1 But on the first day of the week, at dawn, they came to the place where his body had been put, taking the spices which they had got ready.
2 And they saw that the stone had been rolled away.
3 And they went in, but the body of the Lord Jesus was not there.
4 And while they were in doubt about it, they saw two men in shining clothing by them:
5 And while their faces were bent down to the earth in fear, these said to them, Why are you looking for the living among the dead?
6 He is not here, he has come back to life: have in mind what he said to you when he was still in Galilee, saying,
7 The Son of man will be given up into the hands of evil-doers, and be put to death on the cross, and on the third day he will come back to life.
8 And his words came back into their minds,
9 And they went away from that place and gave an account of all these things to the eleven disciples and all the others.
10 Now they were Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary, the mother of James: and the other women with them said these things to the Apostles.
11 But these words seemed foolish to them, and they had no belief in them.
12 But Peter got up and went to the place where the body had been put, and looking in he saw nothing but the linen cloths, and he went to his house full of wonder at what had taken place.
13 And then, two of them, on that very day, were going to a little town named Emmaus, which was about seven miles from Jerusalem.
14 And they were talking together about all those things which had taken place.
15 And while they were talking and questioning together, Jesus himself came near and went with them.
16 But their eyes were not open that they might have knowledge of him.
17 And he said to them, What are you talking about together while you go?
18 Then stopping, and looking sadly at him, one of them, named Cleopas, said to him, Are you the only man living in Jerusalem who has not had news of the things which have taken place there at this time?
19 And he said to them, What things? And they said, The things to do with Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet, great in his acts and his words, before God and all the people:
20 And how the chief priests and our rulers gave him up to be put to death on the cross.
21 But we were hoping that he would be the Saviour of Israel. In addition to all this he has now let three days go by from the time when these things took place;
22 And certain women among us gave us cause for wonder, for they went early to the place where his body had been put,
23 And it was not there; then they came saying that they had seen a vision of angels who said that he was living.
24 And some of those who were with us went to the place, and saw that it was as the women had said, but him they did not see.
25 And he said, O foolish men! how slow you are to give belief to what the prophets have said.
26 Was it not necessary for the Christ to go through these things, and to come into his glory?
27 And he made clear to them all the things in the Writings, from Moses and from all the prophets, which had to do with himself.
28 And they came near the town to which they were going, and he seemed as if he was going on;
29 But they kept him back, saying, Do not go, for evening is near, the day is almost gone. And he went in with them.
30 And when he was seated with them at table, he took the bread, and said words of blessing and, making division of it, he gave it to them.
31 And then their eyes were open, and they had knowledge of him, but he went from their view.
32 And they said to one another, Were not our hearts burning in us while he was talking to us on the way, making clear to us the holy Writings?
33 And that very hour they got up and went back to Jerusalem, where the eleven and the others had come together.
34 And they said to them, The Lord has truly come back to life again, and Simon has seen him.
35 And they gave an account of the things which had taken place on the way, and how, when he gave them bread, they had knowledge of him.
36 And while they were saying these things, he himself was among them, and said to them, Peace be with you!
37 But they were full of fear, being of the opinion that they were seeing a spirit.
38 And he said to them, Why are you troubled, and why are your hearts full of doubt?
39 See; my hands and my feet: it is I myself; put your hands on me and make certain; for a spirit has not flesh and bones as you see that I have.
40 And when he had said this, he let them see his hands and his feet.
41 And because, for joy and wonder, they were still in doubt, he said to them, Have you any food here?
42 And they gave him a bit of cooked fish.
43 And before their eyes he took a meal.
44 And he said to them, These are the words which I said to you when I was still with you, how it was necessary for all the things which are in the writings of Moses and the prophets and in the Psalms about me, to be put into effect.
45 Then he made the holy Writings clear to their minds.
46 And he said to them, So it is in the Writings that the Christ would undergo death, and come back to life again on the third day;
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.
48 You are witnesses of these things.
49 And now I will send to you what my father has undertaken to give you, but do not go from the town, till the power from heaven comes to you.
50 And he took them out till they were near Bethany, and lifting up his hands, he gave them a blessing.
51 And while he was doing so, he went from them and was taken up into heaven.
52 And they gave him worship and went back to Jerusalem with great joy.
53 And they were in the Temple at all times, giving praise to God.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Luke 24
Commentary on Luke 24 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 24
Lu 24:1-12. Angelic Announcement to the Women That Christ Is Risen—Peter's Visit to the Empty Sepulchre.
(See on Mr 16:1-8; and Mt 28:1-5).
5. Why, &c.—Astonishing question! not "the risen," but "the Living One" (compare Re 1:18); and the surprise expressed in it implies an incongruity in His being there at all, as if, though He might submit to it, "it was impossible He should be holden of it" (Ac 2:24).
6. in Galilee—to which these women themselves belonged (Lu 23:55).
7. Saying, &c.—How remarkable it is to hear angels quoting a whole sentence of Christ's to the disciples, mentioning where it was uttered, and wondering it was not fresh in their memory, as doubtless it was in theirs! (1Ti 3:16, "seen of angels," and 1Pe 1:12).
10. Joanna—(See on Lu 8:1-3).
12. Peter, &c.—(See on Joh 20:1-10).
Lu 24:13-35. Christ Appears to the Two Going to Emmaus.
13. two of them—One was Cleopas (Lu 24:18); who the other was is mere conjecture.
Emmaus—about seven and a half miles from Jerusalem. They probably lived there and were going home after the Passover.
14-16. communed and reasoned—exchanged views and feelings, weighing afresh all the facts, as detailed in Lu 24:18-24.
drew near—coming up behind them as from Jerusalem.
eyes holden—Partly He was "in another form" (Mr 16:12), and partly there seems to have been an operation on their own vision; though certainly, as they did not believe that He was alive, His company as a fellow traveller was the last thing they would expect,
17-24. communications, &c.—The words imply the earnest discussion that had appeared in their manner.
18. knowest not, &c.—If he knew not the events of the last few days in Jerusalem, he must be a mere sojourner; if he did, how could he suppose they would be talking of anything else? How artless all this!
19. Concerning Jesus, &c.—As if feeling it a relief to have someone to unburden his thoughts and feelings to, this disciple goes over the main facts in his own desponding style, and this was just what our Lord wished.
21. we trusted, &c.—They expected the promised Deliverance at His hand, but in the current sense of it, not by His death.
besides all this—not only did His death seem to give the fatal blow to their hopes, but He had been two days dead already, and this was the third. It is true, they add, some of our women gave us a surprise, telling us of a vision of angels they had at the empty grave this morning that said He was alive, and some of ourselves who went thither confirmed their statement; but then Himself they saw not. A doleful tale truly, told out of the deepest despondency.
25-27. fools—senseless, without understanding.
26. Ought not Christ—"the Christ," "the Messiah."
to suffer … and enter—that is, through the gate of suffering (and suffering "these things," or such a death) to enter into His glory. "Ye believe in the glory; but these very sufferings are the predicted gate of entrance into it."
27. Moses and all the prophets, &c.—Here our Lord both teaches us the reverence due to Old Testament Scripture, and the great burden of it—"Himself."
28-31. made as though, &c.—(Compare Mr 6:48; Ge 18:3, 5; 32:24-26).
29. constrained, &c.—But for this, the whole design of the interview had been lost; but it was not to be lost, for He who only wished to be constrained had kindled a longing in the hearts of His travelling companions which was not to be so easily put off. And does not this still repeat itself in the interviews of the Saviour with His loving, longing disciples? Else why do they say,
Abide with me from morn to eve,
For without Thee I cannot live;
Abide with me when night is nigh,
For without Thee I cannot die.
Keble
30, 31. he took … and blessed … and their eyes were opened—The stranger first startles them by taking the place of master at their own table, but on proceeding to that act which reproduced the whole scene of the last Supper, a rush of associations and recollections disclosed their guest, and He stood confessed before their astonished gaze—THEIR RISEN Lord! They were going to gaze on Him, perhaps embrace Him, but that moment He is gone! It was enough.
32-34. They now tell each to the other how their hearts burned—were fired—within them at His talk and His expositions of Scripture. "Ah! this accounts for it: We could not understand the glow of self-evidencing light, love, glory that ravished our hearts; but now we do." They cannot rest—how could they?—they must go straight back and tell the news. They find the eleven, but ere they have time to tell their tale, their ears are saluted with the thrilling news, "The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon." Most touching and precious intelligence this. The only one of the Eleven to whom He appeared alone was he, it seems, who had so shamefully denied Him. What passed at that interview we shall never know here. Probably it was too sacred for disclosure. (See on Mr 16:7). The two from Emmaus now relate what had happened to them, and while thus comparing notes of their Lord's appearances, lo! Christ Himself stands in the midst of them. What encouragement to doubting, dark, true-hearted disciples!
Lu 24:36-53. Jesus Appears to the Assembled Disciples—His Ascension.
36. Jesus … stood—(See on Joh 20:19).
37, 38. a spirit—the ghost of their dead Lord, but not Himself in the body (Ac 12:15; Mt 14:26).
thoughts—rather, "reasonings"; that is, whether He were risen or no, and whether this was His very self.
39-43. Behold, &c.—lovingly offering them both ocular and tangible demonstration of the reality of His resurrection.
a spirit hath not—an important statement regarding "spirits."
flesh and bones—He says not "flesh and blood"; for the blood is the life of the animal and corruptible body (Ge 9:4), which "cannot inherit the kingdom of God" (1Co 15:50); but "flesh and bones," implying the identity, but with diversity of laws, of the resurrection body. (See on Joh 20:24-28).
41. believed not for joy, &c.—They did believe, else they had not rejoiced [Bengel]. But it seemed too good to be true (Ps 126:1, 2).
42. honeycomb—common frugal fare, anciently.
43. eat before them—that is, let them see Him doing it: not for His own necessity, but their conviction.
44-49. These are the words, &c.—that is, "Now you will understand what seemed so dark to you when I told you about the Son of man being put to death and rising again" (Lu 18:31-34).
while … yet with you—a striking expression, implying that He was now, as the dead and risen Saviour, virtually dissevered from this scene of mortality, and from all ordinary intercourse with His mortal disciples.
law … prophets … psalms—the three Jewish divisions of the Old Testament Scriptures.
45. Then opened he, &c.—a statement of unspeakable value; expressing, on the one hand, Christ's immediate access to the human spirit and absolute power over it, to the adjustment of its vision, and permanent rectification for spiritual discernment (than which it is impossible to conceive a stronger evidence of His proper divinity); and, on the other hand, making it certain that the manner of interpreting the \ Old Testament which the apostles afterwards employed (see the Acts and Epistles), has the direct sanction of Christ Himself.
46. behoved Christ—(See on Lu 24:26).
47. beginning at Jerusalem—(1) As the metropolis and heart of the then existing kingdom of God:—"to the Jew first" (Ro 1:16; Ac 13:46; Isa 2:3, see on Mt 10:6). (2) As the great reservoir and laboratory of all the sin and crime of the nation, thus proclaiming for all time that there is mercy in Christ for the chief of sinners. (See on Mt 23:37).
48. witnesses—(Compare Ac 1:8, 22).
49. I send—the present tense, to intimate its nearness.
promise of my Father—that is, what My Father hath promised; the Holy Ghost, of which Christ is the authoritative Dispenser (Joh 14:7; Re 3:1; 5:6).
endued—invested, or clothed with; implying, as the parallels show (Ro 13:14; 1Co 15:53; Ga 3:27; Col 3:9, 10), their being so penetrated and acted upon by conscious supernatural power (in the full sense of that word) as to stamp with divine authority the whole exercise of their apostolic office, including, of course, their pen as well as their mouth.
50-53. to Bethany—not to the village itself, but on the "descent" to it from Mount Olivet.
51. while he blessed … parted, &c.—Sweet intimation! Incarnate Love, Crucified Love, Risen Love, now on the wing for heaven, waiting only those odorous gales which were to waft Him to the skies, goes away in benedictions, that in the character of Glorified, Enthroned Love, He might continue His benedictions, but in yet higher form, until He come again! And oh, if angels were so transported at His birth into this scene of tears and death, what must have been their ecstasy as they welcomed and attended Him "far above all heavens" into the presence-chamber, and conducted Him to the right hand of the Majesty on High! Thou hast an everlasting right, O my Saviour, to that august place. The brightness of the Father's glory, enshrined in our nature, hath won it well; for He poured out His soul unto death, and led captivity captive, receiving gifts for men, yea for the rebellious, that the Lord God might dwell among them. Thou art the King of glory, O Christ. Lift up your heads, O ye gates, be lifted up, ye everlasting doors, that the King of glory may come in! Even so wilt Thou change these vile bodies of ours, that they may be like unto Thine own glorious body; and then with gladness and rejoicing shall they be brought, they shall enter into the King's palace!
52. worshipped him—certainly in the strictest sense of adoration.
returned to Jerusalem—as instructed to do: but not till after gazing, as if entranced, up into the blue vault in which He had disappeared, they were gently checked by two shining ones, who assured them He would come again to them in the like manner as He had gone into heaven. (See on Ac 1:10, 11). This made them return, not with disappointment at His removal, but "with great joy."
53. were continually in the temple—that is, every day at the regular hours of prayer till the day of Pentecost.