THE FAMÍLY EXPOSITOR. The latter Part of the History of CHRIST, as recorded by the EVANGELISTS. SECT. XC. Christ goes up to a mountain, where he is transfigured, and dis courses with his disciples concerning the expectation the Jews had of Elijah. Mat. XVII. 1—13. Mark IX. 2—13. Luke IX. 28-36. MARK IX. 2. Peter, and James, MARK IX. 2. XC. Mark 13.2- AND LUKE, it AND it came to pass after six days, [or] if SECT. came to pass] you include the first and last, about eight after six days, [LUKE, or about days after these discourses, which were related eight days after in the two last sections, Jesus took with him these sayings,] Je- those three disciples whom he honoured with sus taketh with him something of a peculiar intimacy (compare and John [his broth. Mark v. 37, and Mat. xxvi. 37,) namely, Peter er,] and leadeth and James, and his brother John, and brought them up into an them up, privately, to an high mountain apart high mountain apart by themselves from the people, whither he retired to prays [LUKE, to pray.] intending, as he often did, to spend the night [MAT. XVII. 1. in that holy exercise.b LUKE IX. 28.] LUKE IX. 29. And as he was praying, it came to pass that Luke And as he prayed, he was suddenly, in a most glorious manner, IX. 29 * An high mountain apart from the peo- Christ was just before near Cesarea Philpl.] Jerom tells us (Epist. 17, 18,) that ippi, this must be the mountain in that there was in his days an ancient tradition neighbourhood on which one of Jero that this was Mount Tabor, which lay in boam's calves had been worshipped; over the tribe of Zebulon. Its standing apart which he thinks it a kind of triumph that (as Mr. Maundrell observes that it does, the Shekinah was thus gloriously maniTravels, p. 112) is to be sure no argu- fested, where it had been so long affronted ment to prove it; for that expression only by idolatry. See Fleming's Christology, signifies that it was a private retirement, Vol. I. p. 40. which it might have been, had it made part of a ridge of mountains. However, as this happened at the distance of six days, there seems to be but little probabil. ity in Mr. Fleming's conjecture, that since b To spend the night in that holy exercise.] This appears from Luke ix. 37, where we read of their coming down from the mountain the next day. See p. 8. £2 XC. IX. 29 Christ is transfigured on a mountain. was SECT. transfigured in their presence; and the form of [MARK, he his countenance was changed, [so that] his face transfigured before shone with a brightness like that of the sun; ion of his countethem, and ]the fashLuke and his whole body was clothed with such a nance was altered, lustre, as shone through his raiment, insomuch [so that his face did shine as the sun;] that the appearance of it was all white and and his raiment was dazzling, shining so exceedingly, that it seemed white and glisteras white as snow, [yea] as resplendent as the ing, [MARK, shinlight itself, to so great a degree as no fuller on ing exceeding white earth could whiten it. Such a glory did God light,][MARK, so as Mark per MARK IX. 2, 3.] MARK IX.4. And as snow,] [or as the confer on his Son, as an earnest of that in no fuller on earth which he was finally to appear; and he can white them.] mitted these his servants to see it, that they [MAT. XVII. 2. might not be offended at those scenes of deep abasement in which they were shortly to attend him. (Compare Mat. xxvi. 37, sect. clxxxii.) And behold, there appeared to them, at the same time that they saw their Lord in this [behold] there apsplendid form, two men, that were talking with peared unto them Jesus in a language and accent which the three [LUKE, two men] talking with Jesus, apostles heard and understood, who were [LUKE, which were known to be Moses the great giver, and Elijah Moses and Elias:] Luke the zealous restorer of the law. These were IX. 31 the persons whom they saw with Christ, in whose honour their respective ministrations Who appeared in terminated; who appearing to their view in glory, and spake of forms of glory, somewhat resembling that his decease which which he now wore himself, spake of his exit, plish at Jerusalem. or departure out of the present life and state, which he was shortly after, even at the ensuing passover, to accomplish at Jerusalem; suggesting and enlarging on such thoughts as were proper to animate him to so painful and glorious a conflict. [MAT. XVII. 3. LUKE IX. 30.] LUKE IX. 31. he should accom 32 But Peter, and 32 But Peter, and they that were with him, even they that were with The form of his countenance was changed.] be observed, which might otherwise have This was so striking a circumstance, that been destroyed. Eunapius (Vit. Jambl. p. 22,) relates a story of Jamblicus, which seems evidently to be borrowed from this; as many things which Philostratus tells us of Apollonius Tyaneus seem also to have been borrowed from other histories recorded of Christ by the evangelists. White and dazzling.] The words Auxos aspara may literally be rendered, white as lightning; but as this clause stands here connected with parallel passages in the other evangelists, I chose to render it dazzling, that some proper gradation might e Spake of his exit, which he was shortly to accomplish at Jerusalem.] Dr. Hammond and Le Clerc seem greatly mistaken in referring this to Christ's victory over the impenitent Jews in the destruction of Ferusalem by the Romans; for though the word todos does sometimes signify a military expedition (see Elsner. Observ. Vol. I. p. 219,) yet it is plainly used for death, or departure out of the world, 2 Pet. i. 15, and Wisd. iii. 2; which suits much better here with the construction, er Ieprσannu. him, were : when they were The disciples are astonished and afraid. 3 heavy the two other disciples, did not see the begin- SECT. with sleep and ning of this glorious vision, nor hear the whole xc. awake, they saw his of this wonderful and edifying discourse; for, Luke glory, and the two wearied with the labours of the preceding day, Ix. 32 men that stood with they were quite overburdened and sunk down him. with sleep; but being awakened with the splendour of those rays which pierced through the darkness of the night that had before favoured their slumbers, they saw, to their inexpressible astonishment, his unusual glory, and the two men who were standing with him, and heard the conclusion of their conference, from whence And it came to 33 33—And it came they collected who they were.f to pass, as they de- pass that, just as they were departing from him, parted from him, Pe- Peter answered and said unto Jesus, Master, it is ter [answered and] said unto Jesus, Mas- good for us to be here in such a circumstance as ter, it is good for us this: let this glorious appearance and converse to be here; and [if be prolonged; for we could delight to spend all thou wilt] let us the remainder of our days thus; and therefore, make [here] three tabernacles, one for if thou pleasest, let us make three tents here, for Thee, and one for Thee one, and for Moses one, and one for Elijah, Moses, and one for that thou with them mayest lodge here in a Elias: [MAT.XVII. more convenient manner. This was indeed a Mark MARK IX. 6. For wild kind of proposal,ill suiting the state of these 1x. 6 he wist not [LUKE, glorified persons, or the subject of their late what he said, or] discourse: but it is the less to be wondered at, what to say, for they were sore afraid.] considering the great surprise in which Peter LUXE IX.-33.] was, for he knew not what he said, [or] should say; for such was the effect it had on him and the two other disciples who were then present, that they were vastly terrified at the majesty of this unparalleled sight, which broke out upon them at once in so unexpected a manner. 4. MARK IX. 5.] i Heard the conclusion of their conference, &c.] It might not perhaps have been proper they should have heard the whole of it: God might intend to reveal some of those things to them by the Spirit, and the knowledge of others might be reserved to the discoveries of the heavenly state. this seems too great a refinement, and too deep a scheme. I rather choose to interpret them as words of rapturous surprise, intended merely to express the pleasure they had in what they saw and heard. The proposal was, as St. Mark observes, very improper; but perhaps few, in such Let us make three tents here.] Mr. an astonishing circumstance, could have Fleming thinks it is as if he had said, been perfectly masters of themselves. "Lord, let this mountain be to Israel now The tents they proposed to build must be what Sinai was to our Fathers: hold, as only slight huts or bowers; and there is no it were, thy court here; and let the peo- reason at all to suppose they meant any ple resort hither to learn thy will, and sumptuous tabernacles like that of Moses pay their homage to thee, attended by in the wilderness; and, that no such idea these thy glorified servants." (See might accidentally be raised, I chose to Fleming's Christology, Vol. I. p. 46.) But use the word tents. 4 SECT. XC. Luke : came A voice from heaven declares him to be the Son of God. And as he was speaking thus, behold, there LUKE IX. 34. came a bright cloud, which in a most surprising While he thus spake, [behold,] manner spread itself over the top of the mounthere 34 tain, and overshadowed them all and the disci- cloud, and overa [bright] ples were seized with such a kind of religious shadowed them : horror, that they feared, when they entered into and they feared, as 35 the cloud,h and saw it diffused on every side of cloud. [MAT.XVII. they entered into the them. And behold, an ever memorable cir- 5.-MARK IX. 7.-] cumstance then happened; for there came a 35 And [behold,] most awful voice out of the cloud, as the sacred symbol of God's immediate presence, which [which said] This said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well is my beloved Son, pleased hear ye him therefore with the hum- in whom I am well blest submission and obedience, as the object of him.[MAT.XVIIpleased,] hear [ye] my dearest complacency, and your surest guide 5. MARK IX.-7.] to duty and happiness, in all respects superior Mat. to the greatest of your prophets. there came a voice out of the cloud, MAT. XVII. 6. And when the disciples heard [this voice,] they xvii. 6 fell prostrate on their faces to the ground with And when the discithe humblest reverence, and were exceedingly ples heard it, they terrified by this tremendous manifestation of fell on their faces, the present Deity. And Jesus, knowing their and were sore afraid. confusion, came and touched them, and said, Rise and touched them, 7 And Jesus came up, and be not afraid; infusing into them, at and said, Arise, and the same moment, a secret strength and forti- be not afraid. tude of mind. (Compare Dan. x. 10, 19.) MARK IX. 8. And suddenly And on a sudden, while the heavenly voice was when the voice was [LUKE, 18. 8 uttered, Jesus was found alone, Moses and Elijah past, Jesus was found disappearing in a moment; [and] the disciples, alone and] when Mark There came a bright cloud, and over shadowed them, &c.] I cannot think it probable (though a late eminent critic has so explained it) that this only means that the cloud cast a shadow which fell upon them, but rather that it spread over the mountain; and this not like a canopy or umbrella, but that it covered it in such a manner as a cloud does; yet with this difference, that it was more like a thick smoke than a shower; and that whereas the skirts of clouds are generally rarer than the central parts, this was darker towards the edges, a glory being in the midst and probably it was the darker part with which the apostles were enveloped, while the excellent glory (as St. Peter calls it, 2 Pet. i. 17) seemed much higher, and the rays of it were much attempered, by that part of the cloudy veil which was between it and them. And thus we know that the Shekinah had appeared in former ages; particularly when it took possession of the tabernacle of Moses, Exod. xl. 34, 35, and the temple of Solomon, 1 Kings viii. 10, 11. i In whom I am well pleased.] Though neither Mark nor Luke have given us these words, we may be sure that they were really spoken, as we have the concurrent testimony both of Matthew, and of Peter, who has thus quoted them, 2 Pet. i. 17. Some have thought their being omitted by Mark an intimation that Peter did not review that gospel with any great accuracy, supposing it was (as Clemens Alexandrinus reports) put into his hands. Perhaps the command that is added to hear him may refer to that solemn charge to hear the great prophet, Deut. xviii. 15. no man XC. 15 Mark He charges his disciples to conceal it till he was risen. they had [lift up lifting up their eyes, upon the kind encourage- SECT. their eyes, and] looked round about, ment that he had given them, [and] looking they saw round about them for the persons they had seen any more, save Jesus but just before, saw no man any more, only with them- Jesus only with themselves, who now again appearing in his usual form, graciously entered into conversation with them in the same condescending manner he was used to do. selves. [MAT.XVII. 8. LUKE IX. 36. but IX. 8 9 And as they came And as they came down from the mountain on 9 down from the which this wonderful transaction had passed, mountain, [Jesus charged them, that Jesus strictly charged them, that they should tell they should tell no no one what they had seen, unless it were when man what things they the Son of man was risen from the dead; est, had seen, till the Son of man were risen till that glorious evidence was given of his from the dead.] Divine mission, this story should appear as an [MAT. XVII. 9.] idle dream, or an incredible tale. And when 10 10 And they kept he spake of rising from the dead, they laid hold that saying with themselves, quest- on that word, disputing among themselves what ioning one with ano- this rising from the dead could mean; for as ther what the rising often, and as plainly, as Christ had declared it mean ;] [And they to them, they could not persuade themselves kept it close, and told to understand it in a literal sense. However, from the dead should no man in those days in obedience to the charge he gave them, they must first come? MAT. XVII. 10. And his disciples And his disciples as they could not doubt but asked him, saying, he was the Messiah, took that opportunity of Why then say the informing themselves as to a scruple which scribes, that Elias had long lain on their minds, and asked him, [MARK IX. 11.] saying, Why then do the scribes, the teachers of our nation, and professed students of the law, say, that Elijah must first come before the Messiah appear? Is this vision that we have now seen, all the coming of that prophet which was to be expected? them, Elias truly Mat. xvii.10 11 And Jesus answered and said unto indeed appear from the scripture, that Elijah And Jesus replying said unto them, It does 11 shall first come, and shall first come to make way for the Messiah, restore all things, and regulate all things,' by preaching repent think the words og sauT8s should be joined with oves, as they are with the same word Mark i. 27 ; ix. 16; Luke xxii. 23; and Acts ix. 29. * They laid hold on that word.] So I think I Tev acgov sugalnoay may most literally be rendered; the verb often signifying to lay hold on, and, in consequence of that, resolutely to retain; but never, that I can recollect, to keep a secret. Compare Mat. ix. 25; xiv. 3; Mark xii. 12 ; and Rev. xx. 2. It is plain that amonalasnou here, (as Shall first come, and regulate all things.] arnasao, Acts iii. 21) cannot, as it |