Matthew 17:2 — Community Reflections

MATTHEW 17:2 — KING JAMES VERSION 0

“And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.”

And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light. The transfiguration — the momentary visible manifestation of Jesus' divine glory — is described through two images: the face shining like the sun and the clothes white as light. The face-like-the-sun parallels the description of the Son of Man in Revelation 1:16 and recalls Moses' face shining after the divine encounter (Exodus 34:29–35). The white-as-light garments are the standard imagery of heavenly beings (Matthew 28:3, Daniel 7:9).

Church Fathers on Matthew 17:2

In this Transfiguration undergone on the mount, the Lord fulfilled within six days the promise made to His disciples, that they should have a sight of His glory; as it is said, 'And after six days he took Peter, and James, and John his brother.'
Remigius · 9th century

It is made a question how it could be after six days that He took them, when Luke says eight. The answer is easy, that here one reckoned only the intervening days, there the first and the last are also added.
Jerome · 4th century

He does not take them up immediately upon the promise being made, but six days after, for this reason, that the other disciples might not be touched with any human passion, as a feeling of jealousy; or else that during these days' space, those disciples who were to be taken up might become kindled with a more eager desire.
Chrysostom · 4th century

Read all 22 entries in the readerCatena Aurea · St. Thomas Aquinas, tr. J. H. Newman · public domain

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