Matthew 17:9

9 ¹And as they were coming down the mountain, Jesus commanded them, ²“Tell no one the vision, until the Son of Man is raised from the dead. ”

Matthew 17:9 Meaning and Commentary

Matthew 17:9

And as they came down from the mountain
Where all these things had been transacted,

Jesus charged them, saying, tell the vision to no man:
by the "vision" is meant, as it is explained in Mark, "what things they had seen"; as Moses and Elias, and the bright cloud that overshadowed them, and Christ transfigured before them, in a surprising, glorious manner. These Christ strictly ordered Peter, James, and John, to speak of to no man whatever; no, not their fellow disciples; who either would be apt to disbelieve them, on account of the greatness of them, as Thomas did the resurrection of Christ afterwards; or lest they should be troubled and displeased, that they were not admitted to the same sight; and especially not to the multitude, or to any other person,

until the son of man be risen again from the dead;
meaning himself and his resurrection, when such proof would be given of his mission, authority, and glory, which would make this account more easy to be believed: besides, he had told the Jews, that no sign, that is, from heaven, as this voice was, should be given, but the sign of the Prophet Jonas; referring to his resurrection, which would be a sure testimony of the truth of his Messiahship. This order of Christ was strictly observed by the disciples; for Luke, says, "they kept it close"; to themselves, in their own breasts; it lay concealed between these three; "and told no man in those days, any of those things which they had seen": and Mark says, "they kept that saying within themselves"; only as he adds, they were "questioning one with another, what the rising from the dead should mean": for they were not yet reconciled to the Messiah's dying, which was contrary to their expectation of a temporal kingdom; and therefore could not tell what to make of his rising again, whether this had not some secret, mystical meaning; for of his resurrection from the dead, in a literal sense, they had no notion; though it was foretold in the writings of the Old Testament, and had been so lately affirmed by Christ himself.

Matthew 17:9 In-Context

7 But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Rise, and have no fear. ”

8 And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only.

9 And as they were coming down the mountain, Jesus commanded them, “Tell no one the vision, until the Son of Man is raised from the dead. ”

10 And the disciples asked him, “Then why do the scribes say that first Elijah must come? ”

11 He answered, “Elijah does come, and he will restore all things.

Cross References

• 1. 17:9 For ver. 9-13, see Mark 9:9-13
• 2. 17:9 See ch. 8:4; 12:16