Westminster Annotations, Matthew 2 · Chapter 17
CHAP. XVII.
Vers. 1. AFter six days] Mark 9. 2. Luke 9. 28. Luke reckoneth eight days, containing therein the first and last; and Matthew speaketh of those onelyonly that came between then.
Jesus tak…h Peter, &c.] He took with him Peter, the prime apostle in or…er; James, who was to suffer first for him; and John, the be…ved apostle, who was to outlive the rest. See the like, Mar 5. 37.
into an high …ountain] A fit place to be transfigured in, for height and sec…cie.
V. 2. was transfigured] The substance of his body was not altered; but … countenance was made far more bright and glorious th…n it was before, Exod. 34. 29, 30. 2 Cor. 3. 7.
did shine as the … ] In most glorious manner. See the like phrase, chap. 13. 4. Dan. 12. 3. Judg. 5. 31.
his ra…ment was white as the light] It was glorious also, but not so glorious as his face.
V. 3. Moses and …as] Some conceive that Moses his body was now raised …p again, that he might appear in his own body as well as El…s. Others, that he assumed a body for that time. Moses was the law-giver, Elias, a principall prophet: they were fitest to attend on Christ in his transfiguration.
talking with him] about his passion.
V. 4. it is good for … to be here] How delectable will heavenly glory be, when th… glimpse of it doth so ravish Peter, that he desires to abide here…
V. 5. While he yet sp…ke] 2 Pet. 1. 17.
a …ight cloud] A lightsome cloud, not a black dark one, as in Sinai. This cloud …erved to convey Moses and Elias away from them.
This is my beloved Son] Chap. 3. 17. Not a servant, as Moses, Heb. 3. 5, 6 and the prophets, Heb. 1. 1, 2. but a son. Also the double article in the Greek severeth Christ from other children; for he is Gods naturall Son; we, by adoption. Therefore he is called the first-begotten among the brethren, because that although he be of right the onelyonly Son; yet is he chief among many, in that he is the fountain and head of the adoption, Col. 1. 13. Eph. 1. 6.
hear ye him] Hear him principally, as being the Prophet foretold by Moses and the prophets, Acts 3. 22, 24. and is preferred before Moses and the prophets, as being the complement of him, and them all, Deuteron. 18. 15. Rom. 10. 4. Gal. 3. 24.
V. 6. they fell on their face] For fear, as by the words following it seems they did, Joh. 1…. 6.
V. 7. touched them] That was enough to raise them up, and put courage into them, as v. 8.
V. 8. save Jesus ab…e] That they might be sure the voice from heaven meant him alone; for Moses and Elias were gone.
V. 9. Tell the vision] Which they saw with their eyes: yet sometimes the word is used for that which men see in a dream.
to no man] See Notes on v. 20.
V. 10. Why then say the scribes] Chap. 11. 14. Mark 9. 11. This shews that the apostles were not much conversant in Scripture, else they might have objected the place of Malachi: and also that the scribes abused that place, to make the people believe the Messias was not yet come.
that Elias must first come] Before Christ come. How canst thou be the true Messias, seeing Elias, thy forerunner, is not yet come?
V. 11. shall first come, and restore] Gr. first cometh, and shall restore. That is, it is a truth which the scribes teach you out of Malachi, that Elias must come before the Messias.
restore all things] See Mal. 4, 6. Luke 1. 17.
V. 12. Elias is … already] John Baptist, in the spirit of Elias, v 13. Ch…. 11. 14. Luke 1. 17.
they knew hi… not] Because they looked for Elias in his own person.
of them] Of the Jews.
V. 1… of John the Baptist] See on v. 12.
V. … And when they were come] Mark 9. 17. Luke 9. 38.
…ling down to him] In an humble manner, as men that …der petitions use to do.
V. 15. he is lunatick] Troubled at certain times of the moon, with the falling-sicknesse, or some like disease; whereby the devil, in likelihood, took advantage about those times, to be more troublesome unto him, v. 18. See chap. 4. 14.
he falleth into the fire] When the devil drives him, Mark 9. 18.
V. 16. they could not cure him] They had cast out devils before, chap. 10. 8. yet now they could not.
V. 17. O faithlesse, &c.] He blames the weaknesse of faith in the father of the childe, who doubted of Christs power, Mark 9. 22. or rather, taxeth a spirit of incredulity and perversenesse in the people, who contradicted Christs doctrine, because his disciples could not confirm it by this miracle, although they had seen him do many miracles before. Howbeit his disciples also are taxed by him for some want of faith, v. 20. but in these words he seems not to speak directly of them; of whom, for their weaknesse, he would not use so harsh terms as here he doth.
how long shall I be with you] Teaching you, and working miracles among you.
bring him hither to me] Though he were offended with them, yet he would heal the childe: and calls for him, that they might see he could do that which his disciples could not.
V. 18. rebuked the devil] Gr. rebuked him: that is, the evil spirit in him, as Mark 1. 23, 24. See Luke 9. 42.
V. 19. Then came the disciples] To wit, when they were come into the house, Mark 9. 28.
Why could not we cast him out?] They were ashamed that the scribes had seen their inability, and afraid l…st they had lost that power given them, chap. 10. 1. and therefore ask this question.
V. 20. Because of your unbelief] That is, weaknesse, and much defect in their faith, not an utter want of it: they had very little, as the words following import.
If ye have faith] Luke 17. 6. He speaks of faith of working miracles. We may have great store of other faith, and yet come short of this.
as a grain of mustard-seed] In a small measure, Chap. 13. 32.
ye shall say unto this mountain] This is used, to set out the greatest miracle, 1 Cor. 13. 2. No prince with his army could ever remove a mountain: that is more then to lay it plain, which yet is a great work, Zech. 4. 7.
nothing shall be unpossible unto you] Nothing that may be needfull for the confirmation of the doctrine taught by you; and to procure authority thereunto.
V. 21. this kinde] God may at some time, for causes best known to himself, give more power to some evil spirits then to others. They that have had long possession, will hardly part with it, Mark 9 21, 29.
and fasting] Which is used on extraordinary occasions, as a means to make our prayers the more …ervent, 2 Chron. 20. 3. Ezra 8. 21. Dan. 9 3. Jon. 3. 5, 7, 8.
V. 22. And while they abode in Galilee] Chap. 20. 17. Mark 9. 31. Luke 9. 44.
The Son of man shall be betrayed] He often puts them in minde of this, to keep them from being offended at the ignominie of the crosse, and to draw them from the opinion of a temporall kingdom, which they were tainted with, Mark 10. 35, 37.
V. 23. and they were exceeding sorry] Giving some credit, at length, to that which they had heard our Saviour so often speak of, they waxed very sad.
V. 24. tribute-money] Called in the originall, did…achm…, being in value fifteen p…ce. Some take it for a tribute imposed upon the Romanes, as a token of the Jews subjection to them, as to the kings of the earth. See v. 25. Others, for a tribute wont to be paid for the use of the temple, Exod. 30. 13.
V. 25. Jesus prevented him] He knew what he would ask, and so shewed forth his divine power.
of whom do the kings] Earthly kings take it not at least of their sons; and sure God then, in whose Name it is demanded, and as his due, would have his onelyonly Son freed of it. Or, the emperour is but Gods deputie: if he free his own son. Gods onelyonly Son should be free, sure, in his Father. Kingdom.
V. 26. Then are the children free] And much more I, who … the naturall Son of God.
V. 27. lest we should offend them] Give …hem occasion to think we contemn the temple or the empero… or give others that ought to pay, occasion, by our example, to …fuse, and so be blamed by the officers.
a piece of money] Or, a stater. Answering th… Hebrew shekel in weight. It is half an ounce of silver, in … two shillings six pence, after five shillings the ounce.