ACC ~ Matthew 17 v1

AFTER SIX DAYS

HILARY OF POITIERS: Indeed, in this type of event, reason, harmony and example are served. For after six days the appearance of the Lord’s glory is revealed. No doubt, with the cycles of six thousand years having unfolded, the glory of the heavenly kingdom is prefigured. And the three were taken up in analogy to the descent of the three, Shem, Ham and Japheth. By this the coming election to divine favor of the people is shown. ON MATTHEW 17.2. [1]

[1] SC 258:62.

THE COUNTING OF DAYS

JEROME: Now it is asked how after six days he took them and led them separately onto a high mountain, whereas the Evangelist Luke established the number at eight. The answer is easy because in Matthew the days in the middle are counted, but in Luke the first and last are added. [1] For Luke does not say after eight days Jesus took Peter and James and John but “now about eight days after.” [2] COMMENTARY ON MATTHEW 3.17.1. [3]

[1] To make the six-day interval in Matthew 17:1 fit with the eight days in Luke 9:28, Jerome holds that Matthew indicates only the whole days, whereas Luke, applying the criterion of the synecdoche, includes the incomplete portions of the day before and the day after the six.

[2] Lk 9:28.

[3] CCL 77:147.

WHY ONLY THREE?

CHRYSOSTOM: Why does he take only these three with him? Because each one of these three was elevated above the rest. Peter showed his preeminence by exceedingly loving him; John by being exceedingly loved by him. James showed his superiority by his ready response to his brother: we are able to drink the cup [1] and by his works and by doing what he said. For so earnest was James, and grievous to the Jews, that Herod himself imagined that he had bestowed a great favor on the Jews by killing him. [2] THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW, HOMILY 56.2. [3]

[1] Mt 20:22.

[2] Cf. Acts 12:1-3: “Herod … killed James the brother of John with the sword; and when he saw that it pleased the Jews . . .”

[3] PG 58:549-50; NPNF 1 10:345.

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