The Pulpit Commentary — Matthew — Volume 2 — Section 201

For the present the permanent thing was the human body, with its limitations, endurances, and sufferings. But the relief-moments must have brought holiest Joy. (For Christ's voluntary limitations, see Phil. ii.) ll THE TRANllITORY 18 THE BEASON OF ITTGH REVELATION; THE PERMANENT 18 THI: CO'IDIONPLAOE, EVERYDA y CHRISTIAN EXPERIENCE. Christian biographies preserve records of ecstatic scenes and experiences enjoyed by Christ's people. In their very nat11;8 such things must be transitory. They would not be what they are if they cont~ued. But what a help ~nd ~beer they _are to u~ in the wearing and wearying experience of everyday Chnst1an life I Yet 1s not this the fact-we mi,.ht oftener have the cheer of vision and revelation if we set ourselves in the way, and climbed the lonely mount for prayer? ill. THE TRANSITORY IS THE BELIEF-TIME; THE PERMANENT 18 THE WORB:-TillB. But a man cannot permanently work unless he secures his transitory reliefs. The restings of life are not idlings or wastings. Transfiguration means soul-preparations for Calvary. IV. THE TRANStTORY IS THE TRIUMPH-TIME; THE PERMANENT IS TIIE 80.l!'FEBI.NG- TIME. What makes life so hard is that successes are so brief. Right upon them we have to be down in the valleys of toil and suJfering.-R. T. Ver. 9.-Holy reticence. Some of those with whom our Lord had to do wrought much mischief by failing in wise reticence. Told to keep their secrets, they blazed abroad their matter, and created a public excitement which our Lord felt bound t0 avoid. Reserve is said to be the "bane of friendship;" but reserve may be a sign of wise self-control and skilful estimate of circumstances and responsibilities. Reticence must be distinguished from untruthfulness. We should always tell the truth, but it is often our duty to say nothing. This, however, sometimes becomes distressing, because of our fear that saying nothing will leave, or will sustain, a false impression. Here our Lord commanded reticence. The three apostles were not to talk to the rest of the apostolic company of what they had seen and heard. They were to say nothing whatever about it outside their company. Let us see what may make reticence appropriate, right, and wise. L RETIOENOE RELATIVE TO PRIVAOY. It cannot be too forcibly impressed that the Transfiguration is not an event in the public life of Jesus. It belongs to ~is private heart-history and experience, and only for very special reasons is any report of it given. If we do come to know some great passage in a brother Christian's private experience, we properly keep the secret, at least so long as he lives. It would be bad for him, and bad for all who know him, if it were talked about. Much mischief is done, much bloom is taken off Christian life, by too great readiness to talk about what belongs to a man's private feeling. Jesus shrank from common talk about hie transfiguration. IL RETICENCE RELATIVE TO TIMELINESS.. This is brought out by our Lord's limiting silence '-' until the Son of man be risen again from the dead," There are times and seasons for everything. '!'he wise man wat<:hes, and fits his ways to times• the impulsive mau is always upsetting things by simple untimeliness. This was St. Peter's mistake, and our Lord may have designed the caution specially for him. Happy they who can keep silence till the time to speak I ill RETICENCE RELATIVE TO CAPACITY, The narrative of the Transfiguration migM have been given to the other apostles if they had been on a sufficiently high spiritual. plane to have entered into it. But it is only too evident that they could not receive any references to our Lord's decease. The report of the vision, if then made, would only have bewildered them. Keep it back. Wait until the complete circle of historical. facts relating to Christ is complete; then, maybe, they will see the meaning of the Transfiguration.-&. T. Ver. 11.-.71.e coming of EUa,. It is difficult for us to realize the general conviction of our Lord's time, that the Prophet Elijah was about to reappear. "Elijah was the prophet for whose return in later fears his countrymen have looked with most eager hope. . • . It was a fixed belief o the Jews that he had appeared again and again, as an Arabian merchant, to wise and good rabbis at their prayers or on their journeys. A aeat iB still placed for him to 1t1perintend the circumcl.sion of the Jewish children. en. xm. 1-27,] THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MATTHEW. 205