Matthew 17:4 (WEB)
Peter answered and said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you want, let’s make three tents here: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”
Catechism · 1
“In this context the mysterious episode of Jesus' Transfiguration takes place on a high mountain,” — Catechism footnote: Cf. Mt 17:1-8 and parallels; 2 Pt 1:16-18.
Fathers and councils · 31
Tertullian
“He was truly both seen and heard upon the mount; true and real was the draught of that wine at the marriage of (Cana in) Galilee; true and real also was the touch of the then believing Thomas.” — editor's note: Matt. xvii. 3–8.
Read the whole comment“Deservedly, therefore, even while in the flesh, did the Lord show Himself to him, the colleague of His own fasts, no less than to Elijah.” — editor's note: See Matt. xvii. 1–13; Mark ix. 1–13; Luke ix. 28–36.
Read the whole comment“…husbandry is adultery; while, in the revelation of His own glory, He prefers, from among so many saints and prophets, to have with him Moses and Elias—the one a monogamist, the other a voluntary celibate (for Elias was nothing else than John, who came “in the power and spirit of Elias”); while that “man…” — editor's note: See Matt. xvii. 1–8; Mark ix. 2–9; Luke ix. 28–36.
Read the whole comment“The Lord, again, in the retirement of the mount, had changed His raiment for a robe of light; but He still retained features which Peter could recognise.” — editor's note: Matt. xvii. 2–4.
Read the whole comment“Of what could He have meant those to be ignorant, to whom He even exhibited His own glory with Moses and Elias, and the Father’s voice moreover, from heaven?” — editor's note: Matt. xvii. 1–8.
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Augustine of Hippo
Chapter LVI.—Of the Manifestation Which the Lord Made of Himself, in Company with Moses and Elias, to His Disciples on the Mountain; And of the Question Concerning the Harmony Between the First Three Evangelists with…
Read the whole comment“Peter sees this, and as a man savouring the things of men says, “Lord, it is good for us to be here.”” — editor's note: Matt. xvii. 4.
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Jerome
“We shall make our way to Tabor, and see the tabernacles there which the Saviour shares, not, as Peter once wished, with Moses and Elijah, but with the Father and with the Holy Ghost.” — editor's note: Matt. xvii. 1–9.
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Leo the Great
“A Homily delivered on the Saturday before the Second Sunday in Lent—on the Transfiguration, S. Matt. xvii. 1–13” — the author cites it
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Catena Aurea on Matthew
- Remigius of AuxerreCatena Aurea on Matthew
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…
Read the whole comment - JeromeCatena Aurea on Matthew
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.
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
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…
Read the whole comment - Rabanus MaurusCatena Aurea on Matthew
Justly was it after six days that He shewed His glory, because after six ages is to be the resurrection [ed. note: See the Oxford Translation of S. Cyprian, Tr. xiii, n.a.]
Read the whole comment - OrigenCatena Aurea on Matthew
Or because in six days this whole visible world was made; so he who is above all the things of this world, may ascend into the high mountain, and there see the glory of the Word of God.
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
He took these three because He set them before others. But observe how Matthew does not conceal who were preferred to himself; the like does John also when he records the preeminent praise given to Peter. For the…
Read the whole comment - Hilary of PoitiersCatena Aurea on Matthew
In the three thus taken up with Him, the election of people out of the three stocks of Sem, Cam, and Japhet is figured.
Read the whole comment - Rabanus MaurusCatena Aurea on Matthew
Or; He took only three disciples with Him, because many are called but few chosen. Or because they who now hold in incorrupt mind the faith of the Holy Trinity, shall then joy in the everlasting beholding of it.
Read the whole comment - Remigius of AuxerreCatena Aurea on Matthew
When the Lord was about to shew His disciples the glory of His brightness, He led them into the mountain, as it follows, “And he took them up into a high mountain apart.” Herein teaching, that it is necessary for all…
Read the whole comment - JeromeCatena Aurea on Matthew
Such as He is to be in the time of the Judgment, such was He now seen of the Apostles. Let none suppose that He lost His former form and lineaments, or laid aside His bodily reality, taking upon Him a spiritual or…
Read the whole comment - Remigius of AuxerreCatena Aurea on Matthew
If then the face of the Lord shone as the sun, and the saints shall shine as the sun, are then the brightness of the Lord and the brightness of His servants to be equal? By no means. But forasmuch as nothing is known…
Read the whole comment - OrigenCatena Aurea on Matthew
Mystically; When any one has passed the six days according as we have said, he beholds Jesus transfigured before the eyes of his heart. For the Word of God has various forms, appearing to each man according as He…
Read the whole comment - Glossa OrdinariaCatena Aurea on Matthew
Or; raiment of Christ shadows out the saints, of whom Esaias says, “With all these shalt thou clothe thee as with a garment;” [Isa 49:18] and they are likened to snow because they shall be white with virtues, and all…
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
There are inane reasons why these should appear. The first is this; because the multitudes said He was Elias, or Jeremias, or one of the Prophets, He here brings with Him the chief of the Prophets, that hence at…
Read the whole comment - Hilary of PoitiersCatena Aurea on Matthew
Also that Moses and Elias only out of the whole number of the saints stood with Christ, means, that Christ, in His kingdom, is between the Law and the Prophets; for He shall judge Israel in the presence of the same…
Read the whole comment - OrigenCatena Aurea on Matthew
However, if any man discerns a spiritual sense in the Law agreeing with the teaching of Jesus, and in the Prophets finds “the hidden wisdom of Christ,” [1 Cor 2:7] he beholds Moses and Elias in the same glory with Jesus.
Read the whole comment - JeromeCatena Aurea on Matthew
It is to be remembered also, that when the Scribes and Pharisees asked signs from heaven, He would not give any; but now, to increase the Apostles’ faith, He gives a sign; Elias descends from heaven, whiter he was…
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
Hereupon follows what the warm Peter spake, “Peter answered and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here.” Because he had heard that He must go up to Jerusalem, he yet fears for Christ; but after his…
Read the whole comment - Remigius of AuxerreCatena Aurea on Matthew
Otherwise; At this view of the majesty of the Lord, and His two servants, Peter was so delighted, that, forgetting every thing else in the world, he would abide here for ever. But if Peter was then so fired with…
Read the whole comment - JeromeCatena Aurea on Matthew
Yet art thou wrong, Peter, and as another Evangelist says [margin note: Luke 9:33], knowest not what thou sayest. Think not of three tabernacles, when there is but one tabernacle of the Gospel in which both Law and…
Read the whole comment - Remigius of AuxerreCatena Aurea on Matthew
He was wrong moreover, in desiring that the kingdom of the elect should be set up on earth, when the Lord had promised to give it in heaven. He was wrong also in forgetting that himself and his fellows were mortal,…
Read the whole comment - Rabanus MaurusCatena Aurea on Matthew
Also in supposing that tabernacles were to be built for conversation in heaven, in which houses are not needed, as it is written in the Apocalypse, “I saw not any temple therein.” [Rev 21:22]
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Cross-references · 17
Parallel passages
Matthew 17:4 and Mark 9:5 share the same wording (20 words).
Matthew 17:4 and Luke 9:33 share the same wording (20 words).
Cited together with
Cited together in Jerome on Matthew 17:2–4 (4) (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in On the Resurrection of the Flesh Chapter 55.
Cited together in On the Resurrection of the Flesh Chapter 55.
Cited together in On the Resurrection of the Flesh Chapter 55.
Cited together in On the Resurrection of the Flesh Chapter 55.
Cited together in On the Resurrection of the Flesh Chapter 55.
Cited together in Rabanus Maurus on Matthew 17:2–4 (3) (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in On the Resurrection of the Flesh Chapter 55.
Cited together in On the Resurrection of the Flesh Chapter 55.
Cited together in On the Resurrection of the Flesh Chapter 55.
Cited together in On the Resurrection of the Flesh Chapter 55.
Cited together in On the Resurrection of the Flesh Chapter 55.
Cited together in Jerome on Matthew 17:2–4 (3) (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in Glossa Ordinaria on Matthew 17:2–4 (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in Harmony of the Gospels II.57.