And behold two men were talking with him. And they were Moses and Elias,
και ιδου ανδρες δυο συνελαλουν αυτω οιτινες ησαν μωσης και ηλιας
9 Church Fathers comment on this verse · 11 commentaries
As He prayed, Moses and Elijah appeared before Him, demonstrating that He was not adversarial to the Law and the prophets. If He had opposed them, Moses, the Lawgiver, and Elijah, the most fervent of the prophets, would not have consented to serve Him or even be in His presence.
Moses and Elijah appeared alongside Jesus and engaged in discussion about His impending departure, which He was set to undertake in Jerusalem. This alludes to the profound mystery of His incarnation and the invaluable suffering He was to endure on the cross. Indeed, it is evident that the law of Moses and the prophetic utterances foretold the mystery of Christ. Some prophets expressed this through visions and shadows, representing it visually, while others proclaimed in various manners that, in due time, He would manifest in our form and willingly embrace death on the cross for the salvation and eternal life of all humanity.
The presence of Moses and Elijah before Him, along with their dialogue, serves as a vivid illustration of our Lord Jesus Christ, who embodies the law and the prophets, acting as their sovereign. They harmoniously revealed His coming through their prior pronouncements. The messages of the prophets are in perfect agreement with the teachings of the law. It is within this context that one can imagine Moses, the priest, and Elijah, the foremost among the prophets, conversing together.
I assure you truly that there are some among those present who will not experience death before they have witnessed the Kingdom of God (Luke 9:27). In this context, the Kingdom of God refers to the manifestation of glory that Jesus will reveal to the people of the earth. He is to come in the radiance of God the Father, rather than in the humble form similar to our own. How did He enable those who were promised to behold such a remarkable vision? He ascended the mountain, accompanied by His selected disciples. He was transformed into a state of radiant and divine brilliance, so much so that His garments shone with fiery rays, and His entire being seemed to radiate light.
Simultaneously, Moses and Elijah appeared next to Jesus, conversing about His coming departure, which He was destined to accomplish in Jerusalem (Lk 9:31). This conversation symbolized the profound mystery of the bodily exodus and the sufferings He would endure on the cross. Indeed, it is affirmed that the Law of Moses and the words of the holy prophets prefigured the mystery of Christ. The Law revealed this through images and shadows, presenting it as though on a canvas. The prophets declared beforehand in various manners that, at the appointed time, He would come in our likeness to bring salvation and life, willingly agreeing to die on the cross. Moses and Elijah, standing before Him and engaging in dialogue, represented the unity of the Law and the prophets with Christ. This illustrates that our Lord Jesus Christ encompasses the Law and the prophets as His foundation. It confirms that Christ reigns over the Law and the prophets, as foretold in their prophecies, which harmoniously align. The messages of the prophets are consistent with the teachings of the Law. I believe this is the very discussion that took place between Moses, the chief priest, and Elijah, the most esteemed of all prophets.
Moses and Elijah appeared alongside one another, representing the law and the prophets in conjunction with the Word; for without the Word, the law lacks substance, and only one who speaks of the Son of God qualifies as a prophet. The Sons of Thunder were able to perceive Moses and Elijah with their physical eyes, yet we also witness Moses daily through the Word of God, as we find the law expressed in the Gospel, which instructs us to love the Lord our God (Deut. 6:5; Mt. 22:37; Mk. 12:30; Lk. 10:27). Furthermore, we recognize Elijah in union with the Word of God, as it states: Behold, the virgin shall conceive in the womb (Matt. 1:23; Is. 7:14).
Only three disciples, specifically chosen, are brought up the mountain. These three may symbolize humanity, as all of humankind descends from the three sons of Noah, though they are also selected for their unique purpose. Alternatively, among all those who claim belief in Christ, they alone are privileged to witness the grace of the resurrection, since those deemed wicked do not rise but face condemnation (Ps 1:5, LXX). Thus, three individuals are designated to ascend the mountain, and two are chosen to stand alongside the Lord. In both instances, the significance of the numbers is profound. Perhaps this is why one cannot witness the radiance of the resurrection unless one has upheld the entire mystery of the Trinity with sincere faith.
Peter, who was entrusted with the keys to the kingdom of heaven, John, to whom Jesus’ mother was assigned, and James, the first to reach the priestly status, ascend together; they are joined by Moses and Elijah, representing the law and the prophets through the Word. For the law cannot exist apart from the Word, and a prophet is only legitimate if he foretells the coming of the Son of God.
Approximately eight days after these statements, it seems that the time had elapsed. Jesus took Peter, John, and James with Him and ascended the mountain to pray. While He was engaged in prayer, the look of His face transformed, and His clothing became dazzlingly white. Suddenly, two men appeared and conversed with Him; these were Moses and Elijah. They appeared in glory and spoke of His departure, which He was destined to accomplish in Jerusalem. This event of the Transfiguration is documented by Matthew in his thirty-fourth chapter, where it is explained explicitly. Through the act of prayer, He underwent transfiguration, illustrating for us that sincere prayer has the power to transform and enlighten an individual when performed rightly.
However, the Jewish people still do not believe. Let us pose this question to them: What is so extraordinary about our proclamation that God took on human form, especially when you acknowledge that Abraham encountered the Lord? What is so unusual about our declaration when Jacob proclaimed, "I saw God face to face, and my soul was preserved" (Gen 32:30)? The very Lord who dined with Abraham has also dined with us. So, what is so remarkable in our message? Additionally, we offer the testimony of the two witnesses who appeared before the Lord at Mount Sinai. Moses sheltered in the cleft of the rock, and Elijah also once found refuge there. These two, alongside the Lord who was transfigured on Mount Tabor, conversed with the disciples concerning the Exodus that He would accomplish in Jerusalem (Luke 9:31).
Luke provides a vivid account of the anguish, detailing their appearances and the conversations they had with him. He notes that Moses and Elijah were present in splendor, discussing the departure that He was destined to accomplish in Jerusalem. These figures symbolize the fulfillment of the law and the prophets as they converse with the Lord on the mountain about His suffering and resurrection. For the believer, the tribulations of the Savior serve as a profound source of adoration. As they reflect on the truth that salvation is possible only through His grace, their hearts should be filled with gratitude and they ought to bear steadfast testimony to that grace.
A remarkable event unfolds as two figures, Moses and Elijah, appear in glory, conversing with Jesus. This glorious manifestation signifies their exalted state, characteristic of eternal life. The details of their discussion remain unclear, but it is noted that they spoke of Christ's impending departure, highlighting His forthcoming completion of the mission in Jerusalem. This is corroborated by Peter's recognition during the occurrence that the individuals conversing with Jesus were indeed Moses and Elijah. Their acknowledgment likely stemmed from observing the dialogue between Jesus and the two men.
The appearance of Moses and Elijah serves a profound purpose: it reinforces the disciples' confession of Jesus as the Messiah, the Son of the living God. They are reminded that Christ is not Elijah, Jeremiah, or any other resurrected prophet, for even the foremost prophets of the Old Testament, including the lawgiver and mediator between God and humanity, stand before Him as His servants. Additionally, Moses and Elijah might act as messengers from the heavenly realm, heralding the triumphant message conveyed by the Conqueror of Death, who, even in His bodily state within the tomb, proclaimed victory over death.
The disciples, who had been asleep, awakened to witness a remarkable vision: Jesus radiating in His divine splendor amidst the night’s darkness. Two figures stood alongside Him and engaged in conversation. The disciples speculated that these individuals were Moses and Elijah. As recorded by Luke, Moses and Elijah manifested in glory, appearing in a manner distinct from how people typically present themselves on earth. (For the exodus, see Luke 9:28).
Beside Him, in the same brilliance of divine glory, stood two elders, whom they recognized as Moses and Elijah, the esteemed initiator and principal advocate of the Old Covenant, which He had come both to fulfill and transform. Their manifestation from the heavenly realm signified that the law and the prophets were now to yield to the higher covenant; yet their appearance also served another purpose. They emerged from the realm of the departed to reveal the celebration that awaits the steadfast servants of God beyond this life. More than anyone else, they were uniquely positioned to discuss with Christ His approaching sacrifice in Jerusalem, alleviating His natural sorrow with the promise of unparalleled glory.
Their presence alone proclaimed the victory of life over death and the glory of eternity. The vacant tomb at the base of Mount Abarim and the chariot of fire that carried Elijah eliminated all trepidation about the future and dispelled every human concern of frailty. The arrival of such divine messengers from the Father at this moment was precisely what could fortify His spirit for the joyful embrace of the daunting task of redemption. The turmoil of His human nature and the spiritual battle concluded, never to be felt again in such depth until the night before Golgotha. From that moment, His thoughts were solely centered on accomplishing His Father’s will, which had been entrusted to Him since the beginning.
Passages read together with this verse.
Greek text, 11 words with lemma, transliteration and Strong’s number. Tap to expand.
THEOSIS