The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1906-06-20
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR JUNE II.


2s.36-Golden Text: Luke *, 36-
Topic: Lessons of the Transhguration
Memory Verses, 80, 31-Commentary
l.. A night Of prayer ". 2S). 2s.
"ABout an eight days after" Matthew
and Mark say six days. There We're
six full days and the fractional days at
the beginning and the end making
about eight. These sayings" The
sayings of the last lesson. Edersheim
supposes the great confession occurred
OIL 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 and James"
It was the same favored three who
had gone with Him into the room
where He raised Jairus' daughter, and
a few months later these same apos-
ties witnessed His agony in the garden.
Into q mountain" The place Of the
TRANSPORTATION scene is unknown, but
it was probably Mount Hermon, not
far from Caesarea Philippi. This is
the opinion of nearly all modern au-
thorities. ITO pray" 1t was the habit
of Jesus to 60 alone in the night to
pray. Before He chose the Twelve,
and after feeding the five thousand,
we see Him praying in the night.
II. Jesus transfgured ". 29). 20.
"As He prayed" During His prayer.
The TRANSPORTATION was the answer.
"COuntenance was altered" The orig.
inal word is elsewhere in the New
Testament rendered transformed"
(see Rom. 1872; 2 Cor. 3:1S), and is used
of spiritual change. Matthew says,
His face did shine as the SUM-" RAJ.
ment became white and dazzling" r.
V. Mark says, Exceeding white as
snow" 1t was His inner spirit shining
through the veil of flesh.
III. Heavenly visitants Tvs. 80, 3D.
30. Moses and Elias" Elias is the
Greek form for Elijah. This was not
q vision. These persons were actually
present, and the disciples recognized
them, as is evident from Peters propo.
sition in verse 33. This gives good
ground for believing that we shall rec.
ognize our friends in Heaven
81. "Who appeared in glory" In
like glory with Jesus; with glorifed
bodies. May this not be. q hint as to
the appearance Of our resurrection
bodies? "Spake of His decease." Or
departure, or exodus from the world;
including, no doubt. His death. resur-
rection and ascension. (Which He
was about to accomplish" R. V. "This
conversation would enable the disciples
to see the Importance and necessity of
that which was to them the greatest
mystery"-the suffering and death of
their Master.
Iv.-Three disciples behold His glory
Tvs. 32, 33). 80. Heavy with Sleep"
It was in the night, and the time when
they usually slept. Our English Yer
sion implies that they fell asleep and
were awakened to see His glory, while
the original implies that, though heavy
with sleep, they kept fully awake.
"Were fully awake" R. V. Even
though they may have been asleep at
first, yet when He was "transfgnred
before them" they were fully awake.
Saw His glory, and the two men,"
They saw the brilliancy Of their coun-
tenances, and the dazzling brightness,
of the garments. 49, "As they de-
parted" Were departing. Peter must
have seen that they were ready to
leave. peter said" Eager and i'm
pulsive as always. 1t was for him too
brief a glimpse Of the heavenly glory.
1T is good for us to be here" Peter
spoke the truth. The apostles would
be stronger and more useful because
Of the divine manifestations. Three
tabernacles." Or booths, from the
bushes on the mountains; such as were
made at the feast of Tabernacles. He
greatly desired to have the heavenly
visitants remain with them. Not
knowing what he said" Peters plans
were frequently in opposition to those
of his Lord.
V. The voice from the cloud Tvs. 81
36). "a. "While He thus spake." Here
was the response to Peters suggestion.
a wise answer to a foolish prayer; de-
nying the petition in order to grant
something better" There came a
cloud, and overshadowed them" Mat
thew says bright" cloud. A cloud
had frequently been the symbol Of the
divine presence. 1t was cloud that
guided and protected the children Of
Israel Exod. 1921; 14:19); a cloud that
filled the temple at the dedication Il
Kings $40 11); and the Lord maketh
the cloud His chariots (Psa. 104:13).
Peter refers to the clouds that over
shadowed them on the mount as the
excellent glory" e Pet. 1:1O. "TheS
feared" This glorious manifestation
of Gods presence caused them to trem-
bic. 1t is very likely that the trans
fguration took place in the night, IN
which case the light Of Christs coun-
tenance. the dazzling brightness Of His
garments, and the glory of the cloud,
would have a marked effect. because
of the absence of the solar hight. "En-
tered into" The cloud seemed to de-
scend over them and envelop them. 80.
"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 Ills
baptism. This would show to Peter
and the apostles that they did not need
to detain Moses and Elijah in order to
add to their happiness. This is My
beloved Son." Matthew adds. I'm
whom I am we'll pleased" Hear
Him." He is superior even to Moses.
SO. when the voice was past"
Matthew tells us that when the disci-
pies heard the voice they fell on their
faces. and were sore afraid: then, re-
covering from the shock. they suddenly
gaz9d all around them and saw no
perS Son but Jesus. Kept it close"
Mark says that Jesus charged them
that they should "tell no man what
things they had seen, till the Son OF
Man were risen from the dead"
Eees Kill Minister.