1 And G2532 after G3326 six G1803 days G2250 Jesus G2424 taketh G3880 Peter, G4074 G2532 James, G2385 and G2532 John G2491 his G846 brother, G80 and G2532 bringeth G399 them G846 up G399 into G1519 an high G5308 mountain G3735 apart, G2596 G2398
2 And G2532 was transfigured G3339 before G1715 them: G846 and G2532 his G846 face G4383 did shine G2989 as G5613 the sun, G2246 and G1161 his G846 raiment G2440 was G1096 white G3022 as G5613 the light. G5457
3 And, G2532 behold, G2400 there appeared G3700 unto them G846 Moses G3475 and G2532 Elias G2243 talking G4814 with G3326 him. G846
4 Then G1161 answered G611 Peter, G4074 and said G2036 unto Jesus, G2424 Lord, G2962 it is G2076 good G2570 for us G2248 to be G1511 here: G5602 if G1487 thou wilt, G2309 let us make G4160 here G5602 three G5140 tabernacles; G4633 one G3391 for thee, G4671 and G2532 one G3391 for Moses, G3475 and G2532 one G3391 for Elias. G2243
5 While he G846 yet G2089 spake, G2980 behold, G2400 a bright G5460 cloud G3507 overshadowed G1982 them: G846 and G2532 behold G2400 a voice G5456 out of G1537 the cloud, G3507 which said, G3004 This G3778 is G2076 my G3450 beloved G27 Son, G5207 in G1722 whom G3739 I am well pleased; G2106 hear ye G191 him. G846
6 And G2532 when the disciples G3101 heard G191 it, they fell G4098 on G1909 their G846 face, G4383 and G2532 were sore G4970 afraid. G5399
7 And G2532 Jesus G2424 came G4334 and touched G680 them, G846 and G2532 said, G2036 Arise, G1453 and G2532 be G5399 not G3361 afraid. G5399
8 And G1161 when they had lifted up G1869 their G846 eyes, G3788 they saw G1492 no man, G3762 save G1508 Jesus G2424 only. G3441
9 And G2532 as they G846 came down G2597 from G575 the mountain, G3735 Jesus G2424 charged G1781 them, G846 saying, G3004 Tell G2036 the vision G3705 to no man, G3367 until G2193 G3739 the Son G5207 of man G444 be risen again G450 from G1537 the dead. G3498
10 And G2532 his G846 disciples G3101 asked G1905 him, G846 saying, G3004 Why G5101 then G3767 say G3004 the scribes G1122 that G3754 Elias G2243 must G1163 first G4412 come? G2064
11 And G1161 Jesus G2424 answered G611 and said G2036 unto them, G846 Elias G2243 truly G3303 shall first G4412 come, G2064 and G2532 restore G600 all things. G3956
12 But G1161 I say G3004 unto you, G5213 That G3754 Elias G2243 is come G2064 already, G2235 and G2532 they knew G1921 him G846 not, G3756 but G235 have done G4160 unto G1722 him G846 whatsoever G3745 they listed. G2309 Likewise G3779 shall G3195 also G2532 the Son G5207 of man G444 suffer G3958 of G5259 them. G846
13 Then G5119 the disciples G3101 understood G4920 that G3754 he spake G2036 unto them G846 of G4012 John G2491 the Baptist. G910
14 And G2532 when they G846 were come G2064 to G4314 the multitude, G3793 there came G4334 to him G846 a certain man, G444 kneeling down G1120 to him, G846 and G2532 saying, G3004
15 Lord, G2962 have mercy G1653 on my G3450 son: G5207 for G3754 he is lunatick, G4583 and G2532 sore G2560 vexed: G3958 for G1063 ofttimes G4178 he falleth G4098 into G1519 the fire, G4442 and G2532 oft G4178 into G1519 the water. G5204
16 And G2532 I brought G4374 him G846 to thy G4675 disciples, G3101 and G2532 they could G1410 not G3756 cure G2323 him. G846
17 Then G1161 Jesus G2424 answered G611 and said, G2036 O G5599 faithless G571 and G2532 perverse G1294 generation, G1074 how long G2193 G4219 shall I be G2071 with G3326 you? G5216 how long G2193 G4219 shall I suffer G430 you? G5216 bring G5342 him G846 hither G5602 to me. G3427
18 And G2532 Jesus G2424 rebuked G2008 the devil; G1140 and G2532 he G846 departed G1831 out of G575 him: G846 and G2532 the child G3816 was cured G2323 from G575 that very G1565 hour. G5610
19 Then G5119 came G4334 the disciples G3101 to Jesus G2424 apart, G2596 G2398 and said, G2036 Why G1302 could G1410 not G3756 we G2249 cast G1544 him G846 out? G1544
20 And G1161 Jesus G2424 said G2036 unto them, G846 Because G1223 of your G5216 unbelief: G570 for G1063 verily G281 I say G3004 unto you, G5213 If G1437 ye have G2192 faith G4102 as G5613 a grain G2848 of mustard seed, G4615 ye shall say G2046 unto this G5129 mountain, G3735 Remove G3327 hence G1782 to yonder place; G1563 and G2532 it shall remove; G3327 and G2532 nothing G3762 shall be impossible G101 unto you. G5213
21 Howbeit G1161 this G5124 kind G1085 goeth G1607 not G3756 out G1607 but G1508 by G1722 prayer G4335 and G2532 fasting. G3521
22 And G1161 while they G846 abode G390 in G1722 Galilee, G1056 Jesus G2424 said G2036 unto them, G846 The Son G5207 of man G444 shall be G3195 betrayed G3860 into G1519 the hands G5495 of men: G444
23 And G2532 they shall kill G615 him, G846 and G2532 the third G5154 day G2250 he shall be raised again. G1453 And G2532 they were exceeding G4970 sorry. G3076
24 And G1161 when they G846 were come G2064 to G1519 Capernaum, G2584 they that received G2983 tribute G1323 money came G4334 to Peter, G4074 and G2532 said, G2036 Doth G5055 not G3756 your G5216 master G1320 pay G5055 tribute? G1323
25 He saith, G3004 Yes. G3483 And G2532 when G3753 he was come G1525 into G1519 the house, G3614 Jesus G2424 prevented G4399 him, G846 saying, G3004 What G5101 thinkest G1380 thou, G4671 Simon? G4613 of G575 whom G5101 do G2983 the kings G935 of the earth G1093 take G2983 custom G5056 or G2228 tribute? G2778 of G575 their own G846 children, G5207 or G2228 of G575 strangers? G245
26 Peter G4074 saith G3004 unto him, G846 Of G575 strangers. G245 Jesus G2424 saith G5346 unto him, G846 Then G686 are G1526 the children G5207 free. G1658
27 Notwithstanding, G1161 lest G3363 we should offend G4624 them, G846 go thou G4198 to G1519 the sea, G2281 and cast G906 an hook, G44 and G2532 take up G142 the fish G2486 that first G4412 cometh up; G305 and G2532 when thou hast opened G455 his G846 mouth, G4750 thou shalt find G2147 a piece of money: G4715 that G1565 take, G2983 and give G1325 unto them G846 for G473 me G1700 and G2532 thee. G4675
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Matthew 17
Commentary on Matthew 17 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 17
In this chapter we have,
So that here is Christ, the Brightness of his Father's glory, by himself purging our sins, paying our debts, and destroying for us him that had the power of death, that is, the devil. Thus were the several indications of Christ's gracious intentions admirable interwoven.
Mat 17:1-13
We have here the story of Christ's transfiguration; he had said that the Son of man should shortly come in his kingdom, with which promise all the three evangelists industriously connect this story; as if Christ's transfiguration were intended for a specimen and an earnest of the kingdom of Christ, and of that light and love of his, which therein appears to his select and sanctified ones. Peter speaks of this as the power and coming of our Lord Jesus (2 Pt. 1:16); because it was an emanation of his power, and a previous notice of his coming, which was fitly introduced by such prefaces.
When Christ was here in his humiliation, though his state, in the main, was a state of abasement and afflictions, there were some glimpses of his glory intermixed, that he himself might be the more encouraged in his sufferings, and others the less offended. His birth, his baptism, his temptation, and his death, were the most remarkable instances of his humiliation; and these were each of them attended with some signal points of glory, and the smiles of heaven. But the series of his public ministry being a continued humiliation, here, just in the midst of that, comes in this discovery of his glory. As, now that he is in heaven, he has his condescensions, so, when he was on earth, he had his advancements.
Now concerning Christ's transfiguration, observe,
The great truth which we declare, is, that God is light (1 Jn. 1:5), dwells in the light (1 Tim. 6:16), covers himself with light, Ps. 104:2. And therefore when Christ would appear in the form of God, he appeared in light, the most glorious of all visible beings, the first-born of the creation, and most nearly resembling the eternal Parent. Christ is the Light; while he was in the world, he shined in darkness, and therefore the world knew him not (Jn. 1:5, 10); but, at this time, that Light shined out of the darkness.
Now his transfiguration appeared in two things:
It argued great respect for his Master and the heavenly guests, with some commendable forgetfulness of himself and his fellow-disciples, that he would have tabernacles for Christ, and Moses, and Elias, but none for himself. He would be content to lie in the open air, on the cold ground, in such good company; if his Master have but where to lay his head, no matter whether he himself has or no.
Now to this which Peter said, there was no reply made; the disappearing of the glory would soon answer it. They that promise themselves great things on earth will soon be undeceived by their own experience.
Now concerning this testimony from heaven to Christ, observe.
This repetition of the same voice that came from heaven at his baptism was no vain repetition; but, like the doubling of Pharoah'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 foretel them, and immediately after his transfiguration it is said (Lu. 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 Co. 1:5.
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 Co. 5:7.
Moses and Elias were now with him; the law and the prophets; hitherto it was said, Hear them, Lu. 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. Be not troubled that Moses and Elias make so short a stay with you; hear Christ, and you will not want them.
Observe,
Here is,
Because they knew him not, they have done to him whatsoever they listed; if they had known, they would not have crucified Christ, or beheaded John, 1 Co. 2:8. They ridiculed John, persecuted him, and at last put him to death; which was Herod's doing, but is here charged upon the whole generation of unbelieving Jews, and particularly the scribes, who, though they could not prosecute John themselves, were pleased with what Herod did. He adds, Likewise also shall the Son of man suffer of them. Marvel not that Elias should be abused and killed by those who pretended, with a great deal of reverence, to expect him, when the Messiah himself will be in like manner treated. Note, The sufferings of Christ took off the strangeness of all other sufferings (Jn. 15:18); when they had imbrued their hands in the blood of John Baptist, they were ready to do the like to Christ. Note, As men deal with Christ's servants, so they would deal with him himself; and they that are drunk with the blood of the martyrs still cry, Give, give, Acts 12:1-3.
Mat 17:14-21
We have here the miraculous cure of a child that was lunatic and vexed with a devil. Observe,
Two things the father of the child complains of.
Two things he upbraids them with.
See here an emblem of Christ's undertaking as our Redeemer.
If ye have ever so little of this faith in sincerity, if ye truly rely upon the powers committed to you, ye shall say to this mountain, Remove. This is a proverbial expression, denoting that which follows, and no more, Nothing shall be impossible to you. They had a full commission, among other things, to cast out devils without exception; but, this devil being more than ordinarily malicious and inveterate, they distrusted the power they had received, and so failed. To convince them of this, Christ shows them what they might have done. Note, An active faith can remove mountains, not of itself, but in the virtue of a divine power engaged by a divine promise, both which faith fastens upon.
Mat 17:22-23
Christ here foretels his own sufferings; he began to do it before (ch. 16:21); and, finding that it was to his disciples a hard saying, he saw it necessary to repeat it. There are some things which God speaketh once, yea twice, and yet man perceiveth it not. Observe here,
Mat 17:24-27
We have here an account of Christ's paying tribute.
Peter presently his word for his Master; "Yes, certainly; my Master pays tribute; it is his principle and practice; you need not fear moving it to him.'
Now,