Matthew:17

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rwp @Matthew:17:2 a reference to 'morphe ' in '16:12 '. This reference seems to be rwp @Matthew:17:1 @{After six days } (\meth ' h ˆmer ƒs hex \). This could be on the sixth day , but as Luke (Luke:9:28 |) puts it "about eight days " one naturally thinks of a week as the probable time , though it is not important . {Taketh with him } (\paralambanei \). Literally , {takes along }. Note historical present . These three disciples form an inner group who have shown more understanding of Jesus . Songs:at Gethsemane . {Apart } (\kat ' idian \) means "by themselves " ({alone }, \monous \, Mark has it ) up (\anapherei \) into a high mountain , probably Mount Hermon again , though we do not really know . "The Mount of Transfiguration does not concern geography " (Holtzmann ). rwp @Matthew:17:2 @{He was transfigured before them } (\metemorph “th ˆ emprosthen aut “n \). The word is the same as the metamorphoses (cf . Ovid ) of pagan mythology . Luke does not use it . The idea is change (\meta -\) of form (\morph ˆ\). It really presents the essence of a thing as separate from the \sch ˆma \ (fashion ), the outward accident . Songs:in strkjv @Romans:12:2 | Paul uses both verbs , \sunschematizesthe \ (be not fashioned ) and \metamorphousthe \ (be ye transformed in your inner life ). Songs:in strkjv @1Corinthians:7:31 | \sch ˆma \ is used for the fashion of the world while in strkjv @Mark:16:12 | \morph ˆ\ is used of the form of Jesus after his resurrection . The false apostles are described by \metasch ˆmatisomai \ in strkjv @2Corinthians:11:13-15 |. In strkjv @Phillipians:2:6 | we have \en morph ˆi \ used of the Preincarnate state of Christ and \morph ˆn doulou \ of the Incarnate state (Phillipians:2:7 |), while \sch ˆmati h “s anthr “pos \ emphasizes his being found "in fashion as a man ." But it will not do in strkjv @Matthew:17:2 | to use the English transliteration \metamorph “sis \ because of its pagan associations . Songs:the Latin _transfigured_ (Vulgate _transfiguratus est_ ) is better . "The deeper force of \metamorphousthai \ is seen in strkjv @2Corinthians:3:18 | (with reference to the shining on Moses ' face ), strkjv @Romans:12:2 |" (McNeile ). The word occurs in a second-century papyrus of the pagan gods who are invisible . Matthew guards against the pagan idea by adding and explaining about the face of Christ "as the sun " and his garments "as the light ." rwp @Matthew:17:3 @{There appeared } (\“phth ˆ\). Singular aorist passive verb with Moses (to be understood also with Elijah ), but the participle \sunlalountes \ is plural agreeing with both . "Sufficient objectivity is guaranteed by the vision being enjoyed by all three " (Bruce ). The Jewish apocalypses reveal popular expectations that Moses and Elijah would reappear . Both had mystery connected with their deaths . One represented law , the other prophecy , while Jesus represented the gospel (grace ). They spoke of his decease (Luke:9:31 |), the cross , the theme uppermost in the mind of Christ and which the disciples did not comprehend . Jesus needed comfort and he gets it from fellowship with Moses and Elijah . rwp @Matthew:17:4 @{And Peter answered } (\apokritheis de ho Petros \). "Peter to the front again , but not greatly to his credit " (Bruce ). It is not clear what Peter means by his saying : "It is good for us to be here " (\kalon estin h ˆm ƒs h “de einai \). Luke (Luke:9:33 |) adds "not knowing what he said ," as they "were heavy with sleep ." Songs:it is not well to take Peter too seriously on this occasion . At any rate he makes a definite proposal . {I will make } (\pai ˆs “\). Future indicative though aorist subjunctive has same form . {Tabernacles } (\sk ˆnas \), booths . The Feast of Tabernacles was not far away . Peter may have meant that they should just stay up here on the mountain and not go to Jerusalem for the feast . rwp @Matthew:17:5 @{Overshadowed } (\epeskiasen \). They were up in cloud-land that swept round and over them . See this verb used of Mary (Luke:1:35 |) and of Peter 's shadow (Acts:5:15 |). {This is } (\houtos estin \). At the baptism (Matthew:3:17 |) these words were addressed to Jesus . Here the voice out of the bright cloud speaks to them about Jesus . {Hear ye him } (\akouete autou \). Even when he speaks about his death . A sharp rebuke to Peter for his consolation to Jesus about his death . rwp @Matthew:17:7 @{And touched them } (\kai hapsamenos aut “n \). Tenderness in their time of fear . rwp @Matthew:17:8 @{Lifting up their eyes } (\eparantes tous ophthalmous aut “n \). After the reassuring touch of Jesus and his words of cheer . {Jesus only } (\I ˆsoun monon \). Moses and Elijah were gone in the bright cloud . rwp @Matthew:17:9 @{Until } (\he “s hou \). This conjunction is common with the subjunctive for a future event as his Resurrection (\egerth ˆi \) was . Again (Mark:9:10 |) they were puzzled over his meaning . Jesus evidently hopes that this vision of Moses and Elijah and his own glory might stand them in good stead at his death . rwp @Matthew:17:10 @{Elijah must first come } (\Eleian dei elthein pr “ton \). Songs:this piece of theology concerned them more than anything else . They had just seen Elijah , but Jesus the Messiah had come before Elijah . The scribes used strkjv @Malachi:4:5 |. Jesus had also spoken again of his death (resurrection ). Songs:they are puzzled . rwp @Matthew:17:12 @{Elijah is come already } (\Eleias ˆd ˆ ˆlthen \). Thus Jesus identifies John the Baptist with the promise in Malachi , though not the real Elijah in person which John denied (John:1:21 |). {They knew him not } (\ouk epign “san auton \). Second aorist active indicative of \epigin “sk “\, to recognize . Just as they do not know Jesus now (John:1:26 |). They killed John as they will Jesus the Son of Man . rwp @Matthew:17:13 @{Then understood } (\tote sun ˆkan \). One of the three k aorists . It was plain enough even for them . John was Elijah in spirit and had prepared the way for the Messiah . rwp @Matthew:17:15 @{Epileptic } (\sel ˆniazetai \). Literally , "moonstruck ," "lunatic ." The symptoms of epilepsy were supposed to be aggravated by the changes of the moon (cf . strkjv @4:24 |). {He has it bad } (\kak “s echei \) as often in the Synoptic Gospels . rwp @Matthew:17:17 @{Perverse } (\diestrammen ˆ\). Distorted , twisted in two , corrupt . Perfect passive participle of \diastreph “\. rwp @Matthew:17:20 @{Little faith } (\oligopistian \). A good translation . It was less than "a grain of mustard seed " (\kokkon sinape “s \). See strkjv @13:31 | for this phrase . They had no miracle faith . Bruce holds "this mountain " to be the Mount of Transfiguration to which Jesus pointed . Probably so . But it is a parable . Our trouble is always with "this mountain " which confronts our path . Note the form \metaba \ (\meta \ and \b ˆthi \). rwp @Matthew:17:23 @{And they were exceeding sorry } (\kai elup ˆth ˆsan sphodra \). Songs:they at last understood that he was talking about his death and resurrection . rwp @Matthew:17:24 @{They that received the half-shekel } (\hoi ta didrachma lambanontes \). This temple tax amounted to an Attic drachma or the Jewish half-shekel , about one-third of a dollar . Every Jewish man twenty years of age and over was expected to pay it for the maintenance of the temple . But it was not a compulsory tax like that collected by the publicans for the government . "The tax was like a voluntary church-rate ; no one could be compelled to pay " (Plummer ). The same Greek word occurs in two Egyptian papyri of the first century A .D . for the receipt for the tax for the temple of Suchus (Milligan and Moulton 's _Vocabulary_ ). This tax for the Jerusalem temple was due in the month Adar (our March ) and it was now nearly six months overdue . But Jesus and the Twelve had been out of Galilee most of this time . Hence the question of the tax-collectors . The payment had to be made in the Jewish coin , half-shekel . Hence the money-changers did a thriving business in charging a small premium for the Jewish coin , amounting to some forty-five thousand dollars a year , it is estimated . It is significant that they approached Peter rather than Jesus , perhaps not wishing to embarrass "Your Teacher ," "a roundabout hint that the tax was overdue " (Bruce ). Evidently Jesus had been in the habit of paying it (Peter 's ). rwp @Matthew:17:25 @{Jesus spake first to him } (\proephthasen auton ho I ˆsous leg “n \). Here only in the N .T . One example in a papyrus B .C . 161 (Moulton and Milligan , _Vocabulary_ ). The old idiomatic use of \phthan “\ with the participle survives in this example of \prophthan “\ in strkjv @Matthew:17:25 |, meaning to anticipate , to get before one in doing a thing . The _Koin ‚ _ uses the infinitive thus with \phthan “\ which has come to mean simply to arrive . Here the anticipation is made plain by the use of \pro -\. See Robertson 's _Grammar_ , p . 1120 . The "prevent " of the Authorized Version was the original idea of _praevenire_ , to go before , to anticipate . Peter felt obliged to take the matter up with Jesus . But the Master had observed what was going on and spoke to Peter first . {Toll or tribute } (\tel ˆ ˆ k ˆnson \). Customs or wares collected by the publicans (like \phoros \, strkjv @Romans:13:7 |) and also the capitation tax on persons , indirect and direct taxation . \K ˆnsos \ is the Latin _census_ , a registration for the purpose of the appraisement of property like \h ˆ apograph ˆ\ in strkjv @Luke:2:2 ; strkjv @Acts:5:37 |. By this parable Jesus as the Son of God claims exemption from the temple tax as the temple of his Father just as royal families do not pay taxes , but get tribute from the foreigners or aliens , subjects in reality . rwp @Matthew:17:26 @{The sons } (\hoi huioi \). Christ , of course , and the disciples also in contrast with the Jews . Thus a reply to Peter 's prompt "Yes ." Logically (\arage \) free from the temple tax , but practically not as he proceeds to show . rwp @Matthew:17:27 @{Lest we cause them to stumble } (\hina m ˆ skandalis “men autous \). He does not wish to create the impression that he and the disciples despise the temple and its worship . Aorist tense (punctiliar single act ) here , though some MSS . have present subjunctive (linear ). "A hook " (\agkistron \). The only example in the N .T . of fishing with a hook . From an unused verb \agkiz “\, to angle , and that from \agkos \, a curve (so also \agkal ˆ\ the inner curve of the arm , strkjv @Luke:2:38 |). {First cometh up } (\ton anabanta pr “ton ichthun \). More correctly , "the first fish that cometh up ." {A shekel } (\stat ˆra \). Greek stater = four drachmae , enough for two persons to pay the tax . {For me and thee } (\anti emou kai sou \). Common use of \anti \ in commercial transactions , "in exchange for ." Here we have a miracle of foreknowledge . Such instances have happened . Some try to get rid of the miracle by calling it a proverb or by saying that Jesus only meant for Peter to sell the fish and thus get the money , a species of nervous anxiety to relieve Christ and the Gospel of Matthew from the miraculous . "All the attempts have been in vain which were made by the older Rationalism to put a non-miraculous meaning into these words " (B . Weiss ). It is not stated that Peter actually caught such a fish though that is the natural implication . Why provision is thus only made for Peter along with Jesus we do not know .

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