1 And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, 2 And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light. 3 And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him. 4 Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias. 5 While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him. 6 And when the disciples heard [it], they fell on their face, and were sore afraid. 7 And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid. 8 And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only. 9 And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, saying, Tell the vision to no man, until the Son of man be risen again from the dead. (Matthew 17:1-9)

Overwhelmed and thinking the kingdom had arrived, Peter proposed building three tabernacles (booths), placing Moses, Elijah, and Jesus on the same level.

I find it interesting that we do this also with politicians, celebrities, and people with great worldly success and power. We, like Peter, completely misunderstand the moment. We think through one or all of these people “the kingdom has arrived.” The disciples and many of us lump people together with Jesus. We try to build tabernacles for all when only one is worthy. To only one, God the Father says, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.” The command “hear ye him” is an imperative to obey Jesus above all others, including comedians, celebrities, bloggers, politicians and the greatest Old Testament saints.

To put others on the same plane as God is more like self-focused ecstasy rather than the redemptive purpose of God. The whole love Trump, hate Trump thing is like this.
Charles Spurgeon says about this passage, “It is better to hear the Son of God than to see saints, or to build tabernacles.” If all you ever do is talk politics, elevate pastors, authors, bloggers, reformers, or even biblical heroes to near-equal footing with Christ you are building tabernacles.

So may our eyes be so fixed on Him that, like the disciples on that mountain, we ultimately see no man, save Jesus only.

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My thoughts on this passage in Matthew between 2am and 4am. I love the stillness of the night. Goodnight!