39 - Bible Commentary | Karuna Sadan

Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, led them up on a high mountain by themselves; (Matthew 17:1)

Led them up on a high mountain:

There have been several suggestions for the location of the Mount of Transfiguration.

Mount Tabor (about 1,900 feet, 580 meters); but it isn't high, and it isn't on the way from Caesarea Philippi to Capernaum.

Mount Hermon (about 9,300 feet, 2,835 meters) is high; but perhaps too high and too cold on its summit, where they seem to have spent the night. It also would not be close to the Jewish crowds that met Jesus immediately on His descent from the mountain (Matthew 17:14, Luke 9:37).

Mount Miron (about 3,900 feet, 1,190 meters) was the highest mountain in a Jewish area, and is on the way between Caesarea Philippi and Capernaum. Carson favors this location.

"The name of the 'high mountain' can never be known; for those who knew the locality have left no information. Tabor, if you please; Hermon, if you prefer it. No one can decide."

and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light. (Matthew 17:2)

How did Lord Jesus experience this transfiguration?

As He prayed, the appearance of His face was altered, and His robe became white and glistening. (Luke 9:29)

The Holy Spirit impressed upon me that it is possible for every believer to experience the same transfiguration and transformation in the mind if they did as what the Lord did-praying intently.

This is the effect that takes place in the spirit of your mind when you begin to fellowship with the living Christ. The more you fellowship with God, the more you are being imparted with His glory which then transforms us like how the Lord Jesus was transfigured. The words transform and transfigure is the same Greek word – ‘metamorphoo’.

When prophet Moses came down from the mountain, after being in the presence of God, the skin of his face began to shine with glory. (Read Exodus 34:29-35)

If the face of a man, Moses, can shine after being in the presence with God so can any believer if they too can be in God's presence. The key to this experience is prayer- fellowship with the father, with the Lord Jesus and with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit will then transform us from glory to glory into the image and the likeness of Lord Jesus Christ.

And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him. (Matthew 17:3)

Remarkably, these two Old Testament prophets (Moses and Elijah) appeared and spoke with the transfigured Jesus. Moses had lived some 1400 years before; Elijah some 900 years before; yet they were alive and in some sort of resurrected, glorified state.

Moses represented the law and Elijah represented the prophets. (John 1:17) In other words, the sum total of Old Testament revelation came to meet with Jesus at the Mount of Transfiguration.

It can be also said that Moses represents those who die and go to glory, and Elijah represents those who are caught up to heaven without death (as in the rapture described in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).

While he was still speaking, behold, a shining cloud [composed of light] overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, This is My Son, My Beloved, with Whom I am [and have always been] delighted. Listen to Him! (Matthew 17:5)

Notice what Peter said, “let us make here three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” (Matthew 17:4) The Father, from Heaven, interrupted Peter's attempt to put Jesus on an equal footing with Moses and Elijah.

Scripture says, “while he (Peter) was still speaking.” It was important to interrupt Peter, so that all would know that Jesus is unique and the beloved Son. He deserves our special attention, so Hear Him!

One would think that a voice from heaven would say, "Listen to me!" But the Father said, "Hear Him!" Everything points us to Jesus.

And as they were going down the mountain, Jesus cautioned and commanded them, Do not mention to anyone what you have seen, until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead. (Matthew 17:9)

Apostle Peter wrote about this experience in 2 Peter 1:16-18

¹⁶We were not retelling some masterfully crafted legend when we informed you of the power and appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, for we saw his magnificence and splendor unveiled before our very eyes. ¹⁷Yes, Father God lavished upon him radiant glory and honor when his distinct voice spoke out of the realm of majestic glory, endorsing him with these words: This is my cherished Son, marked by my love. All my delight is found in him! ¹⁸And we ourselves heard that voice resound from the heavens while we were with him on the holy mountain.

Lord, do pity and have mercy on my son, for he has epilepsy (is moonstruck) and he suffers terribly; for frequently he falls into the fire and many times into the water. (Matthew 17:15)

Moonstruck meaning this particular case aggravated on the full moon day. Occultic activity is on the high during a full moon night.

A 2,700-year-old cuneiform tablet from ancient Iraq depicts the demon that the ancient Assyrians thought caused epilepsy.

When Assyriologist Troels Pank Arbøll of the University of Copenhagen was studying the tablet at the Vorderasiatisches Museum in Berlin, he accidentally discovered a partially damaged drawing on its reverse. On closer inspection, the drawing turned out to be a demon with horns, tails, and a snake tongue that, according to the text, was the cause of the dreaded illness Bennu-epilepsy.

[Note: I am not in any way suggesting that all epilepsy is caused by demons]

However, in order not to give offense and cause them to stumble [that is, to cause them to judge unfavorably and unjustly] go down to the sea and throw in a hook. Take the first fish that comes up, and when you open its mouth you will find there a shekel. Take it and give it to them to pay the temple tax for Me and for yourself. (Matthew 17:27)

In Jesus’ day, Jews paid taxes both locally to the Jewish temple and to the pagan government in Rome.

Matthew records two separate instances depicting Jesus’ view on paying these taxes. The first incident is recorded in Matthew 17:24-27, where the collectors of the temple tax ask Peter whether Jesus pays that tax.

The second incident, concerning the Roman tax, is found in Matthew 22:15-22. Here the Pharisees and Herodians want to entrap Jesus with the question, “Is it lawful to pay taxes to the emperor, or not?”

Even though not all of government activity serves God’s purposes, Jesus does not call us to flout the tax requirements of the nations where we reside (Romans 13:1-10; 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12).

Also, this time Jesus did not tell Peter to cast a net into the sea but to go with a hook.

Chapter 17