Matthew 17 | Devotional - Bible Reading and Prayer - One Chapter a Day

Matthew Chapter 17 | Best devotional materials, including: introduction, background, main content, Bible reading and prayer video, Scripture, and post-reading prayer to help you gain a deeper understanding of biblical truth.

Dear brothers and sisters, peace in Christ. Welcome to our One Chapter per day Bible reading time. 

By God’s grace, today we will read Matthew chapter 17.

In this chapter, we witness the Transfiguration of Jesus, where His face shines like the sun and His clothes become white as light. Moses and Elijah appear beside Him, and the Father’s voice declares, “This is My beloved Son; listen to Him.” Later, Jesus heals a boy possessed by a demon after His disciples could not, teaching them about faith and prayer. Finally, He foretells His death and resurrection and provides a lesson in humility through the miracle of the coin in the fish’s mouth.

This passage reminds us that Jesus is the glorious Son of God, deserving our worship and trust, and that faith, prayer, and humility are essential in following Him. Let us listen with reverence and gratitude to God’s Word together. 

Matthew Chapter 17 Introduction:

Matthew chapter 17 presents one of the most extraordinary moments in Jesus’ earthly ministry—the Transfiguration. It reveals His divine glory, confirms His identity as the beloved Son of God, and strengthens the faith of His disciples. This chapter also includes powerful lessons about faith, humility, and dependence on God, reminding believers to trust in Christ’s authority and to walk closely with Him even when facing confusion or fear.

Main Content of Matthew Chapter 17

1. The Transfiguration of Jesus (verses 1–13)
Jesus takes Peter, James, and John up a high mountain, where He is transfigured before them—His face shines like the sun, and His clothes become dazzling white. Moses and Elijah appear and talk with Him, representing the Law and the Prophets, both pointing to Christ. A bright cloud overshadows them, and the voice of God declares, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to Him.” This moment affirms Jesus’ divine identity and mission, revealing a glimpse of His heavenly glory.

2. Healing of a Demon-Possessed Boy (verses 14–21)
When Jesus and the three disciples return from the mountain, they meet a desperate father whose son suffers from severe seizures caused by a demon. The other disciples were unable to heal the boy. Jesus rebukes their lack of faith, drives out the demon, and heals the child. He teaches that even faith as small as a mustard seed can move mountains, emphasizing the power of sincere, trusting prayer.

3. Jesus Predicts His Death and Resurrection Again (verses 22–23)
As they gather in Galilee, Jesus once again foretells His betrayal, death, and resurrection. The disciples are deeply grieved, not yet understanding the necessity of His sacrifice. This moment highlights both Jesus’ compassion and His steadfast commitment to the Father’s redemptive plan.

4. The Temple Tax (verses 24–27)
In Capernaum, tax collectors ask Peter if Jesus pays the temple tax. Jesus explains that as the Son of God, He is free from such obligations—but to avoid offense, He instructs Peter to catch a fish, where he will find a coin in its mouth sufficient to pay the tax for both of them. This miracle reflects Jesus’ humility, divine provision, and respect for authority while fulfilling His mission with wisdom and grace.

Spiritual Significance of Matthew Chapter 17

Matthew 17 reveals the divine majesty of Christ and reminds us that the One who shines in glory also walks with us in humility. The Transfiguration strengthens our faith in who Jesus truly is—the Son of God and Savior of the world. The healing of the boy reminds us that faith connects us to divine power, and that prayer is our pathway to spiritual victory. The temple tax story shows us the balance between divine freedom and earthly obedience. Through it all, we see that walking with Jesus requires both reverence for His glory and trust in His grace.

Through Matthew chapter 17, we witness the radiant glory of Christ and the call to deeper faith. As we read and reflect, may our hearts be strengthened to trust Him more fully, follow Him more faithfully, and listen to His voice in every circumstance of life.

Matthew Chapter 17 YouTube Bible Reading and Prayer Video:

The Transfiguration

17 After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. 2 There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. 3 Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus.

4 Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.”

5 While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!”

6 When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified. 7 But Jesus came and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Don’t be afraid.” 8 When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus.

9 As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus instructed them, “Don’t tell anyone what you have seen, until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”

10 The disciples asked him, “Why then do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first?”

11 Jesus replied, “To be sure, Elijah comes and will restore all things. 12 But I tell you, Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but have done to him everything they wished. In the same way the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands.” 13 Then the disciples understood that he was talking to them about John the Baptist.

Jesus Heals a Demon-Possessed Boy

14 When they came to the crowd, a man approached Jesus and knelt before him. 15 “Lord, have mercy on my son,” he said. “He has seizures and is suffering greatly. He often falls into the fire or into the water. 16 I brought him to your disciples, but they could not heal him.”

17 “You unbelieving and perverse generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy here to me.” 18 Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of the boy, and he was healed at that moment.

19 Then the disciples came to Jesus in private and asked, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?”

20 He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” [21] 

Jesus Predicts His Death a Second Time

22 When they came together in Galilee, he said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men. 23 They will kill him, and on the third day he will be raised to life.” And the disciples were filled with grief.

The Temple Tax

24 After Jesus and his disciples arrived in Capernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma temple tax came to Peter and asked, “Doesn’t your teacher pay the temple tax?”

25 “Yes, he does,” he replied.

When Peter came into the house, Jesus was the first to speak. “What do you think, Simon?” he asked. “From whom do the kings of the earth collect duty and taxes—from their own children or from others?”

26 “From others,” Peter answered.

“Then the children are exempt,” Jesus said to him. 27 “But so that we may not cause offense, go to the lake and throw out your line. Take the first fish you catch; open its mouth and you will find a four-drachma coin. Take it and give it to them for my tax and yours.”