TRANSFIGURED; changed in his appearance. HIS RAIMENT WAS WHITE AS LIGHT; resplendent as lightning. The three apostles were here favored with a glimpse of the future glory of the Saviour and his true followers, well calculated to strengthen their faith in passing through the trying scenes that were b... [ Continue Reading ]
MOSES AND ELIAS; the representatives of "the law and the prophets" here appear in glory, but subordinate to the Saviour. Thus the unity of the old and new dispensation is set forth, and also the supreme dignity of "Christ the Son of the living God.... [ Continue Reading ]
TABERNACLES; a tabernacle was a temporary dwelling, covered usually with cloth or boughs of trees. Peter was so amazed and bewildered by the glory of the vision, that he knew not what he said. Mark 9:6; Luke 9:33. His plans were repeatedly in opposition to those of his Lord.... [ Continue Reading ]
A VOICE; the voice of God the Father, as in chap. Matthew 3:17, with the addition, "Hear ye him," attend to his instructions, and follow them. The delight of all parents in all children, from the foundation of the world to the end of time, if put together, would be infinitely less than the delight o... [ Continue Reading ]
THE VISION; what they had seen and heard.... [ Continue Reading ]
FIRST COME; come before the Messiah, since now he had appeared after him. They understood the prophecy, Malachi 3:1-4, literally, of the Elias who had been translated to heaven; but our Saviour teaches them that it was fulfilled in the person of John the Baptist, who came "in the spirit and power of... [ Continue Reading ]
RESTORE ALL THINGS; set them in order, and bring them to a proper state for the coming of God as a Saviour.... [ Continue Reading ]
LISTED; desired or pleased to do.... [ Continue Reading ]
FALLETH INTO THE FIRE; in the paroxysms of his disease, under the power of the evil spirit by which he was possessed. Ver Matthew 17:18, and Mark 9:17; Mark 9:25-26. The family relation, while it gives us many of our choicest comforts, occasions also many of our deepest sorrows.... [ Continue Reading ]
SUFFER YOU; endure your perverseness and unbelief.... [ Continue Reading ]
REBUKED THE DEVIL; bade him depart. Mark 9:25.... [ Continue Reading ]
IF YE HAVE FAITH; the reference here is to that faith with which Christ, in the case of the apostles, connected the working of miracles. NOTHING SHALL BE IMPOSSIBLE; no exercise of miraculous power, however great, that may be needful in the prosecution of your apostolic work. The spirit of this pro... [ Continue Reading ]
THIS KIND; this kind of evil spirit. The words imply its great power and malice. PRAYER AND FASTING; that faith which was necessary to work such a miracle, could not be obtained without much self-denial and prayer.... [ Continue Reading ]
EXCEEDING SORRY; because he was to be treated in that way, not knowing that his death was necessary for the salvation of men. That which here on earth occasions the people of God the greatest distresses, when they come to see the reasons for it and the benefits of it, they will see to have been over... [ Continue Reading ]
TRIBUTE - MONEY; paid yearly for the support of public worship and the service of the temple, amounting to half a shekel, or about twenty-five cents.... [ Continue Reading ]
PREVENTED HIM; spoke before Peter had said any thing. When the Bible was translated into English, to prevent meant to go before. persons STRANGERS; persons not belonging to the family, not the children of the king who received the tribute.... [ Continue Reading ]
FREE; not expected to pay tribute. According to that rule, Christ, the Son of God, for the support of whose worship the money was paid would be free.... [ Continue Reading ]
A PIECE OF MONEY; in the original, a stater, of the value of a shekel, or about fifty cents, which would pay the tribute for both Christ and Peter. Duty sometimes calls us not to insist upon all our just rights, but to take a different course for the purpose of preventing a wrong construction being... [ Continue Reading ]