What is the meaning of Luke 9:31? They appeared in glory • “They” are Moses and Elijah, the law-giver and the prophet (Luke 9:30), whose presence confirms Jesus as the fulfillment of both Law and Prophets (Matthew 5:17). • Their “glory” mirrors the radiance that surrounded Jesus at the Transfiguration (Matthew 17:2; Mark 9:3) and anticipates the glory believers will share (Romans 8:18; 1 John 3:2). • Moses once came down from Sinai with a shining face (Exodus 34:29-30), and Elijah was taken up in a fiery chariot (2 Kings 2:11); now they stand alive and glorified, illustrating the resurrection hope in Christ (Luke 20:37-38). and spoke • The conversation shows that saints who have gone before are conscious and engaged with God’s redemptive plan (Revelation 6:9-11). • It underscores the Father’s affirmation of the Son: even the great figures of Israel’s past point to Jesus and find their message completed in Him (John 5:39-40). • Peter, James, and John are allowed to overhear a heavenly dialogue, reminding us that “the secret counsel of the LORD is for those who fear Him” (Psalm 25:14). about His departure • “Departure” translates literally as “exodus,” echoing Israel’s deliverance from Egypt. Moses led the first exodus; Jesus will lead the ultimate one—deliverance from sin and death (John 1:29; 1 Corinthians 5:7). • Elijah, taken to heaven without dying, stands as a witness that death will not have the final word over the Messiah (2 Kings 2:11; Luke 24:5-6). • The topic confirms that the cross is not an interruption but the centerpiece of God’s plan (Acts 2:23). which He was about to accomplish • Jesus is the active agent: He will “accomplish” or complete the saving work (Hebrews 2:14-15; Colossians 2:14-15). • His impending death is described in terms of achievement, not accident—“No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of My own accord” (John 10:18). • The word choice assures us that every prophecy will be fulfilled down to the smallest detail (Luke 24:44). at Jerusalem • Jerusalem is where the prophets were sent and often rejected (Luke 13:33-34), yet it remains the ordained stage for redemption (Isaiah 53; Psalm 22). • The city’s sacrificial system foreshadows the once-for-all sacrifice of Christ (Hebrews 10:10-14). • By specifying the location, Jesus aligns His mission with centuries of prophecy and temple imagery, underscoring that “the Scripture cannot be broken” (John 10:35). summary Luke 9:31 pulls back the veil on heaven’s perspective: Moses and Elijah, shining with glory, speak with Jesus about the soon-coming exodus He will personally accomplish through His sacrificial death and resurrection in Jerusalem. The scene affirms that the cross is planned, purposeful, and foretold; that Jesus fulfills Law and Prophets; and that glory lies on the far side of His sufferings for all who trust Him. |
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