Verse 31
Who appeared in glory, and spake of his decease which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.
Only Luke gives the subject matter of the conversation between the Lord and these Old Testament worthies, and the truly significant fact of Jesus' decease being a matter of his own accomplishment is revealed.
His decease ... This could be rendered "departure" (English Revised Version (1885) margin) rather than "decease," leaving room for the discernment that Jesus, though suffering death, did not actually cease to be. For a full discussion of the seven centers of initiative in Jesus' death, see my Commentary on Romans, Romans 3:25-26, under the title of "Who Crucified Christ?" Our Lord was the architect of his own crucifixion; and, although evil men were allowed a part in it, it was only his holy will that permitted it.
Moses and Elijah ... were Old Testament representatives of the Law and the Prophets; and their appearance in this scene, where, in a sense, they laid their homage at the feet of Christ, is eloquent of the office of Christ the Prophet, Priest and King who was about to succeed to all the authority (and more) that pertained to God's representative in the old covenant.
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