THE TRANSFIGURATION

Matthew 17:1-9

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.   There were events in the life of Christ that involved marvelous things that happened in the lives of others.

 

B.   There were also amazing events in the life of Christ that were very unique to Him.

1.    He was born of a virgin.

2.    He was baptized in the Jordan and heaven responded to His obedience.

3.    He walked on the stormy waters of the Sea of Galilee two times.

4.    He was raised from the dead never to die again.

 

C.   This morning we are going to look at another event that directly impacted Jesus.  The event is known as “The Transfiguration” (Matt. 17:1-9).

 

I.             THE CONTEXT (Matt. 17:1) 

 

A.   The Days (Matt. 17:1a):  “And after six days…”

1.    The other synoptic writers:

a.    Mark also refers to six days (Mark 9:2).

b.    Luke, however, refers to eight days (Luke 9:28).

 

And it came to pass about an eight days after these sayings…

 

2.    Answer:  Matthew and Mark included only the interval between the two events.  Luke includes the day of the sayings and the day on the mountain with the six days.

 

B.   The Disciples (Matt. 17:1b):  “…he took Peter and John and James…”

1.    Some refer to these man as “Jesus’ inner circle.”

2.    These three men were with Jesus here, at the raising of Jairus’ daughter (Luke 8:49-56), and they went a little farther in the Garden of Gethsemane with Jesus on the night of His arrest (Matt. 26:36-38).

3.    Why were these three in this inner circle?

a.    They were the first to be called to follow Jesus.

b.    Perhaps they manifested leadership skills Jesus wanted to develop.

c.    They may have had a deeper spiritual interest than the others.

4.    NOTE:

a.    We are not given a reason from the Scriptures.

b.    This relationship that they shared with Jesus did not cause any problems among the disciples themselves.

 

C.   The Debate (Matt. 17:1c):  “…and bringeth them into a high mountain apart.”

1.    The debate regards the identification of this “high mountain.”

a.    Two mountains have been suggested:

1)    Mount Tabor:  a large hill in Lower Galilee with an elevation of 1886 feet.

 

               

 

2)    Mount Hermon:  southern end of the Anti-Lebanon mountain range, height:  9232 feet.

 

           

 

b.    Two commentators:

1)    Barnes suggests Mount Tabor

2)    Robertson affirms Mount Hermon

2.    Luke gives some inspired commentary as to why they went into the mountain.  “and went up into a mountain to pray” (Luke 9:28).

a.    Prayer was a big part of the life of Jesus.

b.    The solitude and peacefulness of a mountain is conducive to a devotional experience (See Matt. 14:23).

c.    That night, however, the disciples were going to experience more than a night of prayer.

 

II.           THE CHANGE (Matt. 17:2) 

 

A.   The Description (Matt. 17:2a):  “And was transfigured before them…”

1.    The Greek word is “metamorphoo.”

a.    It is the word from which we get the term “metamorphosis.”

b.    The definition is “to transform,” that is, “to change into another form.”

2.    Jesus was not changed into a different man.  It was His appearance that was altered before the apostles.

 

B.   The Details (Matt. 17:2b):  “…and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as light.”

1.    His countenance

a.    His face did shine as the sun.  Question:  Can you fasten your eyes on the shining of the sun?

b.    NOTES: 

1.    Mark does not mention the face of Jesus.

2.    Luke simply says that “the fashion of his countenance was altered” (Luke 9:29).

c.    We are reminded of the face of Moses which did shine after being on Mount Sinai with God (See Exo. 34:29-30).

2.    His clothes: 

a.    His raiment was white as light.

b.    Mark 9:3

 

And his raiment became shining, exceeding white as snow; so as no fuller on earth can white them.

 

c.    Luke tells us that his raiment was “white and glistening” (Luke 9:29).

3.    Our commentary:

a.    These three men were given the privilege of seeing Jesus in a glorified state.

b.    Jesus had left this glory when He became a man and dwelled on earth.

c.    He prayed for that glory to be restored to Him (John 17:5).

 

And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.

 

d.    Two of these men wrote about this glory in their inspired writings.

1)    John 1:14b

 

…and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

 

2)    2 Peter 1:16b-17a

 

…but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.  For he received from God the Father honour and glory…

 

III.         THE CHARACTERS (Matt. 17:3-4)

 

A.   The Designation (Matt. 17:3a):  “And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias…”

1.    Two individuals appeared on the mountain with Jesus, Moses and Elijah.

2.    These two men represent the totality of the Old Law.

a.    Moses was the one responsible for the Torah, the books of the law.

b.    Elijah was a great prophet and represents all of the books of prophecy under the Old Law.

 

B.   The Dialogue (Matt. 17:3b):  “…talking with him.”

1.    Matthew says they were talking with Jesus, but we do not know the content of the conversation.

2.    Luke is the only writer to record the subject of the conversation (Luke 9:31b).

 

…and spake of his decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem.

 

a.    The cross loomed in Jesus’ future.

b.    Surely, He contemplated the pain and suffering He would undergo at Calvary.

c.    In this glorified state, we are reminded that God was going to be put to death for sinful man.

 

C.   The Desire (Matt. 17:4)

 

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.

 

1.    Peter saw the Lord’s transformation.  He saw the men and may have heard their names mentioned in the conversation.

2.    He felt as though something needed to be done to honor all of these great men of God who were assembled on the mountain.

3.    Thus, Peter asked if three tabernacles could be built for them.

a.    A tabernacle was a tent, a temporary dwelling.

b.    The purpose Peter had in mind for these tents is not known.

4.    Peter’s words were not acknowledged.  Instead, they were cut short by another voice.

 

IV.         THE CONFIRMATION (Matt. 17:5-6) 

 

A.   The Display (Matt. 17:5a):  “While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them…”

1.    A cloud suddenly blanketed the mount upon which the men were gathered.

2.    It was not a dark cloud.  It was a bright cloud.

3.    If thick enough, a cloud can blind a person to all that is happening around him.

 

B.   The Declaration (Matt. 17:5b):  “…and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.”

1.    In addition to the cloud, these men heard a voice out of the cloud.

2.    This voice did two things:

a.    It praised the Son of God. 

1)    “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

2)    In addition to the transfiguration, these words would have been a great encouragement to Jesus.

b.    A proclamation was made to Peter, James, and John.

1)    They were to hear the Christ.

2)    Remember, Moses and Elijah were there, but they were not told to hear them.

3)    This inner circle is being prepared for the removal of the Law of Moses.

a)    When Jesus was crucified, the Law of Moses was abolished.

b)    Colossians 2:14

 

Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to the cross.

 

c)    Jesus’ blood ratified the New Testament (Matt. 26:28).

 

For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for the remission of sin.

 

-      The New Testament is the binding covenant today.

-      Jesus speaks through the New Testament.

-      All man are to hear Him!

 

C.   The Dread (Matt. 17:6)

 

And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid.

 

1.    The apostles had witnessed many things on the mount.

a.    The transfiguration

b.    The appearance of Moses and Elijah

c.    A bright cloud

d.    The voice of God

2.    Their reaction is not surprising. 

a.    “…they fell on their face, and were sore afraid.” 

b.    The power of God is overwhelming to a human being. 

c.    Just the sound of God’s voice can strike terror into his heart.

 

V.           THE COMFORT (Matt. 17:7-8)

 

A.   The Deference (Matt. 17:7)

 

And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid.

 

1.    The word “deference” means to have respect for.

2.    Jesus understood the fear these men were experiencing.

3.    He did not chastise them.  Instead, he sought to comfort them.

4.    “Arise, and be not afraid.” 

 

B.   The Disclosure (Matt. 17:8)

 

And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only.

 

1.    When they lifted up their eyes, everything had returned to normal.

2.    They saw no man, save Jesus only.

3.    Now they visually experienced the lesson they learn verbally just a few minutes prior.

4.    These men needed to change their focus. 

a.    Their eyes needed to be removed from the Old Law.

b.    Now, their eyes should be set upon the Christ and His teachings.

 

VI.         THE CHARGE (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.

 

A.   Jesus told Peter, James, and John not to reveal anything about this experience until He was raised from the dead.

 

B.   One reasonable explanation of this charge was given by Clarke.  One aspect of this vision was to foretell of the abolition of the Law of Moses. 

1.    This was going to be a difficult doctrine to proclaim and practice after Jesus’ death and resurrection.

2.    If this doctrine had been proclaimed too early, it would have only sparked more outrage from the Jewish leaders.

3.    Too, such a teaching could have caused some of the Jews to balk at the Christ.  The Jews were a people who had serve the Law for hundreds of years and were proud of that covenant.

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.   Three teachings were dominant on the Mount of Transfiguration.

1.    Jesus is the Messiah.

2.    Jesus was doing the will of the Father, and the Father was pleased with His efforts.

3.    The Law and Prophets would one day give way to the Law of Christ.

 

B.   These three teachings are desperately needed in our world today.

1.    Many do not accept Jesus as the Messiah.

2.    All Jesus did was pleasing to the Father.  If our Master was submissive to the Father, we should be submissive as well.

3.    Today, we are no longer under the Old Law.  Our rule of faith and practice is the New Testament of Jesus Christ.  This has many implications today.

a.    The day of worship is the first day of the week

b.    The priesthood of believers instead of the Levitical priesthood

c.    The lack of instrumental music in worship

d.    The Jews no longer being the covenant people of God

e.    The destruction of the theory of Premillennialism

 

C.   All need to accept the fact that Jesus is the Son of God.

They need to obey the Father’s will in order to please the Father as Jesus did.

They need to live by the dictates of the New Testament of Jesus Christ.