The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1900-07-25
THE SABBATH SCHOOL,
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR JULY 20.

Subject: Tie TransflGuration, Luke k,
1886 - Golden Text: Luke ix., So
Memory Verses, 33-35 - Commentary
on the Days Lesson.
%. "About an eight days after" Mat
thew and Mark say six days. There were
six full days and the fractional days at
the beginning and the end making
sayings of the last lesson. Edersheim
supposes the great confession occurred on
the Sabbath, and the TRANSPORTATION on
the night after the Sabbath one week
later. There is no intimation as to how
the intervening week was spent. peter
and John an6 James" These same apos.
ties Witnessed His agony in the garden.
He took these three Q) because He need
ed witnesses to prove the fact when the
time came to reveal His glory to the
world, and (2) for the purpose of encour-
aging and establishing them in the truths
of His kingdom. Unto mountain" The
!. place of the TRANSPORTATION scene is un-
known, but it was probably Mount Her
mon, not far. from Caesarea PhilIppi. This
is the opinion of nearly all modern au-
thorities. "To prav." It was the habit
Before He chose the Twelve, and after
feeding the five thousand, we see Him
praying in the night This time it was a
prayer meeting"
80. LAS He prayed, He was doubtless
praying for strength to carry on His work
and for the enlightenment of His disci-
pies; the TRANSPORTATION was the answer.
His countenance was altered Matthew
says, "Hs face did shine as the SIN" It
would appear that the light shone not
lpon Him from without, but that it shone
out of Him from within; it was one blaze
2 oae aa5sn fsssa sRbFy bsysme t ~e amse sa
iazzling" (R. W Mark says Exceeding
white as snow" His face shone with di.
vine majesty, and all His body was so IT.
cadiated by it that His clothes could not
conceal His glory, and became white and
sistening as the very light with which
ae covered Himself as with a garment.
80. "Moses and Elijah" (R. V)-Moses
was q representative of the law; he was
the founder of the Jewish dispensation,
which for centuries had been preparing
The way for Christ; he, was a type Of
(Deut. lS:l5.ls); and through Him had
been instituted the sacrifices which
Christ fulfilled and which explained His
coming death which so troubled the disci-
oles. Elijah was the representative of the
prophets. They had foretold the coming
and the suffering, of Christ, and Elijah
was the one who was to prepare the way
Of the Lord by his character and spirit
.eappearing in John the Baptist, the fore
runner Of Jesus.
And spake of His decease." Or depar-
ture, or exodus from the world; including,
10 doubt, His death, resurrection and as
,ension. (Which He was about to ac
would enable the disciples to see the i'm
oortance and necess! !ty of that which was
20 them the greatest mystery-the suffer
ing and death of their blessed Master.
80. "Were heavy with sleep" 1t was
n the night, and tk/ time when they usu.
ally slept. Our English version implies
that they fell asleep and were awakened
20 see His glory, while the original implies
that, though hsayy witt, with sleep they X kept
s EVEN aHaHs boush ey may @ have Been aseep
at first when He was ''transigured be-
fore them" they were fully awake: Saw
His glory, and the two men," The bril-
liancy of their countenances and the daz-
cling brightness Of the garments. 1t was
i reality. 1t was not dream, they were
So. GAS they departed" Peter must
have seen that they were about ready to
leave "Peter said" Peter is always
ready to speak. 1T is good for us to be
here" Peter spoke the truth The apos..
ties would be stronger, and more useful
because of the divine manifestations; 1t
IS always good for us when the Lord es-
oecially manifests Himself to US; when we
see His glory. Let US make three ,taber::
oacles." Or booths, from the bushes of
the mountains; such as were made at the
feast of the tabernacles. He greatly de-
sired to have the heavenly visltants re-
main with them. Not knowing what he
said" Peters plans were frequently in
opposition to those of the Lord. He was
30 amazed and bevildered by the glory OF
the heavenly manifestations that he know
1ot what he said. How MANY times do we
speak unwisely because we DO not stop
to consider our words.
81. "While he thus spake." Here was
the response to Peters suggestion, wise
answer to foolish prayer; denying the
petition in order to grant something bet
ter. "There came cloud, and over
shadowed them" Matthew says e
"bright" cloud. A cloud had frequently
been the symbol of the divine presence.
"They feared" This glorious manifesto
ton of Gods presence caused them to
tremble. 1t is very like ely that the trans
nSurallOE tOOk Dlacs III ti'e hiSh.' IA
which case the light of Christ's Counte-
nance, the dazzling brightness of lis gar:
mcnts, and the glory Of the cloud, would
have a marked effect, because of the a5,
sence of the solar light. Entered into.
1t was first above them and then seemed
to descend over them and envelop them.
35. "a voice. The voice of God the
Father. 1t revealed nothing new, but
confirms the old, for it was the same voice
which had been heard at his baptism
This would show to Peter and the aros
tain Moses and Elijah in order to add to
Son. sglt MATTHEW Matthew adds, I'm whom ! am
we'll pleased" They had Jesus with them.
and He was more than all the hosts of
heaven would be without Him; Hear
Him." He is superior even to Moses, the
great lawgiver. Moses himself had made
such a statement Deut. 1915. He Is SUI
perior to Elijah and the prophets, and IS
the One to whom they poMted. Hear
Him; attend to His instructions and obey
His words.
So. when the voice was past The
iisciDles fell on their faces. and were sore
raid.-Nlatthew. They feared as they
antered into the cloud. but now when they
heard the voice of God. probably as loud
as thunder (see John l2:29), and full of
divine majesty such as mortal ears were
unacdlstomed to hear. they fell fiat to
the ground on their faces, being sore
afraid; an effect which manifestations of
this kind common.v had on the prophets
and other holy men to whom they were
given. 1t was so with Abram (Gen. l5;
i2): and Ezekiel (Ezek. l:2S( and Daniel
dan. 8: II; 10: 8, 9); and John (Rev,
l:l7); and l have known pe0pi= nova
iays, when under the direct illumination
Of the Spirit, to lose their strength and
fall to the ground. In this condition the
three disciples Inv until Jesus cancc and
touched them and raised them up, d'spel-
LIZ thair faars