King and the Kingdom of Heaven by Watchman Nee

Author:Watchman Nee
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Religion, Study, Bible, General
ISBN: 9780935008241
Publisher: Christian Fellowship Pub.
Published: 1978-05-31T22:00:00+00:00

The Gospel According to Matthew: Chapter 17

221

“Hear ye him”—Do not speak vainly, just listen. Many can talk, but they are not able to hear. Hear what? Whatever the Lord says, especially His words about denying the self and taking up the cross

(for this, see earlier on Matt. 16.24-27). Hear Him—the Lord Jesus and no longer Moses and. Elijah.

v.6 “Sore afraid”—Who is not afraid when God appears!

v.7 “Be not afraid”—This occurs 365 times in the Bible; one can be appropriated for each day of the year. Every day can be blessed “now”; for this is still the dispensation of Grace.

v.8 “They saw no one, save Jesus only”—The law and the prophets, the glory of the Son of man, the overshadowing of a bright cloud and the Voice, as well as the companions: all have passed away: Jesus alone remains. May we see Jesus only.

vv.1-8 Hence to recapitulate this section: here we have the kingdom of heaven as represented by the various ones who were

present at the holy mount, namely:

(1) Christ is glorified as King;

(2) Moses represents believers who have died and are resurrected

(1 Cor. 15.52, 1 Thess. 4.13-17);

(3) Elijah represents those who are alive and are raptured (1 Cor.

15.51 b-52,1 Thess. 4.13-17);

(4) Peter, James and John represent the children of Israel who are not transformed but are as people in the kingdom (see Is. 11.10-12);

and

(5) the multitude down the mountain represent the nations (again,

see Is.11.10-12).

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The King and the Kingdom of Heaven

Judging from verses 1-8, we can gather that people change after

death but not beyond recognition. They still bear their former likeness. The three disciples easily recognize Moses and Elijah, and so is the rich man who has died able to recognize Abraham

immediately (see Luke 16.22-24).

Conversation on the Descent, 17.9-13

v.9 “Tell the vision to no man”—Why? Since the Lord is already rejected, it makes no sense attempting by means of His glory to draw the unbelievers further. When people are still in doubt, there remains a place for persuasion. But to those who will not believe, attraction is of no help. On the other hand, the three disciples have special ministries to fulfill, and hence they do need to be specially strengthened by such an experience.

v.10 The three disciples ask because they have just seen Elijah.

They have a fresh image in their mind. They wonder if the

manifestation on the mount is a fulfillment of prophecy (see Mal.

4.5).

v.11 According to the determinate will of God, Elijah did indeed come. If people are willing to accept the testimony of John the Baptist, the latter becomes Elijah—yet not in the sense of Elijah coming back to life but in the sense of John having the “spirit and

power of Elijah” (Luke 1.17).

v.12 Unfortunately people did not accept the witness of John, but treated him despitefully. Thus, they shall not see Elijah today. If they treated the forerunner badly, they will show the Son of man the same ill-treatment. If Elijah is rejected, the Messiah will also be rejected. For this reason, the glory as seen on the mountain must be covered.

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