SEV Biblia, Chapter 17:3
Y he aquí les aparecieron Moisés y Elías, hablando con él.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Matthew 17:3
Verse 3. Moses and Elias] Elijah came from heaven in the same body which he had upon earth, for he was translated, and did not see death, 2 Kings ii. 11. And the body of Moses was probably raised again, as a pledge of the resurrection; and as Christ is to come to judge the quick and the dead, for we shall not all die, but all shall be changed, 1 Cor. xv. 51, he probably gave the full representation of this in the person of Moses, who died, and was thus raised to life, (or appeared now as he shall appear when raised from the dead in the last day,) and in the person of Elijah, who never tasted death. Both their bodies exhibit the same appearance, to show that the bodies of glorified saints are the same, whether the person had been translated, or whether he had died. It was a constant and prevalent tradition among the Jews, that both Moses and Elijah should appear in the times of the Messiah, and to this very tradition the disciples refer, Matthew xvii. 10. We may conceive that the law in the person of Moses, the great Jewish legislator, and the prophets in the person of Elijah, the chief of the prophets, came now to do homage to Jesus Christ, and to render up their authority into his hands; as he was the END of the law, and the grand subject of the predictions of the prophets. This appears more particularly from what St. Luke says, Luke ix. 31, that Moses and Elijah conversed with our Lord on his death, which he was about to accomplish, (plhroun to fulfill,) because in it, all the rites, ceremonies, and sacrifices of the law, as well as the predictions of the prophets, were fulfilled.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 3. And behold there appeared unto them , etc.] The disciples: Moses and Elias ; Moses the giver of the law, and Elias one of the chief of the prophets: one of them had been dead near a thousand and five hundred years, and the other had been caught up to heaven, about nine hundred years before this. The Jews sometimes speak of these two as together.
They say f942 , “that the Shekinah never descends below, but whylaw hçm , “Moses and Elias” ascend above.”
Yea, they expect that these two will come together in future time; for so they represent a God saying to Moses; “Moses, as thou hast given thy life for them (the Israelites) in this world, so in time to come (the days of the Messiah) when I shall bring Elias the prophet, tjak ˆyab µkynç , “you two shall come together”.”
Now they came. Luke says, they appeared “in glory”: in glorious bodies, in a glory upon their bodies; like, though inferior, to the glorious body of Christ, now transfigured: that they appeared in their own real bodies, no doubt need be made; about the body of Elijah, or Elias, there is no difficulty; since he was carried soul and body to heaven, he died not, but was changed; and has ever since remained in a glorious body, in which he doubtless now appeared: and why this should not be the case of Moses, or why he should appear in another body, and not his own, I see not; for though he died, yet he was buried by the Lord, and no man ever knew the place of his sepulchre; and there was a dispute about his body, between Michael and the devil, all which are uncommon circumstances: so that it might be, that his body was, quickly after his death, raised and restored to him; or at this time, as a pledge of the resurrection of the dead, as Christ’s transfiguration was of his glory. The Jews have a notion that Moses is not dead, but is ascended, and stands and ministers to God, in the highest heavens f944 : the appearance of these two with Christ, was to show, that Christ is the end of the law and prophets; that there is an entire agreement between him and them, and that they have their full accomplishment in him; and also shows, that he was neither Elias, nor any of the prophets, as some took him to be; since he was distinct from them, and the chief and more glorious than any of them. If it should be asked; how came the disciples to know these two to be Moses and Elias, since they never saw them before, nor could have any statues or pictures of them, these being not allowed among the Jews; nor do the accounts of them in Scripture seem to be sufficient to direct them to such a thought; especially, since by their glorification, they must be greatly altered: it may be replied, they knew them, either by immediate divine revelation, or by the discourse that passed between them and Christ; for it follows, talking with him . The Jews often speak of the appearance of Elias to their doctors, and of his conversing with them, and teaching them. Whether this is done with design to lessen the glory of this appearance, I will not say; however, they cannot reasonably object to the probability of this account, since they make it to be so frequent among themselves; though they look upon it as an high favour, and that such are holy good men, that are indulged with it, take an instance or two: thus they say of a certain person, “Lo! the pious man, whom Elias used hydhb y[tçm , “to converse with”.”
And elsewhere it is said f946 , “R. Phineas and R. Mari, the sons of R. Chasda, were godly men, µhm[ rbdm whylaw , “and Elias was talking with them”, and they were priests.”
What Moses and Elias were talking with our Lord about, is expressed by Luke, (see Gill on “ Luke 9:31”).
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-13 - Now the disciples beheld somewhat of Christ's glory, as of the onl begotten of the Father. It was intended to support their faith, when they would have to witness his crucifixion; and would give them an ide of the glory prepared for them, when changed by his power and made lik him. The apostles were overcome by the glorious sight. Peter though that it was most desirable to continue there, and to go no more down to meet the sufferings of which he was so unwilling to hear. In this he knew not what he said. We are wrong, if we look for a heaven here upo earth. Whatever tabernacles we propose to make for ourselves in thi world, we must always remember to ask Christ's leave. That sacrific was not yet offered, without which the souls of sinful men could no have been saved; and important services were to be done by Peter an his brethren. While Peter spoke, a bright cloud overshadowed them, a emblem of the Divine presence and glory. Ever since man sinned, an heard God's voice in the garden, unusual appearances of God have bee terrible to man. They fell prostrate to the earth, till Jesu encouraged them; when looking round, they beheld only their Lord a they commonly saw him. We must pass through varied experiences in ou way to glory; and when we return to the world after an ordinance, it must be our care to take Christ with us, and then it may be our comfor that he is with us.
Greek Textus Receptus
και 2532 CONJ ιδου 2400 5628 V-2AAM-2S ωφθησαν 3700 5681 V-API-3P αυτοις 846 P-DPM μωσης 3475 N-NSM και 2532 CONJ ηλιας 2243 N-NSM μετ 3326 PREP αυτου 846 P-GSM συλλαλουντες 4814 5723 V-PAP-NPM
Robertson's NT Word Studies
17:3 {There appeared} (wfqe). Singular aorist passive verb with Moses (to be understood also with Elijah), but the participle sunlalountes is plural agreeing with both. "Sufficient objectivity is guaranteed by the vision being enjoyed by all three" (Bruce). The Jewish apocalypses reveal popular expectations that Moses and Elijah would reappear. Both had mystery connected with their deaths. One represented law, the other prophecy, while Jesus represented the gospel (grace). They spoke of his decease (#Lu 9:31), the cross, the theme uppermost in the mind of Christ and which the disciples did not comprehend. Jesus needed comfort and he gets it from fellowship with Moses and Elijah.
