1 But on the morrow of the sabbath, very early indeed in the morning, they came to the tomb, bringing the aromatic spices which they had prepared.
2 And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre.
3 And when they had entered they found not the body of the Lord Jesus.
4 And it came to pass as they were in perplexity about it, that behold, two men suddenly stood by them in shining raiment.
5 And as they were filled with fear and bowed their faces to the ground, they said to them, Why seek ye the living one among the dead?
6 He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spoke to you, being yet in Galilee,
7 saying, The Son of man must be delivered up into the hands of sinners, and be crucified, and rise the third day.
8 And they remembered his words;
9 and, returning from the sepulchre, related all these things to the eleven and to all the rest.
10 Now it was Mary of Magdala, and Johanna, and Mary the [mother] of James, and the others with them, who told these things to the apostles.
11 And their words appeared in their eyes as an idle tale, and they disbelieved them.
12 But Peter, rising up, ran to the sepulchre, and stooping down he sees the linen clothes lying there alone, and went away home, wondering at what had happened.
13 And behold, two of them were going on the same day to a village distant sixty stadia from Jerusalem, called Emmaus;
14 and they conversed with one another about all these things which had taken place.
15 And it came to pass as they conversed and reasoned, that Jesus himself drawing nigh, went with them;
16 but their eyes were holden so as not to know him.
17 And he said to them, What discourses are these which pass between you as ye walk, and are downcast?
18 And one [of them], named Cleopas, answering said to him, Thou sojournest alone in Jerusalem, and dost not know what has taken place in it in these days?
19 And he said to them, What things? And they said to him, The things concerning Jesus the Nazaraean, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people;
20 and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him up to [the] judgment of death and crucified him.
21 But *we* had hoped that *he* was [the one] who is about to redeem Israel. But then, besides all these things, it is now, to-day, the third day since these things took place.
22 And withal, certain women from amongst us astonished us, having been very early at the sepulchre,
23 and, not having found his body, came, saying that they also had seen a vision of angels, who say that he is living.
24 And some of those with us went to the sepulchre, and found it so, as the women also had said, but him they saw not.
25 And *he* said to them, O senseless and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken!
26 Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into his glory?
27 And having begun from Moses and from all the prophets, he interpreted to them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.
28 And they drew near to the village where they were going, and *he* made as though he would go farther.
29 And they constrained him, saying, Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is declining. And he entered in to stay with them.
30 And it came to pass as he was at table with them, having taken the bread, he blessed, and having broken it, gave it to them.
31 And their eyes were opened, and they recognised him. And he disappeared from them.
32 And they said to one another, Was not our heart burning in us as he spoke to us on the way, [and] as he opened the scriptures to us?
33 And rising up the same hour, they returned to Jerusalem. And they found the eleven, and those with them, gathered together,
34 saying, The Lord is indeed risen and has appeared to Simon.
35 And they related what [had happened] on the way, and how he was made known to them in the breaking of bread.
36 And as they were saying these things, he himself stood in their midst, and says to them, Peace [be] unto you.
37 But they, being confounded and being frightened, supposed they beheld a spirit.
38 And he said to them, Why are ye troubled? and why are thoughts rising in your hearts?
39 behold my hands and my feet, that it is *I* myself. Handle me and see, for a spirit has not flesh and bones as ye see me having.
40 And having said this he shewed them his hands and his feet.
41 But while they yet did not believe for joy, and were wondering, he said to them, Have ye anything here to eat?
42 And they gave him part of a broiled fish and of a honeycomb;
43 and he took it and ate before them.
44 And he said to them, These [are] the words which I spoke to you while I was yet with you, that all that is written concerning me in the law of Moses and prophets and psalms must be fulfilled.
45 Then he opened their understanding to understand the scriptures,
46 and said to them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved the Christ to suffer, and to rise from among the dead the third day;
47 and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name to all the nations beginning at Jerusalem.
48 And *ye* are witnesses of these things.
49 And behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you; but do ye remain in the city till ye be clothed with power from on high.
50 And he led them out as far as Bethany, and having lifted up his hands, he blessed them.
51 And it came to pass as he was blessing them, he was separated from them and was carried up into heaven.
52 And *they*, having done him homage, returned to Jerusalem with great joy,
53 and were continually in the temple praising and blessing 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.