The Transfiguration on the Mountain^(A)

17 Six days later, Jesus took Peter, James, and John, the brother of James, [^Land led them] up on a high mountain by themselves. ² ·While they watched [In their presence; In front of them], Jesus’ appearance was ·changed [transformed; ^Ttransfigured]; his face ·became bright [shined] like the sun, and his clothes became white as light. ³ Then Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Jesus. [^CGod had given the Law through Moses, and Elijah was an important prophet (see Mark 6:15); together they signify that Jesus fulfills the OT.]

⁴ Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good that we are here. If you want, I will put up three ·tents [shelters; shrines; tabernacles; Lev. 23:42] here—one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” [^CPerhaps Peter wanted to prolong their stay or to commemorate their visit.]

⁵ While Peter was talking, [^Llook; ^Tbehold] a bright cloud ·covered [overshadowed; Ex. 24:15] them. A voice came from the cloud and said, “This is my ·Son, whom I love [dearly beloved Son; Ps. 2:7; Gen. 22:2], ·and I am very pleased with him [in whom I take great delight; Is. 42:1; Matt. 3:17]. Listen to him [Deut. 18:15; Acts 3:22]!”

⁶ When his ·followers [disciples] heard the voice, they were so frightened they fell ·to the ground [^Lon their faces]. ⁷ But Jesus went to them and touched them and said, “Stand up. Don’t be afraid.” ⁸ ·When they looked up [Lifting up their eyes], they saw ·Jesus was now alone [^Lno one except Jesus alone].

⁹ As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus ·commanded [instructed] them not to tell anyone about ·what they had seen [the vision] until the Son of Man had ·risen [been raised] from the dead.

The Most Important Command^(A)

²⁸ One of the ·teachers of the law [scribes] came and heard Jesus arguing with the Sadducees. Seeing that Jesus gave good answers to their questions, he asked Jesus, “Which of the commands is most important?”

²⁹ Jesus answered, “The most important command is this: ‘·Listen, people of Israel [^THear, O Israel]! The Lord our God is ·the only Lord [one Lord]. ³⁰ Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength’ [Deut. 6:4–5; ^Cthese are the opening words of the Shema, the prayer said by pious Jews twice a day]. ³¹ The second command is this: ‘Love your neighbor as you love yourself’ [Lev. 19:18]. There are no commands ·more important [greater] than these.”

³² The man answered, “·That was a good answer [Well said!], Teacher. You were right when you said God is ·the only Lord [one] and there is no other God besides him. ³³ One must love God with all his heart, all his mind, and all his strength. And one must love his neighbor as he loves himself. These commands are more important than all the ·animals [burnt offerings] and sacrifices we offer to God [1 Sam. 15:22; Hos. 6:6; Mic. 6:6–8].”