Text Study on Luke 9:28-36

Each week I meet with a few pastors for text study. Yesterday I put this together but today no one was able to make it. Since I put some work into this to be shared, I figured I'll share it with you. 

ESV	Greek and Textual Notes	Comments
Luke 9:28 Now about eight days after these sayings he took with him Peter and John and James and went up on the mountain to pray.	᾿Εγένετο δὲ μετὰ τοὺς λόγους τούτους ὡσεὶ ἡμέραι ὀκτὼ- what things are we talking about? Peter has just confessed Jesus as “The Christ of God” and Jesus has called His disciples to take up the cross and follow Him. προσεύχεσθαι- to pray (BDAG 593) Used seven other times when Jesus goes off to pray; 3:21 Jesus’ baptism, 5:16 and Mark 1:35 during his ministry, Luke 6:12 before calling the disciples, 9:18 when Peter confesses Jesus, 11:1 when the disciples ask Him to pray, and Matthew 14:23 before He walks on water	Both Peter’s confession and Jesus’ charge to take up the cross are going to be important in this reading (Luke 9:18-27). We’ll see Jesus clearly revealed as the Son of God and we’ll get a hint of Jesus’ passion. Jesus’ habitual retreat for prayer is a good thing for us to do as well. If Jesus was God and needed to do it, then we certainly need to do it as well. Leaving and going somewhere else where no one will disturb you is a good idea. Where is your place, when is your time where you can go to read scripture and pray without being interrupted?
Luke 9:29 And as he was praying, the appearance of his face was altered, and his clothing became dazzling white.	τὸ εἶδος- appearance or shape (BDAG 280) Luke doesn’t use the word μετεμορφώθη “transfigured” like Matthew and Mark λευκὸς –dazzling, bright, shining (BDAG 593)  ἐξαστράπτων –flashing, gleaming (BDAG 346)	Jesus begins the revelation of His glory to the disciples. Consider the hymn verse: The only Son from Heaven, foretold by ancient seers, By God the Father given, In human form appears. No sphere His light confining, No star so brightly shining As He, our Morning Star. (LSB 402 verse 1)
Luke 9:30 And behold, two men were talking with him, Moses and Elijah,	Μωϋσῆς καὶ ᾿Ηλίας,-Quite literally the Law and the Prophets testifying about Jesus. Both Moses and Elijah had done incredible miracles (as had their successors). Moses, Elijah, and Jesus (and their successors) are almost the only ones in scripture to do miracles themselves.	The significance of Moses and Elijah is not limited to miracles. You have to remember the ways the left this world and the other things God said to them about death. Moses has an interesting death, as we hear in our Old Testament Reading from Deuteronomy 34:1-12. Remember also the LORD’s words to Moses at the burning bush “I am the God of your Father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” Remember how Jesus uses this in Luke 20:27-40 when the Sadducees ask Him a ridiculous question about the resurrection. Jesus ends His answer by saying “Now He is no God of the dead but of the living for all live to Him.”
Luke 9:31 who appeared in glory and spoke of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.	ἔλεγον- imperfect “they began to speak” τὴν ἔξοδον αὐτοῦ - Exodus or departure, that is His death. (BDAG 350) Used only here and 2 Peter 1:15 to talk about death.
Elijah doesn’t go through death, but is taken to heaven in a whirlwind with chariots of fire. This was to prevent Jezebel from the pleasure of killing Elijah or even hearing the news of Elijah’s death. By taking the prophet to heaven in a whirlwind, the LORD was showing that He held the power not only over the weather, but also over death. God had already proved His power over death to these two Old Testament heroes. Who better for Jesus to talk to before His own passion?
Luke 9:32 Now Peter and those who were with him were heavy with sleep, but when they became fully awake they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him.	βεβαρημένοι-to be weighed down (BDAG 166) Perfect Participle: “they were already weighed down and remained weighed down” This is the same world use of the disciples in garden of Gethsemane διαγρηγορήσαντες-keep awake (BDAG 227) Aorist Active Participle “once they woke up” Once they woke up, they most likely woke up pretty quick The text gives us no indication of how long this encounter lasted.	John 1:14 “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” 2 Peter 1:16-18 “For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased," we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain.”
Luke 9:33 And as the men were parting from him, Peter said to Jesus, "Master, it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah"—not knowing what he said.	διαχωρίζεσθαι- separate (BDAG 240) a hapax! ἐπιστάτα- master (BDAG 381) used here and 5:5 where Peter calls Jesus master before the catch of fish—after the catch he calls Jesus Κύριε (Lord), 8:24 the disciples call Jesus Master, Master before He stills the storm, 9:49 Disciples again call Jesus master as they explain how the demon possessed boy, and 17:13 where the lepers call Jesus master.	Does anyone ever know what’s going through Peter’s head when he says things like this? Apparently he didn’t. Peter’s comment shows that he doesn’t really understand what’s going on here—if we don’t we’re in good company. Peter is right; it is good for us to be here. We will be there with Jesus, not for a fleeting vision of His glory, but for all eternity in a new heavens and new earth, rejoicing with Him and those whom He has saved from death. ‘Tis good, Lord, to be here! Yet we may not remain: But since Thou bidst us leave the mount, Come with us on the plain. (LSB 414 verse 5)
Luke 9:34 As he was saying these things, a cloud came and overshadowed them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud.	ἐπεσκίασεν –overshadow (BDAG 378) Also used in Luke 1:35 where the Holy Spirit overshadows Mary Exodus 13:21-22 The people were led by the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night Exodus 24:18, Moses enters the cloud on the mountain	No wonder they are afraid, they know they are in the presence of God’s glory! They remember the cloud from Exodus that led the people and was constantly over the tabernacle. Now they see it for themselves.
Luke 9:35 And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, "This is my Son, my Chosen One; listen to him!"	eklelegmenos- chosen one (BDAG 305) perfect passive participle from eklegomai “I have chosen this one and He remains the chosen one.”	The Father, as at Jesus’ baptism, confirms His identity. This time it is for the benefit of the disciples. God gives them this vision to strengthen them as they go down the mountain towards the cross. Once Jesus was arrested, it would be easy to think that they had missed it. Was someone else the chosen one? No, Peter, James, and John have the voice as a guarantee. That’s why it’s Peter and John who race to the tomb Easter morning. They know (at least sort of) who this One is.
Luke 9:36 And when the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silent and told no one in those days anything of what they had seen.		Who would believe them? Matthew 17:9 helps us understand “And as they were coming down the mountain, Jesus commanded them, ‘Tell no one the vision, until the Son of Man is raised from the dead.’”