Transfigured – Matthew 17

“Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, led them up on a high mountain by themselves; and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light. And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him. Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, ‘Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, let us make here three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.’” Matthew 17:1-4

In the previous chapter, Jesus spoke to the disciples about His death and resurrection, and about their need to deny themselves, to pick up their crosses and follow Him. Now, He leads them up a high mountain where He is transfigured before them.

The face of Jesus became as bright as the sun and His clothes like light. So, it must have been difficult for the disciples to look in His direction. Perhaps, they shaded their eyes with hands at their foreheads. Their eyes squinting due to the intensity of the light.

They see Moses and Elijah talking with Jesus. What a blessing that they should see such a sight on this side of heaven! How did they know who these two men were? It was a revelation from God. Peter wanted to make a tabernacle for each of them.

“Remarkably, these two Old Testament persons 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.” [1]

“Traditionally, Christian interpreters have seen Moses and Elijah as representatives of the Law and the Prophets, respectively. This makes good sense, for Moses is known in Scripture as the great lawgiver and Elijah is one of the most prominent old covenant prophets. Moreover, Jesus said that He fulfilled the Law and the Prophets in Matthew 5:17, so it is unsurprising that Moses and Elijah would appear in the transfiguration as witnesses to Him. As Augustine of Hippo writes in his sermon on the transfiguration account in Matthew 17, ‘The grace of the Gospel receives witness from the Law and the Prophets.’”

The Old Testament prophets frequently tie the day of restoration and salvation to a new exodus. Peter recognized this new exodus had come, as he asked to build tents, or booths (tabernacles), for Jesus, Moses, and Elijah. He likely sought to prolong the profound moment. In Mark 9:7-8, God spoke and called him and the other disciples to listen to Jesus, who would reveal to them the right understanding of the event.” [2]

What did Moses, Elijah and Jesus talk about? Luke 9:31 says that they “spoke of His decease which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.” Luke 9:51 says that “He steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem.” Soon, Jesus would be in glory with Moses and Elijah!

“When they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only – it is significant that their entire focus was forced upon Jesus once again.” [3]

“While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, ‘This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!’ And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces and were greatly afraid. But Jesus came and touched them and said, ‘Arise, and do not be afraid.’ When they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only.” Matthew 17:5-8

The name David in Hebrew means beloved. Thus, when God spoke from the cloud and called Jesus My Beloved Son, He was saying that the man standing before them was the Son of David. He is the Promised One. God affirmed that He was well pleased with Jesus, and that people should listen to Him. Moses and Elijah had done their part, now, they were to honor Jesus.

“Now as they came down from the mountain, Jesus commanded them, saying, ‘Tell the vision to no one until the Son of Man is risen from the dead.’ And His disciples asked Him, saying, ‘Why then do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?’ Jesus answered and said to them, ‘Indeed, Elijah is coming first and will restore all things. But I say to you that Elijah has come already, and they did not know him but did to him whatever they wished. Likewise, the Son of Man is also about to suffer at their hands.’ Then the disciples understood that He spoke to them of John the Baptist.” Matthew 17:9-14

Malachi 4:5 says, “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord.” “The first coming of Jesus did not bring the great and dreadful day of the Lord. Malachi 4:5 is probably best identified with the appearance of the two witnesses of Revelation 11:3-13. The Second Coming of Jesus happens after they appear. Revelation 11:15 says, “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!” [4]

“Yet there was also a sense in which Jesus could rightly say ‘Elijah has come already.’ Elijah had arrived in the work of John the Baptist, who ministered in Elijah’s spirit and power (Luke 1:17).

There are parallels between Elijah and John the Baptist. Elijah and John were zealous for the Lord. Both prophets boldly rebuked sin in high places. Both called sinners to repent. Both attracted multitudes. Both experienced the fury of a king and his wife. Both lived simply. Both lived in the wilderness for a time. [5]

“And when they had come to the multitude, a man came to Him, kneeling down to Him and saying, ‘Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is an epileptic and suffers severely; for he often falls into the fire and often into the water. So I brought him to Your disciples, but they could not cure him.’ Then Jesus answered and said, ‘O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him here to Me.’ And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him; and the child was cured from that very hour.” Matthew 17:15-18

Back to work! When Jesus came down from that glorious moment with Moses, Elijah and the heavenly Father speaking with Him, He was met by a needy father. The father had seen his son fall into fire and water due to epileptic seizures. He had hoped that the disciples of Jesus would heal his son, but they were unable to set him free from the demons that tormented him.

Jesus lamented due to the perversity and faithlessness of Israel. Throughout history there have been people who suffered greatly for the Word of God, but they held to it and believed it. For example, the Christians whom the Roman Emperors fed to wild beasts. The reformers who were burnt at the stake by the Catholic Church because they proclaimed that faith in Christ alone was sufficient for salvation. In 2026, we have people like Joni Eareckson Tada and Nick Vujicic. Joni loves Jesus and sings His praises though she has been a quadriplegia for nearly 60 years. Nick was born without arms or legs. At 43 years old, he travels and speaks about his testimony of faith in Jesus Christ. His ministry is known as Life Without Limbs. Isreal demanded so many signs from Jesus but yielded so little fruit of faith in Him.

“His season of ministry before the cross was coming to an end, and perhaps He felt frustration that the disciples did not have more faith.” [6]

Jesus rebuked the demon. It came out. The man’s son was cured from that very hour.

“Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, ‘Why could we not cast it out?’ So Jesus said to them, ‘Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, move from here to there, and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you. However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.’” Matthew 17:19-21

“Jesus laid the inability of the disciples to cast out the demon at their unbelief. To be successful in a battle against demons, there must be trust in God who has complete authority over them.

The faith that we must have has more to do with what kind of faith it is than with how much faith there is. A small amount of faith, as small as a mustard seed (a very small seed), can accomplish great things if that small amount of faith is placed in the great and mighty God.

We show our faith in and reliance on God through prayer and fasting. It displays an occupation with and dependence on Jesus. Sometimes we pray dispassionately, almost asking God to care about things we care little or nothing about.” [7]

How much more would be accomplished in the earth if we fasted and prayed out of concern for those who are suffering and perishing without Christ’s intervention?

“Now while they were staying in Galilee, Jesus said to them, ‘The Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men, and they will kill Him, and the third day He will be raised up.’ And they were exceedingly sorrowful.” Matthew 17:22-23

The time of Jesus’ visible earthly ministry was coming to a close. Soon, Judas would betray Jesus in exchange for 30 pieces of silver. A Roman soldier would drive spikes through His hands and feet. His breathing would cease. His body would dwell motionless for three days in a tomb. Then, on the third day, He would resurrect from the dead.

Were His disciples exceedingly sorrowful because they only dwelt on His words about His death and not about His words on the resurrection? Perhaps, it was because they did not want Jesus to suffer such great agony. However, the suffering had to happen due to humanity’s sin.

“When they had come to Capernaum, those who received the temple tax came to Peter and said, ‘Does your Teacher not pay the temple tax?’ He said, ‘Yes.’ And when he had come into the house, Jesus anticipated him, saying, ‘What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth take customs or taxes, from their sons or from strangers?’ Peter said to Him, ‘From strangers.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Then the sons are free. Nevertheless, lest we offend them, go to the sea, cast in a hook, and take the fish that comes up first. And when you have opened its mouth, you will find a piece of money; take that and give it to them for Me and you.’” Matthew 17:24-27

Before Peter verbalized a question to Jesus, Jesus gave Peter the answer. Jesus, being divine, was omniscient.

The temple tax or fee applied to every Jewish man. R.T. France wrote, “Payment could be made in person at the Passover festival in Jerusalem…but collections were made in other areas... a month earlier. This incident therefore takes place about a month before Passover.” [8]

“Nevertheless, lest we offend them, go...” Jesus was not obligated to pay the tax, but recognized the importance of avoiding needless controversy, and so paid the tax.

“Jesus trusted in the miraculous provision of God. It’s not every day... that someone catches a fish and takes a coin out of its mouth. Jesus used God’s provision to pay His taxes.” [9]

This miracle of “paying the price” foreshadowed the redemptive work of Jesus for all people. Jesus paid the debt for our sin and left us debtless before God. Praise the Lord!

At the beginning of this chapter, Jesus was transfigured. His transfiguration is good news for us. 1 Corinthians 15:42-43, 49 says, “The body is sown in corruption. It is raised in incorruption. It is sown in dishonor. It is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness. It is raised in power. And as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly Man.”

The Gospel says that just as the earthly body of Jesus was transfigured into a glorious heavenly body, we who have believed in Him and professed Him, shall also receive a glorious heavenly body. This hope is especially meaningful and inspirational to people with bodies like Joni Eareckson Tada and Nick Vujicic. However, at the same time, I have heard them say that they mainly just want to be with Jesus because His love for them on earth has been so wonderful.


[1] Enduring Word Commentary
[2] learn.ligonier.org/devotionals/peters-terror-and-gods-response
[3] Enduring Word Commentary
[4] Ibid
[5] Ibid
[6] Ibid
[7] Ibid
[8] Ibid
[9] Ibid