THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST: The Transfiguration

Matthew 17:1-13

New International Version (NIV)

17 After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. 2 There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. 3 Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus.

4 Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.”

5 While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!”

6 When the disciples heard this, they fell face down to the ground, terrified. 7 But Jesus came and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Don’t be afraid.” 8 When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus.

9 As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus instructed them, “Don’t tell anyone what you have seen, until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”

10 The disciples asked him, “Why then do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first?”

11 Jesus replied, “To be sure, Elijah comes and will restore all things.12 But I tell you, Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but have done to him everything they wished. In the same way the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands.” 13 Then the disciples understood that he was talking to them about John the Baptist.

Now his transfiguration appeared in two things:

The great gospel mystery revealed: This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. This was the very same that was spoken from heaven at his baptism (Matt. 3:17); and it was the best news that ever came from heaven to earth since man sinned. It is to the same purport with that great doctrine (2 Cor. 5:19), That God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself. Moses and Elijah were great men, and favorites of Heaven, yet they were but servants, and servants that God was not always well pleased in; for Moses spoke unadvisedly, and Elijah was a man subject to passions; but Christ is a Son, and in him God was always well pleased.

Moses and Elijah were sometimes instruments of reconciliation between God and Israel; Moses was a great intercessor, and Elijah a great reformer; but in Christ God is reconciling the world; his intercession is more prevalent than that of Moses, and his reformation more effectual than that of Elijah.

This repetition of the same voice that came from heaven at his baptism was no vain repetition; but, like the doubling of Pharaoh’s dream, was to show the thing was established. What God hath thus spoken once, yea twice, no doubt he will stand to, and he expects we should take notice of it.

It was spoken at his baptism, because then he was entering upon his temptation, and his public ministry; and now it was repeated, because he was entering upon his sufferings, which are to be dated from hence; for now, and not before, he began to foretell them, and immediately after his transfiguration it is said (Luke 9:51), that the time was come that he should be received up; this therefore was then repeated, to arm him against the terror, and his disciples against the offence, of the cross. When sufferings begin to abound, consolations are given in more abundantly, 2 Cor. 1:5.

17:1 Peter, James, and John made up the inner circle of those closest to Jesus (20:20; 26:37).

17:2 While the verb transfigured may denote spiritual transformation (Rom. 12:2; 2 Cor. 3:18), here it indicates a visible transformation, affirming the essential glory of Jesus the Messiah.

17:3 The appearance of Moses and Elias signifies that the Law and the Prophets support Jesus in His redemptive mission

17:4 Peter may have been suggesting a desire to prolong the visit. Luke says Peter spoke "not knowing what he said" (Luke 9:33).

17:5 The affirmation by the heavenly Father of Jesus' redemptive mission commands the disciples to accept Jesus’ instructions about his suffering.

17:9 The secrecy charge is to be suspended after the Resurrection, when the others will more fully understand Jesus and His mission.

17:10 The question was prompted by Elijah’s appearance on the mountain.

17:12 The prophecy of Mal. 4:5,6 was fulfilled in the ministry of John the Baptist.

Christ now appeared in glory; and the more we see of Christ’s glory, the more cause we shall see to hearken to him: but the disciples were gazing on that glory of his which they saw; they are therefore bid not to look at him, but to hear him. Their sight of his glory was soon intercepted by the cloud, but their business was to hear him. We walk by faith, which comes by hearing, not by sight, 2 Cor. 5:7

Moses and Elijah were now with him; the law and the prophets; hitherto it was said, hear them, Luke 16:29. The disciples were ready to equal them with Christ, when they must have tabernacles for them as well as for him. They had been talking with Christ, and probably the disciples were very desirous to know what they said, and to hear something more from them; No, saith God, hear him, and that is enough; him, and not Moses and Elias, who were present, and whose silence gave consent to this voice; they had nothing to say to the contrary; whatever interest they had in the world as prophets, they were willing to see it all transferred to Christ, that in all things he might have the Pre-eminence.