Luke 9

Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases.

And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick.

And he said unto them, Take nothing for your journey, neither staves, nor scrip, neither bread, neither money; neither have two coats apiece.

And whatsoever house ye enter into, there abide, and thence depart.

And whosoever will not receive you, when ye go out of that city, shake off the very dust from your feet for a testimony against them.

And they departed, and went through the towns, preaching the gospel, and healing every where.

Now Herod the tetrarch heard of all that was done by him: and he was perplexed, because that it was said of some, that John was risen from the dead;

And of some, that Elias had appeared; and of others, that one of the old prophets was risen again.

And Herod said, John have I beheaded: but who is this, of whom I hear such things? And he desired to see him.

And the apostles, when they were returned, told him all that they had done. And he took them, and went aside privately into a desert place belonging to the city called Bethsaida.

And the people, when they knew it, followed him: and he received them, and spake unto them of the kingdom of God, and healed them that had need of healing.

And when the day began to wear away, then came the twelve, and said unto him, Send the multitude away, that they may go into the towns and country round about, and lodge, and get victuals: for we are here in a desert place.

But he said unto them, Give ye them to eat. And they said, We have no more but five loaves and two fishes; except we should go and buy meat for all this people.

For they were about five thousand men. And he said to his disciples, Make them sit down by fifties in a company.

And they did so, and made them all sit down.

Then he took the five loaves and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed them, and brake, and gave to the disciples to set before the multitude.

And they did eat, and were all filled: and there was taken up of fragments that remained to them twelve baskets.

And it came to pass, as he was alone praying, his disciples were with him: and he asked them, saying, Whom say the people that I am?

They answering said, John the Baptist; but some say, Elias; and others say, that one of the old prophets is risen again.

He said unto them, But whom say ye that I am? Peter answering said, The Christ of God.

And he straitly charged them, and commanded them to tell no man that thing;

Saying, The Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be slain, and be raised the third day.

And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.

For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.

For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?

For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father's, and of the holy angels.

But I tell you of a truth, there be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the kingdom of God.

And it came to pass about an eight days after these sayings, he took Peter and John and James, and went up into a mountain to pray.

And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistering.

And, behold, there talked with him two men, which were Moses and Elias:

Who appeared in glory, and spake of his decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem.

But Peter and they that were with him were heavy with sleep: and when they were awake, they saw his glory, and the two men that stood with him.

And it came to pass, as they departed from him, Peter said unto Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias: not knowing what he said.

While he thus spake, there came a cloud, and overshadowed them: and they feared as they entered into the cloud.

And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him.

And when the voice was past, Jesus was found alone. And they kept it close, and told no man in those days any of those things which they had seen.

And it came to pass, that on the next day, when they were come down from the hill, much people met him.

And, behold, a man of the company cried out, saying, Master, I beseech thee, look upon my son: for he is mine only child.

And, lo, a spirit taketh him, and he suddenly crieth out; and it teareth him that he foameth again, and bruising him hardly departeth from him.

And I besought thy disciples to cast him out; and they could not.

And Jesus answering said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you, and suffer you? Bring thy son hither.

And as he was yet a coming, the devil threw him down, and tare him. And Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, and healed the child, and delivered him again to his father.

And they were all amazed at the mighty power of God. But while they wondered every one at all things which Jesus did, he said unto his disciples,

Let these sayings sink down into your ears: for the Son of man shall be delivered into the hands of men.

But they understood not this saying, and it was hid from them, that they perceived it not: and they feared to ask him of that saying.

Then there arose a reasoning among them, which of them should be greatest.

And Jesus, perceiving the thought of their heart, took a child, and set him by him,

And said unto them, Whosoever shall receive this child in my name receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me receiveth him that sent me: for he that is least among you all, the same shall be great.

And John answered and said, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name; and we forbad him, because he followeth not with us.

And Jesus said unto him, Forbid him not: for he that is not against us is for us.

And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem,

And sent messengers before his face: and they went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him.

And they did not receive him, because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem.

And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did?

But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of.

For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them. And they went to another village.

And it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain man said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest.

And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.

And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.

Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.

And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house.

And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.

What does Luke 9:30 mean?

Explanation

Luke 9:30 presents an event within the Christian New Testament known as the Transfiguration. In this event, Jesus takes three of his disciples, Peter, James, and John, up to a mountain to pray.

While on the mountain, the appearance of Jesus changes and becomes radiant.

Then, two men, identified as Moses and Elias (Elijah), appear in glory and speak with Jesus.

The literal reading of this verse indicates a miraculous occurrence where two significant figures in Jewish history appear alongside Jesus.

The deeper meaning of this event may indicate a connection between Jesus and the law (represented by Moses) and the prophets (represented by Elijah), and it serves to further reaffirm Jesus' divine identity and mission.

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Historical Context

This verse is part of the Gospel of Luke, written approximately in the late 1st century AD.

Luke′s audience primarily included Gentile Christians.

In Jewish tradition, Moses is regarded as the lawgiver, while Elijah is considered one of the greatest prophets.

Both figures were expected to return at pivotal moments in Jewish eschatology.

Elijah's return, in particular, was anticipated before the coming of the Messiah.

By depicting both Moses and Elijah conferring with Jesus, the narrative connects Jesus with foundational Jewish religious figures, reinforcing His authority and identity as the Messiah.

Theological Insights

From a theological perspective, this verse illustrates several key concepts:

Continuity: It reflects the continuity between the Old Testament and the New Testament, suggesting that Jesus does not abolish the old law but fulfills it.
Divine Approval: It can be seen as a divine endorsement of Jesus by pairing him with two of the most revered figures in Jewish history.
Jesus as Mediator: It shows Jesus as a mediator between God (represented by the divine realm from which Moses and Elijah come) and humanity (represented by the disciples who witness the event).

Different denominations may highlight various aspects of this event, but it is widely held as a powerful affirmation of the divine nature of Jesus Christ.

Practical Applications

In practical terms, this verse can serve as a reminder of the following:

The importance of seeking divine encounters and spiritual experiences in one's faith journey.
The respect and integration of past religious traditions with current spiritual understanding.
The encouragement for believers to see Jesus as the fulfillment of the law and the prophets and to embrace Him as the central figure of their faith.

Cross-References

Matthew 17:3 - "And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him."
Mark 9:4 - "And there appeared unto them Elias with Moses: and they were talking with Jesus."
Hebrews 11:27 - "By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible."
Malachi 4:5-6 - "Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD: And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse."

Language Study

The key words in the original Greek text are:

"ὁμιλέω" (homileo): translated as "talked with", implying not just a passing exchange but a significant conversation.
"Μωϋσῆς" (Moses) and "Ἠλίας" (Elias): These are the Greek forms of the Hebrew names Moshe (Moses) and Eliyahu (Elijah), which hold great significance in Jewish tradition.

The choice to include these names places Jesus within the context of God’s historical dealings with Israel.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In various ancient cultures, there are accounts of heroes and religious figures who undergo transformative experiences on mountains, such as Mohammed's night journey or Moses receiving the Law on Mount Sinai.

The Transfiguration can be compared to these events as instances where mountains serve as meeting places between the divine and the mortal.

Scientific Perspectives

The scientific perspective may inquire into the natural explanations for such phenomena described in the verse, including psychological experiences of altered states of consciousness.

However, from a theological viewpoint, the Transfiguration is primarily understood as a supernatural event beyond the scope of scientific explanation.

Commentaries

Different commentators have approached Luke 9:30 with varying insights:

Matthew Henry's Commentary emphasizes the encouragement that Moses and Elijah's appearance would have provided for Jesus, anticipating His sufferings ahead.
The Pulpit Commentary discusses the significance of the figures of Moses and Elijah representing the law and the prophets, respectively, and their conversing with Jesus symbolizes the testimonies of the law and the prophets concerning Christ.
William Barclay notes the event as emphasizing the uniqueness of Jesus' glory, setting him apart from even the most esteemed figures of Jewish history who appear with Him.

Luke 9

Luke 9

What does Luke 9:30 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Luke Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Luke 9:30 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Luke Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?