MATTHEW LESSON 34

     We begin this lesson in Matthew 17:1 "And after six days Jesus
taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into
an high mountain apart,"

     Six days are for work (whether that is important here, I cannot
say).  Whenever Jesus went apart and took anyone with Him, it was
always Peter, James, and John.  Jesus went often to the mountain top
to fellowship with God.  Maybe because it would not be so crowded, or
maybe He felt a little closer to the Father on the mountain.

     Matthew 17:2 "And was transfigured before them: and his face did
shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light."

     This, to me, is the same Light that was on the mountain when Moses
was there 40 days and nights.  He came down the mountain with his head
so bright, it had to be covered, so that it would not blind the people.
Jesus is the Light of the world.  This Light that was present at the
transfiguration was a presence of the Godhead.  We know that in heaven
there is no need for the sun or moon, because of the presence of the
Light of Jesus.  I really believe that Peter, James, and John, just
for a brief moment, saw Jesus in His heavenly glory.  White like this
means purity to the ultimate (free from all sin).  There surely
was a presence of Light so great, that it was breathtaking.

     Matthew 17:3 "And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and
Elias talking with him."

     It was really interesting that Moses and Elijah appeared with
Jesus at this transfiguration.  Many believe these two represent the
law and the prophets.  Certainly, that was who they were.  Moses
received the law from God for the people, and Elijah was a very
prominent prophet.  At the least, these two were their representatives
of "gone-on" saints to encourage Jesus about His crucifixion.  Perhaps,
this all happened so later on, after looking back on this incident,
these special disciples would understand better the person of Jesus,
and be able to share this with the others and with us.

     Matthew 17:4 "Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it
is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three
tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias."
Matthew 17:5 "While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed
them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my
beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him."

     Peter, in this statement, seemed to put Jesus in the category of
Moses and Elijah.  He had not brought Jesus down, he was just in awe
of what he saw, and put Moses and Elijah up.  God told him instantly
the position of Jesus; that Jesus only was His Son.  Peter, James, and
John would never forget this incident.  They knew the voice from the
bright cloud was God the Father, and they had seen Jesus step out of
His earthliness and take on His heavenliness for a short time.  The
message from the voice was emphatic.  "Hear ye him."  In other words,
do not question what He (Jesus) said, just do it.

     Matthew 17:6 "And when the disciples heard [it], they fell on
their face, and were sore afraid."

      This is the effect when anyone encounters God the Father in any
 way.  The awesomeness of the Father instantly puts you on your face,
 and you are frightened overwhelmingly.  I question anyone who says
 they have had an encounter with the Father, unless they were face
 down before Him and totally afraid.

     Matthew 17:7 "And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise,
and be not afraid." Matthew 17:8 "And when they had lifted up their
eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only."

      Jesus understood their fear and came, and touched them and
comforted them.  They had been so terrified, that they did not even
look up after the bright cloud appeared, until Jesus told them to. 
Jesus now assumed His role for this earth and looked no different than
He had before they came to this mountain.  These three disciples, for
all their lives, would have a fuller understanding of Jesus than any
of the others, because they were allowed to look into the heavenly for
just a short time and see Jesus in His heavenly role.

     Matthew 17:9 "And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus
charged them, saying, Tell the vision to no man, until the Son of man
be risen again from the dead."

      The other disciples were not supposed to know of this, or they
would have gone to the mountain with Jesus.  Jesus was willing for the
events of His crucifixion to take place.  This vision, if told, might
alter that.  It is difficult to understand after Peter had seen this,
that he would deny the Lord Jesus Christ.

     Matthew 17:10 "And his disciples asked him, saying, Why then say
the scribes that Elias must first come?"

     You see, even the disciples had listened to these Israelite laws
and dogmas and believed a certain amount of all this.  They knew that
Malachi 4:5 said Elijah would come before the Day of the Lord.  Some
translations say one like unto Elijah.

     Matthew 17:11 "And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias truly
shall first come, and restore all things."  Matthew 17:12 "But I say
unto you, That Elias is come already, and they knew him not, but have
done unto him whatsoever they listed.  Likewise shall also the Son of
man suffer of them."

     Jesus explained to His disciples that the Bible is true.
Everything that had been foretold would happen.  One like unto Elijah,
with the spirit of Elijah had already come.  He preached, repent for
the kingdom of heaven is at hand.  He explained to them that this
Elijah had suffered for God, and so would He likewise suffer on the
cross.  It is interesting, to me, that Elijah was carried to heaven in a
whirlwind and did not die as did John the Baptist, who was beheaded.

     Matthew 17:13 "Then the disciples understood that he spake unto
them of John the Baptist."

     We do not understand fully the things of God, so this is one of
those times when there is not a good explanation.  If the above
Scripture and the one in Malachi should read "one like unto Elijah",
we could understand this more clearly.  This particular thing, I will
not even attempt to explain.  We will leave this as one of God's great
mysteries.

     Matthew 17:14  "And when they were come to the multitude, there
came to him a [certain] man, kneeling down to him, and saying,"
Matthew 17:15 "Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatick, and
sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the
water."  Matthew 17:16 "And I brought him to thy disciples, and they
could not cure him."

     Sometimes demonic influences are so great in a person that it
will cause them to do very irrational things.  This boy had to be
under the total control of the devil to be in this condition.

     Matthew 17:17 "Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and
perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I
suffer you? bring him hither to me."

     Jesus upbraided the disciples here, and also all who do not
believe.  Their lack of belief was overwhelming to Him. He was really
saying, how long do I have to put up with your unbelief?

     Matthew 17:18 "And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out
of him: and the child was cured from that very hour."

     Nothing is impossible with Jesus.  He just spoke the Word and this
boy was free.

     Matthew 17:19 "Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said,
Why could not we cast him out?"

     This would be the question of many ministers today.  Most have no
power to deliver anyone from anything.  They do not ask in public,
They do not want to admit to the people, that they do not have the
power to do this.

     Matthew 17:20 "And Jesus said unto them, Because of your
unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of
mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder
place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you."
Matthew 17:21 "Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and
fasting."

     Jesus explained that faith is the ingredient that brings miracles.
You can have a miracle just as big as your faith is.  Sometimes
however, our faith is not strong enough, and then we must tap in to
the faith of God.  This is done by fasting.  During a fast, God feeds
us of Himself and His power.  His faith operating in us brings
tremendous miracles.  Then you could say unto a mountain of problems,
be removed, and it will have to move.  A literal mountain would have
to move, as well.  I like the sentence "nothing shall be impossible
unto you".  Say that over and over, because with God you can do
anything.


     We will begin the next lesson at verse 22.




                                 NOTES






































                         Matthew 34 Questions


1.  What three disciples did Jesus take to the mountain with Him?
2.  Which was James' brother?
3.  Why did Jesus go to the mountain?
4.  What shone as the sun?
5.  How white was His raiment?
6.  Who is the Light of the World?
7.  Why is there no need for the sun and moon in heaven?
8.  What is the author's special belief that Peter, James, and John
    were allowed to see for a moment?
9.  White like this means what?
10. What two men appeared with Jesus?
11. What did they represent?
12. What would these three disciples realize later?
13. What mistake did Peter suggest?
14. God the Father appeared in what?
15. How did they know it was God?
16. What did He say "do", pertaining to Jesus?
17. Who straightened Peter out instantly about the difference in
    Jesus, Moses, and Elijah?
18. What effect did God's voice have on Peter, James, and John?
19. What two things always happen when you are in the presence of the
    Father?
20. How did Jesus comfort them?
21. Why would these three know more about Jesus than anyone else?
22. What did Jesus tell them to do about this?
23. Who was prophesied to come before the great and terrible day of
    the Lord?
24. What book in the Old Testament prophesied this?
25. Who did the disciples understand was the spirit of Elijah?
26. What happened to him?
27. What was wrong with the boy brought to Jesus for healing?
28. What did this spirit cause him to do?
29. Why did Jesus say the disciples could not heal him?
30. Jesus said if you had faith as a mustard seed, you could do what?
31. What is the limit of a Christian?
32. Why do we fast?