A bright cloud overshadowed them - Or as six MSS. and Ephraim read it, a cloud of light, νεφελη φωτος; which reading Griesbach has admitted into the text. As a bright cloud, or a cloud of light could not overshadow, or cast any kind of shade, the word επεσκιασεν should be translated, surrounded them. A cloud was frequently the symbol of the Divine presence; but such a cloud had always something very remarkable in its appearance. Ezekiel, Ezekiel 1:4, represents it as a great cloud, and a fire unfolding itself, and a brightness about it, and out of the midst thereof, as the color of amber out of the midst of the fire; and in Ezekiel 1:28, he tells us that this was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. See also Exodus 16:10; Exodus 40:33, etc.; Ezekiel 43:2, and 1 Chronicles 5:14. But it was generally in a thick, dark cloud, that God manifested himself under the law; see Exodus 19:9; Exodus 20:21. This might be designed as emblematical of the old covenant, which was but the shadow of the good things which were to come, Hebrews 10:1; and the cloud of light mentioned here, the emblem of that glorious display of God, in his Gospel, by which life and immortality were brought to light, 2 Timothy 1:10.

This is my beloved Son - Ουτος εϚιν ο υιος μου ο αγαπητος, εν ω ευδοκησα, This is my Son, the beloved one, in who I have delighted, or, been well pleased. God adds his testimony of approbation to what was spoken of the sufferings of Christ by Moses and Elijah; thus showing that the sacrificial economy of the old covenant was in itself of no worth, but as it referred to the grand atonement which Jesus was about to make; therefore he says, In him Have I delighted, (ευδοκησα), intimating that it was in him alone, as typified by those sacrifices, that he Had delighted through the whole course of the legal administration; and that it was only in reference to the death of his Son that he accepted the offerings and oblations made to him under the old covenant. Hear Him. The disciples wished to detain Moses and Elijah that they might hear them: but God shows that the law which had been in force, and the prophets which had prophesied, until now, must all give place to Jesus; and he alone must now be attended to, as the way, the truth, and the life; for no man could now come unto the Father but through him. This voice seems also to refer to that prediction in Deuteronomy 18:15. The Lord shall raise up a Prophet like unto me: Him Shall Ye Hear. Go no more to the law, nor to the prophets, to seek for a coming Messiah; for behold he Is come! Hear and obey him, and him only.

This transfiguration must have greatly confirmed the disciples in the belief of a future state, and in the doctrine of the resurrection; they saw Moses and Elijah still Existing, though the former had been gathered to his fathers upwards of 1400 years, and the latter had been translated nearly 900.

behold.

Exodus 40:34,35 Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle...

1 Kings 8:10-12 And it came to pass, when the priests were come out of the holy place, that the cloud filled the house of the LORD...

Psalm 18:10,11 And he rode on a cherub, and did fly: yes, he did fly on the wings of the wind...

Luke 9:34 While he thus spoke, there came a cloud, and overshadowed them: and they feared as they entered into the cloud.

Acts 1:9 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.

Revelation 1:7 Behold, he comes with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him...

a voice.

Exodus 19:19 And when the voice of the trumpet sounded long, and waxed louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God answered him by a voice.

Deuteronomy 4:11,12 And you came near and stood under the mountain; and the mountain burned with fire to the middle of heaven, with darkness, clouds...

Deuteronomy 5:22 These words the LORD spoke to all your assembly in the mount out of the middle of the fire, of the cloud, and of the thick darkness...

Job 38:1 Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said,

Psalm 81:7 You called in trouble, and I delivered you; I answered you in the secret place of thunder: I proved you at the waters of Meribah...

John 5:37 And the Father himself, which has sent me, has borne witness of me. You have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape.

John 12:28-30 Father, glorify your name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again...

Acts 9:3-6 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven...

This.

Matthew 3:17 And see a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

Mark 1:11 And there came a voice from heaven, saying, You are my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

Mark 9:7 And there was a cloud that overshadowed them: and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him.

Luke 3:22 And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove on him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, You are my beloved Son...

Luke 9:35 And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him.

John 3:16,35 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish...

John 5:20-23 For the Father loves the Son, and shows him all things that himself does: and he will show him greater works than these...

Ephesians 1:6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he has made us accepted in the beloved.

Colossians 1:13 Who has delivered us from the power of darkness, and has translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:

*marg:

2 Peter 1:16,17 For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ...

in whom.

Matthew 12:18 Behold my servant, whom I have chosen; my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my spirit on him...

Isaiah 42:1,21 Behold my servant, whom I uphold; my elect, in whom my soul delights; I have put my spirit on him...

John 15:9,10 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you: continue you in my love...

hear.

Deuteronomy 18:15,19 The LORD your God will raise up to you a Prophet from the middle of you, of your brothers, like to me; to him you shall listen...

Acts 3:22,23 For Moses truly said to the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up to you of your brothers, like to me...

Acts 7:37 This is that Moses, which said to the children of Israel, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up to you of your brothers...

Hebrews 1:1,2 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets...

Hebrews 2:1-3 Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip...

Hebrews 5:9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation to all them that obey him;

Hebrews 12:25,26 See that you refuse not him that speaks. For if they escaped not who refused him that spoke on earth, much more shall not we escape...

The Coin in the Fish's Mouth
'And when he was come into the house, Jesus prevented him, saying, What thinkest them, Simon? of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own children, or of strangers? 26. Peter saith unto Him, Of strangers. Jesus saith unto him, Then are the children free.'--MATT. xvii. 25, 26. All our Lord's miracles are 'signs' as well as 'wonders.' They have a meaning. They not only authenticate His teaching, but they are themselves no inconsiderable portion of the teaching. They are not …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

1 to Pray is as it were to be on Speaking Terms with Me...
1. To pray is as it were to be on speaking terms with Me, and so by being in communion with and abiding in Me to become like Me. There is a kind of insect which feeds upon and lives among grass and green leaves and becomes like them in colour. Also the polar bear dwelling among the white snows has the same snowy whiteness, and the tiger of Bengal bears upon its skin the marks of the reeds among which it lives. So those, who by means of prayer abide in communion with Me partake, with the saints and …
Sadhu Sundar Singh—At The Master's Feet

Return to Galilee. The Passion Foretold.
^A Matt. XVII. 22, 23; ^B Mark IX. 30-32; ^C Luke IX. 43-45. ^b 30 And they went forth from thence [from the region of Cæsarea Philippi], and passed through Galilee [on his way to Capernaum]; and he would not that any man should know it. [He was still seeking that retirement which began on the journey to Tyre. See page 399. This is the last definite mention of that retirement, but we find it referred to again at John vii. 3, 4. See page 439.] 31 For he taught his disciples [the reason for his …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel