John Calvin 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)

Lord, it is good for us to be here. Luke tells us that Peter uttered these words while Moses and Elijah were departing; and from this we infer that he was afraid that, at their departure, that pleasant and delightful display might disappear. We should not be surprised that Peter was so captivated by the beauty of what he saw that he lost sight of everyone else and was content with simply enjoying it, as it is said in the psalm:

In your presence is fullness of joy, (Psalms 16:11).

But his desire was foolish for the following reasons:

1. He did not understand the purpose of the vision.
2. He absurdly placed the servants on the same level as their Lord.
3. He was mistaken in proposing to build fading tabernacles⁴⁷⁹ for men who had already been admitted to the glory of heaven and of the angels.

I have said that he did not understand the purpose of the vision. For while he was hearing from the mouth of Moses and Elijah that the time of Christ’s death was near, he foolishly dreamed that His present appearance, which was temporary, would last forever. What if the kingdom of Christ had been confined in this way to the narrow limits of twenty or thirty feet? Where would have been the redemption of the whole world? Where would have been the imparting of eternal salvation?

It was also highly absurd to think of Moses and Elijah as companions of the Son of God, as if it were not fitting for all to be placed in a lower rank, so that He alone might have the preeminence. And if Peter is satisfied with his present condition, why does he suppose that earthly supports were needed by those persons, when he imagined that their very sight was enough to make him happy?

Therefore, it is justly stated by two of the Evangelists that he did not know what he said; and Mark assigns the reason, that they were afraid; for God did not intend that the apostles should, at that time, derive any benefit from it beyond that of seeing for a moment, as in a bright mirror, the divinity of His Son. Later, He pointed out to them the fruit of the vision and corrected the error of their judgment. What Mark states must therefore mean that Peter was carried away by frenzy and spoke like a man who had lost his senses.

⁴⁷⁹ “Des tabernacles terriens;” — “earthly tabernacles.”;” — “earthly tabernacles.”