The Pulpit Commentary — Matthew — Volume 2 — Section 172

the most Rncient trndition. "God, having of righteousness" (' More.I.,' uxii. 8). Un- of old spoken nn to the fatlicrs in the pro- belief has endeavourl'd to throw discredit flh<'ts, hnth 11.t the end of the~e days spoken on the historical accuracy of the aocounta unto us in his Son" (Heb. i. I). The com- of this great event. It wo.s a drenm, an mand to henr him recnlls the saying of atmospheric disturbance, an unusual play Moses (Dcut. xviii. 15), that in good time of light and shade, a myth, an allegory; God would raise up from Israel a Prophet thc two heavenly visit.ante were two unknown, like nnto himself, and that nnto him they disciples with whom Jesus conversed; the shall hearken. three apostles were re.pt in e. trance, 11ud YC'r. 6.-Were 1ore afraid. The vision the vision was purely subjective; these and nnd the voice overcame them with awe and such like thoories have been sto.rtcd by terror. They fell on their face, They tried rationalists and enemies of the supernatural to shut out the awful radiance that blinded and even by the partially orthodox, a.; them. Man's weakness conld endure no Tertullian (' Adv. Maro.,' iv. 22). There more; prostrate, paralyzed with fear, they can be no doubt that the evangelists and la.y on the ground. Who could see God, the Apostle Pder regarded tho event as an and Jive? Hnd they not seen his glory, objective reality, upon which hung momen- and heard his voice? What conld they do to.ie truths; and we a.re content to let it but crouch in abject terror? Thus they stand or fall with the rest of the facts of knew not that the scene wa.s over, that the the gospel narrative. There is no reason tremendous glimpse of unseen realities to separate it from the other items of the 't'Onchsa.fed to them had pa.seed away. story. When once the stupendous miracle Ver. 7.-C&me and touched them. Jesus of the Incarnation is allowed, other wonders gently and lovingly &roused them from follow in nature.I sequence. their stupor, showing that he was near, and Ver. 9.-As they oame down from the tbe.t they had nothing to dread (comp. mountain. The Transfiguration is snoposed Isa. ,i. 5-7; Dan. x. 8-10; Rev. i. 17). to have taken place at night, and the He adds the assurance of his own beloved following C1Jnversation to Lave pa.seed in and well-known voice, Arise, and be not the early morning of the next day. Tell afraid. Such comfort he gave to the the vision ( ,-1, IJpap.a., what had been seen) to afl'righted disciples when he cnme to them no man. Thie was a strict and formal treading on the waters of the storm-tossed command. The chosen three were a.t sea (eh. xiv. 27). present not to mention tho occurrence to Ver. 8.-No man, save Jesus only. Moses any one, not even to their fellow-disciples. and Elias had vanished, JeSUB was left Possibly these would hardly have believed alone, and the voice Divine said, "Hear the marvellous ta.le, and their unbelief him." When a.t Christ's touch and word would have hardened their heart; or, if the awestruck apostles dared once more to they fully credited it, they might have been look around e.nd to bethink themselves of jealous of the preference shown to some ot what had passed, those were the facts of their company. At any rate, neither they which they were conscious. The Lo.wand nor others were prepared to receive the the prophets, types and predictions, a.re great lesson of the scene-that the old cove- fulfilled in Christ, and are so far superseded. nant had done its work, that the Law and The former were temporary, introductory the prophets were superseded and must to the gospel, which is to last for ever. make way for the new dispensation. Had Many have seen in the Transfignmtion an the story been divulged to the people image a.nd earnest of the future glory of the generally, they would have stumbled at the dead in Christ, when the vile body shall cross and Passion, which would seem no be clinnged into the likeness of Christ's fitting sequel to this glory (see on eh. xvi. glorious body, and they bhali shine as the 20). Until the Son ot IIlll.n be risen again sun, nnd bear the image of the heavenly. (clvanfi) from the dead. When this great So St. Gregory, "He is elothed with light event happened a.ncl was known to be the as with a garment, because in that eternal fact, there could be no doubt that Christ glory he will be clothed with all the saints, was God, and the tale of the Transfiguration to whom it is said, ' Ye a.re the light of the would no longer be inoredible. Thomas's world.' Whence e.lao it is said by the confession, " My Lord and my God," would evangei:ist, that when the Lord was trans- be echoed in the heart and conscience of a.11 fi "Ured in the mounts.in, his raiment became disciples. St. Luke, thongh he does not e.; mow. In wh.icb Transfiguration what mention Christ's injunction, notifies that it else is announced but the glory of the fine.I wa.R carefully observed, " They kept it close, resurrection? For in the mountain bis and told no IIlll.n in those days any of those raiment became as snow, beca,use in the things which they had seen." (These last height of heavenly brightness all saints will words, 0~6~11 ~" U,pa,cav, explain what St. 'be joined to him, refulgent with the light Matthew above calls "the vision," Tb 1Jpa/J4, <lB, xvn. 1-27,J THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO S1'. MATTIIEW, 17.'i