Matthew 17:1-8:
17:1And after six days Jesus takes-beside (himself) Peter and James and John his brother, and brought them up into a high mountain privately, .2and he was transformed in-front-of them, and his face shone as the sun and his outer-garments became white as the light. .3And look!, there was seen by them Moses and Elijah uttering-forth-together with him. .4But Peter having answered said to Jesus, “Lord, it is beautiful (for) us to be here; if you intend I will make here three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah….” .5(During) his yet uttering-forth, look!, a light cloud shadowed-on them, and look!, a sound out-from the cloud saying, “This is My son, the loved1 (son) in whom I consider-it-good, you must hear him.” .6And the learning-disciples having heard fell on their face and were caused-to-fear vehemently. .7And Jesus came-towards and having touched them said, “You must be-raised-up and you must not be-caused-to-fear.” .8And having lifted-up their eyes they saw not-one-person except Jesus himself only.
After six days following what is recorded at the end of chapter 16, Jesus takes (receives) Peter and James (Jacob) and John, the brother of James, beside himself, and brought them up into a high mountain privately (into Mount Hermon on their own without anyone else). It is interesting to note that the verb translated “brought up” can also be translated as: carried-upwards, bore-up, or offered-up (refer to Luke 24:51; Hebrews 7:27, 9:28, 13:15; James 2:21; I Peter 2:5 and 24).
And Jesus was transformed in-front-of them (he was caused to have his form changed, all of his being, his whole form, metamorphosis, not only the outward-appearance, he was transformed before them), and his face shone as the sun (his visage, countenance shone beaming out its bright and radiant light as the sun; the verb “shone” is usually a comparison to a lamp or torch shining, but here the comparison is to the sun) and his outer-garments became white as the light (his clothes came to pass to be radiant, emitting light, effulgent, brilliant and bright as the absolute light; it may be helpful to note here that the only true God, the Father of Jesus, is the light and God is the source of His true light, see I John 1:5).
And look (behold, see, calling attention to what happens next)!, there was seen by them Moses and Elijah uttering-forth-together with him (Moses and Elijah speaking in conjunction with Jesus). This seen-object was caused to be seen by Peter, James and John. It was presented to be perceived with their eyes and known by them. This is how God chose to communicate this extremely significant event to them.
Both of these great prophets, Moses (representing Jesus to complete the law – including Jesus’ sacrificial death) and Elijah (representing Jesus to fulfill prophecy – including Jesus’ resurrection and glorious life), could not have actually been there at that time because they had died long before this event occurred. With the exception of Jesus the Christ and excluding those who receive the gift of holy spirit between Acts 2:1-4 and Christ’s coming to gather holy-people/Christians (I Thessalonians 4:13-17), all other dead-people will not be resurrected until Christ will resurrect dead-people at a still-future time, as recorded in the Book of Revelation chapter 20. Both Moses and Elijah are still dead. They were types/patterns of the Christ. Jesus himself explains the truth of what Jesus and the three learning-disciples with him saw in verse 9 by calling it a “seen-object” – that is, something that is presented to their eyes so that they could see and perceive and know it.
But Peter having answered said to Jesus (he replied to what he saw by saying something, he gave his judicial sentence by speaking in response to what he saw), “Lord, it is beautiful for us to be here (Master, it is a manifestly decorous, harmonious and acceptably good thing that we are here in this place); if you intend (will, if it is your active volition and desire) I will make here three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah….” The purpose of making these three tents (sometimes translated ‘tabernacles’) would be for Jesus, Moses and Elijah to have their own covered places to come and meet with God at whatever time they would like to do so from that day forward.
However, while Peter was still speaking (not allowing him to finish) –
God had just given His son Jesus detailed information about his exodus from where he was at that time and into his future glory after his resurrection, via the seen-object of Moses and Elijah talking with him. Moses and Elijah were not there but this is how God chose to communicate the totality of what He gave Jesus to believe at this time. Then God declared His thoughts regarding the one who would accomplish God's plan of redemption and salvation once and for all. Jesus was to be the one speaking to God on behalf of the people, making intercession, offering the correct sacrifice for reconciliation, which in this case was himself, the lamb of God. And, God told Jesus about His acceptance of this sacrifice by resurrection and future glory. God also instructed Peter and James and John what they must do relative to Jesus – you must hear him. Jesus was also a prophet receiving information from God to speak to one or more of God’s people regarding and during many different circumstances and situations at that time.
When the learning-disciples (students) had heard what God said, they fell on their face (fell down flat on their faces demonstrating complete submission and homage) and were caused-to-fear vehemently (became very fearful, in terror, afraid to a great extent). And Jesus came towards them, and he touched (applied himself to) them saying, “You must be-raised-up (wake-up, arise from that position) and you must not be-caused-to-fear (not become fearful, not afraid).” When they had lifted-up their eyes they saw not-one-person except Jesus himself only (they didn’t perceive anyone except Jesus himself alone).
[Reference: Genesis 22:1-18; Exodus chapters 12 and 13, 24:13-16, 25:8, 22, 28:1-3, 33:7-11, 34:29-35, 40:34-38; Leviticus 9:6, 23; Deuteronomy 18:15-19; I Kings chapter 19; II Kings 2:1-18; Malachi 4:4-6; Matthew 3:17, 5:17, 11:7-20, and chapters 26-28; Mark 9:2-8; Luke 9:28-36, 24:26, 27; Acts 6:15, 7:58, 59, 12:2, 13:33-36; Romans 12:2; II Corinthians 3:18, 4:6; Hebrews 2:9-18, 3:1, 5:5-10, 11:22; II Peter 1:16-18; Revelation 1:16.]
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