Matthew 17:3-5: “Listen to him”

"This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased; listen to him." God the Father, Matthew 17:5 

“As I was walking in a dark thick grove, unspeakable glory seemed to open to…my soul....My soul rejoiced with joy unspeakable to see such a God, such a glorious Divine Being…My soul was so captivated and delighted with the excellency, loveliness, greatness and other perfections of God, that I was swallowed up in Him…I had no thought about my own salvation and scarce reflected there was such a creature as I.”  (David Brainerd, 1700s missionary to the American Indians, Life and Diary of David Brainerd, p. 67)  

“Show me Your glory!”  Moses’ prayer in Exodus 33:18

Peter Ykens (1648 – 1695) Transfiguration

Jesus, along Peter, James and John, is on a mountain near Galilee.  There he is transfigured into His heavenly “shekhinah” glory (Matthew 17:1-3).   As chapter 16 ends with the short-term promise of difficulty but the long-term promise of glory, that same pattern can be found here in chapter 17.   Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with him, that is, Jesus (v. 3).  Luke 9:31 says they were talking about his departure to Jerusalem, quite possibly encouraging Jesus and maybe even strengthening Jesus for what lies ahead.

In Jerusalem Jesus will literally do what he metaphorically demanded from his followers in chapter 16.  He will “take up his cross” (16:24) and he “will lose” his life (16:25).  Yet he will resurrect with a glorified body, a glory of which we get a foreshadowing here (see v. 2) as Jesus appeared with Moses and Elijah.

Most Bible scholars agree that Moses and Elijah represent the Law and the Prophets and therefore provide a living illustration of a bridge between the Old and New Testament.  Recall that Jesus said that he did not come to abolish but to fulfill the Law and the Prophets (see 5:17).    Jesus also said that upon the two greatest commandments, to love God and to love our neighbor, “depend all the Law and Prophets” (22:40).  Thus, there is a strong connection between the ministry of Jesus and the Law and the Prophets.   This appearance of Moses and Elijah gives credence to the idea that the two witnesses of Revelation 11 are Moses and Elijah. 

And Peter, caught up in the moment, talks without thinking.  He said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good that we are here.  If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah,” (v. 4).  Peter misses the point and he was still speaking when (v. 5) God the Father cuts him off.   

J. Vernon McGee, in his audio commentary on this passage, says, “Peter should of kept quiet but didn’t.   And here he is rebuked.  Peter was attempting to put Moses and Elijah on the same plane as the Lord Jesus... Doctor Luke said, ‘Peter did not know what he was saying.’” (See Luke 9:33).                  

Peter thought that a memorial to the three of them was due.  However, this transfiguration is about one person and one person only: Jesus, who is “far above all rule and authority and power and dominion and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come,” (Ephesians 1:21).

A bright cloud overshadowed them and a voice from the cloud spoke.   No doubt it was God the Father speaking.   God the Father appeared this way to Moses and the children of Israel as he led them out of Egypt (see Exodus 13:21-22).  He also appeared this way as Moses ascended Mt. Sinai (Exodus 24:15-18).   Here on the Mount of Transfiguration, the voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son with whom I am well pleased,” repeating the words that followed Jesus’ baptism (see 3:17).   And then, as if to pre-empt Peter from talking again, God the Father adds, “listen to him,” (v. 5).

The Lord invites us to cast all of our anxiety on him because he cares for us, (see 1 Peter 5:7).  But there are times when we should just listen to him.  We should be humble, still, silent, reverent, and worshiping Jesus, of whom “God has highly exalted and bestowed on him the name that is above every name,” (Philippians 2:9).