translation_id: net-engnet

book_id: MAT

label: NET study note

text: See the note on Pharisees in 3:7 .


text: See the note on Sadducees in 3:7 .


text: What exactly this sign would have been, given what Jesus was already doing, is not clear. But here is where the fence-sitters reside, refusing to commit to him.


text: The appearance of Elijah would mean that the end time had come. According to 2 Kgs 2:11 , Elijah was still alive. In Mal 4:5 it is said that Elijah would be the precursor of Messiah.


text: The necessity that the Son of Man suffer is the particular point that needed emphasis since for many 1st century Jews the Messiah was a glorious and powerful figure, not a suffering one.


text: To bear the cross means to accept the rejection of the world for turning to Jesus and following him. Discipleship involves a death that is like a crucifixion; see Gal 6:14 .


text: The point of the saying whoever wants to save his life will lose it is that if one comes to Jesus then rejection by many will certainly follow. If self-protection is a key motivation, then one will not respond to Jesus and will not be saved. One who is willing to risk rejection will respond and find true life.


text: An allusion to Pss 28:4; 62:12 ; cf. Prov 24:12 .


text: Several suggestions have been made as to the referent for the phrase the Son of Man coming in his kingdom : (1) the transfiguration itself, which immediately follows in the narrative; (2) Jesus’ resurrection and ascension; (3) the coming of the Spirit; (4) Christ’s role in the Church; (5) the destruction of Jerusalem; (6) Jesus’ second coming and the establishment of the kingdom. The reference to six days later in 17:1 seems to indicate that Matthew had the transfiguration in mind insofar as it was a substantial prefiguring of the consummation of the kingdom (although this interpretation is not without its problems). As such, the transfiguration would be a tremendous confirmation to the disciples that even though Jesus had just finished speaking of his death (in vv. 21-23 ), he was nonetheless the promised Messiah and things were proceeding according to God’s plan.