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| 1 And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, |
And after six days – Just about enough time to permit them to discuss and digest the meaning of our Lord's words concerning his coming death. R3345:5
During the six days following the announcement of the Master's coming suffering, ignominy and death, we may assume that the apostles were sad-hearted and bewildered. R5121:2
Jesus taketh – Seeking to draw their minds gradually to a realization that his death would not mean a repudiation of the promises of the Kingdom and its glory. R5121:1
Intending to assure the apostles respecting the certainty of the Kingdom, notwithstanding the apparent failure of all Kingdom hopes in our Lord's crucifixion. R2659:2
The object of the vision was probably two-fold: the comfort and strengthening of the Lord and the enlightenment of his chosen witnesses. R1761:4
Peter, James and John – Those most advanced in faith and zeal. R2659:1, 3345:5, 2289:2
Three of his favorites. R4649:3
An high mountain – Supposedly Mount Tabor. R4650:1
Presumed to be Mt. Hermon. R3345:2
Apart – Luke tells us that he went there to pray, and we may reasonably suppose that the three apostles joined with him in prayer. R3345:2, 2659:2, 2289:2
So all those who seek God in prayer may, to a large extent, with the eye of faith realize this same blessed vision of the Kingdom. R2660:1
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| 2 And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light. |
Transfigured before them – That is to say, his appearance changed. R4649:3, 558:3
Not an actual change from human to divine, but a vision or picture of it. R3793:6, 2659:5
An illustration of the Kingdom. PD64/74; R2288:6, 3345:6, 1761:2
It was a vision of Christ's dignity and glory in the Kingdom. The central figure was Jesus himself. Moses and Elias were merely accessories to fill out the picture. R3793:5, 2659:2
As the sun – Representing him as no longer the man Christ Jesus, but the risen, glorified Son of the Highest, a spirit being. R2659:4, 2288:6
White as the light – Representing the "glory to follow," when the sufferings are all complete. B20
His garments put on a shining appearance and became part of the vision. Q713:2
After the manner of angels. R5121:2
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| 3 And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elijah talking with him. |
Appeared unto them – It was only an appearance, because Christ was the firstborn from the dead; and neither Moses nor Elias is as yet made perfect. F676; Q761:3, 713:1; R2288:6
Radiant, but less so than Jesus. R5121:2, 3345:2
There was glory and honor attached to the Jewish dispensation and to the Gospel dispensation, but a still greater glory was manifested in the presence of Jesus, who represented the Millennial dispensation. R3345:6
The figure was glorious; the reality excelleth in glory. R1323:2*
Moses – A figure of Moses, representing the Mosaic or Law dispensation; or the overcomers of the Jewish age. B255, B20; F677; R5772:4, 5121:4, 3794:3, 3790:6, 3345:5, 2659:4, 2289:1, 2288:6, 1761:2
Identified, either because Jesus used their names in talking with them; or by Jesus informing the apostles on the way down from the mountain. Q807:2
Moses spoke of the sufferings of Christ in all the arrangements of the Law and its sacrifices. R2659:3
He was the mediator, or representative of Israel, and would very properly represent them in this tableau. Q260:1
And Elias – A figure of Elijah, representing the Gospel or Christian dispensation; or the overcomers of the Gospel age, the Church. B255, B20; F677; R5772:4, 5121:4, 3345:5, 2289:1
Representing the prophets, who declared not only the coming glories, but also the sufferings which must precede them. R2659:3
Both Moses and Elijah had fasted 40 days, as had Jesus, showing that they were one with him in remarkable devotion to the heavenly Father. R3794:3
Both Moses and Elijah passed from earth's scene under peculiar circumstances; yet we are assured that both died. (Deut. 34:5; Heb. 11:13) Q761:3
Neither Moses nor Elias went to heaven. R5333:5
Moses and Elijah represented two classes that will participate with Jesus in his Messianic glory in the Kingdom. R5333:5
Talking with him – Both dispensations speak of the sacrifices and sufferings of Christ and the glory to follow. B255
The conversation of the vision corroborated his statements that he would suffer a martyr's death at Jerusalem. R3345:5, 2659:3, 2289:1
Probably while the disciples were asleep (Luke 9:32); and doubtless, therefore, specially for his own comfort. R1761:5
It was a vision of the heavenly Kingdom, Moses representing one class, Elijah another, and Jesus himself representing the other. HG205:4
Moses and Elijah represented the two classes associated with the Lord in the glory of his Kingdom who will constitute the earthly and heavenly phases of the Kingdom--Moses the earthly, Elijah the heavenly. R1761:2, 559:4
The glorified Jesus stood between the Moses class, called previously, and the Elijah class, which had just begun to be called. R5121:5
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| 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 Elijah. |
Three tabernacles – How many, like Peter, want to rear earthly tabernacles, failing to understand the real vision of the Kingdom. R3795:1
We cannot build tabernacles on the mountain heights of faith and hope and expect to remain there in enraptured vision, but must remember that present duties and conflicts are essential to our development and part of our covenant. R2660:1,4
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| 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. |
A bright cloud – Representing the cloud of trouble into which the apostles were plunged by the death of the Redeemer. R3794:5
The cloud of trouble and opposition is permitted to keep us humble, to listen to the voice from heaven. R3794:5
A misty cloud of light saying to the disciples and to us that his glory will be obscured for a time, observed only with the eye of faith, but which, though more or less cloudy, will nevertheless be bright to those who look unto him. R2659:6
Behold a voice – "And this voice which came from heaven we heard when we were with him in the holy mount." (2 Pet. 1:18) B255
Out of the cloud – Similarly at his birth, heavenly angels announced him; and at his baptism, the voice from heaven declared him the acceptable Son of God. R1761:5
Hence God twice burst heaven open to exclaim, "This is my beloved Son"; but this was the only time in the history of our race that God's silence was thus broken. R84:2*
This is my beloved Son – In the sense of being begotten by him, Christ called God his Father, and God acknowledged him as his Son. R944:4*; HG297:1
Their faith was corroborated: what they had previously believed, God here testified himself. R5121:3
Hear ye him – All through the Gospel age, while the misty cloud surrounds his glory, we shall have great need to continually hearken to the Word of the Lord. R2659:6
"Let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak." (Jas. 1:19) R2289:4
Seeming to say, Be still! Hearken rather to the words of my beloved Son. Not a few need to learn this lesson of quietness--to hear and learn, to be taught of God. R2289:3
"My sheep hear my voice." (John 10:27) R3346:5
The essence of the entire vision was to impress upon the minds of the apostles the fact that Jesus was the Messiah. R3794:5
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| 6 And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid. |
Heard it – Not many have heard, understood, appreciated or obeyed the Gospel invitation; but in the Millennial age it will be the will of God that all shall hear. R3345:6
Were sore afraid – Received a needed lesson in reverence. R2289:4
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| 7 And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid.
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And touched them – It required our Lord's kind words and touch to relieve the apostles of their fright. R4649:3
Be not afraid – With the fear engendered in the reproof of the voice from heaven which said, "Hear ye him." R2289:4
As we realize our unworthiness, fears are likely to grasp us and torture us. The more we learn of him, the more does the love of God cast out fear from our hearts. R4650:1
He who created us is sympathetic towards all who are striving for righteousness. He is a great God, not a little one. R4650:1
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| 8 And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only. |
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| 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.
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The vision – Of the coming Millennial Kingdom. B255; R5333:5, 5121:6; Q713:2
Not an actuality, but a vision, such as seen by John the Revelator. R5772:3, 5121:4
Greek, horama, occurs twelve times in the New Testament, and on every occasion the context shows that the thing is not real, but is a vision. R4142:4*
Moses could have been resurrected by God's power, but nothing in the narrative demands it. If Jesus called it a vision, why should we call it a reality? R201:1
A vision was just as useful to the purpose as a reality could have been. R2659:5
Visions are not realities, though they symbolically represent them. R2826:1, 2288:3
Just as the trumpets, beasts, etc., of Revelation are not realities, but visions. R5333:5, 5772:4, 5121:4, 3354:3, 2659:5, 2288:3, 559:1; Q259:7, 713:2, 761:3
Special visions and revelations of the holy Spirit were granted to the apostles to instruct them concerning things to come. R1525:6
A vivid and refreshing symbolic view of the Kingdom; but without the "sure word of prophecy" (2 Pet. 1:19), it would have been unintelligible. R1761:4
Frequently the blessings received are mental visions of the glorious things which the Lord hath in reservation for them that love him. R3345:2
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| 10 And his disciples asked him, saying, Why then say the scribes that Elijah must first come? |
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| 11 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elijah truly shall first come, and restore all things.
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Elias – The glorified Christ. B20, B254; Q259:4
A woman is the figure used when the Church alone is referred to; but here a man, Elijah, is used because the work prefigured is not the work of the Church separate from her Lord, but the one work of both. B255
Truly shall first come – Oldest manuscripts omit the word "first." B254
To prepare the way of Messiah by performing a reformation work in preaching repentance and baptism for the remission of sins and declaring the Kingdom of heaven at hand. Q772:4
The coming of Elijah must precede the day of the Lord (Mal. 4:4,5); but his work belongs to that day. HG68:3
Restore all things – In the times of restitution of all things. (Acts 3:19-21) B254
John did do a work of reformation amongst the Lord's people at the first advent, the work of introducing Messiah. R3292:6
Christ here speaks of restitution, and he is a prophet. (Acts 3:21) HG56:2
The restitution of all things does not begin until the return of Christ. Hence the work of Elijah does not begin until after the personal advent of Christ. HG68:3
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| 12 But I say unto you, That Elijah is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they wanted. Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them.
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Elias is come – Not reincarnation, for that theory is nowhere taught in the Scripture. Q772:4, 817:2
Jesus was calling to mind the prophecy of Mal. 4:5,6. Q772:4
We know positively that John was not Elijah, for we have his own testimony, "And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elijah? And he saith, I am not." (John 1:21) Q772:4, 817:2
John the Baptist, a type of the Elijah class, forerunner of the Church in the flesh, as the Church is the forerunner of the Christ in glory. B253, B252; R3346:4, 3292:6, 557:1
Elijah was a type of the Church, and John a continuation of the same; while at the same time a shadowy fulfillment of it. B254, B253, B257
However, John did not do all that is to be done by Elijah, and hence a greater Elijah is to be expected. (Matt. 11:14) R2838:6
Knew him not – Though they for a short time recognized him as a sincere man, a servant and a prophet of God. (John 5:35) R968:5; B260
Whatsoever they listed – But to the antitypical Elijah they shall not do as they list. HG69:2
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| 13 Then the disciples understood that he spake unto them of John the Baptist. |
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| 14 And when they were come to the multitude, there came to him a certain man, kneeling down to him, and saying,
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When they were come – At the same time this vision was taking place, the other disciples at the foot of the mountain were contending with the adversary, even as are the Lord's people of the present time. R2659:4
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| 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.
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He is a lunatick – The Revised Version speaks of the sufferer as an epileptic. We prefer the narrative as it reads--that Jesus rebuked the "devil" and cast him out of the boy. R4650:2
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| 16 And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him.
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Could not cure him – Thus the Lord's people are still in the valley of conflict with the will of the flesh and the devil, while with the eye of faith they behold at the top of the mountain their glorious Lord, soon to share with them the glories of his Kingdom. R2659:4
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| 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.
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| 18 And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour. |
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| 19 Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out? |
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| 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.
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Your unbelief – Faith, to be successful, must be backed by spiritual power. R4650:4
If ye have faith – Not imagination or blind credulity. Q774:3; R1967:3
Say – The request must be in harmony with the divine will. Q774:2; R1967:3
Unto this mountain – Regarding the mountain as difficulties and obstructions in our Christian course, or in the course of God's work, we know that "miracles" are wrought for those who exercise faith. R1967:5; Q774:3
Remove hence – God gave no such command in respect to literal mountains. R5446:4, 1967:5
It shall remove – If they had proper faith in the power of God and should receive a command from him. R5446:4, 4650:4
We are not to suppose that our Lord meant that his followers should try to remove mountains as a diversion, nor as a proof of their faith. R4650:4
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| 21 Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.
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Prayer – The lesson to the apostles was that their greatest power would result from their living very near to God; living lives of self-denial and prayer. R4650:4; NS153:2
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| 22 And while they abode in Galilee, Jesus said unto them, The Son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of men:
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| 23 And they shall kill him, and the third day he shall be raised again.
And they were exceeding sorry. |
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| 24 And when they were come to Capernaum, they that received tribute money came to Peter, and said, Doth not your master pay tribute? |
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| 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?
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| 26 Peter saith unto him, Of strangers. Jesus saith unto him, Then are the children free.
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| 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.
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Give unto them – This example of submission to the authority thus represented that they were all respectful and law-abiding. R1555:6
For me and thee – Yet Christ refused to miraculously provide for his own needs at the time of his temptation. F650, F651
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