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Charles Spurgeon · Citado em PreceptAustin
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Spurgeon - "It was getting late; but it is never too late to tell of Christ’s appearing, and never too early. Such a secret ought not to be kept an hour, and therefore “they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem.... They could not stop away from their fellow-disciples; they must tell such glorious tidings as they had, so “they rose up the same hour,” This shows their zeal and also their courage; this news was too good to be kept to themselves, and although it was nearly night, and they had a good distance to go, in a country that was far from safe for travelers, they “returned to Jerusalem."...Did they go to their beds? The day was far spent; late traveling was dangerous in Israel. Ah! dangerous or not, they are so overwhelmed with joy that they must go and communicate what they had seen. (Exposition) Hendriksen on they got up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem - So filled are these two men with joy that they must needs tell others. Have they already walked seven miles? Then seven more miles. Was it dark and dangerous? All of that means nothing now. This news is so electrifying and reassuring that the other disciples must know about it. Not tomorrow but tonight. (Borrow Exposition of the Gospel of Luke) R C H
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Spurgeon - “If He has blessed you, you shall be blessed, for there is no power in heaven, or earth, or hell, that can reverse the blessing which He gives.” (Exposition) G Campbell
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Spurgeon - Then they were not Unitarians — “They worshiped Him,” — and there were angels present at the time who would have been sure to have rebuked them if it had been a wrong thing for them to worship him. Indeed, they themselves, both as Jews and as Christians, would have felt, in their inmost soul, that they could not worship anyone but God; but Christ is God, so they did well to worship Him. (Exposition) Leon
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Spurgeon - Brethren, they might have been much more perplexed if they had found the body of Jesus there, for then his promises would not have been fulfilled, and all their hopes would have been blighted forever. Unbelief is often the mother of needless perplexity. The resurrection of Christ is plain enough to us now; but to those who had seen him die, and whose faith was so very weak, it was a cause for perplexity that they could not find his dead body. They meant to embalm it, they had brought sweet spices with them for that purpose. It was well that it was in their heart, although it was an unwise and needless project. Yet I doubt not that the Lord thought those spices were very sweet, and that he accepted them because of the love they represented; and, sometimes, you and I, in our ignorance, have tried to do for Christ what he would not wish to have us do, but he has understood our motive, and accepted our intention, albeit that there was a mistake lurking behind it. (Exposition) Behold (2400)(idou) is the second person singular aorist middle imperative of eidon which means to see, perceive, look at. In the NT idou is used as a demonstrative particle that draws attention to what follows. Idou in the middle voice means "you yourself look, see, perceive!" The aorist imperative is a command emphasizing "Do it now! Don't delay!" Idou is used by the Biblical writers to (1) prompt or arouse the reader's attention (introducing something new or unusual), (2) to mark a strong emphasis ("Indeed!" Lk 13:16) and (3) to call the reader to pay close attention (very similar to #1) so that one will listen, remember or consider Spurgeon reminds us that "Behold is a word of wonder; it is intended to excite admiration. Wherever you see it hung out in Scripture, it is like an ancient sign-board, signifying that there are rich wares within, or like the hands which solid readers have observed in the margin of the older Puritanic books, drawing attention to something particularly worthy of observation." I would add, behold is like a divine highlighter, a divine underlining of an especially striking or important text. It says in effect "Listen up, all ye who would be wise in the ways of Jehovah!" Perplexed ("utterly at a loss" - NEB)(639)(aporeo from a = negative + poros = a way) means "to lose one's way", "to be in a confused state of mind, be at a loss, be in doubt, be uncertain." (BDAG) The term refers to a high state of confusion and anxiety. Perplexed is in the present tense = they were "continually perplexed." Aporeo -Used 6x in the NT translated as - am perplexed(1), being at a loss(1), loss(1), perplexed(3). Mark 6:20 for Herod was afraid of John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he kept him safe. And when he heard him, he was very perplexed; but he used to enjoy listening to him. Comment - Herod's state of mind on hearing about Jesus after executing John. Luke 24:4 While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men suddenly stood near them in dazzling clothing; John 13:22 (When Jesus prophesied His betrayal - Jn 13:21) The disciples began looking at one another, at a loss to know of which one He was speaking. Acts 25:20 (Festus to King Agrippa regarding Paul's "crimes") "Being at a loss how to investigate such matters, I asked whether he was willing to go to Jerusalem and there stand trial on these matters. 2 Corinthians 4:8 we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; Galatians 4:20 but I could wish to be present with you now and to change my tone, for I am perplexed about you. Aporeo is used 8x in the Septuagint - Ge 32:7 (Jacob's mental state when he heard Esau was coming to visit); Lev. 25:47; Pr 31:11; Isa. 9:1; Isa. 24:19; Isa. 51:20; Jer. 8:18; Hos. 13:8. Friberg - (1) be at a loss, be perplexed, be uncertain (Acts 25.20); (2) be inwardly disturbed (Mk 6.20) (Analytical Greek Lexicon) Liddell- Scott - to be without means or resource; and so, 1. to be at a loss, be in doubt, be puzzled...."to be at a loss how he shall cross", Hdt.; Xen.; with an acc. added..."to be at a loss about his march, how he shall cross," Hdt.; and with an acc. only, to be at a loss about...2. in Passive, of things, to be left wanting, left unprovided for, Xen. II. c. gen. rei, to be at a loss for, in want of, Soph., Thuc., etc. III.to be at a loss by reason of, by means of something, Xen. IV. Dazzling (797)(astrapto from astrape = lightning) means to lighten, to flash, to shine as lightning. Only here of the angels and in Lk 17:24 of our Lord's transfiguration. Compare the "two men in white clothing" who stood beside the disciples when Jesus ascended (Acts 1:10). BDAG - flash, gleam (cp. the one use in the Septuagint = Ps 144:6) lightning flashing Lk 17:24 (the Transfiguration). Of clothing gleam like lightning Lk 24:4 (suggesting the opposite of a scene of mourning such as one might normally expect),. Friberg -as giving off a very bright light flash, gleam; of lightning flash (Lk 17.24); of clothing be dazzling, gleam, shine brilliantly (Lk 24.4)
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Spurgeon - Luke 24:5,6 “The Lord Is Risen, Indeed” What amazing news these good women received:- ‘He is not here, but is risen’. This was amazing news to his enemies. They said, ‘We have killed him; we have put him in the tomb; it is all over with him.’ A-ha! Scribe, Pharisee, Priest, what have you done? Your work is all undone, for he is risen! It was amazing news for Satan. He no doubt dreamed that he had destroyed the Saviour, but he is risen! What a thrill went through all the regions of hell! What news it was for the grave! Now was it utterly destroyed, and death had lost his sting! What news it was for trembling saints—‘The Lord is risen indeed’. They plucked up courage and they said, ‘The good cause is the right one still and it will conquer, for our Christ is still alive at its head.’ It was good news for sinners. It is good news for every sinner. Christ is alive; if you seek him, he will be found by you. He is not a dead Christ to whom I point you today. He is risen and ‘he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him’. There is no better news for sad, distressed, desponding and despairing men than this—the Saviour lives, able still to save and willing to receive you to his tender heart. This was glad news for all the angels and all the spirits in heaven, glad news indeed for them. And this day it shall be glad news to us, and we will live in the power of it by the help of his Spirit, and we will tell it to our brethren that they may rejoice with us, and we will not despair any longer. We will give way no more to doubts and fears, but we will say to one another, ‘He is risen indeed’; therefore let our hearts be glad. James Smith - "Daily Bible Readings for the Lord's Household" "Remember how He spoke to you!" Luke 24:6 So said the angels to the women at the sepulcher, on the resurrection morning. This exhortation is most applicable to us — for we are apt to forget His words. The words of Jesus ought to have the best place in our memories: 1. On account of their intrinsic value. There are no words like the words of Jesus, which exhibit the nature, will, and promises of God. 2. On account of their veracity. They are all true — the truth itself. 3. On account of their suitability. They . . . check sin, control fears, produce confidence, inspire with gratitude, and fill us with love. 4. On account of their usefulness . . . in our daily trials, to direct our way, to rule our expectations, to comfort our hearts, to feed and support our faith, on the bed of sickness, and at the hour of death. Let us treasure up the words of Jesus carefully, diligently, and with much prayer. Are our memories stored with Christ's words? Do we meditate upon them? Do we walk by them? "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word." John 14:23 "Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away!" Luke 21:33 The Tomb Of Jesus He is not here, but is risen! —Luke 24:6 In his documentary The Lost Tomb of Jesus, Simcha Jacobovici claims archaeological evidence that disproves the resurrection of Christ. He says that the words “Jesus son of Joseph” found on a burial container near Jerusalem refer to Jesus of Nazareth. He also claims to have identified Jesus’ DNA. How valid are these conclusions? The Israel Antiquities Authority calls them “nonsense.” Other secular and religious scholars agree. Jesus and Joseph were common names in first-century Judea. And Jacobovici needs DNA samples from Jesus to compare with the bones in the tomb. Obviously, that’s impossible! But there are strong arguments in favor of Jesus’ resurrection. Most compelling is the fact that every disciple except John died a martyr’s death. Central to their message was Jesus’ resurrection (Acts 2:29-32). If Christ had not been raised from the dead, why did the disciples choose to die rather than deny it? Up from the grave He arose, With a mighty triumph o’er His foes; He arose a Victor from the dark domain, And He lives forever with His saints to reign. —Lowry The resurrection is a fact of history that demands a response of faith. He Was Dead But Now Lives I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. — Revelation 1:18 Many years ago I was scheduled to speak at a Bible conference in Pennsylvania. A few days before it was to begin, a member of the conference committee telephoned my office. Someone in Pennsylvania had received a newspaper clipping from a Michigan paper reporting my death. The news had spread all over the area, and the conference representative wanted to verify the report so he could get another speaker in my place. The reason for all the confusion was the death of someone else with the same last name. Some people had jumped to the conclusion that the report was about me. When I arrived at the conference, I found a very curious crowd assembled. I chose Revelation 1:18 for my text and said, “The reports you heard about my death were true. I did die, but I am now here, risen from the dead, and alive forevermore.” While Revelation 1:18 applies first of all to the death and resurrection of Jesus, it reminds me of what has happened to every member of the body of Christ. We were spiritually dead in sins (Eph. 2:1), but we were also spiritually raised (v.5). Every Christian can say, “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me” (Gal. 2:20). Dying with Jesus, by death reckoned mine, Living with Jesus, a new life divine, Looking to Jesus till glory doth shine, Moment by moment, O Lord, I am Thine. —Whittle Because Christ lives in us, we will live with Him forever. JESUS DEFEATED DEATH He is not here, but is risen! —Luke 24:6 On 18 June 1815, England’s Lord Wellington fought Napoleon at Waterloo. England waited for news of the outcome. Finally, some signal ships came into view. Through the mist, the lookout was just able to read: “Wellington defeated”. The bad news spread quickly. Soon the fog lifted, however, and it became clear that the lookout had reacted too quickly. The full message now came into view: “Wellington defeated Napoleon.” Jesus’ followers felt the message of the cross was clear: “Jesus defeated”. Jesus had said He was the Saviour of the world. But His death had ended all hope. They were left with nothing but a dead body to prepare for burial. Yet when the women came to the tomb, they were faced with the rolled-away stone (Luke 24:2), the empty tomb (v.3) and a big announcement (vv.5-6)! Then the ‘mist’ of unbelief cleared away as they remembered Jesus promising to rise again once He had paid for sin (v.8). The women rushed to share the full message with the disciples: “Jesus defeated death” (vv.9-10). The disciples, however, thought the women were talking rubbish (v.11). Even after checking the tomb, Peter didn’t believe straight away (v.12). We also have a choice to make about Jesus’ resurrection. Will you dismiss it as an “idle tale” or gladly accept it as your own victory over sin and death? AUTHOR Paul Baxendale JESUS DEFEATED DEATH. Happy Christmas! - Luke 24:6 Read: John 3:13-18 I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. —John 11:25 Last Easter morning when I walked into church I saw my friend and greeted her, “Happy Christmas!” I quickly corrected myself. “I mean, Happy Easter!” “Can’t have one without the other,” she smiled. How true! Without Christmas, there wouldn’t be an Easter. And without the resurrection, this day would be just another day. In fact, we wouldn’t even be in church. Christmas and Easter are the most joyful celebrations of the year for the Christian. In the first, we celebrate the incarnation (God taking on flesh and coming into the world). “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son . . .” (John 3:16). In the second, we celebrate Jesus’ resurrection. “He is not here, but is risen!” the angel said (Luke 24:6). From the beginning of time, these 2 days were inextricably linked in the master plan of the Father. Jesus was born to die for our sins and to conquer death so that we could live. Which is more important? Christmas—the birth of the infant Jesus? Or Easter—the death and resurrection of the man, God’s Son? Both are essential—and both are clear evidence of the Father’s love for us. Jesus our Savior left heaven above, Coming to earth as a Servant with love; Laying aside all His glory, He came, Bringing salvation through faith in His name. —Hess Christmas and Easter—two chapters of the same Book. Beautiful Morning He Is Not Here, but Is Risen! Hear the Chiming Easter Bells Lord, Who Late Was Dead, The Tomb Is Empty Now, The Luke 24:7 saying that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again."
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Spurgeon - What an emptying power unbelief has! No news could ever be more full of solace than the news of a risen Saviour; but to the ears of unbelief this news, which made all heaven glad, seemed to the apostles but as idle tales. Unbelief tied the hands of Jesus once when he was at Nazareth, for “he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief:” and unbelief seems often to tie our heart-strings too, so that they can give forth no sweet music. O Lord, help us to overcome our unbelief, and enable us ever confidently to believe the truth that comes to us supported by such testimony as these good women gave to the apostles! (Exposition) Too Good To Be True? Read: Luke 24:1-12 | Their words seemed to [the disciples] like idle tales, and they did not believe them. —Luke 24:11 In the 1980s, John Knoll and his brother Thomas began experimenting with a computer program to manipulate images. Software companies thought they were crazy, because photographers didn’t use computers at that time. Initially the brothers called their program Display, then Imaginator, and finally they settled on Photoshop®. Today Photoshop® is used by amateurs at home and professionals in business around the world. A San Jose Mercury News article noted its place in popular language. When something looks too good to be true, people say, “It must have been Photoshopped.” On the first Easter morning, the women who took spices to anoint the body of Jesus found the tomb empty and heard angels say, “He is not here, but is risen!” (Luke 24:6). When the women told this to the disciples, “Their words seemed to them like idle tales, and they did not believe them” (v.11). Nonsense! Mind-boggling! Too good to be true! If someone manipulated the evidence, then millions of people around the world gather today to celebrate a myth. But if Jesus conquered death, then all He said about forgiveness, power to change, and eternal life is real. Up from the grave He arose, With a mighty triumph o’er His foes; He arose a Victor from the dark domain, And He lives forever with His saints to reign. —Lowry The resurrection is a fact of history that demands a response of faith. Luke 24:12 But Peter got up and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen wrappings only; and he went away to his home, marveling at what had happened ESV But Peter rose and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; and he went home marveling at what had happened. KJV Then arose Peter, and ran unto the sepulchre; and stooping down, he beheld the linen clothes laid by themselves, and departed, wondering in himself at that which was come to pass. NET But Peter got up and ran to the tomb. He bent down and saw only the strips of linen cloth; then he went home, wondering what had happened. NIV Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. Bending over, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he went away, wondering to himself what had happened. NLT However, Peter jumped up and ran to the tomb to look. Stooping, he peered in and saw the empty linen wrappings; then he went home again, wondering what had happened. NRS But Peter got up and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; then he went home, amazed at what had happened. RSV Luke 24:12 -- RSV OMITS THIS VERSE - see Technical Note below. YLT And Peter having risen, did run to the tomb, and having stooped down he seeth the linen clothes lying alone, and he went away to his own home, wondering at that which was come to pass. Peter got up. Jn 20:3-10. stooping. Jn 20:5, 6. linen wrappings. Jn 19:40. 20:5-7. departed. Jn 20:10 Luke 24:1-12 Empty Tomb with an Angelic Explanation - John MacArthur Luke 24:1-12 Witnessing Women and Doubting Disciples - John MacArthur Luke 24:1-12 The Foundation for Our Faith - Steven Cole Luke 24 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries PETER ENTERS THE TOMB AND LEAVES MARVELING
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Spurgeon - When Christians make their Lord the subject of discourse they may hope to be favored with his company....When two saints are talking together, Jesus is very likely to come and make the third one in the company. Talk of him, and you will soon talk with him. (Exposition) And behold (idou) see note on Behold It is notable that Luke uses "behold" more than other NT writer --- 57x in 55v in the Gospel of Luke (out of a total of 200v in the NT) (and in 23 verses in Acts) - He is continually trying to get our full attention! Lk. 1:20, 31, 36, 38, 44, 48; 2:10, 25, 34, 48; 5:12, 18; 6:23; 7:12, 25, 27, 34, 37; 8:41; 9:30, 38f; 10:3, 19, 25; 11:31f, 41; 13:7, 11, 16, 30, 32, 35; 14:2; 15:29; 17:21, 23; 18:28, 31; 19:2, 8, 20; 22:10, 21, 31, 38, 47; 23:14f, 29, 50; 24:4, 13, 49 Two of them - These are disciples (true believers in Messiah), only one of whom is named (Cleopas Lk 24:18) from the group Luke referred to earlier as "all the rest." (Lk 24:9) Walter Liefeld - "Two witnesses (Simeon and Anna) bore testimony to the Messiah's arrival (Luke 2:25-38); now the two travelers testify to a particular resurrection appearance of Jesus (24:35)." (borrow The Expositor's Bible Commentary) Crawford on two - The number "two" is also significant, for a twofold witness was necessary in Jewish law (Deut 17:6; 19:15) and the NT also calls for two witnesses (Matt 18:16; Luke 10:1; 2 Cor 13:1; Acts 19:22; 1 Tim 5:19). Two witnesses, Simeon and Anna had borne witness to His birth (Lk 2:25, 36) and these two travellers are to bear witness to His resurrection. (What the Bible Teaches) That very day - Still on the first day of the week (Sunday) and toward the evening (compare the sequence of the time of events in Luke 23:54 - "preparation day" (the day before the Sabbath when everything had to be prepared for it), then Lk 23:56 = Sabbath; and finally Luke 24:1 = "But on the first day of the week"). Gilbrant - These travelers had probably remained in Jerusalem after the Crucifixion because they were unable to travel on the Sabbath more than a "sabbath day's journey" (approximately five-sixths of a mile) to their village, which Luke says was about seven miles (sixty stadia) from Jerusalem. They were traveling "that same day" as the tomb episode (first day of the week) and the "third day" since Jesus was crucified (verse 21). (Complete Biblical Library) Emmaus ("warm springs") - This is the only mention in Scripture so the location is not certain. Tradition identifies it is as Kubeibeh about 7 miiles NW of Jerusalem. Another map suggesting site. What happened on the road to Emmaus? Who was Cleopas in the Bible? Why didn't the disciples always recognize Jesus after His resurrection? Why should I believe in Christ’s resurrection? What is the Walk to Emmaus / Emmaus Walk, and is it biblical? Emmaus - Wikipedia Road to Emmaus Appearance Seven miles - Literally the Greek has “sixty stades” which is about 11 kilometers. A stade (stadion) was a unit of distance about 607 feet (187 meters) long (See also Wikipedia) David Gooding summarizes the dilemma of these two heartsick, devastated, and utterly confused disciples: Death and resurrection formed no part of their concept of Messiah’s office and programme, which is why they had not really taken in what Jesus had said about His coming death. They were hoping for a Messiah who would break the imperialist domination of the Romans by force of arms. A Messiah Who managed to allow Himself to be caught by the Jewish authorities, handed over to the Romans and crucified before He had even begun to organize any guerrilla operations, popular uprising or open warfare—what use was He? If the Old Testament prophesied a liberator who should not die, but be triumphant, Jesus was already disqualified: He had died. After that, it was almost irrelevant to talk of resurrection. (Borrow According to Luke : a new exposition of the Third Gospel) ILLUSTRATION - A five-year-old boy from Texas was told that the family would visit the Grand Canyon. They described it as much bigger than downtown Dallas. He could hardly wait to see it. When they finally got there, they asked him how it measured up to his expectations. With a little frown, he said, “I thought you said that it was a big cannon.” He was probably hoping to see them shoot it! When you’re hoping for the Grand Cannon, you can be let down even by something as spectacular as the Grand Canyon! (Told by Robert Pyne, Kindred Spirit, Winter, 1997).If your expectations are wrong, you can even be disappointed by God. It’s not that God was somehow lacking. He is far more glorious and perfect than we could ever conceive. But often, because of our limited perspective, we feel as if He let us down. We thought that He would do something, but He didn’t do it. We thought that we were trusting in the promises of His Word, but they didn’t come true. We thought that we were praying in line with His will, but He didn’t answer. God didn’t come through as we had hoped.That’s where two weary travelers were at as they walked the seven miles from Jerusalem to Emmaus one Sunday. They had been hoping that Jesus was the promised Messiah who would redeem Israel (24:21). But their hopes had been dashed when the Jewish religious leaders suddenly succeeded in crucifying Jesus. They were going home, dejected and disappointed. They were still in shock. They didn’t understand why God had let them down. (Disappointment and Hope) Adrian Rogers - (Luke 24:13ff) - Can you imagine what this day was like? Resurrection day. Jesus was not in the tomb anymore. People were talking about it everywhere. But did they understand that Jesus truly was alive? After the Crucifixion, even after the Resurrection, some of Jesus’ disciples were half-believing and some were half-doubting—not totally convinced He was the Messiah. The Discouragement of a Confused Heart - On Easter Sunday, two forlorn disciples left Jerusalem for Emmaus, a small village about seven miles away. Walking wearily from where Jesus had been crucified, buried, and raised, they were discouraged and burdened (Read Luke 24:14-16) They had expected Jesus to be the political Messiah who would deliver Israel, like the angels proclaimed. They’d been looking for a King, but their king’s mission had been cut short—they thought. Now He had nails for a scepter, a cross for a throne, and for His kingdom—a narrow tomb. But the story was only half done. They hadn’t yet seen that Jesus had turned Calvary into Easter. Pentecost was coming. Their sadness was rooted in misunderstanding. Misunderstanding led to disappointment. Disappointment led to doubt. Doubt led to discouragement. That can happen to us when we’re going through our own Gethsemane and Calvary. We can’t see that He’s going to turn our hurts to hallelujah. So many Christians get discouraged because they don’t fully understand the Scriptures or believe all that the prophets have spoken. The Discovery of a Challenged Heart - The Scripture says “Jesus himself drew near….” He sought them, He caught them, then He taught them; “beginning at Moses and all the prophets, He expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning Himself.”(Lk 24: 27) Just as the Lord Jesus sought us when we were lost, Jesus met them along the way and challenged them with the Word of God. He’s done that many times for me, and He’s done that for you. He comes alongside not to condone or condemn, but to claim us and comfort us. If Jesus sought us when we were out-and-out sinners, surely He will seek us when we’re saved but away from Him. During this journey He opened the Scriptures. What a marvelous time that must have been! Jesus held a Bible conference! How would you like to have a recording of Jesus, starting in the book of Genesis, going through the Old Testament, saying, “Now, here’s Jesus. Here’s the Messiah. Here’s the Messiah in this passage. And here’s another one.” If you read the Bible and don’t find Jesus, you missed it. Go back and you’ll find Him. He’ll be in prophecy, in precept, in parable, in poetry. Whether it’s the Old Testament or the New Testament, in every book you’ll find Jesus standing somewhere in the shadows. “Search the Scriptures,” He said, “…these are they which testify of Me” (John 5:39). When we’re confused and disillusioned, the Lord must open two things for us: the Scriptures and our eyes. Both are absolutely necessary. Light without sight is no good, and sight without light is no good. It takes both. I believe God held back Jesus’ identity from them for a while on purpose. He was soon to leave earth and return to the Father. He would no longer be with them physically. On the road to Emmaus he was transferring their dependence upon His physical presence and moving it to the Word of God. As He opens the Word, He opens their eyes to see Him, now not after the flesh, but revealed by the Holy Spirit in the Word of God. Do you understand why He did this? He’s going back to heaven, but He’s leaving the Word. Today we need the same thing. We don’t have Jesus before us in physical form, but we do have the written Word of God to bring Jesus Christ to us and make Him real. It is extremely significant that it was the Word and not the physical sense that made Him real to them. They didn’t say, “Oh yes, we recognize Him.” No. They said, “We knew Him because He opened the Word to us.” That’s how they knew Him now—through the Word of God. Notice that Jesus “indicated that He would have gone farther. But they constrained Him, saying, “Abide with us,…” (Lk 24:28-29) Many times in Scripture it seems as if the Lord is trying to get away. Did you know most of us have about all of God we want? And if we don’t have more it’s because we don’t want more. But what He really wants us to do is to press on and press forward toward Him. I’ve often said, “God does business with those who mean business.” “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled” (Mt. 5:6). I want you to have a burning, passionate love for Jesus Christ—to know not only that Jesus is risen, but that He is risen indeed. The Declaration of a Convinced Heart - Immediately the two went back to Jerusalem with this news—to shout it, tell it, sing it, share it, no longer seeing with the eyes of the flesh, but with spiritual eyes as the Scriptures and their hearts were opened to His Truth. May the same be said of us. And may He continue to show us the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures. There’s no lasting joy without Him. He’s the One you need. God has engineered it that you’re not going to have joy without Jesus. And you’re not going to know Jesus apart from the Scriptures. We need to have our eyes opened and our hearts set aflame. We don’t need a dead orthodoxy—we need a living faith. He is risen indeed! (Love Worth Finding) Walk to Emmaus, The Unknown Traveler to Emmaus, The When Two Friends on Easter Day Luke 24:14 And they were talking with each other about all these things which had taken place Luke 6:45. Dt 6:7. Mal. 3:6. Luke 24:13-32 Christ: The Living Expositor, Part 1 - John MacArthur Luke 24:13-32 Christ: The Living Expositor, Part 2 - John MacArthur Luke 24:13-35 Disappointment and Hope - Steven Cole The Appearances of Jesus After His Resurrection J. Vernon McGee Luke 24 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries TWO DISCIPLES WALKING AND TALKING And they were talking with each other about all these things which had taken place - We cannot be definitive but these things would likely include Jesus’ triumphal entry, His arrest, mock trial, crucifixion, the report of the women that had visited His tomb and had found it empty, and then received a message from “angels, who affirmed that he was alive” (Lk 24:23). See which summarizes many of these things - map of the events of the preceding Passion Week Talking (conversing) (3656)(homileo) means to converse with or to to be in a group and speak. This verb is used only by Luke - Lk. 24:14; Lk. 24:15; Acts 20:11; Acts 24:26. Were talking is in the imperfect tense, over and over, an ongoing, back and forth dialogue. Robertson "Our word homiletics is derived from this word for preaching was at first largely conversational in style and not declamatory." Spurgeon - As was most proper, they that feared the Lord spake often one to another. Just as Elijah and Elisha talked with each other as they went towards the Jordan where Elijah was to be translated, so these two disciples were talking together of the great events that had recently happened; and especially talking of the death and the reported resurrection of Christ. This was most natural, for what is uppermost in the heart will soon be uppermost upon the tongue. They had had their minds greatly exercised concerning the departure of their Lord, and it was only natural that they should speak of it. If we never talk of Christ, we have great reason to suspect whether he is really in our hearts at all. Christ’s declaration to is disciples, “Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them,” was literally fulfilled in the case of these two disciples going to Emmaus. (Exposition) Spurgeon - Where two talk of heavenly things they shall not be long without a third. Jesus loves holy company, and he will join himself to those who in their conversation join themselves to him. (Exposition) Spurgeon - And the Lord himself also appeared to them “in another form,” so that they did not recognise him. Jesus sometimes hides himself from those whom he loves best. He may be very near us and yet we may not know him (Interpreter's Bible) Bruce Barton - IN OUR MIDST - The two disciples returning to Emmaus at first missed the significance of history's greatest event because they were too focused on their disappointments and problems. In fact, they didn't recognize Jesus when he was walking beside them. To compound the problem, they were walking in the wrong direction—away from the fellowship of believers in Jerusalem. Christians are likely to miss Jesus and withdraw from the strength found in other believers when they become preoccupied with their dashed hopes and frustrated plans. Only when looking for Jesus in their midst will believers experience the power and help he can bring. Be alert to his presence in every aspect of daily living. (Life Application Bible Commentary – Luke) J C
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Spurgeon applies this passage - Where two, whose hearts are right, and whose talk is heavenly, keep company with one another, Christ is very likely to make a third. Sometimes, when he does not come to one, he reveals himself to two; as he said to his disciples, “If two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” And often, when two believers agree in communion, there is a sweet magnetic force about their fellowship which brings the Saviour to them, and retains him in their company. (Exposition) Spurgeon- And, beloved, if you would have communion with Christ, have communion with one another. If my Lord will not reveal himself to me, perhaps he will reveal himself to others, therefore let me get into the company of his chosen, and then, surely, when he appears in the midst of their assembly, I shall have a share of the fellowship that they will enjoy. (Exposition) Spurgeon - When two saints are talking together, Jesus is very likely to come and make the third one in the company. Talk of him, and you will soon talk with him. I would that believers more often spoke the one to the other about the things of God. It has been said that, in the olden time, God’s people spake often one to another; and now we have altered that, and God’s people speak often one against another. It is an alteration; but it certainly is not an improvement. May we get together again, and, like these two disciples, talk of all the things that happened in Jerusalem eighteen centuries ago! If we have less of reasoning than they had, let us have more of communion. (Exposition) Spurgeon - You have been sitting at your table writing, and a friend has come behind you with noiseless tread, yet on a sudden you have been aware of a presence. Before you had heard or seen you were impressed, what if I say overshadowed? Was it not so with Mary Magdalene and the Saviour? I am not superstitious if I assert that something very similar happens to me when Jesus is near. Many a believer will tell you that he has, at times, when he has been in prayer, hearing the word or meditating, felt as if he could be sure that the Lord stood near him. There could, of course, be no palpable impression upon the flesh, for now, ‘after the flesh … know we him no more’, yet his presence has impressed our souls. There are influences of mind on mind which are beyond the recognition of science. The great spirit of our Lord has means of making itself spiritually known to our spirits, means which flesh and blood know nothing of and which lips could not describe. I have discerned the special presence of my Lord with me by a consciousness as sure as that by which I know that I live. Jesus has been as real to me, at my side in this pulpit, as though I had beheld him with my eyes. I appeal to the experience of many of you. Have you not been moved by a mysterious influence, which has overawed, inspired and impressed you beyond description? A divine, majestic, delightful and hallowing presence has been near you and you have turned to look at a something which was so distinct that you would not have been surprised had it been visible to you. Mary did not discover at first that it was the Lord, but she felt his powerful influence and then ‘she turned herself back, and saw Jesus’. (Exposition) Bruce Barton - HOPE LOST AND REGAINED - God seems to specialize in allowing our dreams to die, only to bring them back around again in rather surprising ways. Job's fortunes and even his family were restored to him many times over. Abraham and Sarah were blessed with a child long after nature would have made that impossible. And the ultimate example is the death and resurrection of Jesus himself. The hopes of many, including the two dejected pilgrims on the way to Emmaus, seemed to have died on the cross with him. Little did they understand that even the Cross was all part of God's sovereign plan to make a way of salvation for everyone. Have you lost hope in God's deliverance and even his goodness? Learn a lesson from these two believers: Wait for the Lord to redeem your situation and give you hope once more. (Life Application Bible Commentary – Luke) Hymns Related: Let Evening Twilight Turn to Dawn Walking with God Luke 24:16 But their eyes were prevented from recognizing Him their eyes were prevented Luke 24:31. Lk 9:45, 18:34, Ge 3:7, 19:11, 21:19, Nu 22:31 2 Ki. 6:18–20 1 Chr 21:16. Mark 16:12. John 20:14; 21:4. Acts 26:18 Recognizing Mt 11:27. Luke 24:13-32 Christ: The Living Expositor, Part 1 - John MacArthur Luke 24:13-32 Christ: The Living Expositor, Part 2 - John MacArthur Luke 24:13-35 Disappointment and Hope - Steven Cole Luke 24:16 Jesus Near But Unrecognized - C H Spurgeon Luke 24 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries See map of Jesus' Appearances DISCIPLES' EYES CLOSED ON EMMAUS ROAD But - Term of contrast. What's the contrast? Seeing but not seeing, i.e., not with recognition. Their eyes were prevented from recognizing (epiginosko) Him - (cf Matt. 28:17; John 20:14; 21:4). Luke does not further explain. We do not need to know how but by Whom. God prevented them from recognizing Jesus. Prevented is the verb krateo which has the basic meaning of to be strong or possess power and here means that they were supernaturally held back, restrained or prevented from recognizing Jesus. Krateo is in the passive voice indicating the effect of "restraining" their vision was from without and is an example of the "divine passive" just as is the verb indicating the opposite effect in Lk 24:31+ when "their eyes were opened (passive voice) and they recognized (epiginosko) Him." MacArthur makes an interesting observation noting that "By not revealing Himself to them until after He explained the Scripture, Jesus modeled the principle that the power lies in the explanation of biblical truth, not in the person doing the explaining."
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Spurgeon adds that "Christ was there; but they did not perceive Him. Our eyes may be very easily shut so that we do not see Christ even when He is close to us; we see a thousand things; but we miss the Master." (See Luke Commentary) Steven Cole on their eyes were prevented comments that "this seems unlike God! Isn’t it His kind will that His people have assurance, comfort and hope? Why then would He shut their eyes from seeing the risen Savior? The answer is, because He had a better reason and a better time. God also closed the disciples’ minds so that they could not understand Jesus’ frequent references to the cross (Lk 9:45; 18:34). God knew that it was best for them to go through the despair and confusion of the cross before they came out into the full light of the resurrection, and so He closed their minds from grasping the plain statements about Jesus’ death. Even so, God knows what is best for us, and so He sometimes closes our minds to the plain teaching of Scripture for a time, so that we will learn lessons that we never would have learned if we had understood and embraced it from the start. Spurgeon pointed out that we all are born by nature as Arminians and that God must open our eyes to the glorious truth of His sovereign grace. He tells of his own experience, as a young believer, of sitting in church and not paying much attention to the sermon. Suddenly the thought struck him, How did you come to be a Christian? He said, “I sought the Lord.” But how did you come to seek the Lord? The truth flashed across his mind, “I should not have sought Him unless there had been some previous influence in my mind to make me seek Him.” He realized in a moment that God was at the bottom of it all, that He was the Author of his faith. From that day Spurgeon ascribed his conversion wholly to God (C. H. Spurgeon Autobiography [Banner of Truth], 1:164-165; italics his). "I have believed and taught wrong things, such as using psychology along with the Bible. At the time, I defended myself, saying that I only used that which was in line with biblical truth. When God opened my eyes, He used it to help me grow in repentance, humility, and grace toward others who are in error. But sometimes we can experience disappointment with God because He has closed our eyes to the truth because He has a deeper lesson to teach us later." - See Spurgeon's Testimony) (Luke 24:13-35 Disappointment and Hope) Spurgeon applies their eyes - Oh, these eyes of ours! They let us see a great deal that we had better not see; and there are some things, which we might almost die to see, which we see not. I doubt not that, often, spiritual beings are about us, but we do not discern them; and, certainly, the Master himself ofttimes draws near, yet our eyes are holden (past participle of hold - held shut), and we do not see Him. This may even happen at the communion table; we may see the signs and symbols, but see not Christ, the signified and symbolized One. It is ill when it is so. (Exposition) Others did not recognize Jesus John 20:14-15 When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing Him to be the gardener, she said to Him, “Sir, if you have carried Him away, tell me where you have laid Him, and I will take Him away.” John 21:4 But when the day was now breaking, Jesus stood on the beach; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. We see a similar supernatural actions by God in... Luke 9:45+ But they did not understand this statement, and it was concealed from them so that they would not perceive it; and they were afraid to ask Him about this statement. Luke 18:34+ But the disciples understood none of these things, and the meaning of this statement was hidden from them, and they did not comprehend the things that were said. Prevented (2902)(krateo from kratos = strength) has basic meaning be strong or possess power and thus means to take hold of, grasp, hold fast. Krateo is used most often in the sense of “take hold of forcibly” as when Pharisees wanted to “take hold of” Jesus (Mt 21:46; Mark 12:12). Krateō can also mean “hold fast” with the idea of being loyal to or closely united with someone or something. The Pharisees were admonished for holding the traditions of the elders (Mark 7:3ff.), while Christians are encouraged to hold to the traditions of Christianity (2 Th 2:15) Gingrich —1. take into one's possession or custody—a. arrest, apprehend Mt 26:4, 48, 50, 55, 57; Mk 3:21; 6:17; Ac 24:6; Rv 20:2.—b. take hold of, grasp, seize w. acc. or gen. Mt 12:11 ; 22:6; 28:9; Mk 1:31; 9:27; Lk 8:54. Attain Acts 27:13.—2. hold Ac 3:11; Rev 2:1. Hold back, restrain 7:1; pass. be prevented Lk 24:16. Hold fast Mk 7:3f, 8; Ac 2:24; Col 2:19; Rv 2:13–15. Keep Mk 9:10. Retain Jn 20:23. [democratic, demos kratein] Friberg - (1) take hold of (forcibly), seize, grasp (Mt 9.25); (2) take into custody, seize, arrest (Mt 14.3); (3) take control of, hold (fast) (Acts 2.24); (4) hold back, restrain from, hinder, prevent (Lk 24.16); (5) of following a doctrine, creedal confession, or course of life hold fast to, keep hold of, continue firmly in (Heb 4.14); of causing a state to continue retain, keep (Jn 20.23) Vine on krateo (1) is most frequently rendered "to lay or take hold on" (a) literally, e.g., Matt. 12:11; Matt. 14:3; Matt. 18:28; Matt. 21:46, RV (AV, "laid on hands on"); Matt. 22:6, (AV, "took"); Matt. 26:55, AV (RV, "took"); RV, "took hold of" (AV, "held by"); Mark 3:21; Mark 6:17; Mark 12:12; Mark 14:51; Acts 24:6, (AV, "took"); Rev. 20:2+ = "he laid hold of the dragon, the serpent of old, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years." (b) metaphorically, "to take hold of the hope set before us." Heb. 6:18; (2) also signifies "to hold" or "hold fast," i.e., firmly, (a), literally, Matt. 26:48, AV ("seize Him"); Acts 3:11; Rev. 2:1; (b) metaphorically, of "holding fast a tradition or teaching," in an evil sense, Mk 7:3, 4, 8; Rev. 2:14, 15+; in a good sense, 2 Th 2:15; Rev. 2:25+; Rev. 3:11+; of "holding" Christ, i.e., practically apprehending Him, as the head of His church, Col. 2:19; a confession, Heb. 4:14; the name of Christ, i.e., abiding by all that His name implies, Rev. 2:13+; of restraint, Luke 24:16; Rev. 7:1+ = "holding back the four winds of the earth"; of the impossibility of Christ's being "held by death, Acts 2:24+ = "putting an end to the agony of death, since it was impossible for Him to be held in its power." Gilbrant - Classical Greek - Krateō, “to be strong, to possess power, to rule, to hold, to take (as in ‘to arrest’), to grasp,” appears in classical Greek to describe an inherent power. The mythical gods, for example, had a force which was theirs by virtue of their identity or position. The same applied to world rulers. Krateō occurs often in the sense of “winning or seizing by force.” The idea of “arresting” or “imprisoning” is also a common usage of the word. In the legal context krateō is used to describe the right of possession (cf. Liddell-Scott). Septuagint Usage - The Septuagint employs krateō about 170 times. It occurs in all of its classical uses except for the legal sense. Most often krateō is used for chāzaq which means “to be strong.” Chāzaq also is used in the sense of “to grasp.” In Genesis 19:16 the angels “laid hold” of the hand of Lot to hasten his departure from Sodom. In this case the angels exercised their inherent power to deliver Lot. In Isaiah 42:6 God promises to hold Christ by the hand (empower Him) for the purpose of fulfilling His ministry in establishing the new covenant. There may be some theological significance to the usage of krateō in Judges 16:26 where a lad held Samson by the hand. The boy was using the inherent power of this assigned role of holding the prisoner. That power was shown to be minimal when a moment later Samson used the power given him by God to push out the pillars of the building causing the whole structure to collapse. God’s power supersedes all inherent power given to man. (Ibid) Krateo - 47x in 46v - arrested(3), attained(1), clinging(1), held(1), hold(4), hold fast(4), holding back(1), holding fast(1), holds(1), laid hold(1), observe(1), observing(1), prevented(1), retain(1), retained(1), seize(8), seized(7), take custody(1), take hold(2), taking(2), took(3), took hold(1). Matt. 9:25; Matt. 12:11; Matt. 14:3; Matt. 18:28; Matt. 21:46; Matt. 22:6; Matt. 26:4; Matt. 26:48; Matt. 26:50; Matt. 26:55; Matt. 26:57; Matt. 28:9; Mk. 1:31; Mk. 3:21; Mk. 5:41; Mk. 6:17; Mk. 7:3; Mk. 7:4; Mk. 7:8; Mk. 9:10; Mk. 9:27; Mk. 12:12; Mk. 14:1; Mk. 14:44; Mk. 14:46; Mk. 14:49; Mk. 14:51; Lk. 8:54; Lk. 24:16; Jn. 20:23; Acts 2:24; Acts 3:11; Acts 24:6; Acts 27:13; Col. 2:19; 2 Thess. 2:15; Heb. 4:14; Heb. 6:18; Rev. 2:1; Rev. 2:13; Rev. 2:14; Rev. 2:15; Rev. 2:25; Rev. 3:11; Rev. 7:1; Rev. 20:2 Krateo in the Septuagint - Gen. 19:16; Gen. 21:18; Deut. 2:34; Deut. 3:4; Jos. 18:1; Jdg. 7:8; Jdg. 7:20; Jdg. 8:12; Jdg. 16:21; Jdg. 16:26; Jdg. 16:29; Jdg. 19:29; Jdg. 20:6; Ruth 3:15; 1 Sam. 15:27; 1 Sam. 17:35; 2 Sam. 1:11; 2 Sam. 2:16; 2 Sam. 3:6; 2 Sam. 3:29; 2 Sam. 6:6; 2 Sam. 20:9; 2 Ki. 4:8; 2 Ki. 12:5; 1 Chr. 19:12; 2 Chr. 25:5; Neh. 3:6; Neh. 3:8; Neh. 3:9; Neh. 3:10; Neh. 3:11; Neh. 3:12; Neh. 3:13; Neh. 3:14; Neh. 3:16; Neh. 3:17; Neh. 3:18; Neh. 3:19; Neh. 3:20; Neh. 3:21; Neh. 3:22; Neh. 3:23; Neh. 3:24; Neh. 3:27; Neh. 3:28; Neh. 3:29; Neh. 3:30; Neh. 3:31; Neh. 3:32; Neh. 4:17; Neh. 4:21; Neh. 5:16; Est. 1:1; Est. 4:17; Job 9:19; Job 26:9; Ps. 56:1; Ps. 73:6; Ps. 73:23; Ps. 137:9; Prov. 8:16; Prov. 12:24; Prov. 14:18; Prov. 16:32; Prov. 17:2; Prov. 18:21; Prov. 26:17; Prov. 28:22; Prov. 30:4; Eccl. 2:3; Cant. 3:4; Cant. 7:8; Isa. 32:17; Isa. 41:13; Isa. 42:6; Isa. 45:1; Jer. 6:23; Jer. 20:7; Ezek. 7:13; Ezek. 21:11; Ezek. 22:14; Dan. 4:1; Dan. 4:31; Dan. 5:12; Dan. 10:8; Dan. 11:2; Dan. 11:6; Dan. 11:43; Amos 2:14; Nah. 2:1; Hab. 1:10; Spurgeon - The disciples had heard His voice so often and gazed upon that marred face so frequently that it is wonderful they did not discover Him. Yet is it not so with you also? You have not seen Jesus lately. You have been to His table, and you have not met Him there. You are in a dark trouble this day, and though He plainly says, “It is I; be not afraid” (Matt. 14:27), you cannot discern Him. Dear child of God, are you in this state? Faith alone can bring us to see Jesus. Make the following your prayer: “Lord, open my eyes that I may see my Savior present with me.” (Daily Help) Spurgeon - Luke 24:16 Jesus Near But Unrecognized I remember years ago visiting a woman, whom I never could comfort until she died, and then she died triumphantly. I said to her, ‘What do you come to the chapel for? What is the good of it if there is nothing there for you?’ ‘No,’ she said, ‘still I like to be there. If I perish, I will perish listening to the precious word.’ ‘But why is it you remain a member of the church, as you say you are not a saved soul?’ ‘Well,’ she said, ‘I know I am not worthy, but unless you turn me out I will never go out, for I like to be with God’s people. I desire to be numbered with them, too, though I know I am not worthy, for I have no hope.’ I said, ‘Well now, I will give you five pounds if you will give up your hope altogether;’ and I drew out my purse. ‘Five pounds!’ she said, and looked at me with utter horror; ‘Five pounds!’ She would not give Christ up for five thousand worlds. ‘But you have not got him, you said.’ ‘No, sir, I am afraid I have not got him, but I will never give him up.’ There came out the real truth. So it was with these two disciples; they talked as if they could not give him up; though they were afraid that he had not risen from the dead, yet they remained his disciples and spoke of ‘certain women also of our company’. They were half-unconsciously clinging to the forlorn cause in its very worst estate. And so will we. We will say with Job, ‘Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him.’ ‘Yea, when thine eye of faith is dim, Rest thou on Jesus, sink or swim; And at His footstool bow the knee, And Israel’s God thy peace shall be.’ Spurgeon's Devotional - - Luke 24:16 The disciples ought to have known Jesus, they had heard his voice so often, and gazed upon that marred face so frequently, that it is wonderful they did not discover him. Yet is it not so with you also? You have not seen Jesus lately. You have been to his table, and you have not met him there. You are in a dark trouble this evening, and though he plainly says, "It is I, be not afraid," yet you cannot discern him. Alas! our eyes are holden. We know his voice; we have looked into his face; we have leaned our head upon his bosom, and yet, though Christ is very near us, we are saying "O that I knew where I might find him!" We should know Jesus, for we have the Scriptures to reflect his image, and yet how possible it is for us to open that precious book and have no glimpse of the Wellbeloved! Dear child of God, are you in that state? Jesus feedeth among the lilies of the word, and you walk among those lilies, and yet you behold him not. He is accustomed to walk through the glades of Scripture, and to commune with his people, as the Father did with Adam in the cool of the day, and yet you are in the garden of Scripture, but cannot see him, though he is always there. And why do we not see him? It must be ascribed in our case, as in the disciples', to unbelief. They evidently did not expect to see Jesus, and therefore they did not know him. To a great extent in spiritual things we get what we expect of the Lord. Faith alone can bring us to see Jesus. Make it your prayer, "Lord, open thou mine eyes, that I may see my Saviour present with me." It is a blessed thing to want to see him; but oh! it is better far to gaze upon him. To those who seek him he is kind; but to those who find him, beyond expression is he dear! (Morning and Evening) Have you seen Jesus lately? A B Simpson - There is much precious significance in this. The Lord is often present in our lives in things that we do not dream possess any significance. We are asking God about something which needs His mighty working, and the very instrument by which He is to work is by our side, perhaps for weeks and months and years all unrecognized, until suddenly, some day it grows luminous and glorious with the very presence of the Lord, and becomes the mighty instrument of His victorious working. He loves to show His hand through the unexpected. Often he keeps us from seeing His way until just before He opens it, and then, immediately that it is unfolded, we find that He was walking by our side in the very thing, long before we even suspected its meaning. Luke 24:17 And He said to them, "What are these words that you are exchanging with one another as you are walking?" And they stood still, looking sad. TLB - “You seem to be in a deep discussion about something,” he said. “What are you so concerned about?” They stopped short, sadness written across their faces.
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Spurgeon - The first part of that question some professors might be ashamed to answer, “What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another as ye walk?” It is not always that all Sunday talk is Sabbath talk —not always that we converse as we should upon the things of God. We are, many of us, blameworthy here. (Exposition) And they stood still, looking sad (skuthropos) - When they heard Jesus' question, they stopped in their tracks! They could hardly believe this Stranger did not know about Jesus Who was the talk of Jerusalem! And the thought of Him stirred up their sorrow which was visible to Jesus. David
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Spurgeon - Christian people, why are you sad? It should not be so. And when you talk, why do you increase each other’s sadness? Is that wisdom? Surely, the Master might say to some here present, “Why are ye sad?” I hope that he will enable you to shake off the sadness, and to rejoice in him. (Exposition) Looking Sad (4659)(skuthropos from skuthrós = grim, stern + ṓps = the countenance) means stern, gloomy, sullen (characterized by a dark and dour countenance), grim-faced, gloomy (cp as some faked it = Mt 6:16 only other NT use = “Whenever you fast, do not put on a gloomy face as the hypocrites"), discouraged, dejected, despondent, sullen, overcast. Used in the Lxx of Ge 40:7 when the the cupbearer and the baker had dreams but no one to interpret (“Why are your faces so sad today?”). It would be natural for them to look sad for the events of the last few days had filled them with sorrow and disappointment. Luke 24:18 One of them, named Cleopas, answered and said to Him, "Are You the only one visiting Jerusalem and unaware of the things which have happened here in these days?"
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Spurgeon - What a little advance these disciples had made in the knowledge of Christ! He had been their Teacher, they had seen his miracles, and yet, though they had been constantly under his superintendence, they had not learned enough to know that he was divine. The Holy Ghost had not yet been given; and, without the Holy Spirit’s divine instruction, these disciples could only say that Christ “was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people:” (Exposition) Visiting (3939)(paroikeo from para = beside + oikeo = to dwell; see related paroikia) describes living in a place without holding citizenship be an alien, live as a stranger, dwell temporarily. The only other NT use is Heb 11:9 "By faith he lived as an alien in the land of promise."
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Spurgeon comments "Just as a schoolmaster, though he knows more than the children, yet asks them questions to see what they know. So did the Saviour, “What things?" (Luke 24) And they said to Him "The things about Jesus the Nazarene - The plural they indicates Cleopas' companion has now joined in the conversation. Jesus the Nazarene - This designation is used 9x - Mk. 10:47; Mk. 14:67; Mk. 16:6; Lk. 24:19; Jn. 18:5; Jn. 18:7; Jn. 19:19; Acts 2:22; Acts 22:8. The related description " Jesus of Nazareth" is used 7x - Matt. 26:71; Mk. 1:24; Lk. 4:34; Lk. 18:37; Jn. 1:45; Acts 10:38; Acts 26:9 Note - Why is Jesus often referred to as Jesus of Nazareth? Who was a prophet (prophetes) mighty (dunatos) in deed and word (logos) - As a prophet, Jesus would be a spokesman for God speaking forth God's Word with authority (forth-telling) and also speaking of things before they came to pass (foretelling). And while they called Jesus a prophet, clearly He was a Prophet Whose deeds and words were mighty. Jesus was the Prophet about which Moses prophesied (Dt 18:15+). These two disciples were correct in answering that Jesus was a "prophet" but Jesus was not only a Prophet, but a Redeemer and Savior. Jesus is frequently referred to as a prophet by Luke (Lk 4:25–27+; Lk 9:35+; Lk 13:31–35+.) Of all the words they could have used to describe Christ–Master, Savior, Lord, Redeemer–they called him a prophet. When Jesus revealed his true identity, he called them foolish for failing to believe all that the prophets had spoken. Spurgeon has an interesting comment - "And they said to him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in word and deed.” I ought to have said, “in deed and word.” You see my mistake. That is how we put it, “word and deed,” for our words go first, but, with Christ, the practical comes first, and then commences the doctrinal." A prophet mighty - Dt 18:15+ The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your countrymen, you shall listen to him. Dt 18:18-21+ ‘I will raise up a prophet from among their countrymen like you, and I will put My words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him. 19 ‘It shall come about that whoever will not listen to My words which he shall speak in My name, I Myself will require it of him. 20 ‘But the prophet who speaks a word presumptuously in My name which I have not commanded him to speak, or which he speaks in the name of other gods, that prophet shall die.’ 21 “You may say in your heart, ‘How will we know the word which the LORD has not spoken?’ Matthew 21:11 And the crowds were saying, “This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth in Galilee.” Luke 7:16+ Fear gripped them all, and they began glorifying God, saying, “A great prophet has arisen among us!” and, “God has visited His people!” John 1:21+ They asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” And he *said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.” John 1:25+ They asked him, and said to him, “Why then are you baptizing, if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” John 7:40+ Some of the people therefore, when they heard these words, were saying, “This certainly is the Prophet.” John 4:19+ The (SAMARITAN) woman said to Him, “Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet. John 6:14+ Therefore when the people saw the sign which He had performed, they said, “This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world.” Acts 3:22+ "Moses said, 'THE LORD GOD SHALL RAISE UP FOR YOU A PROPHET LIKE ME FROM YOUR BRETHREN; TO HIM YOU SHALL GIVE HEED in everything He says to you.23 'And it shall be that every soul that does not heed that prophet shall be utterly destroyed from among the people.' Prophet (4396)(prophetes from próphemi = literally to tell beforehand in turn from pró = before, in front of, forth, on behalf of + phemí = speak, tell) is primarily a forth-teller or one who speaks out God’s message, primarily to their own generation, usually always calling the people to God's truth for them at that moment, often using the phrase "Thus saith the Lord." The prophet is one who speaks before in the sense of proclaim, or the one who speaks for, i.e., in the Name of (God). "As distinct from the sacral figures of pagan antiquity the biblical prophet is not a magician. He does not force God. On the contrary, he is under divine constraint. It is God Who invites, summons, and impels him--e.g., Jer 20:7" (Lamorte and Hawthorne) While here the two seem to have a limited understanding of Who Jesus was, their statement "it was He who was going to redeem Israel" (Lk 24:21) indicates they saw Him as more than just a prophet. Gilbrant adds that "It is important, however, to go beyond an understanding of Jesus as a prophet. Many people of different religions acknowledge Jesus to be a prophet, but prophets do not forgive sins. The story of the Samaritan woman (John 4) provides a useful illustration. When she meets Jesus she addresses Him as "Sir" (John 4:15), then as "a prophet" (John 4:19). Later, she tells the villagers that she may have found "the Christ" (John 4:29). However, only at the end of the story do she and the other villagers "believe" and confess Him as "the Christ, the Saviour of the world" (John 4:42). Similarly in this story, Jesus moves the disciples' understanding of Him beyond that of prophet so that they can announce that "the Lord is risen indeed" (Lk 24:34)." (Complete Biblical Library) Mighty (dunatos) in deed - Jesus did countless miracles. Some writers say He did so many healings in Israel that disease was almost completely banished! The greatest miracle He did of course was His resurrection from the dead, ironically the very "mighty...deed" that Cleopas and his companion were witnessing and yet not yet comprehending! Sadly despite all of Jesus' miracles, most of the nation of Israel did not believe in Him, John writing that "He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him." (Jn 1:11+). The resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead is the one miracle that you must believe in to be saved, to be born again (Jn 3:3,7+), for Paul wrote "that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; 10for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.(Ro 10:9-10+) Mighty (dunatos)...in word (logos) - For example... "The officers answered, “Never has a man spoken the way this man speaks.” (John 7:46). And all were speaking well of Him, and wondering at the gracious words which were falling from His lips; and they were saying, “Is this not Joseph’s son?” (Lk 4:22+) They were amazed at His teaching; for He was teaching them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. (Mk 1:22+) "When Jesus had finished these words, the crowds were amazed at His teaching; for He was teaching them as one having authority, and not as their scribes." (Mt 7:28-29+) Mighty (1415) (dunatos from dunamai = power one has by virtue of inherent ability; see dunamis translated "miracle/miracles" 19x) is an adjective which describes that which has sufficient or necessary power, means, skill, or resources to accomplish an objective. In this context is describes Jesus Who possessed the supernatural power to perform miracles. Dunatos 32v - able(6), could(1), impossible*(1), influential men(1), man of power(1), mighty(3), mighty one(1), possible(12), power(1), powerful(1), strong(3), strong enough(1). Matt. 19:26; Matt. 24:24; Matt. 26:39; Mk. 9:23; Mk. 10:27; Mk. 13:22; Mk. 14:35; Mk. 14:36; Lk. 1:49; Lk. 14:31; Lk. 18:27; Lk. 24:19; Acts 2:24; Acts 7:22; Acts 11:17; Acts 18:24; Acts 20:16; Acts 25:5; Rom. 4:21; Rom. 9:22; Rom. 11:23; Rom. 12:18; Rom. 15:1; 1 Co. 1:26; 2 Co. 10:4; 2 Co. 12:10; 2 Co. 13:9; Gal. 4:15; 2 Tim. 1:12; Tit. 1:9; Heb. 11:19; Jas. 3:2 Herbert Lockyer - During His public ministry it was as a prophet that He was recognized and revered (Matt. 21:11; Luke 7:16). He was described by His own disciples as "a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people" (Luke 24:19). Jesus designated Himself as a prophet (Matt. 13:57; Luke 13:33), after His entrance into such an office (John 2:13; 4:54). His quotation from Psalm 69:17 proves that He saw in Himself the fulfillment of such a forecast as a patriot and reformer. From the outset of His ministry, He knew that the nation would reject Him as prophet, crucify Him as king, and that thereafter His perpetual ministry would be priestly. Like the ancient prophets, Jesus functioned both as a forth-teller and as a fore-teller. Preaching to His own time, predicting the future for His own, the Jews, and the nations, constituted His oral ministry. Jesus declared the mind and will of God to the World. "I have declared... thy name, and will declare it" (John 17:26). Here we have a compendium of all that He proclaimed and prophesied. As the great preacher, His constant theme was "the righteousness of God by faith." Truth, faithfulness, salvation, lovingkindness, were some of the things which He made touching the king. Truly, His tongue was the pen of a ready writer. Jesus, however, not only witnessed to those of His own time, but to the future as we have already seen. As the "Father of Eternity," He emphasized future truth, as well as truth related to the present. The consummation of the Gentile age, the Second Advent, the tribulation and ultimate glory of Israel, the destiny of nations, the blessed future of the church, the millennium, heaven and hell, these were themes He predicted with divine authority, and which must be fulfilled, since the prophet who foretold them is the Truth (John 14:6). "I have foretold you all things" (Mark 13:23). (All Messianic Prophecies Related Resources: The Miracles Of Jesus Signs and Wonders - The miracles of Jesus What were the miracles of Jesus? What miracles did Jesus perform? What are the greatest miracles in the Bible? What is the significance of Jesus calming the storm? Why did Jesus choose the wedding at Cana for His first miracle? Does God still perform miracles? What can we learn from Jesus' feeding of the 5,000? In the sight (enantios) of God - Note the order, first before God, then men. Before the face of God first - Coram Deo. In John 8:29 Jesus declared "And He who sent Me is with Me; He has not left Me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to Him." At Jesus' baptism “a voice out of the heavens said, ‘This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased’” (Lk 3:22+). Then again at His transfiguration God declared, “This is My beloved Son, with Whom I am well-pleased” (Mt. 17:5, cf Lk 9:35+). THOUGHT - As His followers we should strive (enabled by His Spirit) to imitate His pattern (1 Pe 2:21+). To often I fear we reverse the emphasis, looking for approval first from men before we strive for approval from God! In the sight (enantios) of ...all the people - He spoke His mighty words and performed His mighty deeds publicly (all the people), a truth Peter alluded to in his sermon on Pentecost declaring "Jesus the Nazarene, a man attested to you by God with miracles and wonders and signs which God performed through Him in your midst." (Acts 2:22+). Jesus was admired by the people, who praised God for the miracles He performed. For example Luke 18:43+ says "Immediately he regained his sight and began following Him, glorifying God; and when all the people saw it, they gave praise to God." Luke 24:20 and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to the sentence of death, and crucified Him. chief priests. Lk 22:66-71. 23:1-5. Mt 27:1, 2, 20. Mk 15:1. Ac 2:23. 3:13-15. 4:8-10, 27, 28. 5:30, 31. 13:27-29. 1 Th 2:15. our rulers. Lk 18:18. 23:13, 35. Mt 9:18. Jn 3:1. 7:26, 48. 12:42. Ac 3:17. 4:5, 8. 13:27. 1 Co 2:8. Luke 24:13-32 Christ: The Living Expositor, Part 1 - John MacArthur Luke 24:13-32 Christ: The Living Expositor, Part 2 - John MacArthur Luke 24:13-35 Disappointment and Hope - Steven Cole Luke 24 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Related Passage: Matthew 27:20 But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to put Jesus to death. DISCIPLES LAID BLAME ON THE RELIGIOUS RABBLE ROUSERS! And how the chief priests (archiereus) and our rulers (archon) delivered (paradidomi) Him to the sentence of death (thanatos), and crucified (stauroo) Him - These two knew who was behind the plot to kill Jesus. No wonder they were sad and dejected. If you cannot trust the leaders, then who can you trust? John MacArthur on the chief priests and our rulers - Even though Jesus was sentenced to death by a Roman governor in a Roman court and crucified by Roman soldiers, the two men did not mention the Romans, since they were merely the executioners carrying out the Jewish leaders’ will. And even though in the end the crowds cried for Pilate to crucify Jesus, they did so because the chief priests and rulers manipulated them (Matt. 27:20). The religious elite were the real killers (cf. Acts 4:10; 5:30). (See Luke Commentary)
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Spurgeon - These were sad things to talk about. They thought that they had lost all when they had lost Christ; and yet there is no theme in all the world that is more full of joy than talk about the crucified Christ. This is strange, is it not? If we look beneath the surface, we shall see that the darkest deed that was ever perpetrated has turned out to be the greatest blessing to mankind; and that the cruelest crime ever committed by mortal man has been made the channel of the divinest benediction of God. (Exposition) Delivered (betrayed, handed over - second time used in this chapter - Lk 24:7) (3860)(paradidomi from para = alongside, beside, to the side of, over to + didomi = to give) conveys the basic meaning of to give over from one's hand to someone or something, especially to give over to the power of another. NET Note on delivered Him - Handed him over is another summary of the passion like Luke 9:22. Paradidomi uses by Luke in his Gospel and the Acts (30 verses total out of 117) - Lk. 1:2; Lk. 4:6; Lk. 9:44; Lk. 10:22; Lk. 12:58; Lk. 18:32; Lk. 20:20; Lk. 21:12; Lk. 21:16; Lk. 22:4; Lk. 22:6; Lk. 22:21; Lk. 22:22; Lk. 22:48; Lk. 23:25; Lk. 24:7; Lk. 24:20; Acts 3:13; Acts 6:14; Acts 7:42; Acts 8:3; Acts 12:4; Acts 14:26; Acts 15:26; Acts 15:40; Acts 16:4; Acts 21:11; Acts 22:4; Acts 27:1; Acts 28:17 Death (2288)(thanatos) is a permanent cessation of all vital functions and thus is the end of life on earth (as we know it). The separation of the soul from the body and the end of earthly life. Spiritual death is separation from the life of God forever by dying without being born again. The first use in the Septuagint is in a well known promise from God "you shall surely die (Lxx = thanatos apothnesko).” (Ge 2:17) followed by the second use in the deceptive lie by Satan “You surely shall not die (thanatos apothnesko)!" (Ge 3:4) Death is natural to humanity as part of the created world. Death is a result of Adam’s sin (Ro 5:12). Death is universal - no one can escape it. Crucified (4717)(stauroo from stauros = cross, in turn from histemi = to stand) means literally to nail or fasten to a cross and so to crucify -- literal death by nailing to and hanging from a cross (a stake). Stauroo - 42v - Matt. 20:19; Matt. 23:34; Matt. 26:2; Matt. 27:22; Matt. 27:23; Matt. 27:26; Matt. 27:31; Matt. 27:35; Matt. 27:38; Matt. 28:5; Mk. 15:13; Mk. 15:14; Mk. 15:15; Mk. 15:20; Mk. 15:24; Mk. 15:25; Mk. 15:27; Mk. 16:6; Lk. 23:21; Lk. 23:23; Lk. 23:33; Lk. 24:7; Lk. 24:20; Jn. 19:6; Jn. 19:10; Jn. 19:15; Jn. 19:16; Jn. 19:18; Jn. 19:20; Jn. 19:23; Jn. 19:41; Acts 2:36; Acts 4:10; 1 Co. 1:13; 1 Co. 1:23; 1 Co. 2:2; 1 Co. 2:8; 2 Co. 13:4; Gal. 3:1; Gal. 5:24; Gal. 6:14; Rev. 11:8 J C
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Spurgeon - How innocently they tell the story! How they convict themselves of stark unbelief! And the Master hears it all patiently and quietly. What a strange sensation it must have been for him to hear them talking about him in this singular way when, all the while, they did not know who the “stranger” was to whom they were speaking! Have you ever thought of what the Saviour must think of many things that we say? We think them wise; but they must be very foolish to the eye of his infinite wisdom, and very shallow to him who sees everything to the bottom. (Exposition) CHRIST THE LORD IS RISEN TODAY Charles Wesley Christ the Lord is risen today, Alleluia! Earth and heaven in chorus say, Alleluia! Raise your joys and triumphs high, Alleluia! Sing, ye heavens, and earth reply, Alleluia! Love's redeeming work is done, Alleluia! Fought the fight, the battle won, Alleluia! Death in vain forbids him rise, Alleluia! Christ has opened paradise, Alleluia! 3 Lives again our glorious King, Alleluia! Where, O death, is now thy sting? Alleluia! Once he died our souls to save, Alleluia! Where's thy victory, boasting grave? Alleluia! 4 Soar we now where Christ has led, Alleluia! Following our exalted Head, Alleluia! Made like him, like him we rise, Alleluia! Ours the cross, the grave, the skies, Alleluia! 5 Hail the Lord of earth and heaven, Alleluia! Praise to thee by both be given, Alleluia! Thee we greet triumphant now, Alleluia! Hail the Resurrection, thou, Alleluia! 6 King of glory, soul of bliss, Alleluia! Everlasting life is this, Alleluia! Thee to know, thy power to prove, Alleluia! Thus to sing, and thus to love, Alleluia! In every worship service, the words we say and the actions we participate in are somehow shaping us. Perhaps without even being aware of it, worship is doing something to us – it’s forming habits and language inside of us to both teach us why we are in relationship with God, and how to be in relationship with God. One practice that many liturgists and hymn authors have brought into worship is describing an event that happened in the past (usually a moment from the Gospel story) as if it were happening today, in order to instill in us the understanding that, just as God worked in the lives of people two thousand years ago, He is still working today. The hymn “Christ the Lord is Risen Today” is a perfect example of this. Right in the title is an indicator of the present tense: the word “is.” As we sing this song, we are first brought back two millennia as “witnesses” of the resurrection, and then we are also made aware that though the actual event of the resurrection happened once, it is in a sense an on-going event with ever-present effects. We are called today to live out of the resurrection, to follow our risen Lord in newness of life, and to ever lift our “alleluias” in praise. All Ye That Seek the Lord Who Died Luke 24:24 "Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just exactly as the women also had said; but Him they did not see." went. Luke 24:12. John 20:1–10. Luke 24 Resources - Multiple Resources (including those below) Luke 24:13-32 Christ: The Living Expositor, Part 1 - John MacArthur Luke 24:13-32 Christ: The Living Expositor, Part 2 - John MacArthur Luke 24:13-35 Disappointment and Hope - Steven Cole Luke 24 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries NET Luke 24:24 Then some of those who were with us went to the tomb, and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see him." NO SURE SIGHTING OF THE SAVIOR Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just exactly as the women also had said - Peter and John (see Lk 24:12-note) corroborated the women's testimony that the tomb was empty, but this was still not enough to open the eyes of their understanding, possibly because Peter and John did not report actually seeing Jesus alive (as suggested by the context). Him they did not see - Their testimony validated that of the women but they did not see Jesus. Stories of resurrection but no resurrection sightings. What did one do? What could one think? Could one believe? "Again, the sight of the empty tomb alone did not produce faith." (Gilbrant) Spurgeon - They made out a very clear case against their own unbelief here. They had the evidence of the women, and they had the evidence of the men of their own company; the women, they knew were honest. About their own company they could have no doubt, but yet they did not draw the inference which was clear enough, namely, that Jesus had risen, and that what he said he was he had proved himself to be. (Exposition) David
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Spurgeon comments "Supposing him to be a stranger in Jerusalem, yet one who was well acquainted with Jewish prophecy, they had told him exactly what the prophecies had foretold concerning the Messiah. If they had meant to refer to the various prophecies concerning Christ, they could not have detailed facts which would have more accurately fulfilled them, and therefore Christ said to them “O you foolish men, how slow of heart you are to believe all that the prophets have spoken!” - I feel sure that He said that word very gently; — not as you and I might say it, in a pet. Yet, truly, as we read the story, we cannot help feeling that they were very foolish and stupid. Their own tale convicts them. So no wonder Christ said unto them, “O fools,”He called them fools, or wanting in thought and understanding. The original words do not imply contempt; our Lord gently rebuked them for not seeing what was so plainly revealed in Scripture.) Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? (Is it not so predicted in the prophets? How could it be otherwise?
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Spurgeon - He loved them tenderly, but he rebuked them strongly, I had almost said sternly: “O fools, and slow of heart!” I am afraid that is our name: “fools.” I am afraid that it may be said of us that we are “slow of heart to believe.” We want so many proofs. We very readily disbelieve, but we very slowly believe. If you had a piano in your house, and you left it for months; and when you came back, you found it all in beautiful tune, you would be sure that somebody must have been there to put it in tune; but if, on the other hand, you left it to itself, and it got out of tune, you would say that such a condition was only what was to be expected. So it is natural for us to get out of tune. Sometimes we ring out glad music on the high sounding cymbals, and we lift up the loud hallelujahs of exultant joy; but soon we are down again in the deeps, and strike a minor key. Grace alone can raise us; nature, alas! sinks if left to itself. (Exposition) Ray Pritchard - He rebukes them for one thing and only one thing–for failing to understand and apply the Scriptures. He doesn’t upbraid them for leaving Jerusalem and walking back home. He doesn’t criticize their doubt nor condemn their confusion. All of that was perfectly understandable, given the circumstances and the fragmentary information they had received. But he tells them they should have known and believed what God had said. That leads to what we might call the ultimate Bible conference. He tells them plainly that it was necessary for Christ to suffer and die on the cross. What seemed like the ultimate miscarriage of justice turns out to be the Father’s plan to glorify his Son. Christ was no victim being led against his will to the cross. (Where is Jesus When We Need Him?) Lenski on slow to believe - They believe some of the things that had been written by the prophets, e. g., that the Messiah would come and establish his kingdom; but they did not believe all that had been written, they overlooked the very things that were so essential to this Messiah and his kingdom, the things which Jesus now expounds. That was their great inconsistency, their great lack of intelligence. (See The Interpretation of St. Luke's Gospel) Believe (4100)(pisteuo from pistis; pistos; related studies the faith, the obedience of faith) means to consider something to be true and therefore worthy of one’s trust. To accept as true, genuine, or real. To have a firm conviction as to the goodness, efficacy, or ability of something or someone. This verb is key -- because they did not believe (and remember if you believe you will obey), they did not understand. In John 7:17 Jesus stated that "If anyone is willing to do His will, he will know of the teaching, whether it is of God or whether I speak from Myself." Failure to believe and obey the Word blunts our ability to understand the Word. J
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Spurgeon - “Are not those just the very things which the prophets say that the Christ, the Anointed, must suffer? ‘Ought not Christ to have suffered these things,’” Is not this just what he said he would do? (Exposition) Glory (1391)(doxa from dokeo = to think) in simple terms means to give a proper opinion or estimate of something and thus the glory of God expresses all that He is in His Being and in His nature, character, power and acts. He is glorified when He is allowed to be seen as He really is. To be where God is will be glory. To be what God intended will be glory. To do what God purposed will be glory. David
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Spurgeon says "We may well wish that we might have been there. What a privilege it was for those two disciples, — a walk and a talk combined! But what heavenly talk, all concerning himself! I know that you, dear friends, never relish a discourse unless Christ is foremost in it; but when Christ is the sole subject, and even Scripture itself is made subordinate to the display of Christ, then are you well content." Hendriksen makes a fascinating comment - Jesus may have interpreted such passages as Gen. 3:15; 9:26; 12:3; 22:18; 49:10; Exod. 12:13; Num. 24:17; Deut. 18:15, 18; II Sam. 7:12, 13; Ps. 2:2; 22:1, 18; 45:11; 68:18; 69:20, 21; 72:8, 9; 110:1; 118:22; 132:11; Isa. 2:4; 7:14; 8:8, 10; 9:1, 2, 6, 7; 11:10; 25:8; 28:16; 35:5, 6; 42:1; 49:6; 52:14; ch. 53; 55:4; 59:16; Jer. 23:5; Ezek. 17:22; Dan. 2:24, 35,44; 7:13, 14; 9:25; Mic. 5:2; Hag. 2:6-9; Zech. 3:8; 6:12 f.; 9:9; 11:12; 12:10; 13:7; Mal. 3:1. But the Old Testament picture of the Messiah is not confined to a number of specific passages. As I have shown earlier, there are, as it were, four lines, which, running through the Old Testament from beginning to end, converge at Bethlehem and Calvary: the historical, typological, psychological, and prophetical. It is reasonable to believe that our Lord, in interpreting in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself, showed how the entire Old Testament, in various ways, pointed to himself. See also Acts 10:43+. (Borrow Exposition of the Gospel of Luke) (Bold added) J C
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Spurgeon - The best Book, with the best Teacher, descanting upon the best of subjects. Everywhere this Book speaks about Christ; and when Christ explains it, he only brings himself more clearly before our minds. (Exposition) Afford remarks, “Observe the testimony which this verse gives to the divine authority, and Christian interpretation of the Old Testament Scriptures. The denial of reference to Christ’s death and glory in the Old Testament, is a denial of Christ’s own teaching.”
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Spurgeon - Morning and Evening - - Luke 24:27 The two disciples on the road to Emmaus had a most profitable journey. Their companion and teacher was the best of tutors; the interpreter one of a thousand, in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. The Lord Jesus condescended to become a preacher of the gospel, and he was not ashamed to exercise his calling before an audience of two persons, neither does he now refuse to become the teacher of even one. Let us court the company of so excellent an Instructor, for till he is made unto us wisdom we shall never be wise unto salvation. This unrivalled tutor used as his class-book the best of books. Although able to reveal fresh truth, he preferred to expound the old. He knew by his omniscience what was the most instructive way of teaching, and by turning at once to Moses and the prophets, he showed us that the surest road to wisdom is not speculation, reasoning, or reading human books, but meditation upon the Word of God. The readiest way to be spiritually rich in heavenly knowledge is to dig in this mine of diamonds, to gather pearls from this heavenly sea. When Jesus himself sought to enrich others, he wrought in the quarry of Holy Scripture. The favoured pair were led to consider the best of subjects, for Jesus spake of Jesus, and expounded the things concerning himself. Here the diamond cut the diamond, and what could be more admirable? The Master of the House unlocked his own doors, conducted the guests to his table, and placed his own dainties upon it. He who hid the treasure in the field himself guided the searchers to it. Our Lord would naturally discourse upon the sweetest of topics, and he could find none sweeter than his own person and work: with an eye to these we should always search the Word. O for grace to study the Bible with Jesus as both our teacher and our lesson! Connecting the Dots Read: Luke 24:13–32 | Beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself. Luke 24:27 In the 1880s French artist Georges Seurat introduced an art form known as pointillism. As the name suggests, Seurat used small dots of color, rather than brush strokes of blended pigments, to create an artistic image. Up close, his work looks like groupings of individual dots. Yet as the observer steps back, the human eye blends the dots into brightly colored portraits or landscapes. The big picture of the Bible is similar. Up close, its complexity can leave us with the impression of dots on a canvas. As we read it, we might feel like Cleopas and his friend on the road to Emmaus. They couldn’t understand the tragic “dotlike” events of the Passover weekend. They had hoped that Jesus “was the one who was going to redeem Israel” (Luke 24:21), but they had just witnessed His death. The Bible shows a God who loves us more than we can imagine. Suddenly a man they did not recognize was walking alongside them. After showing an interest in their conversation, He helped them connect the dots of the suffering and death of their long-awaited Messiah. Later, while eating a meal with them, Jesus let them recognize Him—and then He left as mysteriously as He came. Was it the scarred dots of the nail wounds in His hands that caught their attention? We don’t know. What we do know is that when we connect the dots of Scripture and Jesus’s suffering (vv. 27, 44), we see a God who loves us more than we can imagine. Jesus laid down His life to show His love for us. INSIGHT: In today’s reading, Jesus came alongside two disciples traveling to Emmaus (v. 13). This appearance took place in the “nearly evening” of Sunday (vv. 29–30). The gospel writer Mark said, “Jesus appeared in a different form to two of them” (Mark 16:12). This was why they did not recognize Him until later (Luke 24:16, 31). In Thy Glorious Resurrection Come Then, Thou Prophet of the Lord Message of Gladness, The Precious Bible! What a Store Luke 24:28 And they approached the village where they were going, and He acted as though He were going farther. Ge. 19:2; 32:26; 42:7. Mark 6:48. Luke 24:13-32 Christ: The Living Expositor, Part 1 - John MacArthur Luke 24:13-32 Christ: The Living Expositor, Part 2 - John MacArthur Luke 24:13-35 Disappointment and Hope - Steven Cole Luke 24:28, 29 The Blessed Guest Detained - C H Spurgeon Luke 24 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries DISCIPLES NEAR HOME And they approached (eggizo) the village where they were going, and He acted (prospoiéomai) as though He were going farther - In other words, Jesus did not say He would not go further, but simply kept on as if it were not His intention to stop. Had they not sought Him to stay, doubtless He would have kept on. While Jesus is omnipresence today, He will not force Himself on us. If we desire His fellowship daily, all through the day, we must beseech Him to walk with us and stay with us. Then we are abiding in the Vine and He in us. We are communing with Him via His Spirit. Jesus desires to abide. The hindrance is us. We are too often like the church at Laodicea which Jesus describes in the Revelation Behold (idou), I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me. (Rev 3:20+). MacArthur proposes "He did so for the same reason He had questioned them, to elicit a response that would demonstrate the effect of the Scriptures on their hearts. And it did. They wanted more instruction and did not want the thrilling teaching to end." Spurgeon - No doubt he would have done so if they had been indifferent to his company: Jesus never forces his society upon us. (Exposition) Ray Pritchard - The word “acted” means “pretended.” What a thought that is. Was Jesus trying to deceive his own disciples? No, that can’t be right. Was Jesus planning on leaving his disciples alone on the road of doubt? No, but he makes them think he is going to leave them behind so that they will invite him to stay. Think about that for a moment. Our Lord sometimes seems to leave us so that we will ask him to stay. He seems to leave us behind so that we will seek him all the more. Those days when we feel alone and confused are part of God’s plan to wean us away from the things of the world and bring us to a place where we say, “O Lord, it is you and you alone that I seek.” (Where is Jesus When We Need Him?) Spurgeon - And sorry, I have no doubt, they were to do so. One would like to walk on to all eternity with Christ thus talking by the way. Never had they had a shorter walk in their lives; his holy talk had made the journey seem as nothing, and sorry they were to see the village, and especially when they found, that their companion had an idea of going further. (Exposition) Spurgeon - For Christ never forces his company upon anyone; and if we are willing to let him go, he will go, nor will he return until we are heartily sick of having treated him coldly. When we can no longer bear the absence of Christ, then he will speedily return to us. There is an instance of this in the life of Christmas Evans, which impressed me very much when I read it. Sandemanianism had spread very much through Wales, and he had been very busy attacking it; but it seemed as if, in doing so, his sermons had lost all their former power and unction, and his own soul also grew very dry and barren, and he had little or no fellowship with Christ. He said that, at last, his soul grew utterly weary of being absent from his Lord and he could not endure it any longer, but felt that he must once again enjoy communion with his Lord, and experience the power of the Holy Spirit in his preaching. So he stopped at the foot of Cader Idris and spent some three hours in an intense agony of prayer; and the result was that, when he next preached, he did so with all the unction and power which had formerly rested upon him. He had grown weary of the absence of Christ and therefore Christ returned to him. O brethren, if Christ makes as though he would go further, do not let him go, but hold him fast! (Exposition) Spurgeon - They were sorry to be nearing their destination. They would have liked to walk to the ends of the earth in such company, and listening to such conversation. Christ intended to go further unless the two disciples constrained him to tarry with them. (Exposition) Acted (4364) (prospoiéomai from prós = to, besides + poiéō = to make. To make, acquire, claim or appropriate for oneself, to make pretension. In the NT, only in the middle voice meaning to make a show of being or doing something, to feign, pretend (Used only in Luke 24:28). To act or appear as if having certain qualities or a particular state of mind. Used twice in the Septuagint - 1 Sam. 21:13; Job 19:14 F Whitfield - Is not God always acting thus? He comes to us by His Holy Spirit as He did to these two disciples. He speaks to us through the preaching of the gospel, through the Word of God, through the various means of grace, and the providential circumstances of life; and having thus spoken, He makes as though He would go further. If the ear be opened to His voice and the heart to His Spirit, the prayer will go up “Lord, abide with me.” But if that voice makes no impression, then He passes on, as He has done thousands of times, leaving the heart at each time harder than before, and the ear more closed to His Spirit’s call. (Moody - One Thousand and One Thoughts from My Library) Luke 24:29 But they urged Him, saying, "Stay with us, for it is getting toward evening, and the day is now nearly over." So He went in to stay with them. Luke 14:23. Ge. 19:3. 2 Ki. 4:8. Acts 16:15. Luke 24:13-32 Christ: The Living Expositor, Part 1 - John MacArthur Luke 24:13-32 Christ: The Living Expositor, Part 2 - John MacArthur Luke 24:13-35 Disappointment and Hope - Steven Cole Luke 24:28, 29 The Blessed Guest Detained - C H Spurgeon Luke 24:29 Communion Preserved - C H Spurgeon Luke 24 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries ABIDE WITH US DEAR JESUS!
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Spurgeon on parabiazomai - It is a very strong word that, ‘they constrained him’; it is akin to the one which Jesus used when he said, ‘The kingdom of heaven suffereth violence.’ They not only invited him, but they held him, they grasped his hand, they tugged at his skirts, they said he should not go.” The only other NT use is Acts 16:15-note - And when she (Lydia) and her household had been baptized, she urged us, saying, "If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house and stay." And she prevailed upon us. Spurgeon - Love can always find a plea to which her Lord will yield, for he is always most willing to commune with his people Ryle on stay with us - Let it be noted that we have several instances of expressions like this in Scripture used upon similar occasions. Abraham said, “Pass not away, I pray thee, from thy servant.” (Gen. 32:26.) Gideon said, “Depart not hence, I pray thee, until I come unto thee.” (Judges 6:18.) Manoah and his wife said, “I pray thee, let us detain thee.” (Judges 13:15.) All show that God loves to be entreated of His people, and that those who would have much must ask much, and even use a holy violence. (Luke 24) Yes, life is like the Emmaus road, and we tread it not alone For beside us walks the Son of God, to uphold and keep His own. And our hearts within us thrill with joy at His words of love and grace, And the glorious hope that when day is done we shall see His blessed face. —Avis Christiansen Stay (aorist imperative)(3306)(meno) is a plea to abide or remain (as the branch abides in the Vine - Jn 15:5, 7), even as Jesus said to Zaccheus "I must stay in your house." (Lk 19:5+). Their earnest request was granted. Do you feel close to Jesus today? Perhaps you need to request Him to "stay," making sure of course that you have no unconfessed sins. You may not experience any feelings, but you can be confident that He is there, walking through your day with you. O that the prayerful song of our heart each day would be the words of this great old hymn (take a moment and Play and pray this beautiful hymn to Him...He will answer!)... Abide with me from morn till eve, For without Thee I cannot live; Abide with me when night is nigh, For without Thee I dare not die.” THOUGHT - HERE IS BACKGROUND FOR THIS GREAT HYMN WRITTEN IN 1847: In 1818 minister Henry Francis Lyte found himself in a curious position: he was giving comfort to a dying clergyman and found, to his shock, that the clergyman was unsure of his own salvation. Lyte was painfully aware that he himself was in the same position. Both men began to search the Bible, and both underwent a conversion. Lyte from that time on began to take his duties as a pastor more seriously. The typical Church of England pastor of that time was content to baptize, marry, bury, and preach a brief Sunday sermon for which he had little enthusiasm. Lyte could not be satisfied with this: he became a devoted spiritual counselor to his parish in a coastal town in southwest England. He wore himself out for this church, composed of fishermen and their families, counseling with them, organizing Sunday schools, training teachers, and writing hymns, many of which are still popular. The most famous of his hymns was written just a few weeks before he died. On September 4, 1847, Lyte took a walk along the seashore and contemplated the sunset. Returning home, he quickly wrote down “Abide with Me” with its memorable first lines: “Abide with me! Fast falls the eventide; / The darkness deepens; Lord, with me abide.” The hymn was based on the scripture he had preached on earlier that day, Luke 24, the story of the risen Jesus encountering two disciples on the road to Emmaus. Luke 24:29 reads, “They constrained him, saying, ‘Abide with us, for it is toward evening; the day is far spent.’ And he went in to tarry with them” (KJV). Lyte’s health had been failing for several years, and it is possible that when he wrote “Abide with Me,” he knew it would be his last hymn and that he would soon be abiding with the Lord forever. He died on November 20 that same year. HERE IS ANOTHER VERSION BY KENNETH OSBECK FROM "AMAZING GRACE - 366 HYMN STORIES" - The author of this text, Henry F. Lyte, was an Anglican pastor. Though he battled tuberculosis all of his life, Lyte was known as a man strong in spirit and faith. It was he who coined the phrase “it is better to wear out than to rust out.” During his later years, Lyte’s health progressively worsened so that he was forced to seek a warmer climate in Italy. For the last sermon with his parishioners at Lower Brixham, England, on September 4, 1847, it is recorded that he nearly had to crawl to the pulpit. His final words made a deep impact upon his people when he proclaimed, “It is my desire to induce you to prepare for the solemn hour which must come to all, by a timely appreciation and dependence on the death of Christ.” (WHAT GREAT LAST WORDS!)
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Spurgeon - O wise disciple, when thou hast thy Master to hold him. “I held him,” says the spouse; “I held him, and I would not let him go.” So may it be with us. (Exposition) Spurgeon - That is our prayer to the Lord Jesus tonight, “Abide with us, dear Master; we had thy blessed company this morning; and now the sun is almost down, abide with us!” Let each one of us pray the prayer that we often sing, for, morning, noon, and night, this is a suitable supplication:-“ (Exposition) Now The Day is Over Now the day is over, Night is drawing nigh, Shadows of the evening Steal across the sky. Jesus, give the weary Calm and sweet repose; With thy tend'rest blessing May our eyelids close. Grant to little children Visions bright of thee; Guard the sailors, tossing On the deep blue sea. Comfort ev'ry sufferer Watching late in pain; Those who plan some evil From their sin restrain. Through the long night watches May thine angels spread Their white wings above me, Watching round my bed. Glory to the Father, Glory to the Son, And to thee, blest Spirit, Whilst all ages run. Thomas Goodwin on their call to stay - Whereas otherwise he would have gone further, and certainly would. When the keys are laid aside that should unlock the cupboard, whence the children should have bread, they are like to lose their suppers. Now these keys are prayers. If Paul be given them, it must be by prayer, Philemon 1: 22. Richard Sibbes - Beg of Christ likewise that he would stay with us; as they in the gospel, when he made as if he would have gone forward from them, Luke 24:29, constrained him to stay, saying, ‘Abide with us: for it is towards evening, and the day is far spent;’ and he went in to tarry with them. So, lay we hold on Christ, by the means of salvation; stay him with us by prayer and importunity, especially when the night of death, and error, and superstition comes. Say, ‘Lord, night is near, stay with us, depart not from us.’ Lay an holy violence upon God, as Jacob did: ‘Thou shall not go hence.’ Lay hold on him by prayer, and do not leave him till we have drawn virtue and got some blessing from him; he must be kept by entreaty. Charles Erdman - No story tells us more impressively the truth that a divine Saviour walks beside us all the way of our earthly journey. It is pathetic that our eyes are so often dimmed by unbelief that we fail to realize his presence. We walk and are sad while we might be rejoicing in his companionship. It may be as the Scriptures are opened to us, or as we meet to break bread in his name, that our blindness will be removed; and surely when the journey ends and we enter the home toward which we are moving, we shall see him face to face, and the vision will not fade in deepening twilight, but grow more glorious through the eternal day. (Gospel of Luke) J C
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Spurgeon - In the breaking of bread Christ is often known. It is a wonderful emblem. Even if this breaking of bread were not the observance of the Lord’s Supper, it was something very like it. Christ’s blessing and breaking of bread anywhere are the true token of Himself. (Exposition) Breaking (2806)(klao) means to break, break off, break in pieces and in the NT refers only to the breaking of bread. By metonymy klao means to share a meal, since by Jewish custom a host or head of household thus began the main part of the meal. Jesus acted as the Host in this case. This verb is used to describe the Lord's Supper (1 Cor 11:24), but most commentators do not think that was the significance in this case. At this time the Lord's Supper had only been shared with the eleven the night before His crucifixion. Be Known to Us in Breaking Bread Luke 24:31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized Him; and He vanished from their sight. their eyes. Luke 24:16. John 20:13–16. vanished Luke 4:30. John 8:59. Luke 24:13-32 Christ: The Living Expositor, Part 1 - John MacArthur Luke 24:13-32 Christ: The Living Expositor, Part 2 - John MacArthur Luke 24:13-35 Disappointment and Hope - Steven Cole Luke 24:31 Eyes Opened - C H Spurgeon Luke 24 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries SPIRITUAL TRUTH IS SEEN WITH SPIRITUAL EYES Then - When? NLT paraphrases it "Suddenly." The NET Bible has "At this point" "to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative." (NET Note) Their eyes were opened (dianoigo) and they recognized (epiginosko) Him and He vanished (aphantos) from their sight - This passage is the "antithesis" of Luke 24:16! Were opened is a so-called "divine passive," in this context the passive voice indicating that the opening was caused by an external, supernatural source. Clearly they had been able to see Jesus physically, but they were unable to see Him spiritually. The principle of this passage can be applied to all believers, for too often our eyes are closed to spiritual truth and we would all do well to pray (frequently) Eph 1:18, 19+ (see devotional below, cp the vision described in 2 Cor 4:18+) not only for ourselves but for other believers in our sphere of influence. Recognized is epiginosko where the prefix "epi-" intensifies their knowing. The idea is that now they knew Him fully and with certainty. A reversal of the use of epiginosko in Lk 24:16. The veil had fallen. The scales fell from their eyes. Now they fully recognized Jesus as their Resurrected Messiah. There was now not even a shadow of a doubt! But even as He handed them the bread and the scales fell from their eyes, in that very moment, He was gone! THOUGHT - O, how I (we) need to pray before I open the word, asking the Lord to "Open my eyes, that I may behold Wonderful things from Your law." (Psalm 119:18+) One cannot help but see the striking contrast of the opened eyes of these two seeing their Savior from sin and the first two souls whose eyes were opened to see their sin! Then the eyes of both of them were opened (Lxx also uses same verb dianoigo!), and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loin coverings. They heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves (NOTE THE IMMEDIATE AND POWERFUL EFFECT OF SIN! WE RUN FROM JESUS! O, FOR THE GRACE TO CONFESS AND REPENT QUICKLY!) from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden. (Ge 3:7-8+). David
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Spurgeon - Volume 2) I Know Him April 13, 1998 Their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight. —Luke 24:31 Two disciples were walking sadly on the way to their home in the little village of Emmaus. It was 3 days after Jesus had been crucified. They were disappointed and discouraged, for they thought their Lord was dead. Suddenly a stranger appeared and asked them why they were sad. They told Him about the death of the one they had thought was the Messiah. When they arrived home, they asked the stranger to come in. At the meal, when He took bread in His hands, the two men recognized who had been talking with them—it was Jesus their Lord! “Their eyes were opened and they knew Him” (Lk. 24:31). What was it these disciples saw to identify Him? It could have been that their eyes were opened when they saw Him break the bread with His nail-pierced hands. A young girl, whose Sunday school teacher had died, dreamed she was in heaven and was being introduced by her teacher. In the morning, she told her mother, “Teacher introduced me to Abraham, Paul, David, and a lot of others.” “Didn’t she introduce you to Jesus?” asked her mother. “Oh, no,” was the reply. “I knew Him the moment I saw Him. I didn’t need an introduction. He carried His identification—the nail-prints in His hands.” I shall know Him, I shall know Him, As redeemed by His side I shall stand; I shall know Him, I shall know Him By the print of the nails in His hand. —Crosby If we know Jesus in this life, we will know Him in the life to come. Loss and Gain Read: Luke 24:13-35 | Their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight. —Luke 24:31 A Texas high school football team began the 2002 season with a 57-game winning streak and hopes for an unprecedented fifth consecutive state championship. In spite of losing their longtime coach and competing against larger schools, the Celina Bobcats remained undefeated through the regular season. But then they lost a quarterfinal playoff game by one point. It felt like the end of the world—even though they had won 68 straight games and 5 state championships in 7 years. When our dreams are shattered and our hearts are broken, we may feel that all has been lost and nothing has been gained. It takes the touch of God to open our eyes to the greater glory of His plan. When the crucified and risen Christ joined two disciples on the road to Emmaus, they were grieving over His death. “We were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel” (Luke 24:21), they told Jesus, whom they didn’t recognize. But Jesus said, “Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?” (Luke 24:26). Later they realized they had been talking with Jesus. He was alive! In our time of loss, the risen Lord comes to us with comfort and peace, revealing His glory and the eternal gain that is ours because of His cross. When circumstances overwhelm And seem too much to bear, Depend upon the Lord for strength And trust His tender care. —Sper Present pains can lead to permanent gains. Surprised! Read: Luke 24:13-35 | Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him. Luke 24:31 Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio (1571–1610), an Italian artist, was known for his fiery temperament and unconventional technique. He used ordinary working people as models for his saints and was able to make viewers of his paintings feel they were a part of the scene. The Supper at Emmaus shows an innkeeper standing while Jesus and two of His followers are seated at a table when they recognize Him as the risen Lord (Luke 24:31). One disciple is pushing himself to a standing position while the other’s arms are outstretched and his hands open in astonishment. Luke, who records these events in his gospel, tells us that the two men immediately returned to Jerusalem where they found the eleven disciples and others assembled together and saying, “ ‘It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.’ Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread” (vv. 33-35). Oswald Chambers said, “Jesus rarely comes where we expect Him; He appears where we least expect Him, and always in the most illogical connections. The only way a worker can keep true to God is by being ready for the Lord’s surprise visits.” Whatever road we are on today, may we be ready for Jesus to make Himself known to us in new and surprising ways. Lord Jesus, open our eyes to see You, the risen Christ, alongside us and at work in the circumstances of our lives today. To find the Lord Jesus Christ we must be willing to seek Him. INSIGHT: Jesus’s actions in today’s reading opened eyes to the truth of who He is. The road-to-Emmaus encounter in Luke 24 points back to the Last Supper and forward to the words of Paul in 1 Corinthians 11:24–26. “ ‘This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me. . . . This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.’ For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.” Reader! have you enjoyed the presence of Jesus today? (James Smith, "A Help to Devotion" 1859) "Abide with us — for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent." Luke 24:29 The presence of Jesus, is the life and the joy of the saints. When we enjoy it — we dread the thought of losing it; and when we have lost it — we cannot rest until we have regained it. That is a gloomy day — in which the presence of Jesus is not enjoyed; and that is a dreary night — when Jesus is absent from us. Reader! have you enjoyed the presence of Jesus today? Has He communed with your spirit, thereby . . . strengthening your faith, exciting your hope, and deepening your comfort? If so, I know that your prayer tonight will be, "Abide with me! Yes, precious Lord Jesus, we do beseech You to visit us, converse with us, open up the Scriptures to us, and abide with us. Let us feast our eyes on Your glory — and our hearts on Your grace. With You, we can feel at home — we can be happy anywhere. Without You, we cannot rest, we cannot feel satisfied, we cannot enjoy repose — let us have whatever we may. You have won our heart's love — You have made yourself the center and source of our comfort. Come, then, and abide with us this evening — and then a blessed evening it will be. Your presence will free us from all our cares, and raise us above all our troubles. Your presence will feast us, refresh us, and make us satisfied with our lot, be it what it may!" James Smith also has a similar note on the Holy Spirit - O Holy Spirit, give us clear views of your distinct personality, divine nature, and essential glory! Let us see you in your Word, feel you in our hearts, and enjoy sweet communion with you day by day! Breathe on us, we beseech you; abide with us, and work in us both to will and to do of your good pleasure. Pull down every stronghold of Satan, pull up every root of bitterness, and conform us in all things to our Divine Example. Amen Hortius Bonar - THE DISCIPLES’ INVITATION TO THE MASTER “Abide with us.”—LUKE 24:29. HERE it is not the Master to the disciple, but the disciple to the Master, that is saying, Come. It is not the Lord that is standing at the door and saying, “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and sup with him, and he with me”; it is the disciple that is saying, “Come in thou blessed of the Lord.” As of old, He said to Jacob at Peniel, “Let me go for the day breaketh,” so here it is said, “He made as though He would have gone further”; but as Jacob said, “I will not let thee go except thou bless me,” so do the two disciples here, “they constrained Him, saying, Abide with us”; and as He blest Jacob ere He parted from him, so here He does go in and sit down with them, and when He quits them He leaves a blessing behind Him, for the house seems filled with the odour of the ointment, doubtless to retain its fragrance for many a day. The request seems to have been made for two reasons,—on their own account and on his. They had enjoyed his converse and fellowship by the way so much that they are unwilling to part; and, besides, the evening is coming on, and He must not expose Himself to the dews, and cold, and darkness of the night. The latter of these reasons we cannot use now in the sense in which they were used by the disciples. The risen Christ is now far beyond the days and nights of time; beyond the mists and clouds of earth; far beyond the chills and the gloom of this world. He needs no earthly roof to shelter Him, and no earthly table to sit at. He is now in his Father’s house, and on his Father’s throne, compassed about with light, and majesty, and glory, and honour. But in his members He is now passing through the same hardships, and sufferings, and privations as when He was here. “Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me” is still his expostulation; and still He so identifies Himself with his saints that we may use the words which originally meant Him personally in reference to ourselves as one with Him. Without, however, confining it to this sense, let us meditate as follows upon these words, “Abide with us.” 1. Abide with us, for past days have been so pleasant. Since first we apprehended Thee, or rather since Thou didst apprehend us,—since thou didst overtake us on the way, we have found such blessedness, that we cannot bear the thought of parting. Thy fellowship has been so sweet that we must have more of it. The little that we tasted in the past, makes us long for more. Abide with us. 2. Abide with us, for the world would be a blank without thee. Life would not be life if thou wert gone. We should be like the disciples on the stormy sea,—“It was night, and Jesus had not come to them.” Night and tempest, without moon and stars, would be nothing to this world without thee. A house left desolate without an inmate, without a sound, or a voice, or footstep, would be nothing to the dreariness of our earth and of our homes without thee. All would be blank and chilling. It is Thou who fillest hearts, and lightest up homes, and gladdenest even wildernesses with thy presence. A wilderness is populous enough So had I but thy heavenly company; For where thou art, there is the world itself, With every several pleasure in the world; And where thou art not, desolation. Oh abide with us. 3. Abide with us, for we know not what our future is to be. We know the past, we know the present, but the future is hid. For that future and all its uncertainties, we need a guide and a protector; one who will light up our path, who will fight for us, who will deliver us and keep us to the last, in all changes, trials, sorrows, joys. Abide with us. Leave us not, neither forsake us, O God of our salvation, O rest of the weary, O light of the dark, O Saviour of the lost, O joy of the sorrowful, O helper of the helpless,—unchanging companion, friend and kinsman, with whom there is no variableness nor shadow of turning,—the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever! Lead us out, leads us in, lead us along the way, lead us by the still waters, lead us into thy banquetting house, and let thy banner over us be love! 4. Abide with us, for earth’s night is at hand. Time’s shadows are lengthening; its sun is going down behind the hills of earth. The end of all things is at hand; the day of the Lord hasteth greatly; the time of vengeance and judgment cometh; Satan is about to do his worst; Antichrist will rage; evil men and seducers will wax worse and worse; perilous times will come; wars and rumours of wars will disquiet us; earthquakes shall be in diverse places, the sea and its waves roaring, men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after the things that are coming on the earth. Oh abide with us! Abide with us in all thy love and grace; in all thy strength and help; in all thy joy and peace. Abide with us for evermore. Luke 24:32 They said to one another, "Were not our hearts burning within us while He was speaking to us on the road, while He was explaining (opening) the Scriptures to us?" Did. Ps. 39:3; 104:34. Pr. 27:9, 17. Is. 50:4. Jer 15:16; 20:9; 23:29. John 6:63. He. 4:12. opened. Luke 24:45. Acts 17:2, 3; 28:23 Luke 24:13-32 Christ: The Living Expositor, Part 1 - John MacArthur Luke 24:13-32 Christ: The Living Expositor, Part 2 - John MacArthur Luke 24:13-35 Disappointment and Hope - Steven Cole Luke 24:36-43 Too Good to be True, But True! - Steven Cole Luke 24:32 An Open Bible and a Burning Heart - James Hastings Luke 24 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries BLESSED HEART-BURN! They said to one another, "Were not our hearts (kardia) burning (kaio) within us while He was speaking (laleo) to us on the road, while He was explaining (opening) the Scriptures (graphe) to us?" - Burning hearts were ignited by the Living Words spoken by the Living Word of God, Jesus Christ (cf Jn 1:1, Heb 1:2, 1 Jn 1:1). Receiving knowledge of the Word - big heads Walking with the Word - burning hearts Lord, give us "burning hearts" when we read Thy living Word. Amen Spurgeon - Oh, blessed heart-burn! These were the two disciples who had recognized their Lord in the breaking of bread, though they did not know him during their walk with him to Emmaus. When God's Word is opened, may our hearts be opened. (Exposition) J C Ryle on hearts burning - It is a strong expression to indicate the warmth and delight of their feelings while they listened to our Lord’s exposition of Scripture. See Jer 20:9. (Luke 24) John
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Spurgeon - Morning and Evening - Luke 24:33,35 When the two disciples had reached Emmaus, and were refreshing themselves at the evening meal, the mysterious stranger who had so enchanted them upon the road, took bread and brake it, made himself known to them, and then vanished out of their sight. They had constrained him to abide with them, because the day was far spent; but now, although it was much later, their love was a lamp to their feet, yea, wings also; they forgot the darkness, their weariness was all gone, and forthwith they journeyed back the threescore furlongs to tell the gladsome news of a risen Lord, who had appeared to them by the way. They reached the Christians in Jerusalem, and were received by a burst of joyful news before they could tell their own tale. These early Christians were all on fire to speak of Christ's resurrection, and to proclaim what they knew of the Lord; they made common property of their experiences. This evening let their example impress us deeply. We too must bear our witness concerning Jesus. John's account of the sepulchre needed to be supplemented by Peter; and Mary could speak of something further still; combined, we have a full testimony from which nothing can be spared. We have each of us peculiar gifts and special manifestations; but the one object God has in view is the perfecting of the whole body of Christ. We must, therefore, bring our spiritual possessions and lay them at the apostle's feet, and make distribution unto all of what God has given to us. Keep back no part of the precious truth, but speak what you know, and testify what you have seen. Let not the toil or darkness, or possible unbelief of your friends, weigh one moment in the scale. Up, and be marching to the place of duty, and there tell what great things God has shown to your soul. Luke 24:34 saying, "The Lord has really risen and has appeared to Simon." Luke 22:54–62. Mark 16:7. 1 Co. 15:5. Luke 24:33-43 The Living Christ Dispels All Doubt - John MacArthur Luke 24:13-35 Disappointment and Hope - Steven Cole Luke 24:34 The Lord Has Risen Indeed - James MacDuff Luke 24 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Related Passage: Mark 16:7+ “But go, tell His disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see Him, just as He told you.’” UNBELIEF TURNS TO BELIEF Saying, "The Lord (kurios) has really risen and has appeared to Simon." - Before the two huffing and puffing disciples who have scurried back from Emmaus can shout "He is risen!" the eleven usurp them with the glorious news that Jesus had really risen. And they explain how they knew -- they had not seen Him yet themselves, but they believed Simon Peter's report. The only other mention of Jesus specifically appearing to Peter is by Paul who wrote that Jesus "appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve." (1 Cor 15:5+). THOUGHT - Think about this for a moment - the one who had denied Him three times, is the one to whom Jesus made His first public appearance. Peter experienced what David had penned "He restores my soul." (Ps 23:3) Have you backslidden? Have you denied Him? Have you become entangled in some heinous sin? Confess and repent and just as with Peter, He will be there for you and He will restore your soul. As Solomon wrote "He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper, But he who confesses and forsakes them will find compassion." (Pr 28:13+) The resurrection should motivate all saints to redeem the time and to live as if Christ died yesterday, arose this morning, and is coming back tomorrow! Let us go tell others "The Lord has really risen!" Has risen (1453)(egeiro) literally means to rise from sleep and metaphorically to rise from the dead (cf of Jesus' resurrection = Mt 27:63, 64, 28:6, 7, Mk 14:28, 16:6, 14, Lk 24:6, Jn 2:19, 22, Jn 21:14, Acts 3:15, 4:10, 5:30, 10:40, 13:30, 37, et al) Hendriksen reconstructs the drama of this scene - We picture it as follows: The two men, having completed their seven-mile trip—was it about 9 o'clock by now?—arrive at the door of the room in which The Eleven (and probably others with them) are gathered. When the door opens, they are ready to shout the news. But before they even get a chance they hear the blessed tiding, "The Lord has risen indeed and has appeared to Simon." Cf. I Cor. 15:5. Finally, they too get a chance to tell their story. What an asking and answering of questions! What ecstasy! What a foretaste of "joy unspeakable and full of glory"!A new beginning! Light in the darkness! Life conquering death! The Lord is risen indeed! Here all changes. The Cross, the very instrument of despair, becomes an object of glory. The resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead is the source of a living hope. Listen to the message of exuberant joy, praise, and thanksgiving. (Borrow Exposition of the Gospel of Luke) McGee on appeared to Simon - The Lord Jesus Christ appeared to Simon Peter privately because there was something that needed to be straightened out. Remember that Peter had denied Him. The restoration to fellowship was a personal and private transaction between Peter and his Lord. (Ibid) Robertson on appeared to Simon - This is the crucial evidence that turned the scales with the disciples and explains “indeed.” Paul also mentions it (1 Cor. 15:5+). NET Note on appeared to Simon - Jesus had made another appearance besides the one on the road. The excitement was rising. Simon refers to Simon Peter. Norman Crawford on Jesus' meeting with Simon - The silence about this meeting manifests the grace of the Lord to him. There are experiences with the Lord that are completely intimate and are not to be told in detail in public testimony. It is enough to know that Peter had the private meeting and all was right between him and the Lord he had denied.(What the Bible Teaches) Wiersbe on the two men on the road to Emmaus - The best evidence that we have understood the Bible and met the living Christ is that we have something exciting to share with others. The two men immediately left Emmaus and returned to Jerusalem to tell the believers that they had met Jesus. But when they arrived, the apostles and the others told them that Jesus was alive and had appeared to Peter! What a difference it would make in our church services if everybody who gathered came to tell about meeting the living Christ! If our services are “dead” it is probably because we are not really walking with and listening to the living Saviour. (Borrow Be courageous Luke 14-24) H A
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Spurgeon on peace - “About the Lord there were the air and style of one who had peace himself, and loved to communicate it to others. The tone in which he spake peace tended to create it. He was a peace-maker, and a peace-giver, and by this sign they were driven to discern their Leader.” (Exposition) Peace (eirene) be to you - Peace was used as a common oriental greeting which implies only a kind wish, and was a greeting or farewell corresponding to the Hebrew word Shalom - "peace to you". How often we say something similar to what Jesus said to them, but when Jesus says "Peace," He actually is able to give the disciples what the word means! "It is not a lovely-looking package that is empty inside but one that is filled with heavenly reality that is far more beautiful than the covering in which it is wrapped." (Lenski) Jesus is the Prince of Peace, the Source of peace, so when He says "Peace," it is powerful, for in Jn 14:27 He defines it as "My peace", a real, objective peace, not just a subjective feeling of peace, although the latter may well flow from the former! Can we not apply these truths to our struggles and trials and times of doubt, etc? Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever (Heb 13:8) and He still desires to declare to His disciples "Peace be to you," in circumstances which are anything but peaceful. Will you hear His words? Will you receive and rest in His offer of peace that passes all human understanding? (cf Php 4:7+). Perhaps, we have not because we ask not. Let us not hesitate to beseech Him to bestow on us the precious gift of "His peace." Martin Luther wrote that the resurrected Jesus "is no longer bound to bodily, visible, tangible, mundane substance, time, place, space, and the like, but wants to be known and believed as ruling by His power everywhere present, having the will to be with us and help us in all places and at all times, when and where we need it, unfettered and unhindered by the world and all its might." Spurgeon - That is usually his way; while we are talking about manifestations of Christ in the past, he often comes again among us, and gives us a new revelation of himself. (Exposition) Spurgeon - You see that, while they were talking about Christ, he came, and stood in their midst. Speak of your Master, and he will appear. Oh, happy people! who have but to talk of Jesus, and lo! he comes to them. (Exposition) J C Ryle on peace be to you - Peace be unto you.] I am quite unable to regard this expression as being nothing more than the ordinary salutation of courtesy. It seems to me to be full of deep and comfortable truth. It implied that the great battle was fought and the great victory won over the prince of this world, and peace with God obtained for man according to the old promise. It implied that our Lord came to His disciples with peaceful, gracious, and forgiving feelings, and with no resentment for their having forsaken Him. Let it be noted, that “peace” was the last word in the prophetical hymn of Zacharias,—“peace on earth,” part of the good news proclaimed by angels when Christ was born,—“peace” the proclamation which the seventy disciples were ordered to make in every house which they visited,—“peace” the legacy which our Lord left and gave to the apostles on the night before He was crucified,—and “peace” was the first word which He spoke when He appeared among them again after His resurrection. (Luke 1:79; 2:14; 10:5. John 14:27.) Peace, in short, is one main ingredient of the Gospel (Eph 6:15+). Every one of St. Paul’s epistles...begins with a gracious wish of “peace” to those to whom it is addressed. Stella has a long and excellent passage on this expression. (Luke 24) Peace (1515)(eirene from verb eiro = to join or bind together that which has been separated) literally pictures the binding or joining together again of that which had been separated or divided and thus setting at one again, a meaning convey by the common expression of one “having it all together”. It follows that peace is the opposite of division or dissension. Peace as a state of concord and harmony is the opposite of war.
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Spurgeon - In the apostles’ case the facts were tested to the utmost, and the truth was not admitted till it was forced upon them. I am not excusing, the unbelief of the disciples, but I claim that their witness has all the more weight in it, because it was the result of such cool investigation. (Exposition) And He said to them, "Why are you troubled - The first part of Jesus double question. Perhaps He would see their troubled state on their faces. And as noted below clearly He could read their minds, and the message was not inner "peace" but "disturbance." Luke had just mentioned one of the thoughts was that they thought Jesus was an apparition.
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Spurgeon - Morning and Evening - Luke 24:38 "Why sayest thou, O Jacob, and speakest O Israel, my way is hid from the Lord, and my judgment is passed over from my God?" The Lord cares for all things, and the meanest creatures share in his universal providence, but his particular providence is over his saints. "The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him." "Precious shall their blood be in his sight." "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints." "We know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them that are the called according to his purpose." Let the fact that, while he is the Saviour of all men, he is specially the Saviour of them that believe, cheer and comfort you. You are his peculiar care; his regal treasure which he guards as the apple of his eye; his vineyard over which he watches day and night. "The very hairs of your head are all numbered." Let the thought of his special love to you be a spiritual pain-killer, a dear quietus to your woe: "I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." God says that as much to you as to any saint of old. "Fear not, I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward." We lose much consolation by the habit of reading his promises for the whole church, instead of taking them directly home to ourselves. Believer, grasp the divine word with a personal, appropriating faith. Think that you hear Jesus say, "I have prayed for thee that thy faith fail not. " Think you see him walking on the waters of thy trouble, for he is there, and he is saying, "Fear not, it is I; be not afraid. " Oh, those sweet words of Christ! May the Holy Ghost make you feel them as spoken to you; forget others for awhile-accept the voice of Jesus as addressed to you, and say, "Jesus whispers consolation; I cannot refuse it; I will sit under his shadow with great delight. " In The Face Of Fear - Luke 24:38 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.” —Matthew 14:27 I’ll never forget my childhood fear that the clothes thrown on my chair would turn into a shadowy dragon-like figure after my bedroom lights were turned off. My early experience of fear-driven insomnia reminds me that when trouble arrives on the doorstep of life, fear is not our friend. It disables us from moving forward and causes us to shrink from doing what is right—unless we have our eyes fixed on Jesus. When the disciples faced the raging seas that were threatening to sweep them overboard, Jesus, walking on the water, assured them, “It is I; do not be afraid” (Matt. 14:27). And to His followers who were fearfully locked away in a room after His crucifixion, Jesus appeared and asked, “Why are you troubled? And why do doubts arise in your hearts?” (Luke 24:38). Recognizing the inevitability of trials, He said, “In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). The point is clear. Trusting in His presence and power is the antidote to fear. As the familiar hymn says, “Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face. And the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace” (Helen Howarth Lemmel. © Renewal 1950, H. H. Lemmel). We can rest peacefully in the knowledge that God is with us. Lord, in our weak and fearful moments, remind us that Your love for us guarantees Your presence with us and Your power against our fears. Teach us to trust in You. Trust the presence and power of Jesus in the midst of life’s storms. O Eyes That Are Weary Luke 24:39 "See My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself; touch Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have." Amplified See My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself! Feel and handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones, as you see that I have. NET Luke 24:39 Look at my hands and my feet; it's me! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones like you see I have." NLT Luke 24:39 Look at my hands. Look at my feet. You can see that it's really me. Touch me and make sure that I am not a ghost, because ghosts don't have bodies, as you see that I do." ESV Luke 24:39 See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have." NIV Luke 24:39 Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have." my hands: John 20:20,25,27 Ac 1:3 1Jn 1:1 for: Lu 23:46 Nu 16:22 Ec 12:7 1Th 5:23 Heb 12:9 Luke 24:33-43 The Living Christ Dispels All Doubt - John MacArthur Luke 24:36-43 Too Good to be True, But True! - Steven Cole Luke 24:36-44 First Appearance of the Risen Lord to the Eleven - C H Spurgeon Luke 24:36-44 The First Appearance of the Risen Lord to the Eleven Luke 24 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Related Passage: John 20:20 And when He had said this, He showed them both His hands and His side. The disciples then rejoiced when they saw the Lord. REACH OUT AND TOUCH JESUS There is an old 1987 commercial that says "Reach Out and Touch Someone." The idea was that there was someone who cared. Here we see the Good Shepherd calling His sheep to reach out and touch Him! Jesus cared enough for them (and for us) that He died an agonizing death, so we might be able to live an abundant life! (cf Jn 10:10b). We can't touch Him physically (not yet at least), but we can "stay in touch" with Him through His Word and prayer! John adds that Jesus showed them also his side (Jn 20:20), where the wound that had been left by the soldier's spear (Jn 19:34). See...touch...see - Here is a direct appeal to two senses, touch and sight. All three are commands in the aorist imperative calling for immediately response. While Luke does not say they actually touched Him, we can assume that they obeyed His clear commands. Lenski on hands...feet (and side) - Hands, feet, side—these bear the five holy wounds of his crucifixion. By them they know him to the exclusion of the least doubt. Jesus makes the disciples learn what a resurrection body is like: it is the body of the same person, the same body of that person, and yet both the person and the body are in a new and wonderful state. (The Interpretation of St. Luke's Gospel) G Campbell
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Spurgeon writes "This always seems to me to be one of the most remarkable of our Lord’s utterances while he was here upon the earth. His whole life was one of condescension, which was never more clearly manifested than it was when he, the Lord and Master of all, took the position of servant of all, and washed his disciples’ feet; yet he here tells us that, if he finds us watching when he comes again, he will once more take his place as our servitor." Warren Wiersbe agrees that "the remarkable thing in this story is that the master serves the servants! In Jewish weddings, the bride was treated like a queen and the groom like a king; so you would not expect the “king” to minister to his staff. Our King will minister to His faithful servants when He greets us at His return, and He will reward us for our faithfulness." (Borrow Be courageous Luke 14-24) That it is I Myself - Jesus tells them plainly that He was the one that they had ministered with for three years. Jesus' declaration that "it is I Myself" (autos egō eimi - see eimi for discussion of "ego eimi") is a Christological statement (cf. Lk 21:8; 22:70 ) that recalls for us the great I AM declaration of the Old Testament (Ex 3:14 which in the Septuagint is "ego eimi"; cf. also the "I am" statements in John's Gospel). In Jn 8:58 when Jesus said to the Jews who had professed belief in Him (Compare Jn 8:30, 31 with Jesus' own assessment of their "profession of belief" = Jn 8:45 - Point - There is a "belief" that DOES NOT save a soul. cf 2 Cor 13:5+) Henry
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Spurgeon - They knew those signs, the marks of his crucifixion. They ought to have been convinced at once that it was even he. (Exposition) Beloved, this section of Scripture is important because it is a preview of what awaits us in the future, for we as believers will have resurrection bodies just like Jesus' resurrected body (see Phil. 3:20-21; 1 John 3:2; 1 Cor. 15:35-44). Related Resource: Does Jesus have a physical body in heaven? David Reed - Mormons Answered Verse by Verse Luke 24:39 Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have. LDS Apostle LeGrand Richards quotes this verse to refute the idea that Jesus is “without body or form, so large that he fills the universe and so small that he dwells in each heart, as so many believe and as the churches teach” (A Marvelous Work And A Wonder, 1979 edition, pp. 18–19). But is that really what the churches teach? Not the Bible-believing ones. The bodily resurrection of Christ is one of the basic tenets of orthodox Christianity. No sound Christian church would describe him as “without body or form.” Rather, “in him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily” (Col. 2:9). Although he has a body of flesh and bones, the resurrected Christ is able to appear and disappear at will, with walls and locked doors serving as no obstacle to him (Luke 24:31, 36; John 20:19, 26). Although “we shall be like him” in the resurrection, “it doth not yet appear what we shall be” (1 John 3:2). God has not furnished us, in advance, much information about the resurrection body, except that it is “changed” from and superior to what we have now (1 Cor. 15:35–53). Moreover, when Christians believe “That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith” (Eph. 3:17), this does not require that he become so small that his body can fit inside a human heart. Although the Bible speaks of “this mystery … which is Christ in you” (Col. 1:27), it also explains that “God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father” (Gal. 4:6). He does not enter bodily into our hearts. While the Mormon argument presented above in connection with Luke 24:39 might shake someone with a nebulous concept of Christ, it should not prove troubling to Bible-believing Christians. (borrow Mormons : answered verse by verse) That Eastertide with Joy Was Bright Luke 24:40 And when He had said this, He showed them His hands and His feet. Does Jesus have a physical body in heaven? Luke 24:33-43 The Living Christ Dispels All Doubt - John MacArthur Luke 24:36-43 Too Good to be True, But True! - Steven Cole Luke 24:40 The Wounds of Jesus - C H Spurgeon Luke 24:36-44 First Appearance of the Risen Lord to the Eleven - C H Spurgeon Luke 24:36-44 The First Appearance of the Risen Lord to the Eleven Luke 24 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries THE MARKS OF THE NEW COVENANT FOREVER ON HIS GLORIFIED BODY! NET Note - Some Western MSS (D it) lack Luke 24:40. However, it is present in all other MSS, including î(75), and should thus be regarded as an original part of Luke's Gospel. And when He had said this, He showed (deiknuo) them His hands and His feet - The old saying is "Seeing is believing," but notice the first part of the next verse "while they still could not believe it." So seeing did not yet totally convince them. Notice He had commanded them to touch Him, but Luke does not state whether they actually did touch Him. In any case they were still not absolutely certain He was not a "spirit." In John 20:20 we read "And when He had said this (“Peace be with you.”- Jn 20:19), He showed them both His hands and His side. The disciples then rejoiced when they saw the Lord." Clearly at some point they touched Jesus (but recall they were with Him 40 days before ascending - Acts 1:3). For example, John records "What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands (of course this could refer to the preceding 3 years with Jesus), concerning the Word of Life." (1 Jn 1:1) Showed (1166)(deiknuo gives us English deictic) means to show something that can be apprehended by the senses, making clear by evidence, in this case the scars in His hands and feet. Friberg - (1) as drawing attention to something point out, show, cause to see (Acts 7.3); (2) as exhibiting something show, cause to be seen (Jn 2.18); (3) as indicating something verbally teach, explain, demonstrate (Acts 10.28) Deiknuo - 11v - Matt. 4:8; Matt. 8:4; Matt. 16:21; Mk. 1:44; Mk. 14:15; Lk. 4:5; Lk. 5:14; Lk. 20:24; Lk. 22:12; Lk. 24:40; Jn. 2:18; Jn. 5:20; Jn. 10:32; Jn. 14:8; Jn. 14:9; Jn. 20:20; Acts 7:3; Acts 10:28; 1 Co. 12:31; 1 Tim. 6:15; Heb. 8:5; Jas. 2:18; Jas. 3:13; Rev. 1:1; Rev. 4:1; Rev. 17:1; Rev. 21:9; Rev. 21:10; Rev. 22:1; Rev. 22:6; Rev. 22:8 John
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Spurgeon - Luke 24:40 The Wounds of Jesus There are three things in Christ that death never met with before, all of which are fatal to it. There was in Christ, innocence. Now, as long as man was innocent, he could not die. Adam lived as long as he was innocent. Now, Christ was about to die; but death sucked in innocent blood; he sucked in his own poison and he died. Again, blessedness is that which takes away the sting of death. Now Christ, even when he was dying, was “God over all, blessed for ever.” All that death had ever killed before was under the curse; but this man was never by nature under the curse, because for our sakes he was not born into this world a cursed man. He was the seed of woman it is true, but still not of carnal generation. He did come under the curse when he took upon himself our sins, but not for his own sins. He was in himself blessed. Death sucked in blessed blood; he had never done that before—all others have been under the curse—and that slew death. Yet another thing. Death had never met before with any man who had life in himself. But when death drank Christ’s blood it drank life. For his blood is the life of the soul, and is the seed of life eternal. Wherever it goes, does it not give life to the dead? And death, finding that it had drunk into its own veins life in the form of Jesus’ blood, gave up the ghost; and death itself is dead, for Christ has destroyed it, by the sacrifice of himself; he has put it away; he has said, “Oh death, where is thy sting? Oh grave, where is thy victory?” (1Co 15:55) Luke 24:41 While they still could not believe it because of their joy and amazement, He said to them, "Have you anything here to eat?" believe : Ge 45:26-28 Job 9:16 Ps 126:1,2 Joh 16:22 Have: Joh 21:5,10-13 Does Jesus have a physical body in heaven? Luke 24:33-43 The Living Christ Dispels All Doubt - John MacArthur Luke 24:36-43 Too Good to be True, But True! - Steven Cole Luke 24:36-44 First Appearance of the Risen Lord to the Eleven - C H Spurgeon Luke 24:36-44 The First Appearance of the Risen Lord to the Eleven Luke 24:41 Too Good to Be True—A Paradox - C H Spurgeon Luke 24:41-45 Joy Hindering Faith - C H Spurgeon Luke 24 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE! While they still (present tense - continually) could not believe it - Still is in a sense a "time phrase." After all the witnesses and now even the ultimate witness of His body before them. Still they could not! We've all experienced receiving good news of something when we had expected bad news and our first reflex is "This is too good to be true!" Not believe (569)(apisteo from a = without + pistós = believing, faithful) means literally without believing. To disbelieve, to doubt. Perhaps they still did not "trust" their eyes! Robertson on could not believe - a quite understandable attitude. They were slowly re-convinced, but it was after all too good to be true. Geldenhuys comments that "Their joy was so great that for a moment it was even an impediment to their faith." NET Note - They still could not believe it. Is this a continued statement of unbelief? Or is it a rhetorical expression of their amazement? They are being moved to faith, so a rhetorical force is more likely here. John
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Spurgeon - Luke 24:41 Too Good to Be True—A Paradox If you should see tomorrow a heavy shower of rain, you would not believe, I suppose, that it was made with a watering-can; and if you saw the Thames swollen to its banks from a great flood, you would not believe that the London waterworks had filled it to the brim. ‘No,’ say you, ‘this is God at work in nature. The greatness of the work proves that God is here.’ If you were ever in Cambridge, you might have seen a little mountain which is so small nobody knows how it was made. Some say it is artificial; some say it is natural. Now, I have never heard any dispute about the Alps; nobody ever said that they were artificial. I never heard of any disputation about the Himalayas; no one ever conjectured that human hands piled them up to the skies and clothed them with their hoary snows. So, when I read of the mercies of God in Christ, reaching up like mountains to heaven, I am sure they must be divine. I am certain the revelation must come from God; it must be true; it is self-evidential. I might enlarge this argument by showing that God’s works in creation are very great, and therefore it would be idle to think that there would be no great works in grace. Two works which have been made by the same artist always have some characteristics which enable you to see that the same artist made them. In like manner, to us there is one God; creation and redemption have but one author; the same eternal power and Godhead are legibly inscribed on both. Now when I look at the sea, and hear it roaring in the fulness thereof, I see a great artist there. And when my soul surveys the ocean of grace, and listens to the echoes of its motion as the sound of many waters, I see the same Almighty artist. When I see a great sinner saved, then I think I see the same Master-hand which first formed man. My Lord - Luke 24:40-41 Read: John 20:19-29 | Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!” —John 20:28 On the day of His resurrection, Jesus appeared to His disciples and showed them His hands and feet. We are told that at first they could not believe for joy—it appeared too wonderful to be true (Luke 24:40-41). Thomas was not with the disciples, but he also had trouble believing until he saw for himself. When Jesus appeared to Thomas and told him to put his fingers in the nail holes and his hand in His side, Thomas cried, “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28). Later, as Paul told the Philippians of his own suffering, he also declared Jesus as Lord. He testified that he had come to the place where he considered all his experiences as loss “for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord” (Phil. 3:8). You and I have never seen Jesus calm a storm or raise someone from the dead. We haven’t sat at His feet on a Galilean hillside and heard Him teach. But through eyes of faith we have been spiritually healed by His death on our behalf. Thus we can join Thomas and Paul and countless others in acknowledging Jesus as our Lord. See, from His head, His hands, His feet, Sorrow and love flow mingled down; Did e’er such love and sorrow meet, Or thorns compose so rich a crown? —Watts Though we cannot see Him with our eyes, we can believe with our heart—He is Lord! Luke 24:42 They gave Him a piece of a broiled fish; Does Jesus have a physical body in heaven? How does the Bible describe the glorified bodies we will possess in Heaven? Luke 24:33-43 The Living Christ Dispels All Doubt - John MacArthur Luke 24:36-43 Too Good to be True, But True! - Steven Cole Luke 24:36-44 First Appearance of the Risen Lord to the Eleven - C H Spurgeon Luke 24:36-44 The First Appearance of the Risen Lord to the Eleven Luke 24:41-45 Joy Hindering Faith - C H Spurgeon Luke 24 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries BROILED FISH FOR THE CHIEF FISHER OF MEN They gave Him a piece of a broiled fish - Literal physical food to a literal Jesus. Even as He ascended as a literal being, He is now in Heaven as a glorified Being, the difference being that now His body manifests the scars (prints) of His crucifixion, scars that will endure eternally as testimony to His everlasting covenant of peace with all who have entered that new covenant by grace through faith. Hallelujah. Notice John's description of Jesus in heaven... And I saw between the throne (with the four living creatures) and the elders a Lamb standing, as if slain (sphazo), having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God, sent out into all the earth. (Rev 5:6+) The verb slain is in the perfect tense - He was slain in the past on Calvary and the evidence and effect of His atoning death will last forever! Luke 24:43 and He took it and ate it before them. Luke 24:33-43 The Living Christ Dispels All Doubt - John MacArthur Luke 24:36-43 Too Good to be True, But True! - Steven Cole Luke 24:36-44 First Appearance of the Risen Lord to the Eleven - C H Spurgeon Luke 24:36-44 The First Appearance of the Risen Lord to the Eleven Luke 24:41-45 Joy Hindering Faith - C H Spurgeon Luke 24 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Related Resources: John 21:13-15 (POST-RESURRECTION APPEARANCE IN GALILEE) Jesus came and took the bread and *gave it to them, and the fish likewise. 14 This is now the third time that Jesus was manifested to the disciples, after He was raised from the dead. 15 So when they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these?” He *said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He *said to him, “Tend My lambs.” Acts 10:40-41+ (APOSTLE PETER'S EYEWITNESS TESTIMONY) God raised Him up on the third day and granted that He become visible,not to all the people, but to witnesses who were chosen beforehand by God, that is, to us who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead. JESUS ABLE TO EAT IN RESURRECTED BODY And He took it and ate it before them - Compare John 21:13–15; Acts 10:41. In sight of them. In front of them to show He was not a phantom or "ghost." This deferential act by Jesus was so that the doubting "Thomas's" among them (the real doubting Thomas would see Jesus a week later) would see this act as proof that He had a physical body. NLT paraphrases "as they watched." The point is that not only does it demonstrate Jesus had a real body but that this was the same Jesus, doing something with them that He did many times before. J C Ryle on ate it before them - The speculative questions raised on this circumstance, about the capacity of our Lord’s resurrection body really to eat and really to drink, are most unprofitable and vain Let it suffice us to believe that it was a real eating and drinking, and not a mere optical delusion, or apparent eating and drinking, as some have ventured to insinuate. We need not inquire further. That it was so, Peter’s words in another place appear to prove plainly. (Acts 10:41.) The same remarks apply to the eating of the angels who appeared to Abraham. (Gen. 18:8.) (Luke 24) Before (1799)(enopion from en = in + ops = the eye/see [cp optanomai = see, perceive with eyes, look at, implying not only the mere act of seeing but actual perception of what one sees]) means literally in sight, in front of, in the presence of. Spurgeon - That was proof positive that he was still composed of flesh and bones, a real person, and no phantom. (Exposition) And so we see that Jesus present the disciples clear evidence that He had been resurrected, for this truth was the crux of the message they would carry from Jerusalem to Judea and Samaria and to the remotest parts of the earth. John
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Spurgeon - Notice the seals which our Lord continually set upon the Old Testament, the manner in which he always treated the Scripture, the reverent way in which he confessed its infallibility, and his determination that, in every item, every jot and tittle, it should be fulfilled by himself. This was often manifested before his death; and, on his return from the grave, he had not changed his mind. He here speaks of the three great parts into which the Old Testament was divided by the Jews, and he expressly sets the seal of his royal assent upon “the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms.” May we, in like manner, prize the whole-inspired Word! (Exposition)
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Spurgeon - Good Master, do the same with us tonight! (Exposition) Henry Morris on open minds to understand - The Bible is not like any other book. While it is easy enough to be understood by the sincere and diligent believer, it is often incomprehensible foolishness to the unbeliever, for "the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: … they are spiritually discerned" (1 Corinthians 2:14). When Christ, by His indwelling Holy Spirit, opens our understanding, only then do we "understand the scriptures." Understand (put together, mentally comprehend) (4920)(suniemi from sun/syn = with + hiemi = send) (related noun sunesis) literally means to send together or bring together. The idea is to put together "pieces of the puzzle" (so to speak) and to exhibit quick comprehension. Suniemi is the manifestation of the ability to understand concepts and see relationships between them and thus describes the exercise of the faculty of comprehension, intelligence, acuteness, shrewdness. Suniemi is in the present tense which "points to a continuous and thus lasting understanding. This means that the disciples now saw that the Old Testament stated prophetically the very things they had witnessed and were now witnessing." (Lenski) Keep on putting together the pieces until you see Jesus. We'll never graduate from Spirituality 101 on this earth. Matthew
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Spurgeon - Luke 24:45 He whom we viewed last evening as opening Scripture, we here perceive opening the understanding. In the first work he has many fellow-labourers, but in the second he stands alone; many can bring the Scriptures to the mind, but the Lord alone can prepare the mind to receive the Scriptures. Our Lord Jesus differs from all other teachers; they reach the ear, but he instructs the heart; they deal with the outward letter, but he imparts an inward taste for the truth, by which we perceive its savour and spirit. The most unlearned of men become ripe scholars in the school of grace when the Lord Jesus by his Holy Spirit unfolds the mysteries of the kingdom to them, and grants the divine anointing by which they are enabled to behold the invisible. Happy are we if we have had our understandings cleared and strengthened by the Master! How many men of profound learning are ignorant of eternal things! They know the killing letter of revelation, but its killing spirit they cannot discern; they have a veil upon their hearts which the eyes of carnal reason cannot penetrate. Such was our case a little time ago; we who now see were once utterly blind; truth was to us as beauty in the dark, a thing unnoticed and neglected. Had it not been for the love of Jesus we should have remained to this moment in utter ignorance, for without his gracious opening of our understanding, we could no more have attained to spiritual knowledge than an infant can climb the Pyramids, or an ostrich fly up to the stars. Jesus' College is the only one in which God's truth can be really learned; other schools may teach us what is to be believed, but Christ's alone can show us how to believe it. Let us sit at the feet of Jesus, and by earnest prayer call in his blessed aid that our dull wits may grow brighter, and our feeble understandings may receive heavenly things. Richard Mayhue - Turning On the Light Scripture tells us that we need God's help to understand God's Word. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we may know the things freely given to us by God, which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words (1 Cor. 2:12-13). Theologians call this 'illumination.' We use the expressions, 'It just dawned on me' or 'The light just came on' to describe darkened thoughts which later take on new understanding. God's Spirit does that for us with Scripture. One of my favourite and most often uttered prayers as I study Scripture is, 'Open my eyes, that I may behold wonderful things from Your law' (Ps. 119:18). It acknowledges that I need God's light in Scripture. So do verses like, 'Teach me, O LORD, the way of Your statutes, and I shall observe it to the end. Give me understanding, that I may observe Your law, and keep it with all my heart' (vv. 33-34; see also v. 102). God wants us to know and understand and obey. So He gives us all the help we need through His Holy Spirit. We, like the men to whom Jesus spoke on the road to Emmaus, need God's help: 'Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures' (Luke 24:45). Baffled? He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures. —Luke 24:45 Read it three times.” That was the advice William Faulkner gave when readers of his novel The Sound And The Fury complained that they couldn’t understand it. That’s good counsel. Some books require a first reading, a second reading, and still another reading before they yield their meaning. If we believe that a book has value, we may be willing to spend time and effort in deciphering and grasping its message. Faulkner’s advice surely can be applied to passages in the Bible that initially puzzle and perplex us. After all, the apostle Peter commented that Paul’s letters contained some things that are “hard to understand” (2 Pet. 3:16). While some concepts may be difficult, they’re not impossible to comprehend. But suppose you encounter texts that continue to baffle you even though you read them over and over. What then? Ask the Lord to open your understanding (Lk. 24:45; 1 Cor. 2:10-16). Consult a commentary. Ask your pastor. If no light dawns, temporarily set those passages aside. Then wait patiently for the Holy Spirit to illuminate what may be baffling to you now. As you grow in grace, you will also grow in understanding. Meanwhile, put into practice the teachings you do understand. Open my eyes that I may see Glimpses of truth Thou hast for me; Place in my hands the wonderful key That shall unclasp and set me free. —Scott To understand the Word of God, Rely on the Spirit of God. J C Philpot on Luke 24:45 - Blessed opening, when He that hath the key of David puts in His hand by the hole of the door, and opens our heart to receive His own word. Then when we go to the Word of Truth, after it has come to us, our fingers drop with sweet-smelling myrrh upon the handles of the lock. It is said that “the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God, and they that hear shall live” (John 5:25). O, to hear the voice of the Son of God in our hearts! Surely it shall make our dead hearts, cold frames, withering hopes, drooping love, dying faith, languishing prayers, and fainting minds live; yea, revive as the corn and grow as the vine. What is all religion without a divine beginning, middle, and end, commencing, carried on, and accomplished with a heavenly power, supernatural life, and spiritual unction? Well may we be ashamed and sick of, and sorry for all our thoughts, words, and works, all our knowledge and profession that have not stood, or do not stand, in the power, teaching, and wisdom of God. All our talk has been but vain babbling, our prayers lip-service, our preaching wind and vanity, our profession hyprocisy, our knowledge the worst kind of ignorance, and all our religion carnality or delusion, if they have not been divinely communicated. Sir Isaac Newton, the wisest philosopher, is said to have remarked to one who congratulated him on his knowledge, “I have been like a little child on the sea-shore taking up a little water in a shell when the vast ocean of truth lay undiscovered before me.” Much more may a spiritual man feel how little, how nothing he knows of the unsearchable riches of Christ, and the boundless stores of wisdom hid in them. ILLUMINATION Illumination is the act of making understood, a lighting up or supplying with light, infusion of intellectual light; an enlightening of the mind by spiritual light. Simply put, illumination in the spiritual sense is “turning on the light” of understanding in some area. Adrian Rogers - You can have a divinely inspired Bible in your hand and not understand it apart from (divine) illumination. Martin Luther - If God does not open and explain Holy Writ, no one can understand it; it will remain a closed book, enveloped in darkness....Proper understanding of the Scriptures comes only through the Holy Spirit. Tozer - The Bible is a supernatural book and can be understood only by supernatural aid. Vanhoozer “The Spirit’s work in interpretation is not to change the sense [of scripture] but to restore us to our senses” ENLIGHTENMENT - the giving of spiritual insight, freeing from ignorance and misinformation. (See Job 33:30, Ps 19:8) Spurgeon - All the illumination in the world will not make a man see spiritual things unless the Holy Spirit opens his eyes Spurgeon - The best interpreter of a book is generally the man who wrote it. The Holy Spirit wrote the Scriptures. Go to him to get their meaning, and you will not be misled. John
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Spurgeon - If you do not understand a book by a departed writer you are unable to ask him his meaning, but the Spirit, Who inspired Holy Scripture, lives forever, and He delights to open the Word to those who seek His instruction” Alexander
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Spurgeon - Oh, that Thy words, like the beams of the sun, may enter through the window of my understanding, and dispel the darkness of my mind!
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Spurgeon - God, by his Spirit, brings old truth home to the heart, gives new light to our eyes, and causes the word to exercise new power over us, but He reveals no new facts, and He utters no words in any man’s ears concerning his condition and state. We must be content with the old revelation and with the life and power and force with which the Holy Spirit brings it to the heart. Neither must any of us seek to have any additional revelation, for that would imply that the Scriptures are incomplete. Order out of Chaos (Tony Evans) – In Genesis 1:2 the Spirit hovered over “the surface of the waters.”Ge 1:3 God said, “Let there be light.” Light was not present until the Spirit of God hovered. Why is that important? When the Spirit of God hovers and the Word of God speaks, order comes out of chaos. That’s what happened in creation. The earth was “formless and void” before the Spirit and the light came (Genesis 1:2). Does your life ever feel formless and void? Ever feel empty, chaotic in your life? Guess when you move from chaos to order? You do so when the Word of God is mixed with the hovering Spirit. That’s not just reading your Bible; that’s asking God to illumine what you read and submitting your heart to it. Then God brings order out of chaos. Behold that Spirit of the Lord, who first of all moved upon chaos, and brought forth order; who now visits the chaos of your soul, and creates the order of holiness. Behold him as the Lord and giver of spiritual life, the Illuminator, the Instructor, the Comforter, and the Sanctifier. QUOTES ON ILLUMINATION The Word is the chariot of the Spirit, the Spirit the Guider of the Word.--Stephen Charnock Warren
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Spurgeon - And he said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in the name of all nations, beginning in Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses of these things. And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high. And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them. And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven. And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy: and were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen. (Exposition) MacArthur on rise again from the dead on the third day - The resurrection was not mythological, or legendary; it was not a mystical or spiritual idea, but an event that happened in real, space-time history (cf. 1 Cor. 15:3-8). In fact, there is no better attested fact or event in ancient history than the resurrection of Jesus Christ. J C Ryle exhorts us to "ever glory in the cross of Christ (Gal 6:14+). Let us regard it as the source of all our hopes, and the foundation of all our peace. Ignorance and unbelief may see nothing in the sufferings of Calvary but the cruel martyrdom of an innocent person. Faith will look far deeper. Faith will see in the death of Jesus the payment of man’s enormous debt to God, and the complete salvation of all who believe." (Luke 24) Related Resources: Predictions, Reminders, and Proofs of the Death and Resurrection of Jesus in the Gospel of Luke Why is the truth of the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ so important? Why is the resurrection of Jesus Christ important? When will the Resurrection take place? Why does it matter that Jesus rose from the dead? Why should I believe in Christ's resurrection? Is the resurrection of Jesus Christ true? What is more important, the death of Christ or His resurrection? Michael Ryedelnik - Jesus and the Message of the Old Testament Plainly, Jesus considered the central message of the Old Testament to be messianic. Jesus revealed His view of Old Testament messianic prophecy in two postresurrection encounters: teaching the two disciples on the Emmaus Road (Luke 24:25-27), and teaching "the Eleven" gathered in Jerusalem (Luke 24:44-46). On those two occasions, it was Luke's intention to demonstrate that Jesus understood the Old Testament to point to the Messiah. It is evident in Jesus' emphasis on the word "all" in both those encounters that He believed the entire Old Testament predicted the Messiah. Jesus rebuked the men on the road to Emmaus for being slow to believe in "all that the prophets have spoken" (epi pasin hois elalēsan hoi prophētai, Luke 24:25). He explained the Scriptures about the Messiah beginning with Moses and "all the Prophets" (pantōn tōn prophētōn, Luke 24:27). He interpreted the message about the Messiah "in all the Scriptures" (en pasais tais graphais, Luke 24:27). He affirmed that He had to fulfill "everything written about Me" (panta ta gegrammena... peri emou) in the Law, the Prophets, and the Writings (Luke 24:44). Jesus' emphasis on "all" shows that He saw the Messiah not merely in occasional isolated texts but in all the Scriptures. As Ellison observed, based on this passage, "The whole Old Testament, and not merely an anthology of proof passages, was looked on as referring to Christ Jesus." In reviewing these two encounters, two concepts become evident. First, Jesus believed that the messianic prophecies were sufficiently clear that the two disciples on the Emmaus Road should have understood their meaning. He chided them, "How unwise and slow you are to believe in your hearts all that the prophets have spoken!" (Luke 24:25). The implication was that the disciples should have recognized the events of the crucifixion and the reports of the resurrection as fulfillments of Old Testament prophecies. The prophecies were not so unclear that the disciples could be excused for their failure to understand. He did not say, "O poor men of faith, you could not understand what the prophets had spoken of me because they had not yet been given their full sense of meaning, their sensus plenior, until this very moment as I am explaining them to you!" As A. T. Robertson said, "Jesus found himself in the Old Testament, a thing that some modern scholars do not seem to be able to do." A second truth evident from these two encounters is that Jesus believed spiritual insight was necessary to understand messianic prophecy. "He opened their mind to understand the Scriptures" (Luke 24:45), demonstrating that divine enlightenment was essential to an accurate understanding of messianic prophecy. In addition to diligent study of messianic texts, the disciples could not understand messianic prophecy without divine enablement. (See The Messianic Hope: Is the Hebrew Bible Really Messianic?) Good Enough? It was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead. —Luke 24:46 I was 17 when I first examined the gospel. Not that I felt I needed to, mind you. I was a churchgoer, a do-gooder, and above all I was sincere. But I had met some Christian teenagers who had something I didn’t have, and I was curious. Two things troubled me. First was their stress on sin and repentance. I had always compared myself favorably with those I considered to be mega-sinners—murderers, gangsters, and the like—making me feel more grateful than sinful. A second thing that bothered me about these Christians was their insistence that Jesus had to die and rise again. Well, He didn’t need to go to such extremes for me, I thought. Then one evening God prompted me to compare myself with Him. I realized my sinfulness, and I eagerly repented! At last I appreciated the necessity of Christ’s death and resurrection. If sin’s penalty didn’t fall on us, where else could it fall? Calvary was the only place. In His immeasurable love, Jesus did what was necessary (Lk. 24:46). Dying, He allowed sin’s penalty to fall on Him. Rising, He became our living Savior to overcome sin’s power in us. You don’t have to take my word for it, of course. But have you taken His? I know I'm a sinner and Christ is my need; His death is my ransom, no merit I plead; His work is sufficient, on Him I believe; I have life eternal when Him I receive. —Anon. If you say, "I'm no worse than the rest," you still fail God's test. No Other Way It was necessary for the Christ to suffer. —Luke 24:46 Have you ever had an argument with God? My friend David did. Although he was a Christian, he questioned God’s justice in allowing His innocent Son Jesus to be so cruelly punished on behalf of guilty people. As David tried to make sense out of Christ’s horrible death on the cross, he became extremely agitated. One day as he cried out, “Why?” God comforted his troubled mind with this thought: It was the only way! Peter, one of our Lord’s disciples, had a similar struggle understanding God’s purposes. He knew that Jesus was “the Christ of God” (Lk. 9:20), but he rebuked Him when He began teaching that He would suffer, be killed, and rise again (Mk. 8:31-32). Peter couldn’t accept such an injustice happening to the sinless Christ. In response, Jesus rebuked Peter because he had unknowingly expressed a satanic outlook. He was thinking as man thinks, not as God thinks (v.33). Jesus knew that His death was necessary to provide forgiveness, for “without shedding of blood there is no remission” (Heb. 9:22). On the cross Jesus paid the penalty for our sins, but He did it willingly out of love for you and me. Although His terrible death was totally undeserved, there was no other way He could save us. Have you thanked Him today? Christ paid a debt He didn't owe to cancel a debt we couldn't pay. Luke 24:47 and that repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. BGT Luke 24:47 καὶ κηρυχθῆναι ἐπὶ τῷ ὀνόματι αὐτοῦ μετάνοιαν εἰς ἄφεσιν ἁμαρτιῶν εἰς πάντα τὰ ἔθνη. ἀρξάμενοι ἀπὸ Ἰερουσαλὴμ KJV Luke 24:47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. NET Luke 24:47 and repentance for the forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. CSB Luke 24:47 and repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning at Jerusalem. ESV Luke 24:47 and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. NIV Luke 24:47 and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. NLT Luke 24:47 It was also written that this message would be proclaimed in the authority of his name to all the nations, beginning in Jerusalem: 'There is forgiveness of sins for all who repent.' NRS Luke 24:47 and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. YLT Luke 24:47 and reformation and remission of sins to be proclaimed in his name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem: GWN Luke 24:47 Scripture also says that by the authority of Jesus people would be told to turn to God and change the way they think and act so that their sins will be forgiven. This would be told to people from all nations, beginning in the city of Jerusalem. NKJ Luke 24:47 "and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. NAB Luke 24:47 and that repentance, for the forgiveness of sins, would be preached in his name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. MIT Luke 24:47 and that repentance as a condition for the forgiveness of sins will be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. NJB Luke 24:47 and that, in his name, repentance for the forgiveness of sins would be preached to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. ASV Luke 24:47 and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name unto all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. DBY Luke 24:47 and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name to all the nations beginning at Jerusalem. BBE Luke 24:47 And that teaching about a change of heart and forgiveness of sins is to be given to Jerusalem first and to all nations in his name. that : Da 9:24 Mt 3:2 9:13 Ac 2:38 3:19 5:31 11:18 13:38,39,46 Ac 17:30,31 20:21 26:20 1Jn 2:12 among (KJV): Ge 12:3 Ps 22:27 67:2-4,7 86:9 98:1-3 117:1-2 Isa 2:1-3 11:10 Isa 49:6,22 52:10,15 60:1-3 66:18-21 Jer 31:34 Ho 2:23 Mic 4:2 Mal 1:11 Mt 8:10,11 Ac 10:46-48 18:5,6 28:28 Ro 10:12-18 Ro 15:8-16 Eph 3:8 Col 1:27 beginning (KJV): Lu 13:34 Isa 5:4 Ho 11:8 Mt 10:5,6 Ac 3:25,26 13:46 Ro 5:20 Ro 11:26,27 Eph 1:6 Luke 24:44–49 The Great Commission: Proclaiming Forgiveness to the World, Part 1 - John MacArthur Luke 24:44–49 The Great Commission: Proclaiming Forgiveness to the World, Part 2 - John MacArthur Luke 24:44-49 Our Mission and How to Fulfill It - Steven Cole Luke 24:47 Beginning at Jerusalem - C H Spurgeon Luke 24:47 Christ's First and Last Subject - C H Spurgeon Luke 24:47 Repentance and Remission - C H Spurgeon Repentance - J C Ryle Luke 24 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Amplified And that repentance [with a view to and as the condition of] forgiveness of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. THE GREAT COMMISSION LUKE'S VERSION And that... - Clearly this opening signifies that this verse is intimately associated with the previous passage and specifically with the words "Thus it is written..." (Lk 24:46), the writing Jesus refers to including His words in this passage. And so the NET Note observes that the "Three Greek infinitives are the key to this summary: (1) to suffer, (Lk 24:46) (2) to rise, (Lk 24:46) and (3) to be preached (Lk 24:47). The Christ (Messiah) would be slain, would be raised, and a message about repentance would go out into all the world as a result. All of this was recorded in the scripture. The remark shows the continuity between Jesus’ ministry, the scripture, and what disciples would be doing as they declared the Lord risen. NET Note on repentance - This repentance has its roots in declarations of the Old Testament. It is the Hebrew concept of a turning of direction. Leon
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Spurgeon has an excellent sermon called, “Christ’s First and Last Subject” (Or listen to the audio version) in which he points out that Jesus began His ministry preaching, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Mt 4:17) and He ends it by telling the disciples to proclaim repentance (Lk 24:47). Thus repentance is the keynote of His ministry. Some argue that to preach repentance to sinners is to add works to faith alone. They say that all that is necessary for salvation is to believe in Christ; repentance may come later, but we cannot demand it before faith. Others define repentance as simply changing one’s mind about Christ. Before the person did not think that Jesus was God; when he repents, he changes his mind to thinking that He is God. Both of these views are inadequate. Repentance means to turn to God from our sin. It is not separate from saving faith, but it is the flip side of saving faith, so that it is often used interchangeably for it (here; Ac 2:38; Ac 3:19; Ac 5:31; Ac 11:18; Ac 20:21; Ac 26:18, Ac 26:20). Spurgeon (in the sermon mentioned) draws out four aspects of true repentance: illumination, where God opens our eyes to the horrible enormity of our sin; humiliation, where we lay aside our pride in our own merit and plead with God for mercy; detestation, where we begin to hate our sin; and, transformation, where we leave the sin we formerly loved, not just outwardly, but in our hearts. While God imparts repentance and saving faith at the point of salvation, we do not leave it there. It is a lifelong process for the believer. As J. C.
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Spurgeon - They were told by their great Master what to preach, and where to preach it, and how to preach it, and even where to begin to preach it.” Would be proclaimed (preached) (2784)(kerusso from kerux/keryx = a herald - one who acts as the medium of the authority of one who proclamation he makes; kerugma = the thing preached or the message) means to proclaim (publicly) or to herald or act as a public crier - the town official who would make a proclamation in a public gathering. Kerusso was used of the official whose duty it was to proclaim loudly and extensively the coming of an earthly king, even as our gospel is to clearly announce the coming of the King of kings and Lord of lords (Rev 19:16+)! The Imperial Herald would enter a town in behalf of the Emperor, and make a public proclamation of the message which his Sovereign ordered him to give, doing so with such formality, gravity, and authority as to emphasize that the message must be heeded! (Think about this in regard to the Gospel of God instead of the decree of a man! cf 1Th 2:13+). He gave the people exactly what the Emperor bade him give, nothing more, nothing less. He did not dare add to the message or take away from it. Should this not be the example and pattern every preacher and teacher of the holy gospel of God seeks and strives to emulate, yea, even doing so with fear and trembling! ("not as pleasing men but God, who examines our hearts" see 1Th 2:4+) Kerusso is used of the public proclamation of the gospel and matters pertaining to it as proclaimed by John the Baptist, Jesus, the apostles and other Christian teachers. An unexpected group of preachers were some of those whom the miracles of Jesus touched. A cleansed leper told his tale of healing far and wide (Mark 1:44-45+). When a demon-possessed man was released, he proclaimed the glories of Christ throughout the whole city (Mark 5:19-20+). In the New Testament, from John the Baptist to the establishment of an Apostolic church, preaching was the main means of communicating the Christian message. This gives validity to the preaching ministry today. J C Ryle on in His Name - This expression is the leading one in the whole sentence (ED: LITERAL ORDER IS "And preach upon the Name His"). It signifies, “By the authority of Christ,” and “Through the merit and mediation of Christ.” Both ideas are included. (Luke 24) Steven
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Spurgeon - Matthew 4:17. Luke 24:47 Christ's First and Last Subject If you are renewed by grace, and were to meet your old self, I am sure you would be very anxious to get out of his company. “No,” say you, “No, sir, I cannot accompany you.” “Why, you used to swear!” “I cannot now.” “Well, but,” says he, “You and I are very near companions.” “Yes, I know we are, and I wish we were not. You are a deal of trouble to me every day. I wish I could be rid of you for ever.” “But,” says Old Self, “you used to drink very well.” “Yes, I know it. I know you did, indeed, Old Self. You could sing a song as merrily as any one. You were ringleader in all sorts of vice, but I am no relation of yours now. You are of the old Adam, and I of the new Adam. You are of your old father, the devil; but I have another—my Father, who is in heaven.” I tell you, brethren, there is no man in the world you will hate so much as your old self, and there will be nothing you will so much long to get rid of as that old man who once was dragging you down to hell, and who will try his hand at it over and over again every day you live, and who will accomplish it yet, unless that divine grace which has made you a new man shall keep you a new man even to the end. Good Rowland Hill, in his “Village Dialogues,” gives the Christian, whom he describes in the first part of the book, the name of Thomas Newman. Every man who goes to heaven must have the name of new-man. We must not expect to enter there unless we are created anew in Christ Jesus. Luke 24:47 Beginning at Jerusalem - C H Spurgeon The Lord Jesus knew that there would come a time when some of his disciples would despise the Jews, and therefore he said, ‘When you preach my gospel, begin with them’. This is a standing commandment, and everywhere we ought to preach the gospel to the Jew as well as to the Gentile; Paul even says, ‘to the Jew first’. Some seem to think that there ought to be no mission to the Jews, that there is no hope of converting them, that they are of no use when they are converted, and so on. I have even heard some who call themselves Christians speak slightingly of the Jewish people. What! and your Lord and Master a Jew! There is no race on earth as exalted as they are. They are the seed of Abraham, God’s friend. We have nobles and dukes in England, but how far could they trace their pedigree? Why, up to a nobody. But the poorest Jew on earth is descended linearly from Jacob, and Isaac, and Abraham. Instead of treating them with anything like disrespect, the Saviour says, ‘beginning at Jerusalem.’ Just as we say, ‘Ladies first,’ so it is ‘the Jew first’. They take precedence among races and are to be first waited on at the gospel feast. Jesus would have us entertain a deep regard to that nation which God chose of old, and out of which Christ also came, for he is of the seed of Abraham according to the flesh. He puts those first who knew him first. Let us never sneer at a Jew again, for our Lord teaches us the rule of his house when he says, ‘beginning at Jerusalem.’ Let the seed of Israel first have the gospel presented to them, and if they reject it we shall be clear of their blood. But we shall not be faithful to our orders unless we have taken note of Jews as well as Gentiles. J C
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Spurgeon - We also are called to be “witnesses of these things.” May the Lord make us to be faithful and true witnesses, for his name’s sake! Amen. These things - What things? In context the things that He has just stated - His death and resurrection and proclamation of repentance for forgiveness of sins (Lk 24:46-47) Steven
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Spurgeon - The promise of the Father was, as you know, the gift of the Holy Spirit. By this gift our Lord’s rising again into glory was celebrated. The Holy Spirit was the heavenly largess of the great King by which he did honour to the return of his Son to his ancient throne. The apostles and the other disciples were to wait for this gift. They might have to wait for some days, but it is better to wait for divine equipment than to go out to holy service in our own strength. All that you do will have to be undone unless it is done in the power of the Holy Ghost. “But tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.” Has that command ever struck some people who profess to be serving the Lord? Are there not men who preach whom God never sent to preach? The best advice we could give them would be, “Tarry ye.” Are there not some who teach, and some who take office in the church, whom God has never endued with gifts or graces for such work? Powerless workers stand in the way of true workers, they block up the path of those whom God sends to serve him. Who sends the Holy Spirit? Several passages speak of the sending of the Spirit some stating it is Jesus Who sends Him and others stating it is the Father Who sends Him. Clearly there is perfect unity and harmony in the Trinity so there is no difference if the Spirit is sent by the Father or the Son. It does appear that in regard to the giving of the Spirit, it is only the Father Who is stated as giving the promise of the Spirit. (Father gives the Spirit) John 14:16 “I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; 14:17) [that is] the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, [but] you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you. (Father sends the Spirit) John 14:26 “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, Whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you. (Jesus sends the Spirit) John 15:26 “When the Helper comes, Whom I will send to you from the Father, [that is] the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify about Me, (Jesus sends the Spirit) John 16:7 “But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you. Behold (idou) is a command from Jesus to the disciples to make sure He had their full attention regarding the important teaching He was about to give them. And He desires His disciples' (our) full attention to the truth of this passage which was fulfilled at Pentecost but is still truth that is vital to understand so that we might be empowered to live a supernatural life in front of a watching, skeptical, lost world. Sending forth (649)(apostello from apo = from, away from + stello = to withdraw from, avoid) means to send off, to send forth, to send out. To send out; to commission as a representative, an ambassador, an envoy. The idea is to send forth from one place to another. But the meaning of apostello is more than just to send because it means "to send off on a commission to do something as one’s personal representative, with credentials furnished" (Wuest) To send upon some business (Mt. 2:16; 10:5; 20:2). To send away in the sense of to dismiss (Mk 12:3, 4). To send or thrust forth as a sickle among corn (Mk 4:29). The rabbis used the term apostello to refer to one called and sent as an official representative of another (something like our English "Ambassador" - 2Cor 5:20-note). Apostello was used by the Greeks for the personal representatives of the king, ambassadors who functioned with the king’s authority. To make light of the king’s envoys was to be in danger of insubordination. Apostello summarized - 1. send someone out, implying for a particular purpose (Mk 1:11; 1Co 1:17); 2. send a message, send word (Ac 28:28, Mt 14:35, Mt 27:19); 3. (apostellō to drepanon), begin to harvest, place the sickle (Mk 4:29) (Ed: literally "send the sickle" = begin to harvest) (Swanson) The promise of the Father is a reference to His giving of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is mentioned specifically ("Spirit") about 17 times in the Gospel of Luke. Lk. 1:15; Lk. 1:35; Lk. 1:41; Lk. 1:67; Lk. 2:25; Lk. 2:26; Lk. 2:27; Lk. 3:16; Lk. 3:22; Lk. 4:1; Lk. 4:14; Lk. 4:18; Lk. 4:33; Lk. 8:29; Lk. 8:55; Lk. 9:39; Lk. 9:42; Lk. 9:55; Lk. 10:21; Lk. 11:13; Lk. 11:24; Lk. 12:10; Lk. 12:12; Lk. 13:11; Lk. 23:46; Lk. 24:37; Lk. 24:39. In these passages, notice that Jesus Himself was filled with the Spirit, was led about by the Spirit (Lk 4:1) and functioned in His teaching and preaching ministry in the power of the Holy Spirit (Lk 4:14, cp Acts 10:37-38), thus giving us a perfect example to follow. As Paul exhorted the saints at Corinth "Be (present imperative = continually, do this as your lifestyle - only possible as we are filled with and enabled by the Spirit) imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ." (1 Cor 11:1+) (See The Holy Spirit-Walking Like Jesus Walked!) We see the Spirit promised in several places in the Old Testament, some implied in reference to the prophesied giving of the New Covenant to Judah and Israel... Isaiah 44:3-4 For I will pour out water on the thirsty land And streams on the dry ground; I will pour out My Spirit on your offspring And My blessing on your descendants; And they will spring up among the grass Like poplars by streams of water.’ Isaiah 59:21 “As for Me, this is My covenant with them,” says the LORD: “My Spirit which is upon you, and My words which I have put in your mouth shall not depart from your mouth, nor from the mouth of your offspring, nor from the mouth of your offspring’s offspring,” says the LORD, “from now and forever.” Jeremiah 31:31-33+ “Behold, days are coming,” declares the LORD, “when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah, 32 not like the covenant which I made with their fathers in the day I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, although I was a husband to them,” declares the LORD. 33“But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days,” declares the LORD, “I will put My law within them and on their heart I will write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. Ezekiel 36:23-27+ “I will vindicate the holiness of My great name which has been profaned among the nations, which you have profaned in their midst. Then the nations will know that I am the LORD,” declares the Lord GOD, “when I prove Myself holy among you in their sight. 24 “For I will take you from the nations, gather you from all the lands and bring you into your own land. 25 “Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. 26 “Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. 27 “I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances. Comment: Don't miss the important spiritual dynamic in Ezekiel 36:27+. The first part of the verse is God's Sovereign work of grace -- He will cause us to walk obediently (Php 2:13NLT+ amplifies this truth explaining He, the Spirit, will give us both the desire and the power to walk in God's statutes. But it is not simply "Let go and Let God!" The last part of the verse describes the responsibility of the believer to exercise his or her volitional choice to "be careful to observe" God's ordinances. So as we discuss elsewhere on this website, Ezekiel 36:27 exemplifies the 100/100 principle -- the Christian walk is 100% God's provision and 100% our responsibility. So instead of "Let go, let God," it could be more accurately phrased "Let God and let's go!" Can you see the difference? The former is passive, whereas the latter calls for active involvement. Ezekiel 37:14+ I will put My Spirit within you and you will come to life, and I will place you on your own land. Then you will know that I, the LORD, have spoken and done it,” declares the LORD.’” Ezekiel 39:29 “I will not hide My face from them any longer, for I will have poured out My Spirit on the house of Israel,” declares the Lord GOD. Joel 2:28-29 It will come about after this That I will pour out My Spirit on all mankind; And your sons and daughters will prophesy, Your old men will dream dreams, Your young men will see visions. 29“Even on the male and female servants I will pour out My Spirit in those days. Pr 1:23+ (some do not see this as the Holy Spirit but I do) Turn to my reproof, Behold, I will pour out My Spirit on you; I will make my words known to you. The Spirit was first mentioned in the sense of a promise in Luke in chapter 3... Now while the people were in a state of expectation and all were wondering in their hearts about John, as to whether he was the Christ, John answered and said to them all, “As for me, I baptize you with water; but One is coming who is mightier than I, and I am not fit to untie the thong of His sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. “His winnowing fork is in His hand to thoroughly clear His threshing floor, and to gather the wheat into His barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” (Luke 3:15-17) Promise (1860)(epaggelia/epangelia from epí = intensifies verbal meaning + aggéllo = to tell, declare) literally means to "tell at or upon" and originally referred to an announcement or declaration (especially of a favorable message) (see Acts 23:21). In other words the first sense of epaggelia is that of a . declaration to do something which came to be associated with the implication of obligation to carry out what is stated and thus the meaning of a promise, pledge or offer. In Scripture, epaggelia refers primarily to God's pronouncements that provide assurance of what He intends to do. Epaggelia initially in Greek was primarily a legal term denoting summons, a promise to do or give something, but in the NT speaks primarily of the promises of God, the first four NT uses referring to the promise of the Holy Spirit (Lk 24:49, Acts 1:4, 2:33, 39). The promises of God are absolutely dependable (2Cor. 1:20). Most of God's promises bring benefit to those who are designated as recipients of His promises. God's promises are not earned, but rather humbly received. Darrel Bock - The reference to the Father's promise looks back to the promised Spirit that John the Baptist first mentioned in Luke 3:15-17 and that Jesus will note in Acts 1:4-5. In the verse the term is a noun and looks to a specific promise from God. The Spirit is is the enablement for witness that is also grounded in God's power. It includes His promise to wash and indwell them as noted in Jeremiah 31:31-33 and Ezekiel 36:23-27." In Acts Luke records this instructive passage… "And we preach to you the good news of the promise made to the fathers, (Abraham, Isaac, Jacob to whom and through whom the Abrahamic Covenant passed) that God has fulfilled this promise to our children in that He raised up Jesus, as it is also written in the second Psalm, 'THOU ART MY SON; TODAY I HAVE BEGOTTEN THEE.' (Acts 13:32-33) Father (3962)(pater) is the genitor (a begetter), by whom another is begotten. Stated more simply this is a man who has begotten a child. Father is the progenitor, the ancestor in the direct line (a forefather -- thus Adam was the "progenitor" of the Human Race). Vine writes that pater is "from a root signifying “a nourisher, protector, upholder” (Lat., pater, Eng., “father,” are akin)." (Note: Not all lexicons agree with this origin)....Whereas the everlasting power and divinity of God are manifest in creation, His “Fatherhood” in spiritual relationship through faith is the subject of NT revelation, and waited for the presence on earth of the Son, Matt. 11:27; John 17:25. The spiritual relationship is not universal, John 8:42, 44 (cf. John 8:12 and Gal. 3:26). BUT YOU ARE TO STAY IN THE CITY UNTIL YOU ARE CLOTHED WITH POWER FROM ON HIGH Acts 1:4,8 2:1-21 Luke 24 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries But - term of contrast. What is the contrast? Stay in the city - Remain in Jerusalem. Stay (3306)(kathizo from katá = down, and hízō = to sit, to cause to sit) means to sit down and then to remain in a place, in this case Jerusalem (cp similar use Acts 18:11). Jesus gives this as a command in the aorist imperative. Do this now! Don't delay! (Delayed obedience is disobedience). Some have objected that they did not obey but instead went to Galilee. Norman Giesler addresses this question of "Why did the disciples go to Galilee when Jesus commanded them to stay in Jerusalem? PROBLEM: According to Luke, the apostles were told to “tarry in the city of Jerusalem” until Pentecost. But Matthew tells us that they went into Galilee (Matt. 28:10, 16). SOLUTION: First, it is possible that the command was not given until after they had been in Galilee. In this event there would be no conflict whatsoever. Furthermore, the command to “tarry” simply meant to make Jerusalem their headquarters. It did not preclude taking short trips elsewhere. Jerusalem was the place they were to receive the Holy Spirit (Luke 24:49) and to begin their work." (When Critics Ask) In Acts 1:4 Luke records "Gathering them together, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for what the Father had promised (Lk 24:49), “Which,” He said, “you heard of from Me." This would suggest that this event (and the command to stay or tarry) did indeed follow their sojourn to Galilee. We see that the disciples obeyed Jesus and in Acts we read... These all with one mind (homothumadon/homothymadon - a key word in Acts!) were continually devoting themselves to prayer, along with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers. (Acts 1:14) Steven
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Spurgeon - He went away in the act of blessing, and he has never left off blessing his people from that day to this. He never had lifted up his hands to strike them, or to invoke curses upon them. Those hands were filled with blessings, and the last thing that was seen of Jesus by human eyes was his hands uplifted in the act of blessing. (Exposition) Spurgeon - The ruling passion was strong in the hour of his departure. Well did he know that place, Bethany, — the place of love, where he had received a welcome such as he had experienced nowhere else on earth, — where lived Mary, and Martha, and Lazarus; — there did he bid “Good-bye” to his disciples. (Exposition) Blessed (2127)(eulogeo from eu = good + lógos = word; see cognates eulogetos and eulogia) means speak good or well. When eulogeo is used by men toward men it means to speak well of with praise and thanksgiving (English "Eulogy" = an address in praise for one deceased ). To say good or positive things. Eulogeo can be from men to God, from men to men, and from God to men. When God blesses men He grants them favor and confers happiness upon them. Eulogeo - 38v - bless(9), blessed(25), blessing(3), giving a blessing(1), praise(1), praising(1), surely*(1). Matt. 14:19; Matt. 21:9; Matt. 23:39; Matt. 25:34; Matt. 26:26; Mk. 6:41; Mk. 8:7; Mk. 11:9; Mk. 11:10; Mk. 14:22; Lk. 1:42; Lk. 1:64; Lk. 2:28; Lk. 2:34; Lk. 6:28; Lk. 9:16; Lk. 13:35; Lk. 19:38; Lk. 24:30; Lk. 24:50; Lk. 24:51; Lk. 24:53; Jn. 12:13; Acts 3:26; Rom. 12:14; 1 Co. 4:12; 1 Co. 10:16; 1 Co. 14:16; Gal. 3:9; Eph. 1:3; Heb. 6:14; Heb. 7:1; Heb. 7:6; Heb. 7:7; Heb. 11:20; Heb. 11:21; Jas. 3:9; 1 Pet. 3:9 He blessed the disciples as He ascended to Heaven and now His disciples continue to be blessed from the heavenly places. Paul wrote "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed (eulogeo) us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ." (Eph 1:3+). Steven Cole on blessed them - The picture is that of the Old Testament priest blessing the people after offering the sacrifice for them (Le 9:22). We tend to think of a blessing as a nice gesture that doesn’t mean much in terms of actual consequences. But Jesus wasn’t just wishing the disciples well when He blessed them. His blessing was absolutely essential for them and for us, if we are to carry on His work. Without Jesus’ blessing, we can have large and successful ministries that will come to nothing in the end. We can build huge buildings and have thousands of people flocking to our church, but if we lack Jesus’ blessing, it’s all just wood, hay, and stubble that will be consumed by the fire of His judgment. “Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it” (Ps 127:1). Do you covet God’s blessing on your life and ministry? Like Jacob wrestling with the angel of God, we should lay hold of Him and say, “I will not let you go unless you bless me” (Ge 32:26). God’s blessing means that the results of our labors are not in proportion to our abilities or efforts. The results have lasting spiritual impact that we never could have achieved in our own strength. In God’s work, His blessing means everything. Wrestle with Him until you have it! (Luke 24:50-53 Why the Disciples Rejoiced at Jesus’ Ascension) Matthew Henry Concise - Lk 24:50-53. Christ ascended from Bethany, near the Mount of Olives. There was the garden in which his sufferings began; there he was in his agony. Those that would go to heaven, must ascend thither from the house of sufferings and sorrows. The disciples did not see him rise out of the grave; his resurrection could be proved by their seeing him alive afterwards: but they saw him ascend into heaven; they could not otherwise have a proof of his ascension. He lifted up his hands, and blessed them. He did not go away in displeasure, but in love, he left a blessing behind him. As he arose, so he ascended, by his own power (ED: ACTUALLY THE VERB IS PASSIVE, MOST LIKELY DIVINE PASSIVE, SO IT WAS POWER FROM WITHOUT). They worshipped him. This fresh display of Christ's glory drew from them fresh acknowledgments. They returned to Jerusalem with great joy. The glory of Christ is the joy of all true believers, even while they are here in this world. While waiting for God's promises, we must go forth to meet them with our praises. And nothing better prepares the mind for receiving the Holy Ghost. Fears are silenced, sorrows sweetened and allayed, and hopes kept up. And this is the ground of a Christian's boldness at the throne of grace; yea, the Father's throne is the throne of grace to us, because it is also the throne of our Mediator, Jesus Christ. Let us rely on his promises, and plead them. Let us attend his ordinances, praise and bless God for his mercies, set our affections on things above, and expect the Redeemer's return to complete our happiness. Amen. Even so, Lord Jesus, come quickly. Norman Geisler - LUKE 24:50–51—Did Jesus ascend from Bethany or from the Mountain of Olives near Jerusalem? PROBLEM: Luke says Jesus ascended from Bethany (Luke 24:50), but Acts 1:9–11 affirms that He ascended from the Mt. of Olives near Jerusalem. SOLUTION: Bethany was on the eastern slope of the Mt. of Olives, which is just east of Jerusalem. Luke, who wrote both passages (cf. Acts 1:1), saw no contradiction in referring to both places as the general location of Christ’s ascension. Jesus may have begun His ascension from the mount, passing to the east over Bethany as He disappeared from their sight. (When Critics Ask) Octavius Winslow - Morning Thoughts "And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them." Luke 24:50 Let us approach the spot where the Redeemer ascended. It was from Mount Olivet, near to Bethany; so that the two accounts of Christ's ascension recorded by Luke, the one in his Gospel, and the other in his Acts of the Apostles, 1:12, perfectly, agree. How full of great, and holy, and solemn, yes, awful, associations would be that spot to Jesus! It was no strange, unfamiliar, untrodden ground to Him. At the foot of that mount, from whose summit He entered into glory, He had been wont to resort with His disciples for holy meditation and prayer. There, too, His sufferings commenced. There He endured the fearful conflict, when His soul was "exceeding sorrowful, even unto death." It was there, prostrate in the dust, the cup of trembling in His hand, the sweat of blood falling to the ground, He thrice poured out His soul in that touching prayer- "O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will." Yes, it was from Mount Olivet, the scene of His deep mental agony, and near to Bethany (which signifies the house of affliction), our blessed Lord took His flight to His Father and His God, to enjoy His presence forever, and to drink deeply and eternally of the pleasures which are at His right hand. And so will it be with all His members. As if to heighten, by contrast with the sufferings of earth, the glories of heaven- as if to give a deeper melody to their song, and a richer sweetness to their joy, and a higher character to their ecstasy, and a profounder sense of the grace that brought them there, it often pleases the Lord that affliction, in various forms, should throw its deepest gloom around the path of the children of God, when just on the eve of translation to glory. And when, in anticipation of a smooth descent and a cloudless sunset, they have said, with Job, "I shall die in my nest," God their Father has seemed to have reserved the bitter dregs of affliction's cup for the dying lips; and, like Jacob, they have been constrained to anticipate that with sorrow their grey hairs will be brought down to the grave. Thus, through much tribulation they enter the kingdom; out of the house of affliction, and, as it were, from Mount Olivet, they ascend to Mount Zion, borne up as in a chariot of fire. Be it so; "He does all things well." Compared with the sufferings of Jesus, it is, in its heaviest form, but a "light affliction;" and measured with an eternity of bliss, in its longest duration, is but "for a moment." Father Almighty, Bless Us with Thy Blessing Sweet Savior, Bless Us Ere We Go Luke 24:51 While He was blessing them, He parted from them and was carried up into heaven. Luke 24:50-53 The Significance of the Ascension - John MacArthur Luke 24:50-53 Why the Disciples Rejoiced at Jesus’ Ascension - Steven Cole Luke 24:50-53 Our Lord’s Posture in Ascension - C H Spurgeon Luke 24:50. Our Lord's Attitude in Ascension - Sermon Notes - scroll down - C H Spurgeon Luke 24 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Amplified And it occurred that while He was blessing them, He parted from them and was taken up into heaven. JESUS' ASCENSION TO HEAVEN While - "Greek “And it happened that while.” The introductory phrase ἐγένετο (egeneto, “it happened that”), common in Luke (69 times) and Acts (54 times), (NET Note) He parted from them - Parting is such sweet sorrow, but this parting came with a promise of "He will come again!" It is not surprising that the apostles had great joy instead of great sadness! "He stood apart and was gone" (Robertson) Leon
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Spurgeon - So bold were they that the very central spot for the worship of Jehovah we made the place where Christ’s divine sovereignty was proclaimed. (Exposition) Warren Wiersbe -Dr. Luke opened his Gospel with a scene in the temple (Luke 1:8ff), and he closed his Gospel the same way (Luke 24:53). But what a contrast between the unbelieving, silent priest and the trusting, joyful saints! Luke has explained how Jesus went to Jerusalem and accomplished the work of redemption. His book begins and ends in Jerusalem. But his next book, The Acts of the Apostles, would explain how that Gospel traveled from Jerusalem to Rome! Is the Gospel going out to the ends of the earth from your Jerusalem? (Borrow Be courageous Luke 14-24) It is notable that praising (blessing is probably the better translation) is in the present tense which signifies these saints were saturated with the Spirit Who enabled them to continually bless the Lord. Do it again Lord in all of us who read these words. Amen. Continually - dia pantos (dia = through + pantos = all) means "through all the time," at all times, continually, used as an adverb. This points to the unbroken duration of their worship. O, that the Spirit would energize such a worshiping mindset in us today! Amen. That would be great "preparation" for eternity! (cp Revelation 19:3-7-note) Praising (blessing) (2127)(eulogeo from eu = good + lógos = word, reason) means literally to speak good or well. Eulogeo passes on benefit by giving oneself ("giving oneself away"). God also graciously does this in us as we receive (obey) faith from Him. Or one might say eulogeo properly means to speak reason which confers benefit and hence bestows blessing. The idea is to confer what is beneficial which is quite amazing when used of His children blessing Him given that He is the great I Am and as the self-existent God, He needs absolutely nothing. And yet in a mysterious way our heartfelt praise confers "benefit" to our Holy God. Amazing grace indeed!!! (cp His people blessing Him Lk 1:64, 2:28, 24:53; 1 Cor 14:16; James 3:9). And on the other side of the coin so to speak, given that we so frequently stray like sheep from the "fold of His good and acceptable and perfect will," that He would still choose to bless us is also amazing grace indeed!!! (see Lk 1:28; Eph 1:3; Heb 6:14, etc) TECHNICAL NOTE - The Western text (D it) has αἰνοῦντες (ainountes, “praising”) here, while the Alexandrian MSS (?75 א B C* L) have εὐλογοῦντες (eulogountes, “blessing”). Most Manuscripts, especially the later Byzantine, evidently combine these two readings with αἰνοῦντες καὶ εὐλογοῦντες (A C2 W Θ Ψ f1, 13 33 ? lat). It is more difficult to decide between the two earlier readings. Internal arguments can go either way, but what seems decisive in this instance are the superior witnesses for εὐλογοῦντες. (blessing) (NET Note) "Blessing God" extends (shares) ourselves with the Lord, giving our word to be completely His – i.e. conferring ourselves to Him which fulfills the common OT imperative, "Bless the Lord!" Lk 1:64: "And at once (Lk 1:63) his (Zacharias) mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he was speaking, blessing (eulogéō) God." The Discovery Bible says "Scripture calls us to "bless God"! See: Lk 1:64,68, 2:28; Ro 1:25, 9:5; 2 Cor 1:3, 11:31; Eph 1:3; 1 Pet 1:3. The distinction between "blessing God" and "praising God" is carefully preserved in the original Hebrew/Greek text of Scripture and therefore both should be practiced in true worship! "Praising God" acknowledges (exalts) His work and character. In contrast, "blessing God" means surrendering oneself to Him. The scriptural imperative to "bless God!" is frequent in the (Hebrew) text of the OT. See Ps 103:1,2, 104:1, etc. Unfortunately, it was "eliminated" by the NIV (and other translations), rendering it the same as "praise God." God also "gives Himself away" to us as He blesses us. A. W. Tozer, "God gives....but He doesn't give away!" Reflection: "Blessing (2127/eulogéō) God" means giving ourselves away to Him. It is so important to bless God because this impacts Him forever. Why? The Lord never becomes more nor less than He has always been, is, or will be (cf. Rev 4:8). Therefore what impacts God now....does so forever! Meditate on this in light of Mal 3:6 and Heb 13:8." When eulogeo is used by men toward men it means to speak well of with praise and thanksgiving (English "Eulogy" = an address in praise for one deceased ). To say good or positive things.