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Luke 24

Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them.

And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre.

And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus.

And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments:

And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead?

He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee,

Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.

And they remembered his words,

And returned from the sepulchre, and told all these things unto the eleven, and to all the rest.

It was Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other women that were with them, which told these things unto the apostles.

And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not.

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.

And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs.

And they talked together of all these things which had happened.

And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them.

But their eyes were holden that they should not know him.

And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad?

And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass therein these days?

And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people:

And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him.

But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done.

Yea, and certain women also of our company made us astonished, which were early at the sepulchre;

And when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that he was alive.

And certain of them which were with us went to the sepulchre, and found it even so as the women had said: but him they saw not.

Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken:

Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?

And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.

And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they went: and he made as though he would have gone further.

But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them.

And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them.

And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight.

And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?

And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them,

Saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon.

And they told what things were done in the way, and how he was known of them in breaking of bread.

And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.

But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit.

And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts?

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.

And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet.

And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat?

And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb.

And he took it, and did eat before them.

And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.

Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,

And 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 his name among all nations, beginning at 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.

What does Luke 24:27 mean?

Explanation

Luke 24:27 is a crucial verse within the context of the Christian New Testament, specifically the Gospel of Luke.

The verse describes an encounter between the resurrected Jesus and two of his followers on the road to Emmaus. In this encounter, Jesus is not immediately recognized by the two disciples.

The verse recounts how Jesus, starting with Moses (the Pentateuch or the first five books of the Old Testament) and continuing through "all the prophets," interprets and expounds upon the passages in the Hebrew scriptures that pertain to himself.

The phrase "the things concerning himself" suggests that Jesus was explaining how the Old Testament, although written centuries before his birth, was forecasting and foreshadowing his life, death, and resurrection.

It suggests that the entirety of the scriptures had prophetic statements or typological figures that were fulfilled in Jesus Christ.

Top Rated Luke Books

Historical Context

This verse is situated in a wider passage that unfolds on the day of Jesus’ resurrection.

The context of the verse is shortly after the crucifixion and supposed end of Jesus' earthly ministry. His followers are grappling with the loss and confusion surrounding his death.

It was a time of both political and religious tension, with Roman occupation of Judea and the complex dynamics among Jewish sects.

The revelation of Jesus on the road to Emmaus, as recorded by Luke, a physician and companion of the apostle Paul, would serve to confirm the Messianic expectations of those who later followed Christianity, showing continuity between the Old Testament and New Testament.

Theological Insights

From a theological standpoint, this verse is pivotal for understanding the Christian belief in Jesus as the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy.

It suggests a hermeneutical approach to reading the Hebrew Bible Christocentrically, that is, finding in the scriptures types and prophecies about the coming Messiah and interpreting them in the context of Jesus' life and ministry.

This approach has been both embraced and debated within different Christian denominations.

Meanwhile, a Jewish interpretation might not see the same Christological implications in these texts, instead understanding the Messiah through different criteria that do not align with the life of Jesus.

Practical Applications

The practical applications of this verse are manifold and can be understood in terms of personal faith, Bible study, and preaching.

For personal faith, it can be a call to see one's own life as part of a larger divine narrative.

In Bible study, it encourages a comprehensive approach that considers the entire biblical canon, seeking deeper understanding of how both Old Testament figures and prophecies relate to New Testament teachings.

For preaching and teaching, this verse can serve as a model for explicating scripture and connecting the broader themes of the Bible to one’s individual experiences.

Cross-References

John 5:39 – "Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me."
Acts 3:18 – "But those things, which God before had showed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled."
Acts 28:23 – "And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening."
1 Peter 1:10-11 – "Of which salvation the prophets have inquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow."

Language Study

In the original Greek text of the New Testament, one word stands out in Luke 24:27 – diermēneuō (expounded or interpreted).

This term implies a thorough explanation and suggests that Jesus was doing more than merely referencing scripture; he was unpacking and revealing their deeper meaning in relation to himself.

The use of pasai (all) indicates the comprehensiveness of the scriptures that Jesus addressed, including both the Law of Moses and the writings of the prophets.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

This verse, in its focus on prophecy fulfillment, can be uniquely compared to themes in other religious traditions.

For example, many traditions have figures who are seen to fulfill earlier prophecies or who serve as bridges between different eras of revelation.

In Islam, for example, Muhammad is understood as the Seal of the Prophets, and his coming was foretold by earlier prophets.

Such comparisons can illuminate common patterns of how subsequent traditions view their founders in light of earlier traditions or scriptures.

Scientific Perspectives

While this verse does not directly engage with scientific perspectives, the methodologies used in scriptural interpretation may parallel certain scientific approaches in terms of seeking evidence, evaluating hypotheses, and applying rigorous analysis to achieve understanding.

A scientific perspective might also be interested in the psychological and sociocultural reasons why followers would posthumously attribute fulfilled prophecies to a religious leader like Jesus.

Commentaries

Various biblical scholars and theologians offer interpretations of Luke 24:27.

Many agree that this verse serves as a key to Christian typological interpretation of the Old Testament.

Commentators like Matthew Henry have emphasized the patience and teaching approach of Jesus in using scripture to reveal truth.

Some scholars suggest that the disciples’ inability to recognize Jesus symbolizes the broader inability of people to understand the scriptures without divine revelation.

Modern scholarly works examine the verse in light of Second Temple Jewish interpretative traditions and prophecies about the suffering servant in Isaiah and other messianic expectations prevalent in Jewish thought at the time of Jesus.

Luke 24

Luke 24

What does Luke 24:27 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Luke Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Luke 24:27 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Luke Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?