Luke 24
CHAPTER 24
Luke 24:1-12 . ANGELIC ANNOUNCEMENT TO THE WOMEN THAT CHRIST IS RISEN--PETER'S VISIT TO THE EMPTY SEPULCHRE.
5. Why, &c.--Astonishing question! not "the risen," but "the Living One" (compare Revelation 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" ( Acts 2:24 ).
6. in Galilee--to which these women themselves belonged ( Luke 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! ( 1 Timothy 3:16 , "seen of angels," and 1 Peter 1:12 ).
Luke 24:13-35 . CHRIST APPEARS TO THE TWO GOING TO EMMAUS.
13. two of them--One was Cleopas ( Luke 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 Luke 24:18-24 .
drew near--coming up behind them as from Jerusalem.
eyes holden--Partly He was "in another form" ( Mark 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 mark 1:1 6:48 , Genesis 18:3 Genesis 18:5 , 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,