The passage
      v1. Matthew makes sure we don't miss the Exodus imagery found in this episode. He alludes to the "six days" Moses was on the mountain in the cloud prior to God appearing to him, Ex.24:15-18, and to the three special companions, Ex.24:1. Jesus is obviously close to this inner circle of disciples.
      v2. Jesus is "transformed" or "changed" before his disciples ("transfigured" comes from the Latin). The change images that of Moses in the presence of God on Mount Sinai - his shining face. Jesus, Messiah, Son of God, takes on the mantle of "the prophet like unto Moses", as he does that of the priest and king. In fact, the imagery may reflect the visions of Daniel's coming Son of Man - the one who comes to rule, Dan.10:8f, cf. Rev.1:13f, 17f.
      v3. The appearance of Moses and Elijah serves to image the pattern of the suffering servant of God who moves through struggle to glory. Both Moses and Elijah fit this image. Tradition had it that both Moses and Elijah were taken bodily into heaven, even though the burial of Moses is recorded in the Bible. It was believed that both would return before the coming of the kingdom.
      v4. The feast of "Booths" commemorates God's presence and protection during the forty years Israel was in the wilderness. Peter realizes God's presence in the situation and rightly wants to build some "shelters" ("booths") to tangibly illustrate the experience. Luke adds "not knowing what he said." Building "booths" is not a problem, putting Jesus on a par with Moses and Elijah is. God the Father sorts this out in the next verse.
      v5. Imaging the Shekinah Glory of God's presence (cloud, light), the Father repeats the words recorded in 3:17. It is a two-part Old Testament quotation. Psalm 2:7, the dominion and authority of Messiah (David's son), and Isaiah 42:1, the suffering of God's Servant. The messiah achieves glory through suffering. Jesus is the prophet like Moses and we must hear him, listen to him, for he has precedence over all.
      v6-8. The fearful response of the disciples is a common one and is gently handled by Jesus. None-the-less, it is not a response of faith, and as such is worthless.
      v9. While coming down the mountain, Jesus asked his disciples not to mention his transfiguration. Those with eyes of faith (though weak) may witness the messianic secret, but for the crowds there is only the "sign of Jonah" - the proclaimed word of God.
      v10. The disciples are confused and so ask Jesus a question. They have just witnessed the appearing of Elijah. If the scribes are right in saying that Elijah precedes the messiah, why can't they now proclaim Messiah's presence? Are the scribes wrong?
      v11-13. Jesus says that the Scribes are right, but that they have misunderstood the role of Elijah, just as they have misunderstood the role of the messiah. When Elijah comes he "will restore all things", in the sense of turn men's hearts, Mal.4:6. Sadly, the Scribes have not recognized this sign in the ministry of John the Baptist, rather they have ignored the sign, rejected it. They will treat Jesus in exactly the same way.

Hear Him
      As Israel had to journey through the wilderness to the promised land, so Jesus must move through suffering and death to glory - from Caesarea to Mount Transfiguration, from Calvary to ascension. So too must we, who travel the narrow way in Christ, move through struggle to eternity. Glory only comes but through pain and suffering.
      The struggle is the struggle of life. It is not the self-inflicted journey of asceticism, rather it is the mysterious, frustrating, tail-chasing, lonely, hormonal, questioning, doubting, "what am I going to do now?"..... business of life. This is the journey we undertake to reach glory, a journey shaped by the Word of God, and all the time agitated by it. There is no short-cut.
      There are many who would guide us on this journey, many who know the answers. They speak with the authority of institutional power. We may be tempted to enshrine their wisdom, build a "booth" for them as it were. Yet, there is only one we must hear; we must "listen to him."
      From our personal survival, to the survival of the church, we can easily turn to the "relevant" wisdom of our age. Probably more "how to......" books have been written in our generation than any other form of literature. Yet, the truth is that Christ still gathers his people and builds them up through the preaching and teaching of the Word of God. So if we would journey to Calvary, "listen to him!"