A Paraphrase on the New Testament, Matthew · Chapter 17
CHAP. XVII.
1. ANd after ſix days Jeſus taketh Peter and James and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart. 2. And was transfigured before them, and his face did ſhine as the ſun, and his rayment was white as the light.
1, 2. And as Chriſt had promiſed them a glimpſe of his Kingly Glory, ſo within ſix days he performed it, to Peter, James and John whom he ſelected for peculiar favours: in a high mountain he was transfigured into a glorious appearance, his face ſhining like the Sun, and his raiment like light.
Note, Chriſt would have this help of ſenſe, to confirm their Faith. Of this transfiguration I have written at large in a Book called, My Dying Thoughts.
3. And behold, there appeared to them Moſes and Elias talking with him.
3. Note, 1. Moſes whoſe body was buried, and Elias whoſe body was but changed, appeared alike.
2. The chief Legiſlator and chief Prophet appeared to ſhew that the Law and the Prophets did but lead to Chriſt. 3. Did not the departed Saints live after death, they could not appear in Glory. 4. They talked with Chriſt of his ſufferings at Jeruſalem. 5. Either Chriſt told the three Diſciples who they were, or their own appearance ſhewed it. 6. How much better company is above than here.
4. Then anſwered Peter, and ſaid to Jeſus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt let us make here three tabernacles, one for thee, and one for Moſes, and one for Elias.
4. Note, 1. We are apt to deſire more of Heaven on earth than God will allow, (But not ſo apt to deſire to go by death to that glory where it is:) Fain we would have it come down to us.
2. A glimpſe of glory is enough to rap a Soul into extaſie.
3. We know not what we ſay, when we talk of felicity in Tabernacles on earth. 4. A glimpſe of glory will make us out of love with worldly company and vanity. How loth then would the Souls in Heaven be to come down.
5. While he yet ſpake, behold a bright cloud over-ſhadowed them; and behold, a voice out of the cloud, which ſaid, This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleaſed: hear ye him.
5. Note, 1. Heavenly inhabitants muſt not ſtay on earth; nor Heavenly viſions and raptures be here long or frequent. 2. God again owned his Son by a voice from heaven, as perfectly Righteous, and as pleaſing him by mans redemption, and reconciling us to him, and teaching the doctrine which is pleaſing to him.
6. And when the diſciples heard it, they fell on their faces, and were ſore afraid.
6. Note, The voice of God even when he ſpeaketh mercy, is enough to humble and proſtrate man.
7. And Jeſus came and touched them, and ſaid, Ariſe, and be not afraid.
7. N. It is Chriſt that muſt raiſe our troubled and humbled Souls from our dejectedneſs and fear.
8. And when they had lift up their eyes, they ſaw no man ſave Jeſus only.
8. Note, Chriſt will ſtay with us, when Moſes and Elias will not; nor are earthly comforts durable.
9. And as they came down from the mountain, Jeſus charged them, ſaying, Tell the viſion to no man till the Son of man be riſen again from the dead.
9. The reaſon is before mentioned: After the reſurrection was the fitteſt ſeaſon.
10. And his diſciples asked him, ſaying, Why then ſay the ſcribes that Elias muſt firſt come?
10. Why ſay the Jewiſh Doctors that Elias muſt come before the Meſſiah; if this was he that we ſaw.
11. And Jeſus anſwered and ſaid to them, Elias truly ſhall firſt come, and reſtore all things. But I ſay to you, that Elias is come already, and they knew him not, but have done to him whatſoever they liſted: likewiſe alſo ſh…l the Son of man ſuffer of them. 13. Then … diſciples underſtood that he ſpake to the … John the Baptiſt.
11. &c. It is … that is ſaid out of Mal. that Elias muſt come, but it was John that was meant under the name of E…ias, … …ey knew not, but killed him while they looked for him, and ſo they will do by me.
14. And when they were come to the mu… …, there came to him a certain man, kn…g down to him, and ſaying, 15. Lord have …ercy on my ſon, for he is lunatick, and ſore vexed; for oft times he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water. 16. And I brought him to thy diſciples, and they could not cure him.
14. N. By Lunatick is meant one that had the Epilepſie or ſome ſuch diſeaſe upon the change of the Moon. A real diſeaſe, of which yet the Devil was the executioner, and further joyned with it extraordinarily.
17. Then Jeſus anſwered and ſaid, O faithleſs and perverſe generation; how long ſhall I be with you, how long ſhall I ſuffer you? bring him hither to me.
17. It is long of your own unbelief and perverſeneſs that they could not cure him: how long ſhall I work miracles among you before you will believe? will you drive me from among you by your unbelief, to go to others?
N. This ſeemeth plainly ſpoken to the man of himſelf and ſuch others, and not as ſome ſay, to the diſciples.
18. And Jeſus rebuked the devil, and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour. 19. Then came the diſciples to Jeſus apart and ſaid, Why could not we caſt him out? 20. And Jeſus ſaid to them, Becauſe of your unbelief:
18, &c. Your unbelief as well as the mans was that which hindred you: you are all therein to be blamed.
20. For verily I ſay to you, If ye have faith as a grain of muſtard ſeed, ye ſhall ſay to this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place, and it ſhall remove, and nothing ſhall be impoſſible to you.
20. For if you have the leaſt true belief and truſt in my Power and Will for the working of any ſuch miracle as I commiſſion you to work, if it were as hard as the removing of a mountain, it ſhould not be too hard for you.
Note, It is not faith but preſumption which hath no promiſe of ſucceſs, if they or any are confident of working any miracle which Chriſt never commiſſioned or called them to work, or Promiſed his bleſſing to.
21. Howbeit, this kind goeth not out but by faſting and prayer.
21. But by faith I mean not confident preſumption, that God will do it in your own way: But for ſuch as this, God will be ſought by Faſting and fervent Prayer, in which way you may expect ſucceſs, if the perſon alſo be capable that ſeeketh help.
22. And while they abode in Galilee, Jeſus ſaid to them, The Son of man ſhall be betrayed into the hands of men. 23. And they ſhall kill him, and the third day he ſhall be raiſed again: And they were exceeding ſorry.
22, 23. Again Chriſt foretells them of his death and reſurrection, to inſtruct and prepare them for it: which they were grieved at.
24. And when they were come to Capernaum, they that received tribute money, came to Peter and ſaid, Doth not your Maſter pay tribute? He ſaith, yes. And when he was come into the houſe, Jeſus prevented him, ſaying, What thinkeſt thou Simon? of whom do the kings of the earth take cuſtom or tribute? of their own children or of ſtrangers? 26▪ Peter ſaith to him, Of ſtrangers: Jeſus ſaith to him, Then are the children free.
24, 25. N. They had two ſorts of Tribute, but that here meant its likeſt was Pole-money, impoſed by Auguſtus firſt: And by [children] is not meant free Subjects; for ſuch did pay: but their own families. And then its hard to know, what Chriſts anſwer meant, unleſs it were as many ſay, Then this Tribute belongs of right to the houſe of David, and I being of it am free. Or elſe, [If Kings own Families be not taxed, I that am the Son of the univerſal King, from whom is all power, and whoſe Subjects they are, am rightfully freer than their Children] This ſeemeth to me to be the ſ…nce. But he queſtioneth not but Tribute is due to Kings and other Powers.
27. Notwithſtanding, leſt we ſhould offend them, Go thou to the ſea, and caſt a hook, and take the fiſh that firſt cometh up, and when thou haſt opened his mouth, thou ſhalt find a piece of money; take that and give to them for me and thee.
27. But we muſt deny our own right to avoid offence: Go therefore and caſt a hook and I will bring a fiſh to thy hand with half a Crown (a Stater) in his mouth; which is the Poll-money for t…o perſons: Pay them that for thee and me.
Note, 1. This ſhewed the great power of Chriſt. 2 But why did he pay for Peter and not the reſt? Anſ. Peter had a houſe in Capernaum where they were, and was there to pay his Poll-money, Matth. 5.8, 14.
If it be as others think, the Tax to the Sanctuary that is here meant, it will make no doctrinal alteration: The ſenſe then will be, [A Tax, due to God, is rather due to me, than from me, that am the Son of God.]