 2014.