The Bible, the Gospel of Matthew with comments for better understanding and practical application. More videos and articles on: https://nekomunatobezalezi.cz/en/
- Jesus transforms on the mountain – Jesus, Moses and Elijah
After six days, Jesus took only Peter, James and his brother John with him and they went up to a high mountain. Suddenly the disciples noticed that Jesus’ appearance had changed. His face shone dazzlingly like the sun, and his clothing excelled in whiteness. Just then they saw Moses and Elijah talking to him. Commentary: In Chapter 16 in the last verse we read: Some of you will witness the glory and power of my kingdom during your lifetime.” Could this experience mean that Peter, James and John – during their lifetime – witnessed the glory and power of the kingdom of God? After Peter experienced this Here!’ But before he finished, a cloud covered them and they heard a voice: ‘This is my beloved Son, my joy, listen to it!’ When the disciples heard this, they fell to the ground with respectful fear. Jesus came to them, touched them and said: ‘Get up and do not be afraid!’ When they looked around, they saw only Jesus himself. Comment: In Luke 9:28-36 we will learn even more details about what happened on the mountain. Lukáš spent several years with Paul in Rome. In 2 Timothy 4: 11 we read: Only Lukáš remained here. And in Acts 28:30 Luke records: For two whole years, Paul was in his private Roman prison and was allowed to receive all visitors. Peter also spent the later part of his service in Rome. So Luke most likely has his information directly from Peter, who was personally on that mountain with Jesus! So how does Lukáš serve it? – About a week after this conversation, Jesus went up to one mountain with Peter, James and John to pray there. During the prayer, the expression of Jesus’ face was transformed and his garment also dazzlingly whitened. Suddenly two men with an extraterrestrial appearance appeared there – it was Moses and Elijah. They talked to Jesus about the events that await him in Jerusalem – the end of his earthly life and his departure to the Father. Moses and Elijah were a supporting team whose task was to encourage Jesus. Jesus already knew what awaited him, but since he was partly a person like us, he needed to be encouraged. That’s why we shouldn’t be ashamed to ask for help when we need it. It also follows from this part of the Bible that Jesus had various circles of the elect. In this case, he took only Peter, Jakub and his brother Jan – the Zebed brothers, about whom we had already read in the 4th chapter. The next circuit was 12 disciples. Later there is talk of 70 disciples (Luke 10:1). The apostle John, the brother of James, who wrote the Gospel of John, 3 letters in the Bible and the last book in the Bible – Revelation (sometimes also called the Apocalypse), often refers to himself as the disciple whom Jesus liked very much. Maybe he was his best friend. I dare to suggest that it depended on their desire for God and the desire to do what makes him happy. It is an interesting direct proportionality – the more we try to be closer to God and the more we do what he wants from us, the closer we are to him and the more blessings we experience in our lives. Who was Jesus talking to on that mountain? With Moses and Elijah! What does this mean? A lot of things, but above all the fact that those who have already died continue to live, as if behind a curtain, in another dimension. – See Jews 11, in which those who have already died are listed, and subsequently in chapter 12:1 it is written: ‘When we are surrounded by such a crowd of witnesses…’ We are surrounded by them! And not only them! Angels are available to us too!
- Faith Transfers the Mountains
A man knelt before Jesus and said, “Lord, have mercy on my son! He will try many, he has evil fits and during them he will often fall into the fire or into the water. I begged your disciples, but they do not know with him advice.’ Jesus sighed, ‘What is wrong with you? You do not believe and hinder God’s power! I have no easy time with you. Bring him here!’ Then Jesus commanded the demon who was the cause of the disease to leave the boy. And from that moment the boy was healthy. Then when he and Jesus were alone, the disciples asked, ‘Why could we not heal the boy?’ Jesus answered them: ‘Because you have little faith. Comment: If we want to have more faith, what can we do for it? – listen and read God’s word! – see Romans 10:17.
- Jesus predicts his death a second time
When they came to Galilee, Jesus said to them: ‘I am to be delivered into the hands of those who will kill me. But on the third day I will rise again to life.’ It made the disciples very sad. Comment: Interesting that they were more interested in him dying than rising from the dead. This was a completely new concept for them, which they did not run out of for a long time.
- Peter finds a coin in the fish
In Capernaum, the temple tax collectors came to Peter and asked, ‘Your master doesn’t pay tax?’ ‘It’s true,’ replied Peter. Comment: This was a temple tax. The idea that the Son of God pays God a tax is ridiculous. Yet Jesus used humility rather than fighting and paying the tax. Mostly SNC Bible translation online: https://www.bible.com/cs/bible/162/MAT.17.SNC
