Matthew 17 - Introduction
CHAPTER 17. THE TRANSFIGURATION; THE EPILEPTIC BOY; THE TEMPLE TRIBUTE. Three impressive tableaux connected by proximity in time, a common preternatural aspect, and deep moral pathos.... [ Continue Reading ]
CHAPTER 17. THE TRANSFIGURATION; THE EPILEPTIC BOY; THE TEMPLE TRIBUTE. Three impressive tableaux connected by proximity in time, a common preternatural aspect, and deep moral pathos.... [ Continue Reading ]
μεθʼ ἡμέρας ἒξ. This precise note of time looks like exact recollection of a strictly historical incident. Yet Holtzmann (H. C.) finds even in this a mythical element, based on Exodus 24:16 : the six days of Mt. and Mk. and the eight days of Lk., various expressions of the thought that between the c... [ Continue Reading ]
_The Transfiguration_ (Mark 9:2-13; Luke 9:28-36).... [ Continue Reading ]
μετεμορφώθη, _transfiguratus est_, Vulgate; became altered in appearance. Such transformation in exalted states of mind is predicated of others, _e.g._, of Iamblichus (Eunapius in I. Vitâ. 22, cited by Elsner), and of Adam when naming the beasts (Fabricius, _Cod. Pseud. V. T._, p. 10). ἔμπροσθεν αὐτ... [ Continue Reading ]
καὶ ἰδού introduces a leading and remarkable feature in the scene: ὤφθη αὐτοῖς, there appeared to the three disciples, not necessarily an absolutely real, objective presence of Moses and Elias. All purposes would be served by an appearance in _vision_. Sufficient objectivity is guaranteed by the vis... [ Continue Reading ]
ἀποκριθεὶς ὁ Π. Peter to the front again, but not greatly to his credit. καλόν ἐστιν, etc., either it is good for us to be here = the place is pleasant so usually; or it is well that we are here we the disciples to serve you and your visitants Weiss and Holtzmann (H. C). Pricaeus, in illustration of... [ Continue Reading ]
νεφέλη φωτεινὴ, a luminous cloud, still a cloud capable of casting a shadow, though a faint one (“non admodum atram,” Fritzsche). Some, thinking a shadow incompatible with the light, render ἐπεσκίασεν _tegebat, circumdabat_. Loesner cites passages from Philo in support of this meaning. αὐτούς. Whom?... [ Continue Reading ]
καὶ ἀκούσαντες, etc.: divine voices terrify poor mortals, especially when they echo and reinforce deep moving thoughts within.... [ Continue Reading ]
ἁψάμενος … εἶπεν : a touch and a word, human and kindly, from Jesus, restore strength and composure.... [ Continue Reading ]
nd so ends the vision. ἐπάραντες τ. ὀ., etc., raising their eyes they see no one but Jesus. Moses and Elias gone, and Jesus in His familiar aspect; the dazzling brightness about face and garments vanished.... [ Continue Reading ]
μηδενὶ εἴπητε : injunction of secrecy. The reason of the injunction lies in the nature of the experience. Visions are for those who are prepared for them. It boots not to relate them to those who are not fit to receive them. Even the three were only partially fit; witness their terror (Matthew 17:6)... [ Continue Reading ]
_Conversation while descending the hill_.... [ Continue Reading ]
τί οὗν, etc.: does the οὖν refer to the prohibition in Matthew 17:9 (Meyer), or to the appearance of Moses and Elias, still in the minds of the three disciples, and the lateness of their coming (Euthy., Weiss), or to the shortness of their stay? (Grotius, Fritzsche, Olsh., Bleek, etc.). Difficult to... [ Continue Reading ]
λέγω δὲ : Jesus finds the prophecy as to the advent of Elias fulfilled in John the Baptist, so still further reducing the significance of the late vision. The contrast between the mechanical literalism of the scribes and the free spiritual interpretation of Jesus comes out here. Our Lord expected no... [ Continue Reading ]
τότε συνῆκαν : the parallel drawn let the three disciples see who the Elijah was, alluded to by their Master. What a disenchantment: not the glorified visitant of the night vision, but the beheaded preacher of the wilderness, the true Elijah!... [ Continue Reading ]
_The epileptic boy_ (Mark 9:14-29; Luke 9:37-43). Very brief report compared with Mk.... [ Continue Reading ]
ἐλθόντων : the αὐτῶν of T. R. might easily be omitted as understood from the connection. γονυπετῶν, literally, falling upon the knees, in which sense it would naturally take the dative (T. R., αὐτῷ); here used actively with accusative = to _beknee_ him (Schanz, Weiss).... [ Continue Reading ]
σεληνιάζεται, he is moonstruck; the symptoms as described are those of epilepsy, which were supposed to become aggravated with the phases of the moon (_cf._ Matthew 4:24). κακῶς πάσχει (ἔχει W. H [105] text), good Greek. Raphel (_Annot._) gives examples from Polyb. = suffers badly. [105] Westcott a... [ Continue Reading ]
τοῖς μαθηταῖς : the nine left behind when Jesus and the three ascended the Mount. The fame of Jesus and His disciples as healers had reached the neighbourhood, wherever it was. οὐκ ἠδυνήθησαν : the case baffled the men of the Galilean mission.... [ Continue Reading ]
ὦ γενεὰ : exclamation of impatience and disappointment, as if of one weary in well-doing, or averse to such work just then. Who are referred to we can only conjecture, and the guesses are various. Probably more or less all present: parent, disciples, scribes (Mark 9:14). Jesus was far away in spirit... [ Continue Reading ]
τὸ δαιμόνιον : the first intimation in the narrative that it is a case of possession, and a hint as to the genesis of the theory of possession. Epilepsy presents to the eye the aspect of the body being in the possession of a foreign will, and all diseases with which the notion of demoniacal possessi... [ Continue Reading ]
κατʼ ἰδίαν : the disciples have some private talk with the Master as to what has just happened. διατί οὐκ ἠδυνήθημεν : the question implies that the experience was exceptional; in other words that on their Galilean mission, and, perhaps, at other times, they had possessed and exercised healing power... [ Continue Reading ]
διὰ τὴν ὀλιγοπιστίαν, here only, and just on that account to be preferred to ἀπιστίαν (T. R.); a word coined to express the fact exactly: too little faith for the occasion (_cf._ Matthew 14:31) That was a part of the truth at least, and the part it became them to lay to heart. ἀμὴν, introducing, as... [ Continue Reading ]
_ide_ on Mark 9:29.... [ Continue Reading ]
συστρεφομένων α., while they were moving about, a reunited band. ἐν τ. Γ.: they had got back to Galilee when the second announcement was made. Mk. states that though returned to familiar scenes Jesus did not wish to be recognised, that He might carry on undisturbed the instruction of the Twelve. μέλ... [ Continue Reading ]
_Second announcement of the Passion_ (Mark 9:30-31; Luke 9:44-45).... [ Continue Reading ]
ἐλυπήθησαν σφόδρα, they were all greatly distressed; but no one this time ventured to remonstrate or even to ask a question (Mark 9:32). The prediction of resurrection seems to have counted for nothing.... [ Continue Reading ]
εἰς Καπ.: home again after lengthened wandering with the satisfaction home gives even after the most exhilarating holiday excursions. Matthew 17:24. προσῆλθον οἱ, etc.: home-coming often means return to care. Here are the receivers of custom, as soon as they hear of the arrival, demanding tribute. F... [ Continue Reading ]
_The temple tax_. In Mt. only, but unmistakably a genuine historic reminiscence in the main. Even Holtzmann (H. C.) regards it as history, only half developed into legend.... [ Continue Reading ]
ναί : this prompt, confident answer may be either an inference from Christ's general bearing, as Peter understood it, or a statement of fact implying past payment. ἐλθόντα ἐ. τ. ὁ. The meeting of the tax collectors with Peter had taken place outside; it had been noticed by Jesus, and the drift of th... [ Continue Reading ]
ἄραγε on the force of this particle _vide_ at Matthew 7:20. The γε lends emphasis to the exemption of the υἱοί. It virtually replies to Peter's ναί = then you must admit, what your answer to the collectors seemed to deny, that the _children_ are free. The reply is a _jeu d'esprit_. Christ's purpose... [ Continue Reading ]
ἵνα μὴ σκανδαλ., that we may not create misunderstanding as to our attitude by asking exemption or refusing to pay. Nösgen, with a singular lack of exegetical insight, thinks the scandal dreaded is an appearance of disagreement between Master and disciple! It is rather creating the impression that J... [ Continue Reading ]