Luke 9:36 — Community Reflections

LUKE 9:36 — KING JAMES VERSION 0

“And when the voice was past, Jesus was found alone. And they kept it close, and told no man in those days any of those things which they had seen.”

When the voice had spoken, they found that Jesus was alone. The disciples kept this to themselves and did not tell anyone at that time what they had seen — the aftermath of the transfiguration: only Jesus, the two figures gone, the cloud lifted. The disciples kept this to themselves: the voluntary keeping of the secret communicates their obedience to the command to silence (implied) and their struggle to understand what they have seen.

Church Fathers on Luke 9:36

While Christ is engaged in prayer, Peter is heavy with sleep, for he was weak, and did what was natural to man; as it is said, But Peter and they that were with him were heavy with sleep. But when they awake, they behold His glory, and the two men with Him; as it follows, And when they were awake, they saw his glory, and the two men that stood with him.
Theophylact · 11th century

Or, by the word sleep, he means that strange maze that fell upon them by reason of the vision. For it was not night time, but the exceeding brightness of the light weighed down their weak eyes.
Chrysostom · 4th century

For the incomprehensible brightness of the Divine nature oppresses our bodily senses. For if the sight of the body is unable to contain the sun’s ray when opposite to the eyes which behold it, how can the corruption of our fleshly members endure the glory of God? And perhaps they were oppressed with sleep, that after their rest they might behold the sight of the resurrection. Therefore when they were awake they saw His glory. For no one, except he is watching, sees the glory…
Ambrose · 4th century

Read all 21 entries in the readerCatena Aurea · St. Thomas Aquinas, tr. J. H. Newman · public domain

COMMUNITY REFLECTIONS

Publish a reflection on this verse

No reflections on this verse yet. Be the first to write one!