Matthew 17:9Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

In an act of humility, He instructed that His glory not be disclosed, ensuring that those who learned of it would not be swayed when they later witnessed His suffering on the cross. They might have perceived Him as a false prophet, who performed divine acts in an illusory manner. It is noteworthy that the revelation of God occurred after the passage of six days, paralleling the creation of the world in that same timeframe. For unless one transcends earthly limitations and ascends the mountain, they cannot behold the divine light—neither the essence of Jesus, referring to His Divinity, nor His earthly form—the flesh. Only then can you witness Moses and Elijah in dialogue with Jesus, for the Law, the Prophets, and Jesus convey a singular message and harmonize with one another.

As they descended from the mountain, He instructed them, saying, “Take care and do not share this vision with anyone.” Why was this commanded? He understood that people would doubt and consider them insane, posing questions such as, “Do you also know where Elijah came from?” They might contend, “Moses was buried, and no one witnessed his burial,” leading to blasphemy and trials of faith. He further advised them to “wait until you receive power,” since if they announced it while many remained skeptical, it would serve both to their shame and to His glory when the dead were resurrected. Moreover, He instructed them to remain silent until the graves are opened and the righteous from both the New and Old Testaments rise and appear in Jerusalem, the city of the great King.

The more they spoke of Him, the harder it would become for many to accept this truth. Consequently, He instructs that this revelation be concealed from them, as their own inability to persuade would further harden the hearts of the Jewish people.

The news of Jesus' remarkable transfiguration on the mountain, where Moses and Elijah appeared before Him, could have stirred the entire region of Judea, potentially causing the people, who were easily incited to rebellion, to distance themselves from Roman authority. Additionally, for the other disciples, who still aspired for prominence, hearing about the event on the mountain, which they had not experienced, might have led to feelings of resentment, competition, and jealousy. St. Chrysostom observes that "the more they began to tell about Him miraculous things," the more it would have become challenging for many to accept it as truth. Consequently, the temptation surrounding the cross became even more intensified. Thus, He instructs them to remain silent, reiterates His impending sufferings, and seemingly alludes to the rationale behind this admonition.

The Apostles, who experienced the Transfiguration of the Lord, only grasped its true significance after Christ's Resurrection. As they descended from the mountain, they were instructed to keep their encounter a secret until the Son of Man had risen from the dead (Mark 9:9). This left them in confusion, leading them to question one another about the meaning of rising from the dead (Mark 9:10). They were fully aware of what it meant to be resurrected, having witnessed the raising of Jairus' daughter and the widow of Nain's son. Thus, their current bewilderment and inquiry into the meaning of resurrection stemmed solely from their struggle with the concept of Jesus' death. They believed the Messiah could not die; therefore, the question of His resurrection seemed inconceivable to them. This demonstrates that, despite Jesus' reassurances, the Apostles were reluctant to accept the possibility of His death. According to the Evangelist Luke, those who beheld the Transfiguration remained silent about their vision during those days (Luke 9:36).

As the new day broke, they began their descent from the mountain. The Lord had instructed them not to speak of the vision until after His resurrection. This revelation was meant solely for them; they were to treasure it within their hearts, as sharing it with the other disciples might incite jealousy and bolster their own pride. Until the resurrection, it would not aid in strengthening the faith of others and could instead cloud their grasp of His genuine mission on earth. They complied with Christ’s directive, yet the significance of His command regarding the resurrection remained unclear to them. They exchanged questions or contemplated quietly together, wondering about the meaning of rising from the dead.

A vision can often be referred to as an insight into a particular state, often characterized by a form of prophetic ecstasy or fervor, exemplified by the experiences of ancient prophets, as well as those of Peter and Paul (Acts 10:10, 17; Acts 11:5; Acts 22:17-18). However, the transfiguration of the Lord was not a vision of this nature; it did not occur in a state of prophetic ecstasy but rather in a normal condition, similar to the encounter Moses had with the burning bush that was not consumed (Exodus 3:2ff.).

When Peter, James, and John descended from the mountain, Jesus instructed them not to disclose what they had witnessed until the Son of Man had been resurrected. He said, "Tell the visions to no one, until the Son of Man has risen from the dead." St. John Chrysostom noted that the more miraculous accounts shared about Him would make it harder for many to believe, increasing temptation concerning the cross. Additionally, Monk John Damascene observed that the Lord was aware that the disciples were still incomplete, having not yet received the fullness of the Spirit.