Matthew 17: 1-13 Essay -- The Transfiguration of Jesus

Introduction The passage of this exegetical paper, Matthew 17:1-13, is the narrative of the transfiguration of Jesus on a mountain with three of His disciples Peter, James and John as witnesses. Literary Criticism Context Matthew 16:21-28, the passage before mine, Jesus had revealed to His disciples His upcoming suffering, death and resurrection. He informed them that His followers would have to take up their cross to be with Him. Carrying your cross in that period of time meant a torturous, painful and humiliating death, therefore, it meant being willing to die to follow Christ. Before anyone would be willing to die for another, they would need faith in Christ to do so. This passage provided the background context that directly affected my passage. Six days later Jesus took three disciples up the mountain to witness His transfiguration, thereby providing proof that He was the Son of God. The passage after my mine, although it does not affect my verse, it does reflect my verse because it tells what took place after Jesus and His disciples came down the mountain. Verses 14-20 tell the story of Jesus miracously healing a boy with epilepsy at the bequest of his father as He descended the mountain into the town. After healing the child, Christ began to teach and as He spoke the town’s crowd began to gather closely to hear. Jesus told the gathering crowd in Matthew 17:22-23 that He would be delivered to die and be resurrected on the third day. This section relates to my passage because it correlates Christ’s preparation of His disciples then the people of his death and resurrection. Form Criticism The Gospel of Matthew is a historical, symbolic narrative of Jesus’ life aimed at the Jewish Christian community... ... J. Karris. The Collegeville Bible Commentary. Liturgical Press, 1989. Book. Broadus, John Albert and Hovet Alvah. Commentary on the Gospel of Matthew. Washington D.C.: American Baptist Publication Society, 1886. book. Evans, Craig A. Matthew. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2012. Book. MacArthur, John F. The MacArthur New Testament Commentary Matthew 16-23 . Chicago: Moody Publishers, 1977. Book. Morris, Leon. The Gospel According to Matthew. Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 1992. book. Palmer, Edwin H. NIV Holy Bible, New Testament (Red Letter Edition. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1984. Book. Porter and Coates. The New Testament of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ... Philadelphia: Porter and Coates, 1881. book. Zuck, Roy B. The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, Volume 1. Colorado Springs: David C. Cook, 1983. Book.