GOSPEL OF MATTHEW
Chapter 17
17:1 After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves.
And six days later Jesus took with Him Peter and James and John his brother, and brought them up to a high mountain by themselves.
And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart,
17:1ff The transfiguration was a vision, a brief glimpse of the true glory of the King (Matthew 16:27-28). This was a special revelation of Jesus’ divinity to three of the disciples, and it was God’s divine affirmation of everything Jesus had done and was about to do.
TODAY IN THE WORD
During the 1964 Presidential campaign, Republican candidate Barry Goldwater displayed a knack for saying the wrong thing to the wrong audience. In the middle of a speech to farmers, he said a decline in price supports for farm goods would be good for them. He also told senior citizens that Social Security should be voluntary; later he attacked public electrical power in an area transformed by a power project.
We know that the apostle Peter also had a talent for saying the wrong thing at the wrong time. On a high mountain one day, as Jesus was transfigured before Peter, James and John, Peter made what must have seemed to him a clever suggestion. But as recorded in Matthew 16:23, he suffered another divine rebuke.
As background for our study of 1-2 Peter, we have been looking at several key incidents from Peter's time with Christ. The transfiguration was crucial to Christ's work on earth because it was a direct revelation of His deity.
That revelation was also important to Peter and his companions as a testimony to the Lord's heavenly origin and the truth of His claims. Peter later referred to this moment as proof that he and the other apostles were not fabricating their witness about Christ (see 2 Pet. 1:16-18).
In the middle of this incredible event Moses and Elijah appeared and talked with Jesus.
The sight was too much for Peter. He was so enthralled with the glory of the moment and of the amazing visitors that he wanted to stay put on the mountain. So he offered to build temporary shelters for Jesus, Moses and Elijah--with the clear implication that he, James and John would be glad to stick around too!
C. H. Spurgeon
Luke says, “about an eight days after these sayings;” but I suppose he counted the day before and the day after. “After six days,” — and the first day was, probably, the first day of the week, so he was now coming to another Lord’s day. One of the high Christian festivals of the life of Christ was about to be celebrated. Jesus was not yet dead, therefore it was not the resurrection that was celebrated on that day, but the transfiguration. “After six days,” — six days’ teaching concerning the cross before he revealed his glory. Dear brethren, there are many in these days who delight to speak almost exclusively about the glory of the second advent. Now, God forbid that we should be silent concerning that great theme! But I think our teaching concerning it must be given after six days’ consideration of the sufferings of Christ. Let those who will say, “We preach Christ glorified;”
I mean still to say, with Paul, “But we preach Christ crucified.” When I have had my six days for that topic, then am I right glad to have another day to speak concerning Christ’s glory. We must never forget his death; all our immortal hopes are centered in the death of our great Substitute. “After six days”
C. H. Spurgeon
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 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 those who knew the locality have left no information. Tabor, if you please; Hermen, if you prefer it. No one can decide. It was a lone and lofty hill.
While in prayer, the splendor of the Lord shone out. His face, lit up with its own inner glory, became a sun; and all his dress, like clouds irradiated by that sun, became white as the light itself. “He was transfigured before them;” he alone was the center of what they saw. It was a marvelous unveiling of the hidden nature of the Lord Jesus. Then was, in one way, fulfilled the word of John: “The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory.”
The transfiguration occurred but once: special views of the glory of Christ are not enjoyed every day. Our highest joy on earth is to see Jesus. There can be no greater bliss in heaven; but we shall be better able to endure the exceeding bliss when we have laid aside the burden of this flesh.
TRANSFIGURATION, THE of our Lord on a "high mountain apart," is described by each of the three evangelists (Matthew 17:1-8; Mark 9:2-8; Luke 9:28-36). The fullest account is given by Luke, who, no doubt, was informed by Peter, who was present on the occasion. What these evangelists record was an absolute historical reality, and not a mere vision. The concurrence between them in all the circumstances of the incident is exact. John seems to allude to it also (John 1:14). Forty years after the event Peter distinctly makes mention of it (2 Peter 1:16-18). In describing the sanctification of believers, Paul also seems to allude to this majestic and glorious appearance of our Lord on the "holy mount" (Romans 12:2; 2 Cor. 3:18).
The place of the transfiguration was probably Mount Hermon (q.v.), and not Mount Tabor, as is commonly supposed.
C. H. Spurgeon
“White and glistering,” says Luke; “exceeding white as snow; so as no fuller on earth can white them,” says Mark.
17:2 There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light.
And He was transfigured before them; and His face shone like the sun, and His garments became as white as light.
And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.
R. C. Sproul
Probably the most dazzling revelation of the glory of Christ in His entire life took place on the Mount of Transfiguration. The site of this extraordinary event is not known for certain, but it probably took place on Mount Hermon, which rises to 9,200 feet and is situated near Caesarea Philippi.
The unveiling of Christ’s glory was witnessed by only three of the disciples, known as the inner circle; Peter, James, and John. The text says that Jesus was “transfigured.” We may divide this phenomenon into three different stages. First, there is the transfiguration itself. Second, there is the appearance of Moses and Elijah. And third, there is the voice from heaven.
The word used for transfiguration is translated from the word metamorphosis. It indicates a real change in form. The prefix “trans” means across, so a limit or barrier was crossed here. Perhaps we might call it a crossing of the line between natural and supernatural, between human and divine.
We read in the text that Jesus’ face shone like the sun. This shining was not merely the human form reflecting the glory of God, as Moses did when he came before God. It was something more. Here, the incarnate divine Logos manifested His own glory. What the disciples beheld was not a reflected glory, but Christ’s own glory; thus His superiority to any other was emphasized. The source of light that radiated so brilliantly from Jesus’ garments was not external, the light source was Christ Himself.
As Jesus was transformed, He spoke with Moses and Elijah. These two are significant not only because of their mysterious departures from earth but because of the roles they played in the Old Testament. Moses and Elijah together represent the Law and the Prophets, the summary of God’s teaching in the Old Covenant. It may be that they spoke with Jesus about His forthcoming death. It may be that they spoke with Jesus about His forthcoming death, that which was necessary to fulfill the Law and the Prophets.
Finally, the voice from the cloud says, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Here Him!” The glory of God was made manifest to the disciples so that they might bear testimony to the person and work of Christ, the Son of the living God.
Christ’s Face:
· Glorious
(transfiguration)
· Agonized
(supplication)
· Insulted
(persecution)
· Covered
(derision)
· Steadfast
(determination)
· Set
(destination)
· Struck
(opposition)
· Marred
(substitution)
· Illuminating
(ministration)
· Revealed
(reproduction)
TRANSFIGURATION, THE
The transformation of Jesus in His appearance with Moses and Elijah before Peter, James, and John (Matthew 17:1-13; Mark 9:1-13; Luke 9:28-36; compare 2 Peter 1:16-18).
Follow Me to the:
· Manger of humility
· Nazareth of ministry
· Jordan of surrender
· Wilderness of temptation
· Mount of instruction
· Place of transfiguration
· Field of service
· Garden of Gethsemane
· Cross of Calvary
· Tomb of resurrection
· Throne of ascension
· Hope of glory
The Accounts
The event took place shortly after the confession at Caesarea Philippi, the first passion prediction, and a discourse on the cost of discipleship. Jesus took Peter, James, and John to a mountain where the event took place. Jesus' personal appearance and that of His garments were changed. Moses and Elijah appeared and talked with Jesus. Peter said it was good to be there, and they should build three booths. A cloud came over them, and God spoke from the cloud identifying Jesus as His Son (compare the voice at the baptism) and commanding the disciples to hear Him. When the cloud lifted, Jesus was alone with the disciples, who were afraid. Jesus told the disciples to tell no one.
Aside from minor differences in wording, Mark alone states that Jesus' garments became so white that no bleacher could brighten them and that Peter did not know what to say. Also Mark alone has no reference to a change in Jesus' face. Matthew alone indicates that God expressed His pleasure with Jesus, that the disciples fell on their faces, and that Jesus touched them to get them up. Instead of the six days of Matthew and Mark, Luke has about eight days. He alone indicated that Jesus and the disciples were praying, that Moses and Elijah conversed with Jesus about His coming death, that the disciples were sleepy, and that they saw Jesus' glory. Luke alone has "chosen" rather than "beloved Son." In Matthew, Jesus is addressed as Lord, in Mark as Rabbi, and in Luke as Master.
The Nature of the Event
It has often been claimed that the story is a misplaced resurrection appearance; but it is Moses and Elijah, not Jesus, who appear, and there is no reference to them or a voice from heaven in any other resurrection account. Others have claimed that the transfiguration was not an objective but a visionary experience. This is possible, but there is no more of the miraculous in three different disciples actually having similar visions than in a historical event, which is certainly what the writers described.
The Place
The traditional site is Mount Tabor in lower Galilee, but it is not a high mountain (only 1,850 feet) and was probably fortified and inaccessible in Jesus' day. Much more likely is Mount Hermon (9,100 feet) to the north of Caesarea Philippi.
Meaning
A mountain in the Bible is often a place of revelation. Moses and Elijah represented the law and the prophets respectively, which testify to but must give way to Jesus. (The latter is the reason why Peter's suggestion was improper.) Moses and Elijah themselves were heralds of the Messiah (Deut. 18:15; Malachi 4:5-6). The three booths suggest the Feast of the Tabernacles which symbolizes a new situation, a new age. Clouds represent divine presence. The close connection of the transfiguration with the confession and passion prediction is significant. The Messiah must suffer; but glorification and enthronement, not suffering, is His ultimate fate. These involve resurrection, ascension, and return in glory. The disciples needed the reassurance of the transfiguration as they contemplated Jesus' death and their future sufferings.
17:3 Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus.
And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him.
And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him.
17:3-5 Moses and Elijah were the two greatest prophets in the Old Testament. Moses represents the law, or the old covenant. He wrote the Pentateuch, and he predicted the coming of a great prophet (Deut. 18:15-19). Elijah represents the prophets who foretold the coming of the Messiah (Malachi 4:5-6). Moses’ and Elijah’s presence with Jesus confirmed Jesus’ Messianic mission—to fulfill God’s law and the words of God’s prophets. Just as God’s voice in the cloud over Mount Sinai gave authority to his law (Exodus 19:9), God’s voice at the transfiguration gave authority to Jesus’ words.
C. H. Spurgeon
Thus the Law and the Prophets, “Moses and Elias,” communed with our Lord, “talking with him,” and entering into familiar conversation with their Lord. Saints long departed still live; live in their personality; are known by their names; and enjoy near access to Christ. It is a great joy to holy ones to be with Jesus: they find it heaven to be where they can talk with him.