Matthew - Week 54

Moses, Elijah and Jesus 

READ 

Matthew 17:3-4 

3 Suddenly, Moses and Elijah appeared and began talking with Jesus. 4 Peter exclaimed, “Lord, it’s wonderful for us to be here! If you want, I’ll make three shelters as memorials—one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” 

Notice that Moses and Elijah began talking to Jesus. The Bible does not record what they said or why it was these two specific people from the Old Testament that were the ones who appeared. Peter was so excited he didn’t know what to do so he made a suggestion to Jesus. Peter wanted to make three shelters, one for Jesus, one for Moses and one for Elijah.  

REFLECT 

Would you not have also been excited had you been in Peter’s place then? 

RESPOND 

Even though this was a great spiritual moment, Peter was thinking of earthly matters as he suggested building shelters for Jesus, Moses and Elijah. Talk with a Christian friend about how difficult it is to switch our minds from earthly to heavenly matters. Read 2 Corinthians 4:18 to be reminded of focusing on eternal matters. 

My Dearly Loved Son 

READ 

Matthew 17:5-8 

5 But even as he spoke, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy. Listen to him.” 6 The disciples were terrified and fell face down on the ground. 7 Then Jesus came over and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Don’t be afraid.” 8 And when they looked up, Moses and Elijah were gone, and they saw only Jesus. 

Peter’s suggestion of building shelters for Jesus, Moses and Elijah was interrupted by the voice from heaven. The heavenly Father spoke and said to listen to His Son, Jesus. The disciples fell face down from this brush with God Himself. Apparently they remained there until Jesus touched them and told them to get up and not be afraid. As they looked up, Moses and Elijah were gone. 

REFLECT 

Think of what a scary time this was for the disciples. Peter’s suggestion about building shelters was likely what they were thinking also. What would you have thought if you heard a voice from heaven as they heard that day? 

RESPOND 

God speaks to us today through His living Word, the Bible. It is the only book that God has written by using men to record His message. As you read the Bible, think of it as God speaking directly to you. 

A Theological Question 

READ 

Matthew 17:9-10 

9 As they went back down the mountain, Jesus commanded them, “Don’t tell anyone what you have seen until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”  

10 Then his disciples asked him, “Why do the teachers of religious law insist that Elijah must return before the Messiah comes?” 

Jesus instructed Peter, James and John not to tell anyone about this experience until after He had risen from the dead. Israel had rejected Him as Savior so there was no need any longer to tell them. The disciples knew about the teaching of the religious leaders that Elijah would first come before the Messiah so they wondered why. 

REFLECT 

Notice that the disciples were like us in that they wanted explanations for what they did not understand.  

RESPOND 

With a friend, read Malachi 4:5-6 to see the promise of Elijah that was what the disciples were wondering about.  

A Theological Answer 

READ 

Matthew 17:11-13 

11 Jesus replied, “Elijah is indeed coming first to get everything ready. 12 But I tell you, Elijah has already come, but he wasn’t recognized, and they chose to abuse him. And in the same way they will also make the Son of Man suffer.” 13 Then the disciples realized he was talking about John the Baptist. 

Although sometimes answers are not given to one’s questions, Jesus answered the disciples wondering about Elijah coming before the Messiah. Jesus said that “Elijah has already come.” How was this possible? Jesus explained he wasn’t recognized; rather he was abused similar to what He would be. Then the disciples understood He was referring to John the Baptist. 

REFLECT 

Think how special it was that the disciples had Jesus to answer their questions. We do not have that, so many questions we have might be left unanswered. If one keeps reading in the Bible, however, the answer may be revealed. 

RESPOND 

Read Luke 1:11-17 to see about the birth of John the Baptist and it being said he would have “the spirit and power of Elijah.”  

A Desperate Father 

READ 

Matthew 17:14-16 

14 At the foot of the mountain, a large crowd was waiting for them. A man came and knelt before Jesus and said, 15 “Lord, have mercy on my son. He has seizures and suffers terribly. He often falls into the fire or into the water. 16 So I brought him to your disciples, but they couldn’t heal him.” 

It seems wherever Jesus went there was a large crowd waiting and some who needed healing. This father came and knelt before Jesus, revealing his respect and honor of Him. He pleaded for his son who had seizures and sometimes would fall into a fire or the water. He leveled a serious charge at the disciples when he said he brought his son to them and they could not heal him.  

REFLECT 

Think how desperate a parent would be in this situation because of the burns and near drowning his son must have experienced. Perhaps you have had a similar experience with a child. Why do you think the disciples were not able to heal him? 

RESPOND 

With a friend, read Mark 9:14-18 and Luke 9:37-40 to see what other Gospel writers recorded about this incident. You can understand how desperate this father was to get help for his son.