MATTHEW 17
The transfiguration of the Lord Jesus Christ was a revelation of the glory of the Son of God, that had been veiled when He was here. It was a divine affirmation of the Person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ. That glory will be fully revealed when He returns. The word from God to the disciples was that they should listen to what Jesus taught, and learn from what He did. He is God’s authorized and obedient Servant, and at the same time, He is always God’s Beloved Son to whom we must pay heed.
He is the unique and glorious Messiah of Israel, and Peter, James, and John saw that glory briefly with their own eyes. What they saw was also a confirmation of the Lord’s teaching following Peter’s God-given profession of faith, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” The disciples had to learn their own limitations and the necessity of putting their faith in the One who called them to follow Him. He authorized their work by working through them, not them acting of their own volition. The death, burial, and resurrection of Christ were a necessity for the plans of God to be fulfilled. The Lord’s mission on earth wasn’t accomplished until that redemptive work was completed.
Teaching regarding the church did not give Peter authority over the church or over people as their head. When they saw the transfigured Christ, it would have lifted the spirits of Peter, James, and John who had heard His first prediction of His death and would wonder what was going to happen when that took place.
Transfiguration, a Look into the Future, v.1-13 Transfiguration is a visible change of appearance in a positive sense. In the transfiguration of the Lord Jesus, the on-lookers saw what He looks like without veiling His glory. On that mountain, like other mountains Matthew wrote about, the Lord was seen as to who He was, the Holy One come from God. He was on an exceeding high mountain when He was tempted by the devil. It was on a mountain the Lord taught and gave principles of living in the kingdom. The Mount of Olives was a special place to which our Lord resorted often, and from which He was taken into heaven. At this holy mountain; He was seen by Peter, James, and John in His holy glory in which His face shone brighter than the sun and His clothes were brilliantly white.
It was there: where Moses who represented the old covenant and the law that would be fulfilled in the death of the Lord Jesus Christ; talked to the Lord about His coming redemptive work that would happen at Jerusalem. Elijah represented the prophets and the expectations of not only the sacrifice of Christ; but the fulfillment of prophecy relating to the coming kingdom. He reminds us of the closing prophecy of the Old Testament in the book of Malachi, where the Lord would be the Restorer of all things.
The sense of awe at the view of the transfigured Christ, and the sense of the presence of God and His glory; terrified those three disciples. They likely believed they were going to die as they saw the majesty of the Lord in His glory. It is a human response to want to do something or say something when we are overwhelmed by the sense we are in the presence of God. Actually, we can learn some things about heaven in this foretaste of what it is like there, with those who have gone before us.
Recognition of each person by name and characteristics is maintained. The three disciples knew Moses and Elijah even though they had never met them. There is interpersonal communication about events and people there. They talked with the Lord about the things that would happen in Jerusalem. There was interaction with the Lord. Apparently, both heavenly visitors could converse with the Lord as in a personal conversation. A person’s individuality is maintained. There was no question as to which person was Moses and which was Elijah. Their minds, emotions, and opinions were still functioning as in personhood. It appears there was an interactive relationship with the Lord Jesus on the part of Moses and Elijah, and the relationship was that of friends communicating about a common point of interest. It would seem then, that there are purposeful activities in heaven that are not removed from events happening on earth because those two men were obviously sent to that mountaintop.
The first mission of our Lord Jesus Christ to earth was to fulfill God’s law and the words of the prophets in the context of His humanity. He was given authority to do that work when “the Father sent the Son to be the Savior of the world.” When He was here, He fulfilled all righteousness, or the full demands of holiness that we must have in order to be brought to God. Peter wanted to take action and do something; when the time was really only appropriate to worship and adoration.
He wanted to make dwelling places or temporary places of worship so that time of transfiguration would continue. He could imagine how impacting that would be on the skeptics and forces of opposition. Instead of capturing the moment; he was supposed to learn from it and move forward in faith and obedience to his Lord. The disciples were learning many lessons in that place. Jesus is more than a leader, an example, a good influence, and a good teacher. He is more than a great prophet. He is the Almighty Son of God!
When we are really conscious of God and being in His presence; the only adequate response to understanding who Jesus is, is to worship and obey Him. The significance of the death, burial, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ hadn’t yet dawned on the minds of the disciples. When we realize we are in the presence of God, even though we do not see our Lord in His glory; there is awe, reverence, and respectful fear when we glimpse by faith a brief foresight of resurrection glory. It is in times like that, the voice of God becomes real to us. “This is My Beloved Son in whom I am well pleased. Hear ye Him!” That should permeate our souls and spirits, and purify our bodies and control our conduct.
The time hadn’t yet come for the glory of the Lord to be revealed. Nor was the visible glory of the Lord to be the focal point of the ministry of the disciples that He was preparing them for. The brief time of enlightenment was for those men, at that time. The scribes were right when they testified that Elijah would come before the Lord was revealed. But the scribes didn’t consider John the Baptist to be the forerunner of Jesus as the Messiah. However, those disciples learned that day on their way down off that mountain that John was the “Elijah” that was to come, and he had done the work he was called to do. Then they had to hear, that like John was killed, so the time was soon coming when those who rejected John would reject Jesus and crucify Him.
Authority, and the challenge of faith, v.14-21
Spiritual experiences with God are high points in the lives of believers. Many of those times remain indelibly printed on our minds and hearts, bringing us great joy throughout our whole lifetime. The flat plain of human suffering is where we generally live and serve our Lord. Loving the Lord with all of our heart, soul, strength, and mind is one thing. Loving suffering, sinful, dissatisfied neighbors like ourselves are quite a different story – until we realize they are just like us.
Faithlessness keeps us from doing what our Lord intends. The question of the disciples who could not heal the epileptic son was quite revealing. “Why could we not cast it out?” They had not yet understood that it is God working through us that brings results. Without Him, we can do nothing. It is not “we” or “us,” but rather Him and His power, that brings healing of the body and soul. At a later time in the book of Acts, they learned that power was in “the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth.”
For nearly three years the disciples had been with Jesus, and He was disappointed that they still did not understand what it meant to be a disciple and do the Lord’s work through His power and authority. Their problem was their faith was too little and in the wrong person. The little faith of the disciples wasn’t so much the quantity, but the quality. Faith in God comes as a result of listening to God and earnest prayer and fellowship with God. Problems often do seem like insurmountable mountains, but “with God, all things are possible.”
Betrayal, and fear of coming events, v.22-23 The Lord Jesus gave this second prediction in a week, regarding His coming death and resurrection. It must have given them enough understanding of what was coming to greatly disturb them. Often warnings are given and we know they are warnings; but after a short time, we think it was likely a false alarm. It is then we are in danger because complacency is a deadening influence on the soul.
When warnings are repeated enough times; then we begin to be impressed with the seriousness of what is ahead, even though it may not be very clear what to expect. When the whole prediction is beyond our control, and yet we know it is going to happen; we become fearful. Understanding can be slow for us all. We experience answered prayer, miracles, teaching, and learning from the word of God. Yet, we have difficulty at times claiming all that God has given us and we are slow to act in faith. When knowledge and faith work together, understanding comes and makes real and believable, all we once knew only theoretically.
The disciples couldn’t understand why Jesus would go right into the place where trouble would come. They didn’t really grasp what the Lord Jesus would do, and accomplish by His death and resurrection. When the Holy Spirit came upon them and then dwelt in them at the day of Pentecost; then they could see clearly what previously had been hard to get for themselves.
Instructions, and our responsibility to the government, v.24-27 Being taxed by our own country is bad enough, but when other political powers demand our taxes, and religious leaders demand taxes including temple taxes; that can be not only burdensome but very vexing. When the tax man came to Peter asking about paying taxes, the Lord Jesus used that as a teaching moment for the disciples as to who they were and where their allegiance lay. They actually were free from obligation to the temple tax and the religious regulations of a religion that was contrary to the kingdom of God. The temple tax was about two days’ wages a year for every Jewish male from twenty and above. This was paid yearly about a month before the Passover. However, the Lord made it plain that even though they were really not obligated to pay that, we do have a responsibility to cooperate and not offend in nonessential matters. It was better to pay, rather than make a fuss.
Peter knew from this conversation with the Lord, that not only was Jesus the Son of the living God, but also those who believe in Him as their Savior and Lord are sons of God through faith in Him. In that way, they were free from the temple tax. To not necessarily offend; Peter had to act under divine authority, catch a fish that was under divine authority, and take the one piece of money that was sufficient in value to pay the tax for them both.
We are expected by our Master, to be responsible participants in what He is doing whatever kind it is. Even though we are strangers and pilgrims on the earth, we are to cooperate with the government of the place where we live. The laws that are concerned with righteousness of life and order in society, are to be obeyed. The community and country in which we live provide us with security and opportunities. We have an obligation to pay what is owed; even though we may not agree with all that is done by the various governments under whose authority we live.