Matthew, Chapter 17

Matt. 17:1-8

Matt. 17:1 "And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, 2 And was transfigured before them: and his 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 Peter, 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. 5 While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud 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."

The Lord had said in Matt. 16:28, "Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom." Peter spoke of this mount of transfiguration in 2 Pet. 1:16 "For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17 For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. 18 And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount." From Peter's description we may make the following conclusions of the significance of the mount of transfiguration:

1. The mount of transfiguration showed the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
2. The mount of transfiguration showed forth the majesty of the Lord Jesus Christ. The word, majesty, means glory or splendor.
3. The voice of the Father came from "the excellent glory." This, no doubt, has reference to paradise or the glory world as Peter said that it was a voice that came from heaven.

The Lord took Peter, James, and John apart from the other disciples and was transfigured before them. We may ask ourselves, "Why was Peter, James, and John taken apart from the other disciples?" These three disciples were likewise taken apart from the other disciples on two other occasions:

1. Mark 5:37 "And he suffered no man to follow him, save Peter, and James, and John the brother of James. 38 And he cometh to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and seeth the tumult, and them that wept and wailed greatly. 39 And when he was come in, he saith unto them, Why make ye this ado, and weep? the damsel is not dead, but sleepeth."
2. Mark 14:33 "And he taketh with him Peter and James and John, and began to be sore amazed, and to be very heavy; 34 And saith unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful unto death: tarry ye here, and watch."

Peter, James, and John were permitted to be witnesses of things that the other disciples were not witnesses of. They were witnesses of the transfiguration of Christ, and of the resurrection of the young maid, and were witnesses of the Lord as he prayed in the garden. These three disciples were given certain roles and responsibilities for which it was very beneficial for them to have been witnesses of these things. Peter was very much a leader of the disciples and was called the apostle to the Jews. John was blessed of God to write a very large part of the New Testament scripture including the book of Revelation. James was the first of the disciples to be killed for preaching the gospel. I suspect it was for these roles that these three were separated from the other disciples to witness the mount of transfiguration.

"And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light." The word transfigure comes from the Greek word, metamorphoo, and means to transform (lit. or fig. "metamorphose"):--change, transfigure, transform. The word picture of Jesus and his description is to be taken literally, although, I am sure that we could never capture the total brilliance through the word description. On the earth, the most brilliant and powerful light that we are exposed to is the sun. If we look directly into the sun for just a few seconds it can literally blind us. Yet Saul on the road to Damascus saw a light brighter than the noonday sun. These disciples were literally seeing Christ in his glory and the brilliance was staggering.

The clothing or raiment of Jesus was said to be "white as the light." The light was previously described as the "shining of the sun." This white was not just an ordinary white, but was a white of great brilliance. White is used in the scriptures as a representative of the righteousness of Jesus that is imputed to the children of God. Jesus was clothed in perfect righteousness.

Next, we have witnesses to the transfiguration of the Lord Jesus Christ. These witnesses were in addition to the witness of Peter, James, and John. Moses and Elias were witnesses that appeared with Christ. We ask ourselves, "What is the significance of Moses and Elias appearing with Christ?" In Revelation Chapter 11 we read of Moses and Elijah who are God's two faithful witnesses: 3 "And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth. 4 These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth. 5 And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed. 6 These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will." In the days of Elijah the prophet, he prayed and it rained not for three and a half years. In the days of Moses, God used Moses to smite the earth with all plagues. Moses is the representative of the law, whereas, Elijah is the representative of the prophets. The Old Testament is referred to as "the law and the prophets." At least one symbolism of Moses and Elias appearing with Jesus is that the law and prophets are a testimony of Jesus.

The Lord said, " Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me" (John 5:39). The Jews thought they had eternal life through the keeping of the law, however, the purpose of the law and the prophets was not to give eternal life, but to testify of Jesus who is the giver of eternal life.

"Then answered Peter, 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." When Peter spoke these words he was sore afraid, and knew not what to say as is recorded in Mark 9:6 "For he wist not what to say; for they were sore afraid." Peter tried to equate Christ as being on a level with Moses and Elias. The law and the prophets give testimony of Jesus. Unlike the masses of people who today think that the scriptures give eternal life, they actually are just witnesses of Jesus. It is Christ who is the giver of eternal life and the scriptures are not to be considered to be equal with Jesus. Elijah was translated and carried to heaven. Moses was buried and the place of his grave is unknown. The law and the prophets along with their representatives Moses and Elijah are not to be worshipped. Christ is to be worshipped. Thus it was inappropriate to build tabernacles for Moses and Elias.

Often the question is asked, "How did the disciples know that this was Moses and Elias?" There obviously were no pictures available for them to compare the two. The only logical answer is that they knew that it was Moses and Elias because this fact was revealed to them by God.

"While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud 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." The cloud that overshadowed the disciples was a very unusual cloud. It was said to be a bright cloud. Most clouds are dark clouds. The Greek word for bright is photeinos, and means "lustrous, i.e. transparent or well-illuminated (fig.):-- bright, full of light." This cloud was showing forth the very glory of God. The disciples were being overshadowed by the very glory of God. The glory of God is manifest in the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. It is through the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ that we have been made righteous and have eternal life.

The voice of God the Father rings out, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." There is no man from Adam to the end of time in which it can be said that God is well pleased. Only with the Son of God is God well pleased. Christ was perfectly obedient to every word of God and fulfilled them to a jot and a tittle. We are to hear him. Peter spoke of a more sure word of prophecy: 2 Pet. 1:19, "We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts." Paul said in Hebrews: Heb 1:1 "God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, 2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds." Surely we have great reason to hear the Son of God.

"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." John had said of Jesus, "he must increase, but I must decrease." When we see and hear Jesus all others disappear from our sight. To him belongs all the praise, honor, and glory.

Matt. 17:9-13

Matt. 17:9 "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 already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed. Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them. 13 Then the disciples understood that he spake unto them of John the Baptist."
"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." Once again the Lord tells the disciples of his death, burial, and resurrection. As we will see, they still did not believe that Christ would die. However, the Lord charged them to tell no man until after his resurrection. We have no record that these three disobeyed the Lord and told this to anyone until after his resurrection.

"And his disciples asked him, saying, Why then say the scribes that Elias must first come?" The disciples were referring to Malachi chapter 4:5 "Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD: 6 And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse." Thus, they knew the scriptures taught that Elijah must come before the Messiah came.

"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 already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed. Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them. 13 Then the disciples understood that he spake unto them of John the Baptist." John was not literally Elijah, but he came as the forerunner of Christ, just as Elijah had come as the forerunner of Elisha. John came in the Spirit and authority of God as the forerunner of Christ to make ready a people prepared of the Lord.

Matt. 17:14-21

Matt. 17:14 "And when they were come to the multitude, there came to him a certain man, kneeling down to him, and saying, 15 Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is a lunatic, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water. 16 And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him. 17 Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me. 18 And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour. 19 Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out? 20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. 21 Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting."

This man came to Jesus having a son who was possessed with a devil and was lunatic and sore vexed. This vexation was apparently so sore, that he often times tried to kill himself by throwing himself into the fire and in the water. No doubt the father was desperate to get his son some help and had heard of the miracles surrounding the Lord Jesus Christ. He brought his son first to the disciples, but they were unable to help his son. (The Lord had given the disciples certain powers over unclean spirits.) Then the father brought the son to Jesus and kneeled down and worshipped him, saying, "Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is a lunatic, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water. And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him." "Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me. 18 And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour."

The Lord called that generation a faithless and perverse generation because of their unbelief. Even the disciples manifest an unbelief as they had been given power over unclean spirits and yet could not cast out the unclean spirit from this young man. Sometimes we are given talents and run into obstacles and lack faith to overcome the obstacles. This was the situation with the disciples. The Lord has all power and had manifest that power in a multitude of ways. The disciples believed the Lord had the power to heal and to cure for they had been witnesses to it numerous times. Yet for that power to work through them they did not believe. We are no different in the talents or abilities that God gives us. We often go into unbelief, especially if there are obstacles in the way.

The Lord cast out the unclean spirit and healed the boy. Then the disciples asked the Lord: "Why could not we cast him out? 20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. 21 Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting." They could not cast out the unclean spirit because of their unbelief. Sometimes we rest in our own ability and when we do, it will fail us. When we trust in the power of God and not in our own ability, then we can do whatever the Lord would have us do. Even if there is a mountain in the way, and the Lord has commanded us to do something through the leadership of the Holy Spirit, then we will be able to rest by faith in the Lord's removing the mountain for us.

Matt. 17:22, 23

Matt. 17:22 "And while they abode in Galilee, Jesus said unto them, The Son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of men: 23 And they shall kill him, and the third day he shall be raised again. And they were exceeding sorry."

Part of what the Lord was saying to the disciples they could believe. They could believe that the Lord would be betrayed into the hands of men and that they would kill him. For this, they were exceedingly sorry. They did not want to see Christ delivered into the hands of men and for them to kill him. This went against the very fiber of their natural desires.

Part of what he Lord was saying to the disciples they did not believe. They did not believe in the resurrection from the dead. If they had believed in the resurrection of the dead, then they would not have been exceedingly sorry. They would have rejoiced that the Lord had overcome sin, death, hell, and the grave. It was only after the resurrection of Christ that the disciples believed in the resurrection.

Matt. 17:24-27

Matt. 17:24 "And when they were come to Capernaum, they that received tribute money came to Peter, and said, Doth not your master pay tribute? 25 He saith, Yes. And when he was come into the house, Jesus prevented him, saying, What thinkest thou, Simon? of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own children, or of strangers? 26 Peter saith unto him, Of strangers. Jesus saith unto him, Then are the children free. 27 Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee."

Peter had overstepped his authority when he said that Jesus paid tribute. The Lord asked Peter a question, "What thinkest thou, Simon? of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own children, or of strangers? 26 Peter saith unto him, Of strangers. Jesus saith unto him, Then are the children free." While the question and answer are very plain, there is a point we must learn as the Lord's church. Tribute and custom are raised against strangers. The children are free of tribute and custom. In the kingdom of heaven there is no tithing system to raise money. The children are free from tribute or custom. Giving in the New Testament church is to be done willingly and without coercion. Again there is no taxation system in the New Testament church.
"Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee." The Lord did not owe the tax collectors tribute or custom, but he gave to them so as not to offend them. He gave willingly, not because he was coerced to do so. Even in this the Lord showed his great power and knowledge by having Peter to take up a fish and find a piece of money in the fishes mouth.