Verse 4
In addressing Jesus, Peter called Him "Lord," a title of general respect (cf. Matthew 7:21; et al.). That title would later take on the idea of unqualified supremacy when applied to Jesus, but Peter’s appreciation of Jesus was probably not mature enough to recognize that yet. The proof of this is Peter’s rebuke of Jesus (Matthew 16:22) and his putting Jesus on a par with Moses and Elijah here.
Peter did not speak because someone had spoken to him. In countries with monarchies it was and is often customary for subjects to speak to the monarch in his or her presence only if the monarch first initiates conversation. He evidently spoke because he perceived the greatness of the occasion, and he wanted to offer a suggestion. The tabernacles (Gr. skenas) Peter suggested erecting were temporary structures that the Jews pitched for the feast of Tabernacles every year. This was a seven-day feast that looked forward to the time when Israel would dwell in permanent peace and rest in the Promised Land (Leviticus 23:42-43). It anticipated kingdom conditions. Probably Peter meant that since the messianic age was apparently going to begin soon he would make booths for Jesus, Moses, and Elijah, subject to Jesus’ approval.
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