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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Matthew 17:1-13

We have here thee story o Christ's transfiguration; he ha 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 Pet. 1:16); because it was an emanation... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Matthew 17:9-13

17:9-13,22,23 As they were coming down from the mountain, Jesus gave them strict injunctions: "Tell no man about the vision until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead." The disciples asked him, "Why then do the Scribes say that Elijah must first come?" He answered, "It is true that they say that Elijah is to come and will restore all things; but I tell you that Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but they did to him what they wished. So also the Son of Man is to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 17:10

And his disciples asked him, saying ,.... That is, these three, Peter, James, and John, before they came to the rest; whilst they were going down the mountain, or from it, to the place where the others were; for the rest knew nothing of the appearance of Elias, and so cannot be thought to join in a question concerning him. Why then say the Scribes, that Elias must first come ? That is, come before the Messiah comes; for certain it is, that this was the sense of the Scribes, as it was of... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 17:10

His disciples - instead of His disciples, some MSS., with the Coptic, Armenian, Vulgate, all the Itala except two, and Origen, read simply, οι μαθηται , The disciples, i.e. those only who had been with him on the mount, Peter, James, and John. Why then say the scribes that Elias must first come? - As the disciples saw that Elijah returned to heaven, knowing the tradition of the elders, and the prophecy on which the tradition was founded, Malachi 4:5 , Malachi 4:6 , Behold I send... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 17:10

Verse 10 10.And his disciples asked him, saying. No sooner is the resurrection mentioned than the disciples imagine that the reign of Christ is commenced; (482) for they explain this word to mean that the world would acknowledge him to be the Messiah. That they imagined the resurrection to be something totally different from what Christ meant, is evident from what is stated by Mark, that they disputed with each other what was the meaning of that expression which he had used, To rise from the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 17:1-13

The Transfiguration of Jesus . ( Mark 9:2-13 ; Luke 9:28-36 .) This mysterious event was intended primarily to confirm the faith of the three apostles who were to have the chief hand in founding the Church. The Lord had just announced his future sufferings and death. This prediction had been a grievous blow to Peter, and doubtless to the others also. He had stumbled at the cross, and had brought on himself a stern rebuke for his slowness and worldliness. So to comfort the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 17:1-13

The Transfiguration. I. THE GLORY . 1 . The attendant circumstances . Six days had elapsed since the memorable conversation in the parts of Casarea Philippi. That conversation must have filled the hearts of the apostles with strange, awful thoughts. He with whom they had lived so long in the intercourse of familiar friendship was indeed the Christ, the Son of the living God. They had marked the dignity of his Person, the authority of his words, the power of his miracles; and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 17:9-13

The harbinger. After the Transfiguration, Jesus and his disciples came down the mountain side. Ecstasies, even in religion, have their sombre interludes. But in these we may still remain in the blessed company of Jesus. As they descended, Jesus "commanded his disciples, saying, Tell the vision to no man, until the Son of man be risen from the dead." This command astonished them. Interpreting the prophets, the scribes expected Elijah to come as the harbinger of Messiah. As Elijah had now... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 17:10

Why then ( οὖν ) say the scribes that Elias must first come? The illative particle "then" shows that the apostles' question arose from something immediately preceding. The connection seems to be this: Elias had just appeared and then had vanished again; how could this visitation be reconciled with the scribes' interpretation of Malachi's prophecy? If Elias was to come before the advent of Messiah, and Jesus is the Messiah, how is it that he has only now shown himself? If he has a... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 17:10-13

The Elijah ministry of John the Baptist. The disciples were perplexed at what they saw on the Mount of the Transfiguration. There Elijah appeared with Moses in conversation with Christ, and the vision recalled to mind the familiar expectation of the Jews that the prophet should precede the advent of Christ. Was this the coming of Elijah? Surely not, for it was but a momentary visit in a solitary place. Yet if Elijah had not come first, how could the Christ have come? Thus the disciples were... read more

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