Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Luke 9:31

"who appeared in glory, and spake of his decease which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem." — Luke 9:31 (ASV)

Moses and Elijah also appear in this scene of supernatural glory, though Luke describes them as ordinary “men” . Why these two? Moses had a mountaintop experience at Sinai; his face shone (Exodus 34:30; 2 Corinthians 3:7); he was both a lawgiver and a prophet—indeed the prototype of Jesus . Elijah was not only a prophet but was also related to the law of Moses as symbolizing the one who would one day turn people’s hearts back to the covenant (Malachi 4:4–6). In other words, Moses is a typological figure who reminds us of the past (the Exodus), while Elijah is an eschatological figure who points to the future as a precursor of the Messiah. Each man was among the most highly respected OT figures; both had one distinctive thing in common—their strange departure from this world (2 Kings 2:11). In summary, the presence of Moses and Elijah on the Mount of Transfiguration draws attention (1) to the place of Jesus in continuing the redemptive work of God from the Exodus to the future eschatological consummation; (2) to the appropriateness of Jesus’ association with heavenly figures; and (3) to the superiority of Jesus over even these great and divinely favored heroes of Israel’s past.

The conversation is about Jesus’ “departure” (lit., his “exodus”; GK 2016). It points to Jesus’ death and recalls the redemptive work of God in the Exodus from Egypt. Jesus’ coming death was one that he would deliberately accomplish. Luke portrays Jesus as moving unhurriedly toward the accomplishment of his goals. He specifies Jerusalem as the city of destiny for Jesus .