John Calvin Commentary Matthew 17:3

"And behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elijah talking with him." — Matthew 17:3 (ASV)

And, lo, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah. It is asked: Were Moses and Elijah actually present? Or was it only an apparition that was shown to the disciples, as the prophets frequently saw visions of things that were absent? Though the subject allows for arguments on both sides, as we say, yet I think it is more probable that they were actually brought to that place.

There is no absurdity in this supposition, for God has bodies and souls in His hand and can restore the dead to life at His pleasure whenever He sees it is necessary. Moses and Elijah did not then rise on their own account,⁴⁷⁸ but in order to attend to Christ.

It will next be asked: How did the apostles come to know Moses and Elijah, whom they had never seen? The answer is easy. God, who brought them forward, also gave signs and tokens by which they were able to know them. Thus, it was by an extraordinary revelation that they obtained the certain knowledge that they were Moses and Elijah.

But why did these two appear rather than others who equally belonged to the company of the holy fathers? It was intended to demonstrate that Christ alone is the end of the Law and of the Prophets; and that single reason should satisfy us: for it was of the utmost importance to our faith that Christ did not come into our world without a testimony, but with commendations which God had previously bestowed.

I have no objection, however, to the reason commonly given that Elijah was selected, in preference to others, as the representative of all the Prophets; because, although he left nothing in writing, yet after Moses, he was the most distinguished among them, restored the worship of God which had been corrupted, and was unrivaled in his efforts for vindicating the Law and true godliness, which was at that time almost extinct.

And they conversed with Jesus. When they appeared along with Christ and held conversation with Him, this was a declaration of their agreement. The subject on which they conversed is stated by Luke only: they talked of the decease which awaited Christ at Jerusalem. This must not be understood as referring to them as private individuals, but rather to the commission they had previously received.

Although it was now a long time since they had died and finished the course of their calling, yet our Lord intended once more to confirm by their voice what they had taught during their life, in order to inform us that the same salvation, through the sacrifice of Christ, is offered to us in common with the holy fathers.

At the time when the ancient prophets uttered their predictions concerning the death of Christ, He Himself, who was the eternal wisdom of God, was sitting on the invisible throne of His glory. Therefore, it follows that when He was clothed in flesh, He was not liable to death any further than as He submitted to it of His own free will.

⁴⁷⁸ “Moise et Elie ne sont pas lors ressuscitez pour eux, et pour le regard de la resurrection derniere;” — “Moses and Elijah did not then rise for themselves, and with respect to the last resurrection.”;” — “Moses and Elijah did not then rise for themselves, and with respect to the last resurrection.”