(Tap footnote to read it. Old Testament quotations are underlined. "Love" with a caret ("^love") is agapé.1"agapé" The Greek words ἀγάπη (agapé, noun), and ἀγαπάω (agapaó; verb) are typically translated "love". However, unlike our English word "love" – which primarily speaks of affection and feelings – agapé centers on choice and behavior. It’s the "love" based on will, choice, behavior, and action; not feelings. (Feelings-based love is the Greek word φιλέω (phileó), which properly means "brotherly love/affection".) Thus, you could hate someone passionately and still treat him with "agapé". Agapé "love" is best understood as the pursuit of what is most beneficial to someone or something, regardless of the cost to yourself or the type of response received from the person or thing. It can also indicate a preference for someone or something over other things. )
The Transfiguration
- And after six days, Jesus takes Peter, and James, and John his brother with Him and He leads them up to a high mountain on their own.
- And He was transfigured in front of them, and His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became white as the light.
- And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, discussing with Him.
- Then answering, Peter said to Jesus: “Lord, it’s good for us to be here. If you want, I’ll make three tabernacles1A tabernacle is a moveable structure like a tent. However, they are typically much more rigid, expensive, and much nicer. In the Old Testament, God didn’t have a temple until Solomon’s day. Before that, He “dwelled” in a tabernacle built to exacting standards. here: one for you, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”
- While he’s still speaking, behold, a shining cloud overshadowed them. And behold, a voice came from the cloud saying: “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Listen to Him.”
- And having heard this, the disciples fell on their face and were extremely terrified.
- And Jesus approached, and having touched them He said: “Stand up and don’t fear.”
- And having lifted their eyes, they saw no one except Jesus Himself alone.
- And while coming down from the mountain, Jesus commanded them, saying: “Tell no one of the vision until the Son of Man is raised from the dead.”
- And the disciples questioned Him, saying: “Then why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?”
- And answering, He said: “Indeed, Elijah comes first and will restore all things.
- “But I tell you that Elijah already came. And they didn’t recognize him, but did whatever they wished to him. In the same way also, the Son of Man is about to suffer under them.”
- Then the disciples understood that He spoke to them about John the Baptizer.
Healing a Demon Possessed Boy
- And having come to the crowd, a man approached Him, falling on his knees before Him
- and saying: “Lord, have mercy on my son because he is epileptic and suffers terribly. For he often falls into the fire, and often into the water.
- “And I brought him to your disciples, and they couldn’t heal him.”
- Then answering, Jesus said: “O, you unbelieving and *perverted generation. How long will I be with you? How long will I put up with you? Bring him here to Me.”
- And Jesus rebuked him, and the demon went out from him, and the boy was healed from that very hour.
- Then having approached Jesus in private, the disciples said: “Why weren’t we able to cast it out?”
- And He tells them: “Because of your weak faith. For amen I tell you: if you have faith like a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain: “Move from here to there” and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.
- [“But this kind doesn’t go out except by prayer and fasting.]2This textual variant is essentially identical to Mark 9:29 – so it changes nothing doctrinally – but the authenticity of this verse to Matthew’s gospel is disputed. There are strong arguments on both sides, but the argument doesn’t center on theology. It is merely about if this verse was copied over from Mark’s gospel by scribes, or original to Matthew.
- And while they’re assembled in Galilee, Jesus told them: “The Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men.
- “And they will kill Him, and on the third day He will be raised up.” And they were deeply grieved.
The Temple Tax
- And when they came to Capernaum, the men collecting the two-drachma3A “drachma” is an ancient Greek silver coin that weighed 4.3 grams, or 0.15 ounces. tax approached Peter and said: “Doesn’t your teacher pay the two-drachma tax?”
- He says: “Yes.” And having gone into the house, Jesus anticipated him, saying: “What do you think Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth take taxes or tribute? From their sons or from strangers?”
- And Peter said: “From the strangers.” Jesus was saying to him: “Then the sons are free.”
- “But, so that we don’t offend them, having gone to the sea, cast a fishhook and pick up the fish that comes up first. And having opened its mouth, you’ll find a statér4“statér”, an Greek coin worth four drachma. worth four drachma. Having taken that coin, give it to them for Me and you. “
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