THE K I N G ’ S B U S I N E S S
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v. 31. Who appeared in glory. He who had already turned His back upon the divine glory and been made in the likeness of man (Phil. 2 :6 , 7 ) again turns His back upon it and descends from that mountain to die on Calvary, Not only the incarnation but also the crucifixion was necessary for our salva tion. (Heb. 9 :22; Eph. 1 :7 ).— 'Torrey. The door through which Moses and Eli jah had come, stood open and by it our Lord might have returned, but He could never under those circumstances have been the Saviour of mankind.—■ Meyer. Spake of His decease. The one subject that engaged the attention of Moses and Elias and Jesus on this wonderful occasion was His decease. The atoning death is a subject of great interest in the heavenly world. (1 Pet, 1:10-12).—Torrey. Which He should accomplish. His death did not merely happen. It was He himself who accom plished it and fulfilled all the Scrip tures concerning it.—Comp. Bible. Mark the historical character and local fea tures which Christ’s death assumed to those glorified men. “Go, matchless adored One, as a lamb to the slaughter, rejected of men hut chosen of God and precious. Thine every step is watched by us with ineffable interest. What is the depth of shame to Thee is covered with glory in the eyes of heaven.”— Jamieson. The word “accomplish” shows that Christ’s death was the divine purpose and that Jesus in accepting the divine “must” was accomplishing the purpose of love which sent Him into the world.—K. B. v. 32. Heavy with sleep. How much believers lose through soul-sleepiness! —Sel. When they were awake. Some have argued that the transfiguration was a trance and in favor of this view it has been urged that their eyes were heavy with sleep, but Luke who alone mentions this fact, is careful to add that they were awake at the time of the vision. That it was no illusion is shown
53; 1 Thess. 4:14-17); fourth, three disciples not glorified, representatives for the moment of Israel in the flesh in the future kingdom, (Ezek. 37:21-27); fifth, the multitude at the foot of the mountain, representative of the nations who are to be brought into the kingdom after its establishment over Israel. (Is. 11:10-12).—Scofield. Moses and Elias. Moses represents the hooks which were written by him—the Pentateuch, and Elijah represents the prophets. It is fitting that they should be with Christ and talk with Him about His atoning death, for the burden of their prophe cies is the sacrificial death of Christ. (Lk. 24:27, 44).—Marsh. The unity of the old and new covenants is wonder fully attested, and also the subordina tion of the old to the new—that Christ is the end of the law (Rom. 10:4) and the object to which all prophecy pointed, (Lk. 24:44; Acts 1:13; 28:23; Rom. 3:21) that therefore the great purpose of these had now been fulfilled. Moses and Elias now disappear. Christ only remains.—Trench. Jesus between two choicest saints. Mt. 27:38—Jesus between two malefactors. 1 Tim. 2:5— Jesus between God and man.—Garry. Who would have believed these were not angels had not their human names been subjoined?—Bengel. The earthly lives of these two had been spent in different lands. Five hundred eventful years had pushed them far apart, but their mission had been one.—Burton. The transfiguration is understood in the light of Mt. 16:21-27. Peter had re fused the cross as an offense and some thing unworthy of consideration. He must be taught that the cross is the glory of heaven and that in that cross the law and the prophets are fulfilled. It is also to be looked upon as a rebuke to the people who had been prone to look upon Christ as like unto Moses or Elias. In this scene Moses and Elias vanished and Christ* remained. “Hear ye Him.”
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