Philip Schaff's Popular Commentary (4 vols)

Matthew 17:5

Matthew 17:5. Behold, a bright cloud. ‘A sign from heaven ‘granted to the Apostles, though refused to the Jewish leaders. A luminous cloud, not dark like that on Sinai. It was analogous to the pillar of cloud by day and fire by night in the wilderness and to the Shekinah of the Old Testament; a symbol of the glory resting on the New Testament Church, separating between the holy and the unholy, and a type of the splendor of the New Jerusalem. Comp. ‘in the clouds: ‘chap. Matthew 24:30; Mark 13:26; Luke 21:27.

Overshadowed them, i.e., our Lord, Moses, and Elijah, since the voice came from ‘out of the cloud.' A bright cloud could render them invisible as readily as a dark one.

And behold a voice, etc. The culmination. The ‘visible presence' of God was followed by an ‘audible presence,' giving a solemn attestation to the Messiah and Son of God, at a time when His rejection by the chosen people had begun and His death been foretold to His disciples.

Hear ye him. Obey Him, as well as listen to Him. Hear Him , more than law or prophecy (Moses and Elijah). Their remaining carnal Messianic hopes were thus opposed.

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