Scripture Study: Matthew 17, Part 2

Matthew 17:14‑27  •  3 min. read  •  grade level: 7
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Matthew 17
Matthew 17:14-1814And when they were come to the multitude, there came to him a certain man, kneeling down to him, and saying, 15Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatick, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water. 16And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him. 17Then 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. 18And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour. (Matthew 17:14‑18). Here a new scene shows the incapacity of the disciples to act on what was in Him for their faith to use, also shows His never-failing compassion to the needy father whose son was a lunatic, and possessed by a demon, “Have mercy on my son, I brought him to Thy disciples and they could not cure him.” How slow they were to apprehend their place. He had to rebuke them in the presence of the glory, on the mount, and now again before the world and Satan’s power. O, faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I stiffer you? They cannot profit by His presence, and He must leave them, but He will not fail to meet the need of individual faith, so in the same breath He says, “Bring him hither to Me.” The distressed father gets for his child the desired blessing, for Jesus rebuked the demon, and he departed out of him; and the child was cured from that very hour.
Matthew 17:19-2119Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out? 20And 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. 21Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting. (Matthew 17:19‑21). Then came the disciples to Jesus apart and said, “Why could not we cast him out?” 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.” If faith was in exercise, however small it might be, the difficulty would be overcome. So He adds, “How be it this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.” Prayer is felt dependence expressed to God; fasting is abnegation of self. It is giving oneself up to divine things, so that for the time bodily desires are set aside. There must be this practical energy of faith to avail ourselves of His power.
Matthew 17:22-2322And while they abode in Galilee, Jesus said unto them, The Son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of men: 23And they shall kill him, and the third day he shall be raised again. And they were exceeding sorry. (Matthew 17:22‑23). Again the Lord explains definitely to them what was to happen to Him, and they are very sorry. It was necessary for the glory of God to bring in redemption, yet by the hands of men He would suffer.
Matthew 17:24-2724And when they were come to Capernaum, they that received tribute money came to Peter, and said, Doth not your master pay tribute? 25He 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 children, or of strangers? 26Peter saith unto him, Of strangers. Jesus saith unto him, Then are the children free. 27Notwithstanding, 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. (Matthew 17:24‑27). This tribute was a temple-tax that every godly Israelite would be willing to pay. When the collectors came to Peter, and asked, “Doth not your Master pay tribute?” Peter said at once, “Yes.” And on going into the house, the Lord anticipated him by asking, “What thinkest thou, Simon? of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own children, or of strangers?” Peter saith unto Him, “Of strangers.” Jesus saith unto him, “Then are the children free. Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, (stumble 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.”
What a rebuke to Peter’s forgetfulness of His divine person.
What lowly grace to associate the disciples with Himself as sons of the great King of the temple. What making nothing of Himself to do the Father’s will, and “lest we should stumble them.” He, the Son of God, yet He took this lowly place in grace. He would condescend to pay tribute money for the repairs of the temple, yet in doing it shows Peter that He is Sovereign, Lord of all creation, but how it would bind the heart to Himself when He said, “That give for Me and thee.”
(Continued from page 296).