Luke 9:30 (WEB)
Behold, two men were talking with him, who were Moses and Elijah,
As quoted in the map (KJV)
Luke 9:30–31 (KJV)
30 And, behold, there talked with him two men, which were Moses and Elias: 31 Who appeared in glory, and spake of his decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem.
Key words
- ἔξοδοςexodos · Greek
- 'decease' — literally 'exodus,' the departure Jesus is to accomplish at Jerusalem.
- Μωϋσῆς καὶ ἨλίαςMōusēs kai Ēlias · Greek
- 'Moses and Elias' — the lawgiver of the first exodus speaks with Jesus about the new one.
Why it matters
At the Transfiguration Moses and Elijah speak of the 'exodus' Jesus will accomplish at Jerusalem. Pitre uses the word to define the shape of Luke's Gospel (pp 43, 65): Jesus is the new Moses, but his exodus runs not from Egypt to the promised land but from Jerusalem to heaven, ending when he is 'carried up into heaven' (24:51). For Jesus the earthly promised land is the point of departure — and that is what makes the Assumption of the new Ark fitting.
Catechism · 1
“But only on the mountain of the Transfiguration will Moses and Elijah behold the unveiled face of him whom they sought; "the light of the knowledge of the glory of God [shines] in the face of Christ," crucified and risen.” — Catechism footnote: 2 Cor 4:6; cf. Lk 9:30-35.
Fathers and councils · 21
Cyril of Jerusalem
“Nay more, we produce two witnesses, those who stood before Lord on Mount Sinai: Moses was in a clift of the rock, and Elias was once in a clift of the rock: they being present with Him at His Transfiguration on Mount Tabor, spoke to the Disciples of His decease which fire should accomplish at Jerusalem.” — editor's note: Luke ix. 30, 31. On the tradition that Mt. Tabor was the place of the Transfiguration, accepted by S. Jerome and other Fathers, compare Lightfoot (Hor. Hebr.…
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Tertullian
“…disciples, and the hope of the advent of the Lord indirectly pointed to, in that, at that time, when He had been received back into the heavens, the angels told the apostles that “He would so come, as He had withal ascended into the heavens;” at Pentecost, of course.” — editor's note: Comp. Acts i. 10 and Luke ix. 30: in each place St. Luke says, ἄνδρες δύο: as also in xxiv. 4 of his Gospel.
Read the whole comment“Deservedly, therefore, even while in the flesh, did the Lord show Himself to him, the colleague of His own fasts, no less than to Elijah.” — editor's note: See Matt. xvii. 1–13; Mark ix. 1–13; Luke ix. 28–36.
Read the whole comment“…husbandry is adultery; while, in the revelation of His own glory, He prefers, from among so many saints and prophets, to have with him Moses and Elias—the one a monogamist, the other a voluntary celibate (for Elias was nothing else than John, who came “in the power and spirit of Elias”); while that “man…” — editor's note: See Matt. xvii. 1–8; Mark ix. 2–9; Luke ix. 28–36.
Read the whole comment“You ought to be very much ashamed of yourself on this account too, for permitting him to appear on the retired mountain in the company of Moses and Elias, whom he had come to destroy.” — editor's note: Luke ix. 28–36.
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Catena Aurea on Luke
- Eusebius of CaesareaCatena Aurea on Luke
Our Lord, when He made known to His disciples the great mystery of His second coming, that it might not seem that they were to believe in His words only, proceeds to works, manifesting to them, through the eyes of…
Read the whole comment - John DamasceneCatena Aurea on Luke
Matthew and Mark indeed say that the transfiguration took place on the sixth day after the promise made to the disciples, but Luke on the eighth. But there is no disagreement in these testimonies, but they who make…
Read the whole comment - Ambrose of MilanCatena Aurea on Luke
Or, Peter went up, who received the keys of the kingdom of heaven; John, to whom was committed our Lord’s mother; James, who first suffered martyrdom. (Acts 12:1.)
Read the whole comment - Theophylact of OhridCatena Aurea on Luke
Or, He takes these with Him as men who were able to conceal this thing, and reveal it to no one else. But going up into a mountain to pray, He teaches us to pray solitary, and going up, into stooping to earthly things.
Read the whole comment - John DamasceneCatena Aurea on Luke
Servants however pray in one way; our Lord prayed in another. For the prayer of the servant is offered up by the lifting up of the mind to God, but the holy mind of Christ, (who was hypostatically [ὑπόστασιν] united…
Read the whole comment - Cyril of AlexandriaCatena Aurea on Luke
Not as though His body changed its human form, but a certain glistening glory overspread it.
Read the whole comment - John DamasceneCatena Aurea on Luke
Now the devil, seeing His face shining in prayer, recollected Moses, whose face was glorified. But Moses indeed was arrayed with a glory, which came from without; our Lord, with that which proceeded from the inherent…
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Luke
Or else this took place because the multitude said He was Elias or Jeremias, to shew the distinction between our Lord and His servants. And to make it plain that He was not an enemy of God, and transgressor of the…
Read the whole comment - Cyril of AlexandriaCatena Aurea on Luke
The mystery, namely, of His incarnation, also the life-giving Passion accomplished on the sacred cross.
Read the whole comment - Ambrose of MilanCatena Aurea on Luke
Now in a mystical manner, after the words above said, is exhibited the transfiguration of Christ, since he who hears the words of Christ, and believes, shall see the glory of His resurrection. For, on the eighth day…
Read the whole comment - BedeCatena Aurea on Luke
For as He rose from the dead after the seventh day of the Sabbath, during which He lay in the tomb, we also after the six ages of this world, and the seventh of the rest of souls, which meanwhile is passed in another…
Read the whole comment - Ambrose of MilanCatena Aurea on Luke
But Matthew and Mark have related that He took them with Him after six days, of which we may say after 6000 years, (for a thousand years in the Lord’s sight are as one day;) but more than 6000 years are reckoned. We…
Read the whole comment - BedeCatena Aurea on Luke
Hence He ascends the mountain to pray and be transfigured, to shew that those who expect the fruit of the resurrection, and desire to see the King in His glory, ought to have the dwelling place of their hearts on…
Read the whole comment - Ambrose of MilanCatena Aurea on Luke
I should think that in the three who are taken up into the mountain, was contained in a mystery the human race, because from the three sons of Noah sprung the whole race of man; I did not perceive that they were…
Read the whole comment - BedeCatena Aurea on Luke
Now the transfigured Saviour shews the glory of His own coming, or our resurrection; who as He then appeared to His Apostles shall in like manner appear to all the elect. But the raiment of the Lord is taken for the…
Read the whole comment - Ambrose of MilanCatena Aurea on Luke
Or else, according to your capacity is the word either lessened or increased to you, and unless you ascend the summit of a higher wisdom, you behold not what glory there is in the word of God. Now the garments of the…
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Cross-references · 12
Cited together in On Baptism Chapter 18.
Cited together in On Baptism Chapter 18.
Cited together in John Damascene on Luke 9:28–31 (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in On Baptism Chapter 18.
Cited together in On Baptism Chapter 18.
Cited together in On Baptism Chapter 18.
Cited together in Ambrose of Milan on Luke 9:28–31 (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in Bede on Luke 9:28–31 (3) (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in John Damascene on Luke 9:28–31 (3) (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in On Baptism Chapter 18.
Cited together in John Damascene on Luke 9:28–31 (3) (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in On Baptism Chapter 18.