In chapter 17 we finally get the sign that the Pharisees have been asking for but only three disciples get it as Peter, James and John are seen here as the inner circle. Classically this is called the Transfiguration, but here in this translation it is called the transformation as a more modern term. Before their eyes Jesus is transformed and he reveals his glory as he converses with Moses and Elijah. For the readers a connection is now made to the major portions of the Old Testament namely the Law and the Prophets.
I like to point out to people that verse 21 is one of my favorites. As you read through the text you will find it is not there anymore. It has been removed and put in the bottom footnotes with an explanation that it is not found in some of the original texts and appears that it was added in by someone who was making a copy of the text. Then later copies all added in this verse including the version used to number the chapters and verses.
The chapter ends with a little miracle story and a discussion on paying the Temple tax. Peter the fisherman is instructed by Jesus to catch a fish and a coin to pay the tax will be in its mouth. he does it is and it's paid. There is a little aside note that though Jesus does not believe they should have to pay it, they will so that they do not offend others. Are there times when we do things just to not create waves? Jesus did too.
Chapter 18 begins with an odd question from the disciples and a puzzling answer to them. Who is greatest in the kingdom of God could only be the King or God. but as that is not the answer I do not believe this to be the gist of the question, but rather which people or maybe which of the disciples will be which will come up later in the story. This might be something they really wanted to know. And then Jesus pulls a reversal on them it is not the greatest one on earth it is the simplest and humblest like a little child he has called over into the discussion.
Jesus then does a 180 as he turns from talking about welcoming to the children in his name to warn those who would cause these children to stumble and lose their faith. Though many people see the descriptions of blinding and maiming to prevent sinning allegorically, I see them as a possible reference to the community of faith and how that might be seen later as the body of Christ in Paul's letters. Is the writer here alluding to times when for the good of the whole body the member causing harm needs to be removed from the fellowship?
Next we have one of the favorite parables the lost sheep. The story is depicted in stained glass windows with a lamb gently carried on Jesus' shoulders. And the notion of the little one being found ties these three sections together about the little child being greatest in heaven and the warning about not causing one to be lost and then the great rejoicing in heaven when the lost is found.
And though this next little section to me seems to be later and not original to Jesus it is in the early manuscripts though I struggle with it being written by Matthew because the negative statement made about tax collectors of which he was one. This section may add commentary to Jesus statements earlier about removing sinful parts of the body which in this section is called the church. It does end with another quotable quote, "For where two or three are gathered in my name, I'm there with them."
Jesus then teaches about forgiveness and raises the bar to a much higher level that Jewish law called for. He shows that forgiveness is a hallmark of the kingdom of God and in the Lord's prayer it becomes a measuring stick based on how we forgive, God forgives us. In the parable God forgives but when the forgiven one will not forgive another he finds himself back before God and judged harshly for that. Jesus warns that God will do the same for us if we do not forgive.
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