This chapter teaches us that how men’s ideas are contrast to God’s. It starts with the disciples seeing Moses and Elijah with Christ.

Peter responded and said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good that we are here. If You want, I will make three tabernacles here: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” While he was still speaking, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and behold, a voice from the cloud said, “This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to Him! (Matthew 17:4-5)

Even though the disciples received much power while Christ was on the earth, their thinking remained earthly until the Holy Spirit came and taught them. They were rebuked by Christ a few times for their lack of understanding and faith. It was God’s will that they stayed that way until the Spirit came and made them understand the teachings of Christ after His resurrection. Peter and other disciples thought that the Kingdom was an earthly Kingdom. From his point of view, Moses and Elijah were equal to Christ. All three men are worthy to receive worship. Therefore, he came up with the idea of three tabernacles. Men’s idea of three men with a close relationship with God receiving worship from others is what the devil wants – 666. This is men’s idea of a god, the anti-christ. This history of idolatry appears in the OT from Genesis.

Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves; otherwise we will be scattered over the face of the whole earth.” (Genesis 11:4)

Men have been trying to become like God since the time Adam was in the garden of Eden. It is deeply embedded within our nature. Even saints can fall into such temptation. It is important to beware of our weakness in this matter all the time.

Our nature wants to set an idol and worship it. The bottom of this idolatry is worship of a man or men. Idolatry is about worshiping myself. A person does not care about others but only himself/herself. This contrasts to God, who is love. And this love is beyond human expectations and ideas. This love is self-sacrificing love, which no man can do. A man may appear to be selfless and seek good for others, and yet deny God and His words, does not have love for others. Albert Schweitzer did many great things by helping the sick from the eyes of the world. Yet, he had wrong ideas about God. Keeping of the Law(love) is always accompanied by true knowledge and understanding of God.

Christ came to fulfill all the Law and the prophecies written in the OT. And He still fulfills all the promises God has made. He is Truth. He is faithful.

And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war. (Revelation 19:11)

Truth, love, faith, righteousness, knowledge, understanding, wisdom, the Law, the prophecies may have their own meanings, but they are, in fact, the same. They have the same root, God. Without knowing this, we can easily fall into men’s idea of a god.

The following passage after the first event of the chapter, Christ rebuked the disciples for their lack of faith.

And He said to them, “Because of your meager faith; for truly I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you. (v.17-20)

This is not about how one must put their will and efforts to do something and achieve their will by the power of God. Moving of a mountain means moving of a tabernacle/temple. In the OT, God’s dwelling place was often referred as Mount Zion and Jerusalem. The Jews (and many Christians) think it is about the earthly Kingdom in a certain geographical location. But from the beginning, God did not want an earthly kingdom as His eternal dwelling place. What seemed impossible and unthinkable to the Jews, Christ did by His death and resurrection.

The Jews then said to Him, “What sign do You show us as your authority for doing these things?” Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” The Jews then said, “It took forty-six years to build this temple, and yet You will raise it up in three days?” But He was speaking about the temple of His body. So when He was raised from the dead, His disciples remembered that He said this; and they believed the Scripture and the word which Jesus had spoken. (John 2:18-22)

Although the earthly systems – governments and visible churches- may continue to exist till Christ comes, saints must put hope in the coming Kingdom, which will exist for eternity.