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February 22, 2017

Transfiguration Sunday

Communion of the Saints

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

 

Readings
 

Common

Catholic

Episcopal
First Reading Exodus 24:12-18 Isaiah 58:7-10 Exodus 24:12(13-14)15-18
Second Reading 2 Peter 1:16-21 1 Corinthians 2:1-5 Philippians 3:7-14
Psalm  99 112:4-5, 6-7, 8-9  99
Gospel Matthew 17:1-9 Matthew 5:13-16 Matthew 17:1-9
See Also
Year B - Year C		   5th in Ordinary Time -- Transfiguration of the Lord (August 6)

 

1. Happy the souls to Jesus joined,
And saved by grace alone,
Walking in all his ways they find
Their heaven on earth begun.		 3. Thee in thy glorious realm they praise,
And bow before thy throne,
We in the kingdom of thy grace:
The kingdoms are but one.
2. The church triumphant in thy love,
Their mighty joys we know;
They sing the Lamb in hymns above,
And we in hymns below. 		 4. The holy to the holiest leads,
From thence our spirits rise,
And he that in thy statutes treads
Shall meet thee in the skies.
- Charles Wesley

Quotes & Notes on:    Matthew 17:7  

  • It is Christ by his word, and the power of his grace going along with it, that raises up good men from their dejections, and silences their fears; and none but Christ can do it.


    • - Matthew Henry, Commentary, Vol. 5, p. 244
     

  • Christ's errand into the world was to give comfort to good people, that, being delivered out of the hands of their enemies, they might serve God without fear, Luke 1:74-75.


    • - Matthew Henry, Commentary, Vol. 5, p. 245

  • Matthew follows Mark quite closely, except for the addition of verses 6 and 7, the disciples' "fear" (so the Greek) and Jesus' attempt to quiet their fear by his reassuring touch and the words "Rise, and have no fear."  In the Bible, fear is always the human reaction to a theophany (see, for example, Rev. 1:17).  It is overcome, not by saying that confrontation with the presence of God is a casual, everyday experience which there is no reason to fear, but only by the encouraging word of Christ (see Matt. 14:27; 28:5, 10).


    • - Reginald H. Fuller, Preaching the Lectionary, p. 43
     

  • So the same Saviour touched John in the Apocalypse, (Rev. 1:17).


    • - D.D. Whedon, Commentary on the Gospels, Vol. Matthew-Mark, p. 208
     

  • Significantly, the voice from the cloud uses the same words and confirms the message which came from heaven at the baptism of Jesus (Matthew 3:17).


    • - Howard Clark Kee, Interpreter's One-Volume Commentary: Matthew, p. 630
     

  • The whole Trinity appeared:  the Father in the voice;  the Son in the man;  the Spirit in the shining cloud.


    • - St. Thomas Aquinas, as quoted in  Catechism of the Catholic Church, (Missouri: Liguori, 1994)  ¶555
     

  • You were transfigured on the mountain, and your disciples, as much as they were capable of it, beheld your glory, O Christ our God, so that when they should see you crucified they would understand that your Passion was voluntary, and proclaim to the world that you truly are the splendor of the Father.


    • - Byzantine Liturgy, Feast of the Transfiguratiion, as quoted in Catechism of the Catholic Church, (Missouri: Liguori, 1994)  ¶555
     

  • The Transfiguration gives us a foretaste of Christ's glorious coming, when he "will change our lowly body to be like his glorious body." (Philippians 3:21).


    • -  Catechism of the Catholic Church, (Missouri: Liguori, 1994)  ¶556
     

  • The idea is change (meta-) of form (morphê). It really presents the essence of a thing as separate from the schêma (fashion), the outward accident. So in Ro 12:2 Paul uses both verbs, sunschematizesthe (be not fashioned) and metamorphousthe (be ye transformed in your inner life). So in 1Co 7:31 schêma is used for the fashion of the world while in Mr 16:12 morphê is used of the form of Jesus after his resurrection.


    • - Robertson's Word Pictures, Matthew 17:2
     

  •  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.


    • - Wesley, John, Notes Upon the New Testament, Vol. 1, on Matthew 17:2

     

  • The glory of the Saviour when on earth was veiled in his humanity; but on the Mount of Transfiguration it shone forth above the brightness of the sun; and as a full view of it, if continued, would unfit his people for their duties on earth, they must wait for this till they see him in heaven.


    • - Family Bible Notes, Matthew 17:2

     

  • That fulness of the Godhead, which dwelt bodily in Christ, now shone forth through the human nature, and manifested to his disciples not only that Divinity which Peter had before confessed, Mt 16:16, but also the glorious resurrection body, in which they should exist in the presence of God to eternity.


    • - Clarke, Adam, Adam Clarke's Commentary, Matthew 17:2

     

  • Why do we detach ourselves from our ancestry above?  We belong to the grand heroic days.  We never meet in God's house without coming to an innumerable company of angels, and the spirits of the just made perfect.  We also are compassed about with a great cloud of witnesses;  why let our eyes plunge themselves in the cold walls as terminal lines?  We are not come to the mount that might be touched, but to Mount Zion, more a life than a mountain, the church of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem.  When these reflections seize the mind and fill it with all their poetry and stir it with all their ineffable passion, we too are metamorphosed, our hymn is not sung by ourselves alone;  or, if we have a hymn of our own, they have a hymn of theirs, and the hymns melt and blend, and being transfused, strength to strength, passion to passion, "They sing the Lamb in hymns above, and we in hymns below."


    • - Joseph Parker, People's Bible, Vol. 20, p.24
     

  • John Wesley's Notes:
      Be not afraid-And doubtless the same moment he gave them courage and strength.
     

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge:
    * touched. Da 8:18; 9:21; 10:10,18; Re 1:17
    * Arise. Lu 24:5; Ac 9:6
     

  •  1599 Geneva Bible Notes
    (No comment on this verse)
     

  • - Adam Clarke, Commentary 
    Jesus came and touched them] Exactly parallel to this account is Da 8:18, I was in a deep sleep, i, e. (a trance) on my face towards the ground; but he TOUCHED me, and set me upright. From Jesus alone are we to expect Divine communications, and by his power only are we able to bear and improve them. It is very likely that this transfiguration took place in the night, which was a more proper season to show forth its glory than the day time, in which a part of the splendour must necessarily be lost by the presence of the solar light. Besides, St. Luke, Lu 9:37, expressly says, that it was on the next day after the transfiguration that our Lord came down from the mount.
     

  • Family Bible Notes
     (No comment on this verse)
     

  • People's New Testament Commentary:
       Arise, be not afraid. So the Lord ever speaks to his disciples in danger or fear [Mt 14:27; 28:10; Mr 5:36; 6:50; Lu 12:4; Joh 6:20; Ac 18:9].
     

  • Robertson's Word Pictures:
      And touched them (kai hapsamenos autôn). Tenderness in their time of fear.
     

  • Albert Barnes' Commentary:
         "touched them" Da 10:10,18; Re 1:17
     

  • Jamieson-Faussett Brown:
     And he opened his mouth--a solemn way of arousing the reader's attention, and preparing him for something weighty. (Job 9:1; Ac 8:35; 10:34).
     

  • Spurgeon Commentary:
     Jesus had seemed to go away from them, lost in a cloud of brightness; but now he "came and touched them." His communings with pure spirits did not make him disdain the touch of feeble flesh. Oh, the sweet comfort of that gentle touch! It aroused, consoled, and strengthened his amazed and trembling disciples. The touch of the manhood is more reassuring to poor
    flesh and blood than the blaze of the Godhead. The voice from heaven casts down; but the word from Jesus is, "Arise." The Father's voice made them sore afraid, but Jesus says, "Be not afraid." Glorious God, how much we bless thee for the Mediator!
     

  • William Burkitt's Notes:
    (No comment on this verse)
     

  • Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary:
    (No comment on this verse)
     

  • The Fourfold Gospel:
    Arise, and be not afraid. As mediator between man and God, Jesus removes fear.


     


 
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Hymns
Bob VanWyk, Lectionary Hymn Reviewer
 
 

  • Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise   
  • O Morning Star, How Fair and Bright   - Relates to 2 Peter 1:19. Harmonized by Bach.
  • Open My Eyes that I May See  
  • Christ Upon the Mountain Peak  John Bertalot -Ausburg Fortress
  • Jesus on the Mountain Peak  - words by Bryan Wren, 1962, Hope Publishing -
  • O Wondrous Sight, O Vision Fair   This should be in many hymnbooks. The music is "The Agincourt Song."
  • Swiftly Pass the Clouds of Glory   - The tune may be familiar from its use with "Not Alone for Mighty Empire" and other hymns. In Presbyterian Hymnal. I don't know where else. 
  • I Love to Tell the Story
  • Wonderful Words of Life
  • Tell Me the Story of Jesus
  • Jesus Saves
  • He Touched Me
  • Happy the Souls to Jesus Joined
  • Because He Lives
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    Sermons, Outlines, & Commentaries
    Lanora Wright, Lectionary Topic Librarian

    See also:
    Weekly Lectionary Resources; 220.7 - Bible Commentaries; 251 - Homiletics;  252 - Sermon Texts;

    Transfiguration Sunday:  Year B; Year C

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    Parallel:  Mark 9:2-32;  Luke 9:28-44
    Gospel Harmony Event 102
     
     
     

    Salvation from What We Fear Most

    "And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid."  - Matthew 17:7

    • The Transfiguration addresses our greatest fears.

      • Death - Those who have gone on before us are still alive.

      • Ineffectiveness - We'd better set up some tabernacles.

      • Unworthiness - We are paralyzed by the awareness of our failures, shortcomings, and sin.

    • The touch of Jesus dissipates our fears and empowers us to arise.



    Exodus 24:12-18

    12 And the LORD said unto Moses, Come up to me into the mount, and be there: and I will give thee tables of stone, and
         a law, and commandments which I have written; that thou mayest teach them.
    13 And Moses rose up, and his minister Joshua: and Moses went up into the mount of God.
    14 And he said unto the elders, Tarry ye here for us, until we come again unto you: and, behold, Aaron and Hur are with
         you: if any man have any matters to do, let him come unto them.
    15 And Moses went up into the mount, and a cloud covered the mount.
    16 And the glory of the LORD abode upon mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it six days: and the seventh day he called
         unto Moses out of the midst of the cloud.
    17 And the sight of the glory of the LORD was like devouring fire on the top of the mount in the eyes of the children of
         Israel.
    18 And Moses went into the midst of the cloud, and gat him up into the mount: and Moses was in the mount forty days
         and forty nights.


    Psalm 99

    1 The LORD reigneth; let the people tremble: he sitteth between the cherubims; let the earth be moved.
    2 The LORD is great in Zion; and he is high above all the people.
    3 Let them praise thy great and terrible name; for it is holy.
    4 The king's strength also loveth judgment; thou dost establish equity, thou executest judgment and righteousness in
         Jacob.
    5 Exalt ye the LORD our God, and worship at his footstool; for he is holy.
    6 Moses and Aaron among his priests, and Samuel among them that call upon his name; they called upon the LORD,
         and he answered them.
    7 He spake unto them in the cloudy pillar: they kept his testimonies, and the ordinance that he gave them.
    8 Thou answeredst them, O LORD our God: thou wast a God that forgavest them, though thou tookest vengeance of
         their inventions.
    9 Exalt the LORD our God, and worship at his holy hill; for the LORD our God is holy.
     
     



    2 Peter 1:16-21

    16 For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our
         Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.
    17 For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory,
         This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
    18 And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.
    19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a
         dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:
    20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
    21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy
         Ghost.


    Matthew 17:1-9

    1 And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart,
    2 And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.
    3 And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him.
    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.
    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.
    6 And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid.
    7 And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid.
    8 And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only.
    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.


     
     
     
     


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