The transfiguration ST. MATTHEW, XVII. of Christ. CHAPTER XVII. 1. The transfiguration of Christ. 14. He healeth the lunatick, 22. foretelleth his own passion, 24. and payeth AND after six days Jesus taketh with him Peter, and James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into a high 2 And was transfigured before them: and his 2 mountain apart: and he was transfigured face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light. 3 And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him. 4 Then answered Feter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias. before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his garments became white as 3 the light. And behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elijah talking with 4 him. And Peter answered, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, I will make here three 1 tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, 5 While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud 5 and one for Elijah. While he was yet overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him. 6 And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid. 7 And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid. 8 And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only. 9 And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, saying, Tell the vision to no man, until the Son of man be risen again from the dead. 10 And his disciples asked him, saying, Why then say the scribes that Elias must first come? 11 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things. 12 But I say unto you, That Elias is come all ready, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed. Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them. speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold, a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him. 6 And when the disciples heard it, they fell 7 on their face, and were sore afraid. And Jesus came and touched them and said, 8 Arise, and be not afraid. And lifting up their eyes, they saw no one, save Jesus only. 9 And as they were coming down from the mountain, Jesus commanded them, saying, Tell the vision to no man, until the Son of man be risen from the dead. 10 And his disciples asked him, saying. Why then say the scribes that Elijah must first 11 come? And he answered and said, Elijah indeed cometh, and shall restore all things: but I say unto you, that Elijah is come already, and they knew him not, but did unto him whatsoever they listed. Even so shall the Son of man also suffer 12 13 Then the disciples understood that he spake 13 of them. Then understood the disciples unto them of John the Baptist. 14 And when they were come to the multitude, there came to him a certain man, kneeling 14 down to him, and saying, that he spake unto them of John the Baptist. And when they were come to the multitude, there came to him a man, kneeling 1 Or, booths. 1. After six days. Luke says, "about eight days after." The expressions are equivalent, meaning "a week after." Our Lord was probably in Northern Galilee, or near Cæsarea Philippi, and not near Mount Tabor, where tradition has placed the transfiguration. Into a high mountain apart. Luke (9:28) says, "to pray." The glories of the transfiguration followed a season of prayer. 2. Was transfigured; i.e., was changed in appearance. His face shone as the sun, and his garments were white as the light (Mark says, "as no fuller on earth can whiten them;" Luke adds, "dazzling"). 3. Moses and Elijah. Either their names were announced to the three disciples, or they appeared in forms conventionally known as representing them. Talking with him. Luke gives us the subject of this conversation, "his decease which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem." 4. Peter answered. Luke tells us that Peter made this remark on fully arousing himself from a drowsiness that had come over all the three disciples, and on the movement of Moses and Elijah to depart. Mark adds, that the disciples were "sore afraid." Fear at the supernatural, and delight at the glory of the scene, were mingled. Tabernacles. Tents. 5. A bright cloud. This overspreading of a bright cloud shut them out from all sight of Moses and Elijah. Jesus was alone with them; and then came the voice, bidding them hear him. This voice added to their fear, till Jesus called them up from their prostrate position, and re-assured them. 9. Tell the vision to no man. See on chap. 16:20. 11. Restore all things to the simplicity which the traditions of the elders had destroyed. 12. Elijah is come. See on chap. 11:14. By our Lord's use of the future in verse 11, he seems to point to a future Elijah also, who will come before his own final coming, some one who will again prepare the way before him, as John did. 14. When they were come to the multitude. Mark states the significant fact, that the multitude were greatly amazed on seeing him. Was not that on account of the shining of his face with some of the glory of the trausfiguration scene, as in the case of Moses (Exod. 34:29-35)? |
