Chapter 17:
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Johnson
| Lightfoot
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| McGarvey Pendleton
| Wesley
| Index
| Bible Gateway |
Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 Malachi Mark
Matthew 17
Verse 1. A high mountain - Probably Mount Tabor. Mark ix, 2; Luke ix,
28.
Verse
2. And was transfigured - Or transformed. The indwelling Deity
darted out its rays through the veil of the flesh; and that with such
transcendent splendour, that he no longer bore the form of a
servant. His face shone with Divine majesty, like the sun in its
strength; and all his body was so irradiated by it, that his clothes
could not conceal its glory, but became white and glittering as the
very light, with which he covered himself as with a garment.
Verse
3. There appeared Moses and Elijah - Here for the full
confirmation of their faith in Jesus, Moses, the giver of the law,
Elijah, the most zealous of all the prophets, and God speaking
from heaven, all bore witness to him.
Verse
4. Let us make three tents - The words of rapturous surprise. He
says three, not six: because the apostles desired to be with their
Master.
Verse
5. Hear ye him - As superior even to Moses and the prophets. See
Deut. xviii, 17.
Verse
7. Be not afraid - And doubtless the same moment he gave them
courage and strength.
Verse
9. Tell the vision to no man - Not to the rest of the disciples, lest
they should be grieved and discouraged because they were not
admitted to the sight: nor to any other persons, lest it should
enrage some the more, and his approaching sufferings shall make
others disbelieve it; till the Son of man be risen again - Till the
resurrection should make it credible, and confirm their testimony
about it.
Verse
10. Why then say the scribes, that Elijah must come first - Before
the Messiah? If no man is to know of his coming? Should we not
rather tell every man, that he is come, and that we have seen him,
witnessing to thee as the Messiah?
Verse
11. Regulate all things - In order to the coming of Christ.
Verse
12. Elijah is come already - And yet when the Jews asked John,
Art thou Elijah? He said, I am not, John i, 21. His meaning was, I
am not Elijah the Tishbite, come again into the world. But he was
the person of whom Malachi prophesied under that name.
Verse
14. Mark ix, 14; Luke xi, 37.
Verse
15. He is lunatic - This word might with great propriety he used,
though the case was mostly preternatural; as the evil spirit would
undoubtedly take advantage of the influence which the changes of
the moon have on the brain and nerves.
Verse
17. O unbelieving and perverse generation - Our Lord speaks
principally this to his disciples. How long shall I be with you? -
Before you steadfastly believe?
Verse
20. Because of your unbelief - Because in this particular they had
not faith. If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed - That is, the
least measure of it. But it is certain, the faith which is here spoken
of does not always imply saving faith. Many have had it who
thereby cast out devils, and yet will at last have their portion with
them. It is only a supernatural persuasion given a man, that God
will work thus by him at that hour. Now, though I have all this
faith so as to remove mountains, yet if I have not the faith which
worketh by love, I am nothing. To remove mountains was a
proverbial phrase among the Jews, and is still retained in their
writings, to express a thing which is very difficult, and to
appearance impossible. Matt. xxi, 21; Luke xvii, 6.
Verse
21. This kind of devils - goeth not out but by prayer and fasting -
What a testimony is here of the efficacy of fasting, when added to
fervent prayer! Some kinds of devils the apostles had cast out
before this, without fasting.
Verse
22. Mark ix, 30; Luke ix, 44.
Verse
24. When they were come to Capernaum - Where our Lord now
dwelt. This was the reason why they stayed till he came thither, to
ask him for the tribute. Doth not your Master pay tribute? - This
was a tribute or payment of a peculiar kind, being half a shekel,
(that is, about fifteen pence, ) which every master of a family used
to pay yearly to the service of the temple, to buy salt, and little
things not otherwise provided for. It seems to have been a
voluntary thing, which custom rather than any law had
established.
Verse
25. Jesus prevented him - Just when St. Peter was going to ask
him for it. Of their own sons, or of strangers? - That is, such as are
not of their own family.
Verse
26. Then are the sons free - The sense is, This is paid for the use
of the house of God. But I am the Son of God. Therefore I am free
from any obligation of paying this to my own Father.
Verse
27. Yet that, we may not offend them - Even those unjust,
unreasonable men, who claim what they have no manner of right
to: do not contest it with them, bat rather yield to their demand,
than violate peace or love. O what would not one of a loving spirit
do for peace! Any thing which is not expressly forbidden in the
word of God. A piece of money - The original word is a stater,
which was in value two shillings and sixpence: just the sum that
was wanted. Give for me and thee - Peter had a family of his own:
the other apostles were the family of Jesus. How illustrious a
degree of knowledge and power did our Lord here discover!
Knowledge, penetrating into this animal, though beneath the
waters; and power, in directing this very fish to Peter's hook,
though he himself was at a distance! How must this have
encouraged both him and his brethren in a firm dependence on
Divine Providence.
Chapter 17:
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Johnson
| Lightfoot
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| McGarvey Pendleton
| Wesley
| Index
| Bible Gateway |
Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 Malachi Mark
This version of Wesley's Notes on the Bible is a derivative of an electronic version, Copyright 1997, by Sulu D. Kelley. All rights reserved. Used by permission. It may not be modified or used commercially without permission of Wesleyan Heritage Publishing and Sulu Kelley. A special thanks to Mr. Kelley and Wesleyan Heritage Publishing for permission to create and post this version of Wesley's Notes on the Bible.
Genesis
Exodus
Leviticus
Numbers
Deuteronomy
Joshua
Judges
Ruth
1 Samuel
2 Samuel
1 Kings
2 Kings
1 Chronicles
2 Chronicles
Ezra
Nehemiah
Esther
Job
Psalm
Proverbs
Ecclesiastes
Song of Solomon
Isaiah
Jeremiah
Lamentations
Ezekiel
Daniel
Hosea
Joel
Amos
Obadiah
Jonah
Micah
Nahum
Habakkuk
Zephaniah
Haggai
Zechariah
Malachi
Matthew
Mark
Luke
John
Acts
Romans
1 Corinthians
2 Corinthians
Galatians
Ephesians
Philippians
Colossians
1 Thessalonians
2 Thessalonians
1 Timothy
2 Timothy
Titus
Philemon
Hebrews
James
1 Peter
2 Peter
1 John
2 John
3 John
Jude
Revelation
