Commentary on Matthew

Matthew 17

BOOK THREE (16.13–22.40) 197 promise about coming in the glory of the Father with the ministries of angels and with the authority of a judge will be later and will be postponed for a long time. Seeing in advance that they could make such objections, then, the one who knows secrets compensates for their present fear with an immediate reward . For what does he say? “There are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.” Thus on account of your lack of faith, the manner in which he is going to come later will be shown in the present time.56 Chapter 17 17.1. And after six days, Jesus took Peter, James, and John, his brother . We have frequently talked about57 how in certain passages of the Gospels, Peter, James, and John are separated from the others , and about what privileges they had beyond the other apostles .58 Now it is asked how it can be that after six days he takes them and leads them “onto a high mountain by themselves.” For Luke the evangelist records the number eight.59 But the answer is easy: here only the days in between are recorded, whereas there the first and last days are added. For it does not say: After eight days Jesus took Peter, James, and John, but: on the eighth day.60 17.1. And he led them onto a high mountain by themselves. For the disciples to be led to the mountainous places is their portion in the kingdom. The reason they are led by themselves is because “many are called, few are chosen.”61 56. Jerome’s interpretation reflects the thought of 2 Pt 1.17–19, where the Transfiguration is viewed as a preview, not of the Resurrection, but of the second coming of Christ. See on 17.2. 57. See above on Mt 13.47–49; 14.23. 58. Cf. Homily 77 in FOTC 57, 149. 59. Cf. Lk 9.28. 60. Actually, the text in Luke 9.28 does not say “on the eighth day” but “about eight days after these words.” The mistake is another sign of hasty composition . Cf. Homily 80 in FOTC 57, 161. 61. Mt 20.16; 22.14. 198 ST. JEROME 17.2. And he was transfigured before them. He appeared to the apostles in the form in which he will appear at the time of judgment . But as for what it says: “He was transfigured before them,” let no one think that he lost his original form and appearance, or that he lost the reality of his body and took up either a spiritual or an airy body. On the contrary the evangelist shows how he was transformed when he says: 17.2. And his face shone like the sun, and his clothing became white like snow. When the splendor of the face is shown and the brilliance of the clothing is described, it is not that the substance is removed, but the glory is changed.62 “His face shone like the sun.” Surely, the Lord was transformed into that glory with which he is going to come later in his kingdom. The transformation added splendor; it did not make his face disappear. Let it be that his body became spiritual.63 Were his garments also changed, which became so brilliant that another evangelist said: “Such as a fuller on earth is not able to make them”?64 Well, what a fuller on earth cannot do has to be something bodily and tactile, not something spiritual and airy that deceives the eyes and is seen only as an imaginary representation. 17.3. And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, speaking with him. When the scribes and Pharisees tested him and demanded signs from heaven, he was unwilling to give them.65 Instead he silenced the perverse request with a prudent answer. Here, however, in order to increase the faith of the apostles, he gives a sign from heaven. Elijah comes down from heaven to the place where Jesus had ascended. Moreover, Moses rises up from the lower world.66 This is exactly what Ahaz is commanded 62. Cf. Adv. Jov. 1.36; In Is. 58.14; In Is. prol. In lib. 17. 63. Cf. 1 Cor 15.44. 64. Mk 9.2. 65. Cf. Mt 12.38. 66. Jerome distinguishes the place occupied by Moses from that of Elijah: Moses is with...