Matthew 17

Matthew 17:2

TRansfigured] not in his natural shape, forme and stature of his body, but in regard of a miraculous splendor with which hee was covered as it were for a proofe of his glory.

Matthew 17:3

Moses] to signifie the consent and concordancie which was betweene Christ, and the Law and the Prophets. Now they were knowne to the Apostles, either by mentall revelation, or by their discourses.

Matthew 17:4

It is good] words of a man in rapture not knowing what he said, Luke 9:33. dazeled with the Majestie of this glory, transported with the present joy, contrary to the terror of the death and passion of the Lord whereof Moses and Elias were talking with him, Luke 9 31.

Matthew 17:5

Overshadowed them] Namely those representations of Moses and Elias, which it is very likely was but in vision and vanished away, this cloud covering them: And Iesus remained alone appearing in his true body and reall substance.

Matthew 17:9

Tell the vision] See the cause thereof, upon Matth. 16. 20.

Matthew 17:10

Why then] Seeing that Elias who appeared even now, hath againe withdrawne himselfe, how can this agree with the common opinion of the Iewish Doctors grounded upon the Prophesie of Mal. 45. (though evill understood) that he must come into the world before the comming of the Messias: shall he come another time, and in another manner. Or seeing thou art already come, and hast revealed thy selfe in thy glory, how doe they say that Elias ought to come before thee.

Matthew 17:11

And restore] that is to say hee shall serve to conwert Gods people from their evill wayes and corruptions both in doctrine and manner of living, and shall prepare them to receave Iesus Christ, and so shall establish the state of the Church. See Luke 1:16-17.

Matthew 17:15

Lunaticke] that is to say by the meere operation of the Devill or by a naturall disease accompanied with or aggravated by the possession of the Devill. v. 18 See Mat. 9. 32. and 12. 22.

Matthew 17:16

The Children] that is to say according to this common reason, I the Sonne of God, and Lord of the Temple should be free. But seeing I am not yet knowen to〈◊〉 such, I will pay it, because that this people shall not take me to be a contemner of Gods order and service.

Matthew 17:17

O faithlesse] it appeares by Marke 9. 14. that he doth hereby reprove the Iewes who contended with the Disciples, and contradicted their doctrine, a if they could not have verified it by this miracle. It might also bee a generall reproofe to the father of the Child and to the Iewes, for their incredulity, and to the Disciples also, because that for want of Faith in Christs speciall promise, Matth. 10. 1. they had made themselves incapable of doing this miracle.

Matthew 17:20

If yee have saith] seeing that the command of working miracles, and the promise of Gods assistance to the working of them, was not generall to all beleevers but particular to the Apostles, and other persons of those primitive ages of the Christian Church, to whom God revealed this his will. Therefore by this word Faith, must no bee understood the common faith of all beleevers to the generall promises of Gods grace, but the particular faith in those promises. 1 Corinthians 12:9. and this faith was a condition which God required in that man whom he would asist with his power in the working of that miracle Te shall say] if God hath made you any such promise; Or if by secret inspiration it bee revealed unto you that it is convenient and necessary for the confirmation of the Gospell.

Matthew 17:21

This kind] It seemes that from hence and, Matth 2. 45. It may bee gathered, that there are some Devills more malignant, cruell and obstinate them others. And others beleeve that the difference consists onely in the more or lesse power that God doth grant them By prayer] not by a transistory act of faith: but by a long and persevering exercise of it, to obtaine at Gods hands the victory over so powerfull and rebellious an enomy of faith, desiring Gods power by prayer: and prayer being enflamed and purged by fasting.

Matthew 17:24

They that] these it should seeme were the Collectors of the halfe Sheckell, that every Iew above twenty yeares of age did pay yearely after hee was once set downe in the roll of his Nation, Exodus 30:13. who under the Roman Empire, and in Capernaum a Citie of Galilce, where there was a mixture of Pagans, and many Iewes which were not very religious and libertines, gathered this money onely of those who voluntarily paid it without any enforcement, or authority. For the Romans under had assigned this money for the Capitoll: though the most pious kinde of Iewes paid it also voluntarily to the Temple. See Matthew 22:17 Doth not] that is to say is not your master one of those good and willing Iewes, that of their owne accord pay this dutie to the Temple?

Matthew 17:27

For mee and thee] peradventure because the other Disciples were absent, or because these Collectors had spoken to Peter lonely.