Verses 1-2 And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, 2 And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.
The number six is the number of man and of sin. Presumably it was six days after Jesus had his conversation with Peter in the previous chapter. The Greek word translated as “transfigured” is “metamorphoo” from which comes the English word metamorphosis which means a change of form or nature of a thing or person into a completely different one. So as the three disciples watched, Jesus changed into an appearance of divine brightness. Prior to this event, where else in Scripture is this type of supernatural change recorded? See Exodus 34:29-35.
Verse 3 And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him.
Notice that the disciples recognized both the prophet Moses and the prophet Elijah. No one had to tell them who they were seeing talking with Jesus.
Application: Just as Peter, James and John immediately recognized individuals who they had never seen before and who had died hundreds of years before they were born, this writer thinks that each individual that passes from this physical life into life eternal in Heaven will also be able to recognize all the people that have gone before them. It also makes sense that each individual that passes from this physical life into damnation and Hell will also be able to recognize all the people that have gone before them. This writer has no actual Bible verses to support this idea except the examples that are found throughout the Bible. See the story Jesus told of Lazarus and the rich man in Luke chapter 16, and then you decide.
Moses was the law giver and a type of Jesus in that he, through the power of God, saved the Hebrew people from Egyptian tyranny. Elijah was the conscience of the nation Israel when under the idolatrous kings Ahab and Ahaziah. Moses was buried by God at his death and no one knows where his remains were/are located. Elijah was taken up into Heaven in a chariot of fire without physical death. The Jews taught that Elijah would return just before the coming of the Messiah. See verses 10-13 below. Today, most Christian churches teach incorrectly that both Moses and Elijah will return as the two witnesses referred to in Revelation chapter 11.
Application: Reincarnation is an Eastern or New Age religious doctrine and is not taught in the Bible. In fact, the Scripture teaches that once dead and the physical body is in the grave, barring a miracle from God, the body remains without the spirit and soul and so it decays. 1 Corinthians 15:50 states “Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.” A physical, fleshly body that is full of disease or imperfections cannot be in the presence of a perfect, holy God. The disciples were seeing Moses and Elijah in their spiritual shapes or bodies.
Verse 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.
The Greek word translated as “tabernacles” is “skene” and it means a tent. The only significant tabernacle in Scripture is the movable Tabernacle of God that was fashioned by Moses in the wilderness. It was the visible dwelling place or meeting place of God Almighty with the prophet Moses. Peter apparently was so excited at this supernatural event that he wanted to construct three different dwelling or meeting places, one each for Jesus, Moses and Elijah. The problem with this idea was that only Jesus was God. Moses and Elijah were servants of God. Only Jesus should have had a special, sacred place. Three tabernacles would have been placing Moses and Elijah on the same level as Jesus and they were not God. But Jesus was just passing through on His way to Calvary and physical death and had no need for a physical dwelling place. But Peter and the other disciples were not grasping the future that Jesus was explaining to them. They wanted permanence. They wanted to be with Jesus forever on the Earth. Can you blame them?
Verses 5-6 While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him. 6 And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid.
Verses like these often confuse the Christian believer. God in Heaven speaks audibly and endorses Jesus as His beloved Son. So it seems that there are at least two deities represented here since Jesus is also God. But Scripture is clear that there is only one God. Christianity is not polytheistic (more than one god), but monotheistic (one god only). The Apostle Paul wrote in Ephesians 4:4-6, “There is one body, and one spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.” Because Father God is spirit and through all and in all, He can/could be in the physical body called Jesus and be talking from His abode in Heaven at the same time (omnipresent). Jesus referred to Himself as the Son (capital s) of man over and over again because the body being occupied by the Father was fleshly or composed of the same cellular structure as all other human beings. He is the only Son of God because Father God only chose to dwell one time in the earthly tabernacle called Jesus and did not and has not dwelled in another specific fleshly body. So Jesus was God’s only Son. But all believers have the Holy Spirit/Ghost of God living in them and so all believers are sons (little s) of God.
Verses 7-8 And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid. 8 And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only.
Was this experience a vision? No, not in the typical meaning of the word: an experience of seeing someone or something in a dream or trance. Peter, James and John saw the body of Jesus changed to reveal glory. Peter, James and John saw the spiritual bodies of Moses and Elijah and heard the conversation between them and heard the voice of God from Heaven. It was a sight divinely granted and it was real. These experiences are why the apostles could preach Jesus after the day of Pentecost fearlessly and with such zeal. These experiences are why the apostles could face danger, suffering, and even death for the sake of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. They knew what they saw and it changed their lives forever.
Verse 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.
Jesus still had work to do and His disciples broadcasting this supernatural experience would only cause what could be referred to as celebrity status which would interfere with the work of the ministry.
Verses 10-13 And his disciples asked him, saying, Why then say the scribes that Elias must first come? 11 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things. 12 But I say unto you, That Elias is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed. Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them. 13 Then the disciples understood that he spake unto them of John the Baptist.
Again, there is no such thing as reincarnation. God creates a person one time and, when that person dies and sheds the physical body, the soul and spirit either goes to Heaven or it goes to Hell. There is no second chance to live a physical life again on Earth unless raised from the dead by the power of God through the prayers of His people. Elijah was filled with the Spirit of God and he worked miracles through that power. John the Baptist was filled with the same Spirit that Elijah had. Therefore, John the Baptist came as the Jews said and was ministering in the Spirit of Elijah. John the Baptist was not Elijah reincarnated. He was a separate being with a soul and spirit specific to him and him alone.
Verses 14-16 And when they were come to the multitude, there came to him a certain man, kneeling down to him, and saying, 15 Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatick, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water. 16 And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him.
The Greek word translated as “lunatick” is “seleniazomai” and it means to be moon-struck. Since the Greeks did not know anything about epilepsy, what modern medicine describes as epilepsy has been applied to this verse. But epilepsy is caused by a confusion of signals to the brain which results in numerous neurological symptoms. Epilepsy cannot to ascribed to the symptoms of the child referred to in these verses as his symptoms were caused by a devil. To the onlooker, the child acted in a crazy manner. It is not normal to throw yourself into the dangers of a burning fire or into water where drowning could occur.
Verses 17-18 Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me. 18 And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour.
Faithless means unbelieving. Perverse means to oppose, to plot against the saving purposes and plans of God, to corrupt, to distort, or to turn aside from the right path. It appears that the LORD Jesus Christ was becoming weary with the opposition He was receiving while fulfilling His ministry. Remember, that even though He was/is God, He was dwelling in a human, fleshly body and able to experience the feelings of frustration all humans can experience. When His disciples failed to heal the child even though they had been given the power of God to do so, they were adding to the frustration also.
Application: Christian believers are to be like Christ Jesus. That is the meaning of the word Christian. Therefore, believers need to be sensitive to the leading of the Holy Ghost/Spirit and discern if a physical or mental problem is because of organic disease or injury, or if it is being caused by an evil spirit. A person will not be healed if the prayers are for healing and the physical symptoms are being caused by an evil spirit that needs to go. The prayers must cast out the spirit for the physical symptoms to be gone. Since most illness or disease is caused by evil spirits, binding and casting out the evil spirit first may be the best plan. Then prayers for healing can be a good followup when helping the sick.
Verses 19-21 Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out? 20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. 21 Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.
In the healing of the child that appeared to be crazy and who was behaving in a manner that was most likely endangering his life, an evil spirit had to be cast out. The disciples lacked the faith to get the job done. As a result, the child and his father were left in fear and in emotional and physical pain. When faced with a person experiencing physical symptoms that are caused by an evil spirit, the Christian believer needs to use the authority given by Jesus and cast out or bind the evil spirit so that the victim can be free from the bondage they are in. Remember, “Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world.” 1 John 4:4
In the above verses, Jesus uses agricultural and natural things that his disciples would be familiar with in a metaphorical manner to get His teaching across to the disciples. A mustard seed is extremely small as opposed to a seed of wheat or corn. So it doesn’t take much faith to act in the spiritual Kingdom of God to elicit responses in both the physical realm of Earth and the spiritual realm of Heaven. A mountain is metaphorically an obstacle. It can be difficult to go around or over a mountain that is in the way. Evil spirits are like mountains and are obstacles the Christian believer has to deal with in order to be victorious on the spiritual journey through this physical life.
Verses 22-23 And while they abode in Galilee, Jesus said unto them, The Son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of men: 23 And they shall kill him, and the third day he shall be raised again. And they were exceeding sorry.
Jesus continues to tell His disciples very clearly what is going to happen to Him in the very near future. They were apparently only focusing on the death of Jesus as they were reported to be very sad or very sorry. Yet they were very aware of the conspiracy of the Jewish leadership to destroy Jesus and it would seem that they should have not been surprised at what Jesus was telling them. Apparently they were also not paying attention to the rising again on the third day part. It is not recorded here that the disciples asked any questions of Jesus as to why this whole scenario was to happen and what would things be like after His resurrection. Other Bible verses indicate that the disciples were surprised when they heard that Jesus had risen from the dead. So one has to wonder how much of Jesus’ teaching they were hearing and taking to heart.
Verses 24-26 And when they were come to Capernaum, they that received tribute money came to Peter, and said, Doth not your master pay tribute? 25 He saith, Yes. And when he was come into the house, Jesus prevented him, saying, What thinkest thou, Simon? of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own children, or of strangers? 26 Peter saith unto him, Of strangers. Jesus saith unto him, Then are the children free.
Back in the days of the Roman, one-world government, the citizens of Rome were not taxed. Only the non-citizens or strangers were taxed. So Jesus and His disciples who were born into the nation of Rome should not have had to pay taxes. Perhaps because they were traveling from town to town the local tax agents did not recognize their status. Jesus used the interaction of Peter with the tax collectors as an object lesson. What can be learned here?
a. When facing something that is not contrary to the Word of God, just do it so that no offense can be caused. Peter and Jesus could have argued with the tax collectors and refused to pay the money, but that would have caused dissension and ill will. The Christian believer must guard the witness he/she is having before the unbelievers so that the unbelievers will see Christ-like behavior and attitudes at all times.
b. When facing a financial difficulty, take it to Jesus and wait for Him to meet the need.
c. When facing any difficulty, take it to Jesus and do what He commands, even if it seems unreasonable. Finding money in a fish’s mouth is not reasonable. God’s ways are not the ways of man. Many times they are unusual and unexpected. That is what makes God the Almighty God.
d. Jesus was not of the world. His Kingdom is spiritual and not Earthly. So Jesus was/is a stranger in the very world He created. He was/is not a child of any earthly government system. As a result, His children, the Christian believers, are strangers in this world also, but citizens of the Kingdom of God. As such, believers have to interact with the ungodly systems that are in place controlling all peoples’ lives. As much as possible, believers must follow Jesus’ example and pay whatever tribute is required as long as it does not go contrary to the commandments of the LORD.
Verse 27 Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee. (Matthew 17)
Application: Peter did not have the resources to pay a tax. Yet the LORD met the need through a miracle. Peter did what he knew to do: go fishing. He was a fisherman, and before he started to follow Jesus, that occupation was the way he earned money. So he did what he was commanded to do and Jesus used the very things Peter was familiar with to meet the financial need. A fishing line and hook and a fish was all that was needed and the money was provided. However, Peter had to do something. The miracle did not just happen. Peter was the means through which the miracle would occur. God has not changed. When facing a financial challenge, take it to Jesus and do what the Holy Spirit/Ghost commands and see a miracle happen.