Matthew 17:5-6

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 17:1-8

17:1-8 Six days after, Jesus took Peter, and James, and John his brother, and brought them by themselves to a high mountain, and his appearance was changed in their presence. His face shone like the sun, and his garments became as white as the light. And, look you, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with him. Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, it is a fine thing for us to be here. I will make three booths, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah." While he was still speaking, look... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Matthew 17:1-8

There on the mountain slopes two great figures appeared to Jesus--Moses and Elijah. It is fascinating to see in how many respects the experience of these two great servants of God matched the experience of Jesus. When Moses came down from the mountain of Sinai, he did not know that the skin of his face shone ( Exodus 34:29 ). Both Moses and Elijah had their most intimate experiences of God on a mountain top. It was into Mount Sinai that Moses went to receive the tables of the law ( Exodus... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Matthew 17:1-8

But the episode of the Transfiguration did something not only for Jesus but for the disciples also. (i) The minds of the disciples must have been still hurt and bewildered by the insistence of Jesus that he must go to Jerusalem to suffer and to die. It must have looked to them as if there was nothing but black shame ahead. But start to finish, the whole atmosphere of the Mountain of Transfiguration is glory. Jesus' face shone like the sun, and his garments glistened and gleamed like the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 17:5

While he yet spake ,.... That is, while Peter was proposing the above to Christ, before an answer could be given by him, and which was unworthy of one, another scene of things presents, and a full answer is returned him by a voice from the Father; directing him and his fellow disciples, to attend to Jesus only, and not to Moses and Elias; and behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them ; that is, Jesus, Moses, and Elias; the two last of which were seen no more; and which cloud covered them,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 17:6

And when the disciples heard it ,.... The voice out of the cloud, and which they apprehended came from God, and was uttered with so much majesty: they fell on their face : not so much out of reverence, or for the sake of adoration, but as persons struck with astonishment and fear, and were as half dead; and so fell with their faces fiat to the ground, not being able to stand before God, to behold his majesty, and hear his voice: and were sore afraid : they were filled with fear,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 17:5

A bright cloud overshadowed them - Or as six MSS. and Ephraim read it, a cloud of light, νεφελη φωτος ; which reading Griesbach has admitted into the text. As a bright cloud, or a cloud of light could not overshadow, or cast any kind of shade, the word επεσκιασεν should be translated, surrounded them. A cloud was frequently the symbol of the Divine presence; but such a cloud had always something very remarkable in its appearance. Ezekiel, Ezekiel 1:4 , represents it as a great cloud,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 17:6

Fell on their face - Dismayed by the voice, and dazzled by the glory of the cloud. So Daniel, Daniel 8:17 , and Saul of Tarsus, Acts 9:4 . read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 17:5

Verse 5 5.Lo, a bright cloud overshadowed them. Their eyes were covered by a cloud, in order to inform them, that they were not yet prepared for beholding the brightness of the heavenly glory. For, when the Lord gave tokens of his presence, he employed, at the same time, some coverings to restrain the arrogance of the human mind. So now, with the view of teaching his disciples a lesson of humility, he withdraws from their eyes the sight of the heavenly glory. This admonition is likewise... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 17:6

Verse 6 6.And having heard this God intended that the disciples should be struck with this terror, in order to impress more fully on their hearts the remembrance of the vision. Yet we see how great is the weakness of our nature, which trembles in this manner at hearing the voice of God. If ungodly men mock at God, or despise him without concern, it is because God does not address them so as to cause his presence to be felt; but the majesty of God, as soon as we perceive him, must unavoidably... read more

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