Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Matthew 17:4

"And Peter answered, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, I will make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah." — Matthew 17:4 (ASV)

Peter, sensing something of the greatness of what he, James, and John are seeing, suggests building three “tabernacles” (“shelters”; GK 5008). While the word looks back to the tabernacle in the wilderness, the forerunner of the temple, the idea of building “tabernacles” also reflects the Feast of Tabernacles, when Jews built shelters for themselves and lived in them for seven days (cf. Leviticus 23:42–43). That feast had eschatological overtones. So Peter may have been saying that in gratitude for witnessing Jesus’ transfiguration and recognizing the imminent dawn of the Messianic Age, he would build three “tabernacles”—one for Jesus, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.

The rebuke that follows is administered solely because what Peter blurted out compromised Jesus’ uniqueness. Jesus was transfigured; they must bear witness concerning him (see also comments on Mk 9:5).