The Shining Face of Moses

²⁹ Moses came down from Mount Sinai. As he came down from the mountain with the two tablets of the covenant in his hand, Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone because he had been talking with God.^{(A) 30} When Aaron and all the Israelites saw Moses, the skin of his face was shining, and they were afraid to come near him. ³¹ But Moses called to them, and Aaron and all the leaders of the congregation returned to him, and Moses spoke with them. ³² Afterward all the Israelites came near, and he gave them in commandment all that the Lord had spoken with him on Mount Sinai.^{(B) 33} When Moses had finished speaking with them, he put a veil on his face,^{(C) 34} but whenever Moses went in before the Lord to speak with him, he would take the veil off until he came out, and when he came out and told the Israelites what he had been commanded,^{(D) 35} the Israelites would see the face of Moses, that the skin of his face was shining, and Moses would put the veil on his face again until he went in to speak with him.

Psalm 99

Praise to God for His Holiness

¹² Since, then, we have such a hope, we act with complete frankness,^{(A) 13} not like Moses, who put a veil over his face to keep the people of Israel from gazing at the end of the glory that^[a] was being set aside.^{(B) 14} But their minds were hardened. Indeed, to this very day, when they hear the reading of the old covenant, the same veil is still there; it is not unveiled since in Christ it is set aside.^{(C) 15} Indeed, to this very day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their minds,^{[b] 16} but when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed.^{(D) 17} Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.^{(E) 18} And all of us, with unveiled faces, seeing the glory of the Lord as though reflected in a mirror, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another, for this comes from the Lord, the Spirit.^(F)

Treasure in Clay Jars

4 Therefore, since it is by God’s mercy that we are engaged in this ministry, we do not lose heart.^{(G) 2} We have renounced the shameful, underhanded ways; we refuse to practice cunning or to falsify God’s word, but by the open statement of the truth we commend ourselves to the conscience of everyone in the sight of God.^(H)

The Transfiguration

²⁸ Now about eight days after these sayings Jesus^[a] took with him Peter and John and James and went up on the mountain to pray.^{(A) 29} And while he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning. ³⁰ Suddenly they saw two men, Moses and Elijah, talking to him. ³¹ They appeared in glory and were speaking about his exodus, which he was about to fulfill in Jerusalem.^{(B) 32} Now Peter and his companions were weighed down with sleep, but as they awoke they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him.^{(C) 33} Just as they were leaving him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good for us to be here; let us set up three tents: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah,” not realizing what he was saying.^{(D) 34} While he was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them, and they were terrified as they entered the cloud. ³⁵ Then from the cloud came a voice that said, “This is my Son, my Chosen;^[b] listen to him!”^{(E) 36} When the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silent and in those days told no one any of the things they had seen.^(F)