Matthew 17:1-9 Scripture Study
By Pastor Chris Simmons – Trinity Lutheran Church, Paso Robles CA
A reinforcement/supplement study to our Sunday service meant for “Building up the body of Christ… the manifold Wisdom of God made known” (Ephesians 4+3)
For Sunday, February 15, 2026
Today’s study will be a little “fast and furious” (as in the movies on fast cars, I’m not upset at all …) as I am at a conference this very moment. It’s quite ironic as it has been a jammed packed few weeks (more like 2.5 years here so far) between worship Sunday, planning and arranging my wife’s 40th birthday, meetings on next year's budget and setting school tuition, setting up some great pieces for our website launch this week with Mission and Vision, trying to get to service for this Sunday, a council meeting Tuesday and arranging to leave for Phoenix by Wednesday 12:30… I think I may have walked out of the house with my socks on over my shoes… I only tell you that because of this great expression we see in many Psalms Selah … it’s a Hebrew term that some translations, like the NIV, actually remove from the translation. In a way it means take a pause… take a breath. In doing so it resets perspective, resets focus, even allowing time for the transformational power of God’s Word to register in your mind… Even writing this intro Selah…what a great perspective, what a privilege it is to be in God’s Word, part of God’s Plan, to have within me the Joy of Jesus… Selah. Like the Ascension, it’s a confirmation of all God has said before… we just need to slow down and let it sink in once in a while.
Thanks for helping me slow down here, Blessings on your study,
~ Pastor Chris Simmons
Discuss: What do you do when you get a chance to slow down and just reflect? A beer and a buddy? Tea and a book? Coffee and stroking a cat? What reminds you to take a moment?
Matthew 17:1-9
1 After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. 2 There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. 3 Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus.
So much leads up to this moment. Matthew 16 the Pharisee and Sadducees came to Jesus demanding a sign to know if Jesus was the Messiah, and Jesus says even if He did give it to them, they wouldn’t be able to interpret it. To the disciples He tells them to not allow this perspective, these demands or perspective to be something that infects their faith, instead REMEMBER who God is and what He’s done… the five loaves for five thousand, the seven loaves for four thousand, do not panic about what you don’t have in hand… instead take a moment to remember who God is…. To which Jesus begs the question “Who do people say that I am”? And Peter replies “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God” Jesus says “Blessed are you, Simon Son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven.”
This all leads to the beginning of chapter 17, Jesus takes a moment to confirm all that Peter has confessed. To show him, and those who will be significant early church leadership, who God is.
Discussion: When in life have you asked this question “why am I doing this again?” What helped you get back on track? Why is this clarity important?
4 Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.”
5 While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!”
Again, so rich here in context and I have so little time to reflect. I want to direct you to one point in particular… a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!”. At the beginning of our sermon series “Starting Something New” we heard almost these exact same words… Here in Matthew chapter 3
16 As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”
In Matthew 16, Peter makes this declaration confirming the identity of Jesus “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.” Jesus replies “This has been revealed to you by my Father in heaven.” Out of context of the entire Gospel, one could point to special revelation. That Peter must have had some sort of inside deal with the Father in order to make this declaration. Although we could make an argument for the Spirit opening the eyes of Peter’s heart, in reality the Father had revealed this all the way back in Chapter 3 at Jesus Baptism. This Transfiguration is not a revealing of who God is at all… it is a confirmation, a reminder of who Jesus is, who God has already declared Him to be, yet with one caveat… Listen to him!”
What an interesting addition… which directs you to two reasons why God would add this:
1. They need the reminder to listen to Him, especially in the face of all they were about to encounter with the trial and crucifixion.
2. They haven’t been doing a good job of listening to Him so far… hence why they needed this reminder, not only that Jesus is the Son of God… but to LISTEN to Him.
Discuss: What system do you use to set reminders for yourself? Does it work? When you have to remember something really really important, what do you do?
Here is our Old Testament reading, feel free to read it in its entirety. What I want you to notice however is how the tone changes in the Psalm after each Selah.
Psalm 46 (ESV)
1God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear though the earth give way,
though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
3 though its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah
4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy habitation of the Most High.
5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved;
God will help her when morning dawns.
6 The nations rage, the kingdoms totter;
he utters his voice, the earth melts.
7 The Lord of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah
8 Come, behold the works of the Lord,
how he has brought desolations on the earth.
9 He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;
he breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
he burns the chariots with fire.
10 “Be still, and know that I am God.
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!”
11 The Lord of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah
Psalm 46 is written to the choirmaster by what’s called the Sons of Korah (side note who is an excellent late 80’s early 90’s Christian band that sings only Psalm lyrics in their music). The Son’s of Korah were from the tribe of Levi, and specially trained toward music and Hebrew Poetry. Being from the tribe of Levi, designed to be God’s Holy Priesthood, their Psalms often speak as if they are the voice of God and are prayers to God.
The fact that it is written to the choirmaster is also important, because it gives you a clue to it’s musical setting. The term Selah means musical interlude… a pause… a pause for musical interlude. In the Psalm, you’ll notice that after each Selah there is a distinct shift in tone. To the world being destroyed all around us and we can do nothing to stop it Selah God is actually the one in control. Yet His power is so great, even HIs voice could melt the earth Selah Yet He is our fortress, His power is there for our protection.
That is the power of Selah. The Power of taking a moment to remember who God is, even in the midst of the earth shaking under your feet. Be it the literal earth as in an earthquake… or your own personal world shifting and changing… Selah. A musical interlude to acknowledge the harmony of God’s Power through Jesus Christ… and that it is for us.
Discuss: What system of Selah could you have when the Groupons beneath your life begins to shake? Phoning a friend to give you perspective? A poster of a kitten on a clothesline that says “hang in there”? Ice cream with the grandkids? Consistency in the word? What do you feel would help you the most?
6 When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified. 7 But Jesus came and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Don’t be afraid.” 8 When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus.
9 As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus instructed them, “Don’t tell anyone what you have seen, until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”
The power of taking a moment is to help us see one thing… in the midst of it all, when the dust has settled, when it feels like life is overwhelming us. One thing remains, and God is seeking to remind you of it time and time again… 8 When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus.
Here in the Transfiguration, Peter, James, and John got a “Glimpse of God”. I too am convinced we get little moments like that… not ones that we can always share or will make sense to other people… but are meant just for us.
James will be the first disciple martyred for his faith in Acts 12
John will be exiled away from everyone, having to come to terms with a special Revelation of the end times.
Peter will be crucified upside down, after being arrested.
This “glimpse of God” I think was for them when these moments would arrive… moments of Confirmation of Who Jesus is for them… and what they mean to God. That Truly God would give His One and only Son, so that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. (John 3:16)
Discuss: Do you have any “glimpses of God” you feel like you can share with the group? Moments of certainty you felt God’s hand working in your life, firming up your faith, granting you a sense of confirmation of who God is, and what you mean to Him?
Here are some lyrics to one of my favorite songs… during this next section that we usually have for prayer, I would like you to read these lyrics… or have someone in the group find this song on YouTube or any music service you might subscribe to. Notice the sense of Selah in it… Take a moment to remember who God is, and who you are to Him… and in Christ, all He’s done for you.
Will Regan: Take a Moment
Take a moment to remember
Who God is and who I am
There You go lifting my load again
Take a moment to remember
Who God is and who I am
There You go lifting my load again
There You go lifting my load again
No longer am I held by
The yoke of this world
Come upon you the yoke of Jesus
His yoke is easy and His burden is so light
No longer am I held by
The yoke of this world
Come upon you the yoke of Jesus
His yoke is easy and His burden is so light
Prayer
Lord God, help us to Selah when the earth quakes beneath our lives, to take a moment to remember who you are, what we mean to you, and what you’ve done for us. That through your Son, Jesus Christ, You’ve granted us freedom from death and the consequence of our sins, bestowing on us His righteousness. Thank you Jesus. We do not demand signs from You, we ask to remember… to Selah… a pause to reflect on the goodness of God. We pray this all in your name Jesus. Amen.