The Pulpit Commentary — Matthew — Volume 2 — Section 170

he 11.IJ uckil to it, cR!leil it merely "the holy but a real, objective occurrence, which wna mount" (2 Pet. i. 18); 11.nd we may oon- beheld by ruorl11l eyes endued with no clu,k that we arc nut intended to know ~upornatural or ahnormo.l powers, exoept more nbout it, lest we s!Jonld be tempted m so far as they were enahled to look to IDR lee more of the mntori11.l circumstances on this partial emanation of the Divine than .,,- the greRt rcidity. St. Luke notifies effulgence. that tlie I -ord reiircd to this place in order Ver. 3.-And, behold. The exclamation, to pray. It may have been that he prayed thrice repeated (ver. 5), marks the sudden- for the enlightenment of the apostles-that ness and unexpectedness of the occurrence. they might receive the teaching of the They who now appeared were no delusive, Transfiguration and the subsequent sayings. im~gi~1ary figures, but real personages, Ver. 2. -Was transfigured (per,µop~we11); obJechvely presented to the spectators in Vulg-ate, transfiguratus est. The verb is such bodies as appertained to their ~on- used in classical Greek of transformation, dition. Moses and Elie.a. St. Luke adds, as of a mnn into an animal Here it refers "who appeared in glory," radiant with the to a change of countenance, which is the light which always accompanies heavenly chief index of any change exterior or in- visitants. Why these two &&ints were terior. St. Luke explains the matter with chosen to be present on this momentous the words, •• The fashion of his COUD.tenance Ol-CB.Sion may be explained by various was altered." T11e Word of God allows considerations. Doth these worthies ex- for a brief spnce his essential glory to perienced something nnpualleled in their irradiate and shine throngh the form of departure from this life. Elijah was token a servant which he wore. Not that he np to heaven without dying; Moses died, showed his Di,ine natnre, or laid aside his indeed, but he was buried by God in en human body; Lis bodily nature remained unknown grave, and his body was nuder in its entirety, but permeating it \V&8 an the especial care of Michael the archangel effnlgence which indicated the Godhead. (see Jude 9), and we know not that it saw Perhaps it might be said, as an old writer corruption. From the unseen world these puts it, that the Transfiguration was less a were brought to do Lomage to the Messiah uew miracle than tLe temporary cessation -Moses, a type of tboae blessed spirits who .of an habitual miracle ; for the veiling of in Paradise await the fuial consamm1<tion; .nis glory was the real marvel, the Divine Elijah, a type of the saints who, after tha restraint whicL prohibited the illwnination resurrection,, perfect in sonl and body, shall of his sacred humanity. Before them. In enter info glory. Here were the repre- their presence. Jesus probably had with- sentatives of tbe Law e.nd the prophet~, the drawn in order to pray in secret, but re- principal supporters of the old covenant, turned to the waiting three, that they might honouring him who was introducing the behold his glory-be "eye-witnesBell of his new covenant., which was to fulfil and majesty," as St. Peter says (2 Pet. i. 16). supersede the previous one. Spurious, These, indeed, had been heavy with sleep degraded Judaism rejected Christ's claims; (Luke), but had awoke at his appearance, real, orthodox Judaism acknowledged him and beheld the vision in full possession of e.nd reverenced him e.s the Christ foretold their senses. St. Matthew mentions specially and foreshadowed, "of whom Moses and the two point.a in this transfiguration. Hi.I face prophets did write" (John i. 45). Now, did shine as the 811.U. This recalls the too, it was made manifest that Jesus was appeare.nce of the Son of man in Rev. i. 16, not Elias or one of the prophets, as some " His countenance was as the sun shineth erroneously had supposed, but different .in his strength.'' And his re.iment was from and superior to all ; that be had power white e.s the light. TLe light which over life and death, and could bring whom emanated from his body shone through he wonld from the unseen world; .that the and glorified his very garments. The cross and Passion were not degrading, or Vulgate has sictd nix, and x11l,v is read in proofs of weakness, but glorious and tri• some fow manuscripts in place of (/><is: but nmphant accomplishments of the will ot the word is doubtless introduced here from God. The question is asked-How d.u1 SL. Mark (where, however, it is of doubtfnl Peter and the rest recognize the two genuine:nedll). Ii this second evangelist re- heavenly visitant&? There may have oeeD ceived his account from St. Peter, we recog- something conventional in their garo or nize the simile in the apostlf,'s remembmnce appearance, which at once ideutifted them; of the snow-clad peak of Hermon, in whose or the apostles may have known them :vicinity the event tmnspired. No candid by spiritual intuition or special revelation ; rt:ader can fail to acknowledge that it is or they may have gathered their knowledge no suLjective vision that is here narrated, from the eonvel'sation which they overheard. no merely inward impreBBion on brain or Anyhow, it we.a neceBBary that the two nene with nothing external to conespond, should be recognized, otherwise their appear- cn. xvu. 1-27.] THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO fiT. MATTHEW. 17J