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Wednesday, January 28, 2026

Behold the Glory of the Son of God!

 

"The Transfiguration" by Danish painter, Carl Bloch (1834-1890)


Welcome to this study of Matthew's Gospel, a collaboration between Mary Barmore and Alice C. Linsley. For this study, we use Mary's study notes and Alice's notes of historical and anthropological relevance.

To prepare for this week's study, read Matthew chapter 17. When you have finished, answer the 10 questions. Scroll to the bottom to check your answers.


Introduction

Matthew chapter 17 describes Jesus' transfiguration on a mountain which was witnessed by Peter, James, and John. In this moment, Jesus' glory and divinity was revealed to his closest disciples. Moses and Elijah appeared with Jesus, and God the Father declared Jesus to be His beloved Son. Jesus told the 3 disciples not to tell anyone what they had witnessed until after his resurrection. Jesus healed a demon-possessed boy after His disciples failed to do so. Finally, Jesus spoke again of His upcoming betrayal, death, and third day resurrection. Peter approached Jesus about the collection of the half-shekel Temple tax which he needed to pay. Jesus told Peter to go fish and Peter found a shekel in the mouth of the first fish he caught. This coin was used to pay the tax for both Peter and Jesus. The miracle of the shekel speaks of Jesus' compassionate provision for Peter and testifies to Jesus' divinity.


Questions

1. How did Jesus appear on the Mount of Transfiguration?

2. What did Peter, James and John have in common?

3. What is the significance of the appearance of Moses and Elijah on the Mount of Transfiguration?

4. What did Peter offer to do on the mountain, and why?

5. What happened while Peter was still speaking?

6. What was the reaction of Peter, James and John to the voice of the heavenly Father?

7. What did God the Father tell the 3 disciples?

8. What did Jesus do to reassure Peter, James and John?

9. What did the father of the suffering boy say to Jesus?

10. What specific information did Jesus give the disciples about his resurrection?


Answers

1. Jesus' face shone like the sun, and his clothes became radiant as white light.

2. They were Galileans, fishermen, and disciples of Jesus. They shared a close relationship as members of an intimate "inner circle" of Jesus. They testified to Jesus' divinity and his third day resurrection, and they all died as martyrs.

3. Moses represents the Law and Elijah represents the Prophets. Jesus is the fulfillment of the Law and the prophets. Matthew 5:17-20 states that Christ came to fulfill the Law. Jesus said, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill."

4. Peter offered to build 3 tabernacles, one for Jesus, one for Moses and one for Elijah. Peter hoped to enshrine that moment of glory and to honor them. He did not understand the temporary nature of the moment. The Hebrew word for tabernacle is mishkan (מִשְׁכַּן), and it refers to a dwelling place or shelter such as the portable tent that was constructed by the Israelites in the wilderness. 

5. While Peter was speaking a bright cloud overshadowed them and a voice from the cloud declared, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him."

6. When they heard the voice, they fell on their faces and were filled with awe. In that moment, the 3 disciples fell down in worship.

7. The Heavenly Father told Peter, James and John to listen to his Son. This indicates that the Father and his divine Son share equal authority.

8. Jesus touched them and told them not to be afraid. Coming down the mountain, Jesus told them not to tell anyone what they had witnessed until after his resurrection.

9. The father asked Jesus to heal his son. He explained that he had asked the disciples, but they could not heal him. Jesus chastised the disciples for their little faith.

10. Jesus told them that he would be raised on the third day. The phrases "three days" or "third day" appears 21 times in the accounts of Jesus' death and resurrection. Jesus knew the early Hebrew expectation of Messiah's resurrection. Jesus is the "firstborn from the grave", and by his resurrection He delivers to the Father a "peculiar people." The Heaven Father recognizes us because we belong to his beloved Son. A reference to the third day resurrection is found in the 4000-year-old Pyramid Texts: "Oh HR, this hour of the morning, of this third day is come, when thou surely passeth on to heaven, together with the stars, the imperishable stars." (Utterance 667) In fact, the earliest known resurrection texts were written by the Jesus' early Hebrew ancestors (4200 - 2000 BC). HR in proto-Egyptian means "Most High One".


If you are just now joining this study, welcome! Between 600 and 800 people have joined us. If you wish to catch up, you will find links to the previous lessons below. Join us next week as we continue our study of Matthew's Gospel.
Matthew Chapter 16: Preparing for the End


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