Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
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Matthew
Book: Matthew
Chapter: 17
Overview:
The
Transfiguration of
Christ.
(1-13) Jesus casts out a
Dumb
and deaf
Spirit.
(14-21) He again foretells his sufferings.
(22,23) He
Works a
Miracle to pay the
Tribute Money.
(24-27)
1-13 Now the disciples beheld somewhat of
Christ's
Glory, as of
the only begotten of the
Father. It was intended to support
their
Faith, when they would have to
Witness his
Crucifixion;
and would give them an idea of the
Glory prepared for them, when
changed
By his power and made like him. The apostles were
overcome
By the glorious sight.
Peter thought that it was most
desirable to continue there, and to go
No more down to meet the
sufferings of which he was
So unwilling to hear. In this he knew
not what he said. We are wrong, if we look for a
Heaven here
upon
Earth. Whatever
Tabernacles we propose to make for
ourselves in this world, we must always remember to ask
Christ's
leave. That
Sacrifice was not yet offered, without which the
souls of sinful men could not have been saved; and important
services were to be done
By Peter and his brethren. While
Peter
spoke, a bright
Cloud overshadowed them, an emblem of the Divine
presence and
Glory. Ever since
Man sinned, and heard
God's voice
in the garden, unusual appearances of
God have been terrible to
Man. They fell prostrate to the
Earth, till
Jesus encouraged
them; when looking round, they beheld only their
Lord as they
commonly saw him. We must pass through varied experiences in our
way to
Glory; and when we return to the world after an
ordinance, it must be our care to take
Christ with us, and then
it may be our comfort that he is with us.
14-21 The case of afflicted children should be presented to
God
By Faithful and fervent
Prayer.
Christ cured the
Child. Though
the people were perverse, and
Christ was provoked, yet care was
taken of the
Child. When all other
Helps and succours fail, we
are welcome to
Christ, may trust in him, and in his power and
Goodness. See here an emblem of
Christ's undertaking as our
Redeemer. It encourages parents to bring children to
Christ,
whose souls are under
Satan's power; he is able to heal them,
and as willing as he is able. Not only bring them to
Christ By
Prayer, but bring them to the
Word of
Christ; to means
By which
Satan's strong-holds in the soul are beaten down. It is good for
us to distrust ourselves and our own strength; but it is
displeasing to
Christ when we distrust any power derived from
him, or granted
By him. There was also something in the malady
which rendered the cure difficult. The extraordinary power of
Satan must not discourage our
Faith, but quicken us to more
earnestness in praying to
God for the increase of it. Do we
wonder to see
Satan's bodily possession of this young
Man from a
Child, when we see his spiritual possession of every son of
Adam
from the fall!
22,23 Christ perfectly knew all things that should befall him,
yet undertook the work of our
Redemption, which strongly shows
his
Love. What outward debasement and Divine
Glory was the
Life
of the
Redeemer! And all his humiliation ended in his
exaltation. Let us learn to endure the
Cross, to despise riches
and worldly honours, and to be content with his will.
24-27 Peter felt sure that his Master was ready to do what was
right.
Christ spoke first to give him proof that
No thought can
be withholden from him. We must never decline our duty for fear
of giving
Offence; but we must sometimes deny ourselves in our
worldly interests, rather than give
Offence. However the
Money
was lodged in the
Fish, He who knows all things alone could know
it, and only almighty power could bring it to
Peter's
Hook. The
power and the poverty of
Christ should be mentioned together. If
called
By Providence to be
Poor, like our
Lord, let us trust in
his power, and our
God shall supply all our need, according to
his riches in
Glory By Christ Jesus. In the way of obedience, in
the course, perhaps, of our usual
Calling, as he helped
Peter,
So he will help us. And if any sudden
Call should occur, which
we are not prepared to meet, let us not apply to others, till we
first seek
Christ.