Matthew 17

      14. When they were come to the multitude. Come down out of the mountain. Compare Mark 9:14-29 and Luke 9:37-42 Mark 9:14-29 and Luke 9:37-42 . Luke says this miracle occurred the next day.

      15. My son; for he is a lunatic. Epileptic, in the Revision. The symptoms are those of epilepsy, in this case caused by demoniac possession. The son was a child ( Luke 9:38 ). He was dumb as well as epileptic ( Mark ).

      16. Thy disciples. The nine apostles who had been left below when the Lord with three ascended the mountain.

      17. O faithless and perverse generation. Intended especially for the disciples who had failed in the cure from weakness of faith. How long shall I suffer you? Bear with your shortcomings. Bring him hither to me. The emphasis is upon me. This act of mercy could have been done by his disciples had they been devout, prayerful and believing.

      18. And the demon went out. Compare Mark and Luke Mk 9:26 Luke 9:42 .

      19, 20. Why could not we cast him out? The answer is, Lack of faith. This mountain. Lofty Hermon, in plain sight. Nothing shall be impossible to you. Upon the condition of perfect faith. Compare Heb. chap. 11 . Faith in Christ, faith exercised in fasting and prayer, are the conditions of power.

      21. But this kind . . . but by prayer and fasting. Compare Mark 9:29 . Only by devout waiting before the Lord for strength. Such strength is always needful to the victories of faith. Often, too, we have demons, envy, pride, covetousness, a revengeful spirit, that must be cast out by prayer.

      22. While they abode in Galilee. Mark 9:30 , says: Departing thence (from the vicinity of Mt. Hermon), they passed through Galilee. Compare also, Luke 9:43-45 .

      23. They were exceeding sorry. Because he said that he must be put to death. There is only grief now, but no remonstrance.

      24. When they had come to Capernaum. They had now returned from the journey north. Doth not your master pay tribute? Not tribute, which would be a tax due an alien, but the half shekel, an annual tax demanded of every male Jew above twenty years for the support of the temple. It would be from twenty-five to thirty-five cents, as the shekel is variously estimated from fifty to seventy cents. The collectors were not publicans, but Jewish authorities.

      25. He saith, Yea. Peter, as usual, answered before he reflected, and then came to Jesus with the matter. Jesus prevented. Peter came into the house to speak about it, but Christ knew his thoughts and spoke first. Of whom do the kings of the earth take custom? Not of their own children, but from subjects. Hence, Christ, the King's Son, for whom the temple was built, was not subject to tax for the benefit of the temple. The Son of the King would not pay tribute to the King. For the origin of this temple tax, see Exodus 30:12 Exodus 30:2 and 2 Chron. 24:5 .

      27. Lest we offend them. While not compelled to pay it as a due, he would pay it as a matter of expediency. Sometimes things are expedient for which there is not the letter of the law. Go to the sea. Of Galilee, close at hand. Cast a hook. Peter was a fisherman. Take up the fish that first cometh. A miracle. The Lord by his power would draw the fish that had sought to swallow the coin to Peter's hook. A piece of money. Greek, a stater, corresponding to a shekel, enough for two. The Lord would pay the tax, but in a manner in accord with the Divine dignity.