18 And it happened that while He was praying alone , the disciples were with Him, and He questioned them, saying , "Who do the people say that I am ?" 19 They answered and said , "John the Baptist , and others say Elijah ; but others , that one of the prophets of old has risen again ." 20 And He said to them, "But who do you say that I am ?" And Peter answered and said , " The Christ of God ."
21 But He warned them and instructed them not to tell this to anyone , 22 saying , " The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes , and be killed and be raised up on the third day ." 23 And He was saying to them all , " If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself , and take up his cross daily e and follow Me. 24 "For whoever e wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever e loses his life for My sake , he is the one who will save it. 25 "For what is a man profited if he gains the whole world , and loses or forfeits himself ? 26 " For whoever e is ashamed of Me and My words , the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when He comes in His glory , and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels . 27 "But I say to you truthfully , there are some of those standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God ."
28 Some eight days after these sayings , He took along Peter and John and James , and went up on the mountain to pray . 29 And while He was praying , the appearance of His face became different , and His clothing became white and gleaming . 30 And behold , two men were talking with Him; and they were Moses and Elijah , 31 who , appearing in glory , were speaking of His departure which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem . 32 Now Peter and his companions e had been overcome with sleep ; but when they were fully awake , they saw His glory and the two men standing with Him. 33 And as these were leaving Him, Peter said to Jesus , " Master , it is good for us to be here ; let us make three tabernacles : one for You, and one for Moses , and one for Elijah "- not realizing what he was saying . 34 While he was saying this , a cloud formed and began to overshadow them; and they were afraid as they entered the cloud . 35 Then a voice came out of the cloud , saying , " This is My Son , My Chosen One; listen to Him!" 36 And when the voice had spoken , Jesus was found alone . And they kept silent , and reported to no one in those days any of the things which they had seen .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Luke 9:18-36
Commentary on Luke 9:18-27
(Read Luke 9:18-27)
It is an unspeakable comfort that our Lord Jesus is God's Anointed; this signifies that he was both appointed to be the Messiah, and qualified for it. Jesus discourses concerning his own sufferings and death. And so far must his disciples be from thinking how to prevent his sufferings, that they must prepare for their own. We often meet with crosses in the way of duty; and though we must not pull them upon our own heads, yet, when they are laid for us, we must take them up, and carry them after Christ. It is well or ill with us, according as it is well or ill with our souls. The body cannot be happy, if the soul be miserable in the other world; but the soul may be happy, though the body is greatly afflicted and oppressed in this world. We must never be ashamed of Christ and his gospel.
Commentary on Luke 9:28-36
(Read Luke 9:28-36)
Christ's transfiguration was a specimen of that glory in which he will come to judge the world; and was an encouragement to his disciples to suffer for him. Prayer is a transfiguring, transforming duty, which makes the face to shine. Our Lord Jesus, even in his transfiguration, was willing to speak concerning his death and sufferings. In our greatest glories on earth, let us remember that in this world we have no continuing city. What need we have to pray to God for quickening grace, to make us lively! Yet that the disciples might be witnesses of this sign from heaven, after awhile they became awake, so that they were able to give a full account of what passed. But those know not what they say, that talk of making tabernacles on earth for glorified saints in heaven.