“And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. 2 And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light. 3 And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him.” (Matthew 17:1–3 (ESV)
Returning to the study in the Gospel of Matthew, today’s text begins with the transfiguration of the Lord Jesus Christ. What exactly is meant by the word transfiguration?
The verbal phrase He was transfigured (μεταμορφόω; metemorphothe) means to be changed and transformed in appearance. It refers to a mutation or alteration. We derive our English word metamorphosis from this Greek word.
At the precise moment of Jesus’ transfiguration, there also appeared before the disciples two other men. These two individuals talked with Jesus. Matthew records that these two men were Moses and Elijah. Why did Moses and Elijah appear?
“Since the Law and the Prophets testify to Jesus, Moses the Lawgiver and Elijah, one of Israel’s greatest prophets, appear with Jesus. According to Luke 9:30-31, they discussed Jesus’ coming departure, referring to His death,” explains Dr. R. C. Sproul.
The transfiguration affirmed Jesus’ appointment as a special messenger of God: like Moses and Elijah. Both of them received revelation from the LORD on Mount Sinai, also called Mount Horeb (Ex. 19–24; 1 Kings 19). Jesus was the fullest revelation of God (Hebrews 1:1-3).
“Jesus also meets with God on a mountain. Yet Jesus is greater than these because the Father’s declarations about Him make Him the object of revelation (Matt. 17:5), not merely its recipient. Also, Moses and Elijah represent the Law and the Prophets, respectively. Their appearance with Christ confirms His fulfillment of the old covenant revelation found in the Old Testament,” states one author.
The transfiguration also unmistakably displayed Jesus’ divine identity. Moses reflected the LORD’s divine glory, but this reflection could be, and was, hidden (Ex. 34:29–35). Our Savior’s inherent splendor, however, ultimately cannot be veiled (Matt. 17:2).
Puritan Matthew Henry comments, “The shining face of Moses was so weak, that it could easily be concealed by a thin veil; but such was the glory of Christ’s body, that his clothes were enlightened by it.”
Soli deo Gloria!
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