1.
And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart,
After six days. The Transfiguration (see App-149 ) is date in all three Gospels (Mark 9:2 .Luke 9:28; Luke 9:28 ). It was thus connected with the first mention of His sufferings and death (Matthew 16:21 ; Matthew 17:9 , Matthew 17:12 ), and would counteract any doubts that the disclosure might give rise to. By it the glory is connected with the sufferings, as it always is (Compare Matthew 16:21 with Matthew 17:27 and Luke 24:26 , and see App-71 . 1 Peter 1:11 ; 1 Peter 4:13 ; 1 Peter 5:1 ); and it gives a glimpse of His coming (2 Peter 1:16-18 ).
after. Greek. meta. App-104 .
Jesus. App-98 .
taketh = taketh [Him aside].
Peter, &c. These three were with Him at the raising of Jairus's daughter (Mark 6:37 ), and in Gethsemane (Matthew 26:37 ).
James = and James.
an high mountain. Not the traditional "Tabor", for it was then inhabited, with a fortress on the top, according to Josephus. More probably Hermon.
2.
And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.
transfigured. Greek. metamorphoomai = to change the form. Occurs only here, Mark 9:2 , and in Rom 12:2 , 2 Corinthians 3:18 . Marking the change TO a new condition, while metaschematizo = change FROM a former condition. See note on Philippians 1:3 , Philippians 1:21 .
was = became.
light. App-130 .
3.
And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him.
behold. Figure of speech Asterismos ( App-6 ), for emphasis.
appeared. App-106 .
Moses. Representing the Law, and those to be raised from the dead. See note on Matthew 8:4 .
Elias = Elijah. Representing those "caught up" without dying. Both mentioned in Malachi 4:4 , Malachi 4:5 .
talking = talking together. In Luke 9:31 "they spake of His decease".
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.
if, &c. See the condition in App-118 . Not the same as in Matthew 17:20 .
wilt. App-102 .
tabernacles = booths.
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.
spake = was speaking.
a bright cloud. Was this the Shekhinah, the symbol of Jehovah's glory?
out of. Greek. ek.
This is My beloved Son. The Divine formula of consecration of Messiah as priest; in Matthew 3:17 as prophet. In Psalms 2:7 . Acts 13:33 , and Hebrews 1:5 ; Hebrews 5:5 , as king.
am well pleased = have found delight.
hear ye Him. Compare Deuteronomy 18:18 , Deuteronomy 18:19 .
6.
And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid.
on. Greek. epi.
sore = exceedingly.
7.
And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid.
not. Greek. me. App-105 .
saw. App-133 .
8.
And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only.
no man = no one.
save = except, used for alla (= but). See note on "but", Matthew 20:23 .
only = alone.
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.
from = away from. Greek. apo. App-104 .
the Son of man. See App-98 .
be risen again = have risen. Here, "again" is part of the verb. Not so in Matthew 17:23 , and Matthew 16:21 .
from = from among. Greek. ek. App-104 . The first occurance of ek in this connection. Always associated with Christ and His People (not with the wicked dead). See all the other occurrences: Mark 6:14 ; Mark 9:9 , Mark 9:10 ; Mark 12:25 .Luke 9:7 ; Luke 16:31 ; Luke 20:35 ; Luke 24:46 . John 2:22 ; John 12:1 , John 12:9 , John 12:17 ; John 20:9 ; John 21:14 .Acts 3:15 ; Acts 4:2 , Acts 4:10 ; Acts 10:41 ; Acts 13:30 , Acts 13:34 ; Acts 17:3 , Acts 17:31 .Romans 4:24 ; Romans 6:4 , Romans 6:9 , Romans 6:13 ; Romans 7:4 ; Romans 8:11 , Romans 8:11 ; Romans 10:7 , Romans 10:9 ; Romans 11:15 . 1 Corinthians 15:12 , 1 Corinthians 15:20 . Galatians 1:1 , Galatians 1:1 .Ephesians 5:14 .Philippians 1:3 , Philippians 1:11 (see note). Colossians 1:18 ; Colossians 2:12 . 1 Thessalonians 1:10 . 2 Timothy 2:8 . Hebrews 13:20 . 1 Peter 1:3 , 1 Peter 1:21 . On the other hand, with apo See Matthew 14:2 ; Matthew 27:64 ; Matthew 28:7 . Compare Luke 16:30 , Luke 16:31 . In all other cases it is used simply of a resurrection of dead bodies, or of dead people.
the dead = dead people (no Art.) See App-139 .
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.
shall first come = cometh first.
restored will restore. Not the same, but better. The noun occurs only in Acts 3:21 . The verb occurs eight times: Matthew 12:13 ; Matthew 17:11 .Mark 3:5 ; Mark 8:25 ; Mark 9:12 .Luke 6:10 . Acts 1:6 . Hebrews 13:19 .
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.
knew = recognized. Greek. epiginosko. App-132 .
not. Greek. ou.
have done = did.
unto him = in his case. Greek. en. App-104 .
listed = pleased, or willed. Greek. thelo. App-102 .
shall . . . suffer = is about . . . to suffer. So in Matthew 17:22 and Matthew 20:22 .
also the Son of man. = the Son of man also.
of = through or by. Greek. hupo . App-104 .
13.
Then the disciples understood that he spake unto them of John the Baptist.
of = concerning. Greek. peri. App-104 .
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 lunatick, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water.
mercy = pity.
he is lunatick = moonstruck: i.e. epileptic, because epilepsy was supposed to be caused by the moon. Greek. seleniazomai. Occurs only in Matthew, here, and Matthew 4:24 .
sore vexed = suffers miserably.
16.
And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him.
could not cure him = were not able to 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.
faithless = unbelieving.
perverse = perverted.
generation. See note on Matthew 11:16 .
how long . . . ? = until when . . . ? Figures of speech Erotesis and Ecphonesis. App-6 .
suffer = put up with.
18.
And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour.
the devil = it, or him.
he = it: i.e. the demon.
out of = away from. Greek. apo. App-104 . Not the same as Matthew 17:5 .
child = boy. Greek. pais . App-108 .
19.
Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out?
Why could not we cast him out? = Why were not we able to east it out? See notes on Matthew 21:21 , and Luke 17:5 .
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.
Because = On account of. Greek. dia. See note on Luke 17:6 .
unbelief. All the texts read "little faith", or "littleness of faith". See note on Mat 6:38 .
verily. See note on Matthew 5:18 .
If, &c. Denoting a contingent condition. App-118 .
say. The Rabbins were termed rooters up of mountains, because they were dexterous in removing difficulties. See note on Luke 17:6 .
to yonder place = thither (as though pointing). See note on Luke 17:6 .
21.
Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.
this kind. Implying different kinds. See Matthew 12:45 . Act 16:17 . 1 John 4:1 . T Tr. [A] WH R omit this verse; but not the Syriac.
but = except.
prayer. Greek. proseuche. See App-134 .
22.
And while they abode in Galilee, Jesus said unto them, The Son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of men:
Galilee. App-169 .
shall be = is about to be. This is the second of the four announcements. See the Structure, and note on Matthew 16:21 .
betrayed = delivered up. This is added in this the second announcement of His sufferings. Compare Matthew 16:21 .
23.
And they shall kill him, and the third day he shall be raised again. And they were exceeding sorry.
shall = will.
the third day. See note on Matthew 16:21 ; and App-148 .
be raised again = be raised up. Not the same word as in Matthew 17:9 , but the same as in Matthew 16:21 .
24.
And when they were come to Capernaum, they that received tribute money came to Peter, and said, Doth not your master pay tribute?
tribute = money = the didrachma = the half-shekels (Exodus 30:11-16 ). Occurs only here. See App-51 .:8. Not the same word as in Matthew 17:25 ; Matthew 22:19 .
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?
Yes. Showing that the Lord did pay. Compare Matthew 17:27 .
prevented = anticipated: i.e. spoke first, or forestalled. Greek. prophthano. Occurs only here.
of = from. Greek. apo , as in Matthew 17:9 , not in verses: Matthew 17:17 , Matthew 17:12 , Matthew 17:13 .
earth. Greek. ge App-129 .
custom = toll, or duty.
tribute = tax. Greek. kensos, from Latin. census, which = registration, which involved taxation.
children = sons. App-108 . Not the same as Matthew 17:18 .
strangers = those of other families: i.e. not their own sons. Not foreigners. Greek. allotrios. App-124 .
26.
Peter saith unto him, Of strangers. Jesus saith unto him, Then are the children free.
Then = It followeth, then, that.
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.
lest we should offend, &c. But, not (Greek. me. App-105 .) to give them an occasion of offence (either by neglecting their duty or by traducing the Lord). See Matthew 18:6 .
an hook. A weighted line with several hooks, rapidly drawn through the water, is employed to-day at Tiberias. Greek. agkistron. Occurs only here.
a piece of money. Greek. stater : i.e. a shekel. Occurs only here.