Scofield Reference Bible Notes
Matthew 17

Mat 17:1 And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart,

after six days

Mar 9:2-10; Luk 9:27-36.

James

Scofield Matthew 4:21, note

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

was transfigured before them

The transfiguration scene contains, in miniature, all the elements of the future kingdom in manifestation:

1. The Lord, not in humiliation, but in glory (Mat 17:2).
2. Moses, glorified, representative of the redeemed who have passed through death into the kingdom (Mat 13:43; cf. Luk 9:30, 31).
3. Elijah, glorified, representative of the redeemed who have entered the kingdom by translation (1Co 15:50-53; 1Th 4:14-17).
4. Peter, James, and John, not glorified, representatives (for the moment) of Israel in the flesh in the future kingdom (Eze 37:21-27).
5. The multitude at the foot of the mountain (Mat 17:14), representative of the nations who are to be brought into the kingdom after it is established over Israel (Isa 11:10-12, etc.).

his face did shine

Rev 1:13-16; Heb 2:9; 2Co 4:6.

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

Moses and Elias

Resurrection. Mat 22:23, 28-31. (Job 19:25; 1 Cor 15:52.)

talking with him

Kingdom (N.T.). Mat 17:1-3; 19:27, 28. (Luk 1:31-33; 1Co 15:28).

Mat 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.

This is my beloved Son

Mat 3:17; 1Pe 1:21.

Mat 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.

Son of man

Also Mat 17:12, 22. See Scofield Matthew 8:20, note.

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

Why then say the scribes that Elias must first come?

Cf. Mat 11:14; Mar 9:11, 12, 13; Luk 1:17; Mal 3:1; 4:5, 6. All the passages must be construed together.

1. Christ confirms the specific and still unfulfilled prophecy of Mal 4:5, 6: "Elias shall truly first come and restore all things." Here, as in Malachi, the prediction fulfilled in John the Baptist, and that yet to be fulfilled in Elijah, are kept distinct.
2. But John the Baptist had come already, and with a ministry so completely in the spirit and power of Elijah's future ministry (Luk 1:17) that in an adumbrative and typical sense it could be said: "Elias is come already." Cf. Mat 10:40; Phm 1:12, 17, where the same thought of identification, while yet preserving personal distinction, occurs (cf. Jhn 1:27).

Mat 17:11 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things.

Elias truly shall first come

Mat 11:14; Luk 1:17; Mal 4:5; Mar 9:11-13.

Mat 17:14 And when they were come to the multitude, there came to him a certain man, kneeling down to him, and saying,

when they were come to the multitude

Mar 9:14-29; Luk 9:37-42; Psa 72:4-6.

Mat 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.

bring him hither to me

Mat 14:18; Jhn 15:5; Phl 4:13.

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

devil

demon. See Scofield Matthew 7:22, note.

the child was cured

Miracles (N.T.). Mat 17:14-18, 24-27; Mat 20:30-34. (Mat 8:2-3; Act 28:8-9.)

Mat 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.

unbelief

Literally, little faith. Mat 16:8; 21:21; Luk 17:6.

faith

Faith. Mar 9:23. (Gen 3:20; Heb 11:39.)

Mat 17:21 Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.

The two best manuscripts omit Mat 17:21.

by prayer and fasting

Act 13:2, 3; 2Co 12:9.

Mat 17:22 And while they abode in Galilee, Jesus said unto them, The Son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of men:

betrayed into the hands of men

Mat 16:21; Mar 9:30-32; Luk 9:43-45.

Mat 17:25 He saith, Yes. And when he was come into the house, Jesus prevented him, saying, What thinkest thou, Simon? of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own children, or of strangers?

prevented

anticipated.

strangers

Isa 60:10-17; 49:22-23.