New Living Translation
Matthew • Chapter 17
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Six days later Yashua (Jesus) took Peter and the two brothers, James and John, and led them up a high mountain to be alone.
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As the men watched, Yashua (Jesus)’ appearance was transformed so that his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as light.
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Suddenly, Moses and Elijah appeared and began talking with Yashua (Jesus).
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Peter exclaimed, “Lord, it’s wonderful for us to be here! If you want, I’ll make three shelters as memorials — one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”
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But even as he spoke, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy. Listen to him.”
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The disciples were terrified and fell face down on the ground.
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Then Yashua (Jesus) came over and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Don’t be afraid.”
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And when they looked up, Moses and Elijah were gone, and they saw only Yashua (Jesus).
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As they went back down the mountain, Yashua (Jesus) commanded them, “Don’t tell anyone what you have seen until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”
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Then his disciples asked him, “Why do the teachers of religious law insist that Elijah must return before the Messiah comes? ”
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Yashua (Jesus) replied, “Elijah is indeed coming first to get everything ready.
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But I tell you, Elijah has already come, but he wasn’t recognized, and they chose to abuse him. And in the same way they will also make the Son of Man suffer.”
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Then the disciples realized he was talking about John the Baptist.
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At the foot of the mountain, a large crowd was waiting for them. A man came and knelt before Yashua (Jesus) and said,
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“Lord, have mercy on my son. He has seizures and suffers terribly. He often falls into the fire or into the water.
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So I brought him to your disciples, but they couldn’t heal him.”
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Yashua (Jesus) said, “You faithless and corrupt people! How long must I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring the boy here to me.”
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Then Yashua (Jesus) rebuked the demon in the boy, and it left him. From that moment the boy was well.
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Afterward the disciples asked Yashua (Jesus) privately, “Why couldn’t we cast out that demon?”
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“You don’t have enough faith,” Yashua (Jesus) told them. “I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it would move. Nothing would be impossible. ”
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After they gathered again in Galilee, Yashua (Jesus) told them, “The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of his enemies.
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He will be killed, but on the third day he will be raised from the dead.” And the disciples were filled with grief.
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On their arrival in Capernaum, the collectors of the Temple tax came to Peter and asked him, “Doesn’t your teacher pay the Temple tax?”
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“Yes, he does,” Peter replied. Then he went into the house. But before he had a chance to speak, Yashua (Jesus) asked him, “What do you think, Peter? Do kings tax their own people or the people they have conquered? ”
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“They tax the people they have conquered,” Peter replied. “Well, then,” Yashua (Jesus) said, “the citizens are free!
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However, we don’t want to offend them, so go down to the lake and throw in a line. Open the mouth of the first fish you catch, and you will find a large silver coin. Take it and pay the tax for both of us.”