Jerome — Commentary on Scripture

Matthew 17:4

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.

You go astray, Peter, just as the other Evangelist attests: you do not know what you are saying. Do not seek three tabernacles. Seek only the tabernacle of the gospel in which the law and the prophets are to be recapitulated. By seeking three tabernacles you appear to be comparing incommensurably the two servants with the one Lord. Seek only the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, for in these there is one God, who is to be worshiped in the tabernacle of your heart.

Matthew 17:5 · 3 passages

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.

Because Peter had asked imprudently, he does not merit the Lord’s answer. But the Father answered for the Son so that the word of the Lord might be fulfilled: “I do not bear witness for myself, but the Father who sent me, he bears witness for me.” The cloud appears bright and shades them, so that those who were looking for a material booth made from boughs or tents might be protected with the shade of a shining cloud. The voice of the Father speaking from heaven is also heard. It provides testimony and teaches Peter the truth with error removed, and in fact through Peter teaches all the apostles: “This is my beloved Son.” It is for him that you must build the tabernacle, him you must obey. “My Son” is distinguished from his servants, Moses and Elijah. They, along with you, are to prepare a tabernacle for the Lord in the inner sanctum of their heart.

While they thought only of an earthly tabernacle of boughs or tents, they are overshadowed by the covering of a bright cloud; While he yet spake, there came a bright cloud and overshadowed them. (Exod. 19:9, 16.) Forasmuch as Peter had asked unwisely, he deserves not any answer; but the Father makes answer for the Son, that the Lord's word might be fulfilled, He that sent me, he beareth witness of me. (John 5:37.) The voice of the Father is heard speaking from heaven, giving testimony to the Son, and teaching Peter the truth, taking away his error, and through Peter the other disciples also; whence he proceeds, This is my beloved Son. For Him make the tabernacle, Him obey; this is the Son, they are but servants; and they also ought as you to make ready a tabernacle for the Lord in the inmost parts of their heart. Their cause of terror is threefold. Because they knew that they had done amiss; or because the bright cloud had covered them; or because they had heard the voice of God the Father speaking; for human frailty cannot endure to look upon so great glory, and falls to the eart…

While they thought only of an earthly tabernacle of boughs or tents, they are overshadowed by the covering of a bright cloud; While he yet spake, there came a bright cloud and overshadowed them. (Exod. 19:9, 16.)

Forasmuch as Peter had asked unwisely, he deserves not any answer; but the Father makes answer for the Son, that the Lord's word might be fulfilled, He that sent me, he beareth witness of me. (John 5:37.)

The voice of the Father is heard speaking from heaven, giving testimony to the Son, and teaching Peter the truth, taking away his error, and through Peter the other disciples also; whence he proceeds, This is my beloved Son. For Him make the tabernacle, Him obey; this is the Son, they are but servants; and they also ought as you to make ready a tabernacle for the Lord in the inmost parts of their heart.

Their cause of terror is threefold. Because they knew that they had done amiss; or because the bright cloud had covered them; or because they had heard the voice of God the Father speaking; for human frailty cannot endure to look upon so great glory, and falls to the earth trembling through both soul and body. And by how much higher any one has aimed, by so much lower will be his fall, if he shall be ignorant of his own measure.

And whereas they were laid down, and could not raise themselves again, He approaches them, touches them gently, that by His touch their fear might be banished, and their unnerved limbs gain strength; And Jesus drew near, and touched them. But He further added His word to His hand, And said unto them, Arise, fear not. He first banishes their fear, that He may after impart teaching. It follows, And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only; which was done with good reason; for had Moses and Elias continued with the Lord, it might have seemed uncertain to which in particular the witness of the Father was borne. Also they see Jesus standing after the cloud has been removed, and Moses and Elias disappeared, because after the shadow of the Law and Prophets has departed, both are found in the Gospel. It follows; And as they came down from the mount, Jesus charged them, saying, Tell no man this vision, until the Son of Man shall rise from the dead. He will not be preached among the people, lest the marvel of the thing should seem incredible, and lest the cross following after so great glory should cause offence.

(Verse 5) While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them. And behold, a voice from the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him. Because he had asked foolishly, he does not deserve an answer from the Lord, but the Father speaks for the Son, so that the word of the Lord may be fulfilled: I do not testify of myself, but the Father who sent me, he testifies of me (John 5:37 and 8:18). But the cloud is seen as both bright and shadowed: like those who sought the tabernacle from the fleshly leaves or tents, they would be covered by the shadow of the bright cloud. Moreover, the voice of the Father speaking from heaven is heard, which also testifies to the Son; and through Peter, with error removed, teaches the truth: even through Peter to the other apostles. This is, he says, my beloved Son: to him the tabernacle must be affixed, to him obedience must be given. Here is the son, those slaves are: Moses and Elias themselves must prepare a tabernacle for the Lord with you in the innermost depths of their heart.

Matthew 17:6

And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid.

(Verse 6.) And when the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces and were exceedingly afraid. They were terrified for three reasons: either because they realized they had made a mistake, or because a shining cloud had covered them, or because they had heard the voice of God the Father speaking. For human frailty cannot bear the sight of greater glory and, trembling in mind and body, falls to the ground. The more one seeks greater things, the more one will collapse into lower things if one does not know one's own measure.

Matthew 17:7 · 2 passages

And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid.

(Verse 7) And Jesus came and touched them. Because they were lying down and unable to rise, he kindly approached and touched them, so that fear would flee with the touch and their weakened limbs would be strengthened.

And he said to them: Rise up, and do not be afraid. He who healed with his hand, heals with his command. Do not be afraid. First, fear is expelled, so that later, knowledge may be given.

For three possible reasons they were petrified with fear: either because they knew they had sinned or because the bright cloud covered them or because they had heard the voice of God the Father speaking. Human weakness is not strong enough to bear the sight of such great glory but trembles with its whole heart and body and falls to earth.… “And Jesus came up and touched them.” Because they were lying down and could not rise, he mercifully came up and touched them so that through his touch he might put to flight their fear and strengthen their weakened limbs. “And he said to them, ‘Rise, and don’t be afraid.’ ” Those whom he had healed with his hand, he heals with his command, “Have no fear.” First fear is expelled so that afterwards doctrine may be imparted.

Matthew 17:8

And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only.

(Verse 8.) But lifting up their eyes, they saw no one except Jesus alone. Reasonably, after they had risen, they saw no one except Jesus alone: lest if Moses and Elijah had continued with the Lord, the uncertain voice of the Father would be seen, to whom he would give the testimony. Therefore, they see Jesus standing, the cloud having been taken away, and Moses and Elijah had vanished: because after the shadow of the Law and the Prophets had departed, which had covered the apostles with its veil, both lights are found in the Gospel.

Matthew 17:9 · 2 passages

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.

The preview of the future kingdom and the glory of his triumph had been shown on the mountain. So he does not want this to be told to the people in case it should be deemed incredible because of its greatness and also so that after such great glory the event of the cross that follows should not cause untaught minds to stumble.

(Verse 9) And as they were coming down the mountain, Jesus commanded them, saying: Tell no one the vision, until the Son of Man rises from the dead. The anticipation of the coming kingdom, and the glory of the triumphant one, had been shown on the mountain. Therefore, He does not want this to be preached to the people, lest it be regarded as unbelievable for the greatness of the matter, and lest the cross, following such glory, would become a stumbling block to simple minds.

Matthew 17:10 · 3 passages

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

Unless we know the reasons why the disciples asked about the name of Elijah, their questioning seems foolish and extraordinary. For what does asking about Elijah’s arrival have to do with what was written above? The Pharisees’ tradition, following the prophet Malachi of the twelve minor prophets, is that Elijah comes before the end. He turns the hearts of the fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers and restores everything to its ancient state. So the disciples think that the transfiguration of glory is the one that they have seen on the mountain and say, “If you now have come in glory, why does your precursor not appear?” especially since they had seen Elijah disappear. But when they say, “The scribes say that Elijah must first come,” by the word first they are saying that unless Elijah comes, it is not the advent of the Savior according to the Scriptures. firstthey are saying that unless Elijah comes, it is not the advent of the Savior according to the Scriptures.

It was a tradition of the Pharisees following the Prophet Malachi, that Elias should come before the coming of the Saviour, and bring back the heart of the fathers to the children, and the children to the fathers, and restore all things to their ancient state. The disciples then consider that this transformation which they had seen in the mount was His coming in glory, and therefore it is said, And his disciples asked him, saying, How then say the Scribes that Elias must first come? As though they had said, If you have already come in glory, how is it that your forerunner appears not yet? And this they say chiefly because they see that Elias is departed again. He then who at the Saviour's second coming should come in the truth of His body, come now in John in power and spirit. It follows, And they knew him not, but did unto him whatsoever they would, that is, despised and beheaded him. It is enquired how, seeing that Herod and Herodias were they that killed John, it can be said that Jesus also was crucified by them, when we read that He was put to death by the Scribes and Pharisees…

It was a tradition of the Pharisees following the Prophet Malachi, that Elias should come before the coming of the Saviour, and bring back the heart of the fathers to the children, and the children to the fathers, and restore all things to their ancient state. The disciples then consider that this transformation which they had seen in the mount was His coming in glory, and therefore it is said, And his disciples asked him, saying, How then say the Scribes that Elias must first come? As though they had said, If you have already come in glory, how is it that your forerunner appears not yet? And this they say chiefly because they see that Elias is departed again.

He then who at the Saviour's second coming should come in the truth of His body, come now in John in power and spirit. It follows, And they knew him not, but did unto him whatsoever they would, that is, despised and beheaded him.

It is enquired how, seeing that Herod and Herodias were they that killed John, it can be said that Jesus also was crucified by them, when we read that He was put to death by the Scribes and Pharisees? It must be answered briefly, that the party of the Pharisees consented to the death of John, and that in the Lord's crucifixion Herod united his approval, when having mocked and set Him at nought, he sent Him back to Pilate, that he should crucify Him.

(Verse 10.) And the disciples asked him, saying, Why then do the scribes say that Elijah must come first? Unless we know the reasons why the disciples asked about the name of Elijah, their questioning seems foolish and extraordinary. For what does it matter to inquire about the coming of Elijah, which is written above? The tradition of the Pharisees is, according to the prophet Malachi (who is the last of the twelve), that Elijah will come before the coming of the Savior and restore the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to the fathers, and restore everything to its former state (Malachi 4). Therefore, the disciples think that this transformation of glory, which they see on the mountain, is the one they have seen, and they say: If you have already come in glory, why does your precursor not appear, especially since they saw Elijah depart? However, when they add: The scribes say that Elijah must come first; by saying 'first,' they show that unless Elijah comes, the coming of the Savior according to the Scriptures is not fulfilled.

Matthew 17:11-12

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

(Verse 11, 12.) But he answered and said unto them, Elias indeed cometh first, and restoreth all things; and how it is written of the Son of man, that he must suffer many things, and be set at nought. But I say unto you, That Elias is indeed come, and they have done unto him whatsoever they listed, as it is written of him.

And they did not recognize him; but they did to him whatever they wanted: That is, they despised him, and beheaded him.

Matthew 17:13

Then the disciples understood that he spake unto them of John the Baptist.

(Verse 13) And so the Son of Man will suffer at their hands. Then the disciples understood that he was speaking to them about John the Baptist. Now, as Herod and Herodias are said to have killed John, how can they also say that they crucified Jesus, when we read that he was killed by the scribes and Pharisees? The answer is that both the Pharisees were in agreement with the death of John, and Herod willingly participated in the killing of the Lord. He sent him, mocked and despised, to Pilate to be crucified.

Matthew 17:14-15 · 2 passages

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

(Vers. 14, 15.) Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is a lunatic and suffers greatly: for he often falls into fire and frequently into water. And I brought him to your disciples, but they could not heal him. This is why the devil, observing the course of the moon, seizes upon men and strives to defame the Creator through His creatures, as we have said above. But it seems to me, according to the spiritual interpretation, that the lunatic is one who is constantly changing to vice in the moments of the hours, not persisting in what he has begun, but growing and diminishing: and now he is carried to the fire, by which the hearts of adulterers are inflamed (Hosea VII): now to the waters, which cannot quench charity. But when he says, 'I brought him to your disciples, and they could not heal him,' he secretly accuses the apostles, since the inability to heal sometimes refers not to the weakness of those who are healing, but to the faith of those who are being healed, as the Lord says, 'Let it be done to you according to your faith' (Mark 5:34, and 10:52).

In saying, And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not heal him, he covertly accuses the Apostles, whereas that a cure is impossible is sometimes the effect not of want of power in those that undertake it, but of want of faith in those that are to be healed,

Not that we must think that He was overcome by weariness of them, and that The meek and gentle broke out into words of wrath, but as a physician who might see the sick man acting against his injunctions, would say, How long shall I frequent your chamber? How long throw away the exercise of my skill, while I prescribe one thing, and you do another? That it is the sin, and not the man with whom He is angry, and that in the person of this one man He convicts the Jews of unbelief, is clear from what He adds, Bring him to me.

He rebuked him, that is, not the sufferer, but the dæmons.

Or, His reproof was to the child, because for his sins he had been seized on by the dæmons.

Matthew 17:16

And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him.

(Verse 16.) But Jesus replied, saying: O unbelieving and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him here to me. Not because he was overcome by weariness, and gentle and meek, who did not open his mouth like a lamb before the shearer (Isaiah 53), nor did he burst forth in words of fury; but because, in the likeness of a physician, if he sees a sick person behaving contrary to his instructions, he may say: How long shall I come to your house, until I lose the skill of my craft, you commanding one thing and doing another? But he is not angry with the man, but with the fault; and through one man he accuses the Jews of unfaithfulness, so that he immediately says: Bring him here to me.

Matthew 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.

(Verse 17) And Jesus rebuked him, and the demon came out of him, and the boy was healed from that hour. It was not the boy who suffered, but rather the demon who ought to be rebuked. Whether he rebuked the boy, and the demon came out of him: because he had been oppressed by the demon due to his own sins.

Matthew 17:18

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

(Verse 18) And they said, why could we not cast him out? Jesus said to them: Because of your unbelief. Amen I say to you. This is what he says in another place: Whatever you ask in my name, believing, you will receive (John 15:2). Therefore, whenever we do not receive, it is not due to the impossibility of the one granting, but the fault of those praying.