Commentaries and Other Bible Study Helps - Prayer Tents - Prayer Tents

17:14-27 Sons of the Kingdom. Through the healing and exorcism of an epileptic boy, Jesus shows the contrast between defective and effective faith (vv. 14-20). Jesus also teaches that his impending death will come through betrayal (vv. 22-23) and that the OT law has no claim on him or his disciples (vv. 24-27).

17:15 By calling him Lord, the man shows respect for Jesus as an esteemed, righteous teacher, but he goes beyond that by believing that Jesus will show mercy and heal his son.

17:17 faithless. In spite of the miracles and teaching of Jesus, the majority of people did not place their faith in him as the Messiah. Twisted indicates people's distorted perception of Jesus and spiritual truth.

17:20 little faith. The disciples are not, of course, devoid of faith, but their faith is not functioning properly. Faith can be stronger or weaker (cf. 6:30; 8:26; 14:31; 16:8; Rom. 14:1). Moving a mountain was a common metaphor in Jewish literature for doing what was seemingly impossible (cf. Isa. 40:4; 49:11; 54:10; Matt. 21:21-22).

17:22-23 to be delivered. This second prediction of Jesus' passion (cf. 16:21), has an ominous new detail: Jesus will not only be handed over to his enemies, he will be betrayed.

17:24 two-drachma tax. At the annual census, each person over the age of 20 was to give a half-shekel offering for the support of the tabernacle (Ex. 30:11-16), which was later applied to the temple. The religious tax collectors approach Peter, the disciples' leader, rather than Jesus himself, perhaps in deference to Jesus' esteem as a popular teacher.

17:25-26 Then the sons are free. Because the temple is God the Father's own house, the Son and those he has brought into the Father's family (12:48-50) are exempt from the temple tax, signaling that, with the coming of the kingdom, believers are no longer under the OT law but the law of Christ (see Gal. 6:2).

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