Matthew 17:3

And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, For the exposition, see the notes at Luke 9:28. The time of this section is sufficiently denoted by the events which all the narratives show to have immediately preceded it-the first explicit announcement of His death, and the transfiguration-both being between his third and his forth and last Passover,...

3._And, lo, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah. _It is asked, Were _Moses and Elijah _actually present? or was it only an apparition that was exhibited to the disciples, as the prophets frequently beheld visions of things that were absent? Though the subject admits, as we say, of arguments on both sides, yet I think it more probable that they were actually brought to that place. There is no absurdity in this supposition; for God has bodies and souls in his hand, and can restore the dead to life at his pleasure, whenever he sees it to be necessary. _Moses and Elijah _did not then rise on their own account, (478) but in order to wait upon Christ. It will next be asked, How came the apostles to know _Moses and Elijah_, whom they had never seen? The answer is easy. God, who brought them forward, gave also signs and tokens by which they were enabled to know them. It was thus by an extrao...

1-13 Now the disciples beheld somewhat of Christ's glory, as of the only begotten of the Father. It was intended to support their faith, when they would have to witness his crucifixion; and would give them an idea of the glory prepared for them, when changed by his power and made like him. The apostles were overcome by the glorious sight. Peter thought that it was most desirable to continue there, and to go no more down to meet the sufferings of which he was so unwilling to hear. In this he knew not what he said. We are wrong, if we look for a heaven here upon earth. Whatever tabernacles we propose to make for ourselves in this world, we must always remember to ask Christ's leave. That sacrifice was not yet offered, without which the souls of sinful men could not have been saved; and important services were to be done by Peter and his brethren. While Peter spoke, a bright cloud overshad...

Verse Matthew 17:3. _MOSES AND ELIAS_] Elijah came from heaven in the same body which he had upon earth, for he was _translated_, and did not see death, 2 Kings 2:11. And the body of Moses was probably raised again, as a pledge of the _resurrection_; and as Christ is to come to judge the _quick_ and the _dead_, for we shall not all _die_, but all shall be _changed_, 1 Corinthians 15:51, he probably gave the full representation of this in the person of Moses, who _died_, and was thus raised to life, (or appeared now as he shall appear when raised from the dead in the last day), and in the person of Elijah, who never _tasted death_. Both their bodies exhibit the same...

AND BEHOLD THERE APPEARED UNTO THEM MOSES AND ELIAS - Moses, a distinguished servant of God, by whom the law was given, and whose institutions typified the Messiah. It was particularly proper that he should appear, when his prophecies and types were about to be fulfilled, and the rites which he had instituted were about to be done away. Elias, or Elijah, a distinguished prophet, taken to heaven without seeing death. See 2 Kings 2:11. Elijah had been honored eminently by being thus translated, and still more by being made the model of the forerunner of the Messiah, Malachi 4:5; Luke 1:17; Matthew 11:14. They appeared “i

EXPOSITION MATTHEW 17:1 _The Transfiguration of Jesus_._ _(Mark 9:2; Luke 9:28.) This mysterious event was intended primarily to confirm the faith of the three apostles who were to have the chief hand in founding the Church. The Lord had just announced his future sufferings and death. This prediction had been a grievous blow to Peter, and doubtless to the others also. He had stumbled at the cross, and had brought on himself a stern rebuke for his slowness and worldliness. So to comfort the chosen three under the thought of what awaited their Master, they were shown a glimpse of the glory which he has in heaven; they saw the Law and the prophets yielding subjection to him; t

AND BEHOLD THERE APPEARED UNTO THEM,.... The disciples: MOSES AND ELIAS; Moses the giver of the law, and Elias one of the chief of the prophets: one of them had been dead near a thousand and five hundred years, and the other had been caught up to heaven, about nine hundred years before this. The Jews sometimes speak of these two as together. They say c, "that the Shekinah never descends below, but משה ואליהו, "Moses and Elias" ascend above.'' Yea, they expect that these two will come together in future time; for so they represent d a God saying to Moses; "Moses, as thou hast given thy life for them (the Israelites) in this world, so in time to come (the days of the Messiah) when I shall bring Elias the prophet, כאחת שניכם באין, "you two shall come together".'' Now they came. Luke says, they appeared "in glory": in glorious bodies, in a glory upon their bodies; like, though inferior...

Matthew 17:1. _And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, and was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light._ Were these «six days» a week's quiet interval, in which our Lord prepared himself for the singular transaction upon the «mountain apart»? Did the little company of three know from one Sabbath to another that such an amazing joy awaited them? The three were elect out of the elect, and favored to see what none else in all the world might behold. Doubt less our Lord had reasons for his choice, as he has for every choice he makes; but he does not unveil them to us. The same three beheld the agony in the garden; perhaps the first sight was necessary to sustain their faith under the second. The name of the «high mountain» can never be known; for t

5. THE COMING GLORY; the Helpless Disciples and the Power of the King. The Tribute Money. CHAPTER 17 _ 1. The Transfiguration. (Matthew 17:1 .) 2. The Helpless Disciples and the Power of the King. (Matthew 17:14 .) 3. The Second Announcement of His Death and Resurrection. (Matthew 17:22 .) 4. The Tribute Money.(Matthew 17:24 .)_ The first part of this chapter gives us the record of the transfiguration of our Lord Jesus Christ. The portion before us is one of the richest in the entire book of Matthew; so full of precious teachings and suggestions that one almost shrinks from attempting an expos

THE TRANSFIGURATION, AND THE COMING OF ELIJAH (Mark 9:2 *, Luke 9:28). The narrative agrees closely with Mk., the chief difference being the appropriate addition of Matthew 17:7. The fear of the disciples occurs earlier in Mk., and is made the occasion of Peter's intrusion; in Lk. it is omitted. MATTHEW 17:10. The disciples are puzzled because Elijah has only just appeared_ after_ the coming of the Messiah, whereas the scribes said he was to come _first._ The answer of Jesus is not very clear. We may take it thus: (The scribes are right in saying that) Elijah comes and rectifies everything ...