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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 24:29 mean?

Explanation

Luke 24:29 describes an interaction between two disciples and the resurrected Jesus, although at this point in the narrative, they do not recognize Him as Jesus.

They have just spent time walking with this stranger on the road to Emmaus, conversing and debating about the recent events of Jesus's crucifixion and reports of His resurrection.

As they approach their destination, the stranger appears to be moving on, but the disciples urge Him to stay with them.

Their invitation, "Abide with us," is both hospitable and urgent, given the approaching night.

The phrase "the day is far spent" indicates that it is late in the day, which would have been a dangerous time to travel alone in the ancient world due to the lack of light and the increased risk of encountering robbers.

Their insistence is rewarded when Jesus accepts the invitation and subsequently reveals His identity to them.

In a deeper sense, this verse reflects the longing for companionship and understanding of divine truth. The disciples' desire for the stranger to stay with them can also be seen as an unconscious yearning for Jesus's presence and the comfort and illumination it brings.

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Historical Context

Luke 24:29 is part of the larger resurrection narrative found in the Gospel of Luke.

The event takes place on the same day as the discovery of the empty tomb.

During the time of Jesus, it was customary and expected for people to offer hospitality to travelers.

Opening one's home was not only a sign of kindness but also a necessity for the safety and well-being of those journeying on difficult and often dangerous roads.

Furthermore, the specifics of the verse reflect the Jewish context of the day, which is nearing evening, signaling the beginning of the new day at sundown according to Jewish reckoning of time.

Theological Insights

The request for the stranger to "abide" can be viewed through the lenses of various theological viewpoints.

From a Christological perspective, the presence of Christ amongst the disciples symbolizes His omnipresence and availability to believers. Ecclesiological interpretations may focus on the communal aspect of faith, expressing the desire of the Church to be in constant fellowship with Christ.

Eschatologically, this encounter can be seen as a foretaste of the eternal communion with God promised to believers.

The disciples' failure to recognize Jesus immediately might also be interpreted as a metaphor for spiritual blindness, and the transformative moment of recognition is akin to spiritual awakening.

Practical Applications

The call to offer hospitality is a significant practical takeaway from this passage.

Christians are encouraged to emulate the disciples who welcomed Jesus into their home, implying that such openness can lead to divine encounters and revelations.

Additionally, the verse is often used to encourage persistence in seeking divine truth and a deepening of faith through fellowship with others.

The urge to invite Jesus to 'abide' with us can apply to inviting Christ into various aspects of our lives - from our daily routines to our dilemmas and celebrations.

This provides comfort and guidance, reminiscent of the disciples' experience when they finally recognized Jesus in the breaking of the bread.

Cross-References

Hospitality: Hebrews 13:2 - "Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares."
Jesus's Presence: Matthew 18:20 - "For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them."
Recognition of Jesus: Luke 24:31 - "And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight."
The Day's End: Mark 6:35-36 - "And when the day was now far spent, his disciples came unto him, and said, This is a desert place, and now the time is far passed."

Language Study

In the original Greek, the term used for "abide" is "μεῖνον" (meinon), which implies staying, dwelling, or continuing in a place.

This word conveys a sense of permanence and presence.

The word translated as "tarry" is the Greek verb "παραμείνας" (paramenas), from "παραμένω" (parameno), meaning to stay or remain beside or with one.

The phrase "the day is far spent" (ἤδη προβεβηκυῖα) is figuratively expressing the lateness of the hour.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In ancient cultures, hospitality was a sacred duty.

In Greek mythology, the concept of "xenia," or guest-friendship, was a fundamental value.

Zeus was even known as Zeus Xenios in his role as the protector of strangers.

This respect for hospitality is echoed in many religious texts, including the Bible, where Abraham hosts three strangers who turn out to be divine visitors in Genesis 18.

In other religious traditions, such as in Hinduism, the guest is considered to be God, encapsulated in the phrase "Atithi Devo Bhava," meaning "the guest is God." There is a common thread across cultures and religions that demonstrates a sacred significance to the treatment of guests that goes beyond mere social etiquette.

Scientific Perspectives

From a modern scientific perspective, the social norms of ancient hospitality can be examined through the lens of evolutionary psychology or sociology.

The practice of offering shelter and food to travelers might have contributed to survival by building alliances and cooperative networks, which would be advantageous for communal living and protection.

Additionally, the shift from day to evening mentioned in the passage underscores the human reliance on diurnal patterns before the advent of artificial lighting. This time of day would have carried a natural signal for human activities to wind down and for people to seek safety and rest.

Commentaries

Commentary on Luke 24:29 can vary among theologians and Biblical scholars.

For example, the renowned Bible commentator Matthew Henry interprets the disciples' urge for Jesus to stay with them as an innate desire of human nature for divine company, especially in times of confusion and distress following the turmoil of Jesus's death.

John Calvin sees in it a lesson on humility and hospitality, remarking on how the disciples were willing to share their modest meal with Jesus, which eventually led to their eyes being opened to His identity.

Contemporary commentaries often focus on the theme of recognition and relationship, how Jesus meets people in their walk of life, accompanying them in both their physical journeys and spiritual searches, often in unexpected ways.

Luke 24

Luke 24

What does Luke 24:29 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 24:29 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?