Luke 24

1 And, on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb bringing the spices they had prepared.

2 But they found the stone rolled back from the tomb,

3 and on entering they found that the body of the Lord Jesus was not there.

4 At this they were in great perplexity, when suddenly there stood by them two men whose raiment flashed like lightning.

5 The women were terrified; but, as they stood with their faces bowed to the ground, the men said to them, "Why do you search among the dead for Him who is living?

6 He is not here. He has come back to life. Remember how He spoke to you while He was still in Galilee,

7 when He told you that the Son of Man must be betrayed into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and on the third day rise again."

8 Then they remembered His words,

9 and returning from the tomb they reported all this to the Eleven and to all the rest.

10 The women were Mary of Magdala, Joanna, and Mary the mother of James; and they and the rest of the women related all this to the Apostles.

11 But the whole story seemed to them an idle tale; they could not believe the women.

12 Peter, however, rose and ran to the tomb. Stooping and looking in, he saw nothing but the linen cloths: so he went away to his own home, wondering at what had happened.

13 On that same day two of the disciples were walking to Emmaus, a village seven or eight miles from Jerusalem,

14 and were conversing about all these recent events;

15 and, in the midst of their conversation and discussion, Jesus Himself came and joined them,

16 though they were prevented from recognizing Him.

17 "What is the subject," He asked them, "on which you are talking so earnestly, as you walk?" And they stood still, looking full of sorrow.

18 Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered, "Are you a stranger lodging alone in Jerusalem, that you have known nothing of the things that have lately happened in the city?"

19 "What things?" He asked. "The things about Jesus the Nazarene," they said, "who was a Prophet powerful in work and word before God and all the people;

20 and how our High Priests and Rulers delivered Him up to be sentenced to death, and crucified Him.

21 But we were hoping that it was He who was about to ransom Israel. Yes, and moreover it was the day before yesterday that these things happened.

22 And, besides, some of the women of our company have amazed us. They went to the tomb at daybreak,

23 and, finding that His body was not there, they came and declared to us that they had also seen a vision of angels who said that He was alive.

24 Thereupon some of our party went to the tomb and found things just as the women had said; but Jesus Himself they did not see."

25 "O dull-witted men," He replied, "with minds so slow to believe all that the Prophets have spoken!

26 Was there not a necessity for the Christ thus to suffer, and then enter into His glory?"

27 And, beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He explained to them the passages in Scripture which refer to Himself.

28 When they had come near the village to which they were going, He appeared to be going further.

29 But they pressed Him to remain with them. "Because," said they, "it is getting towards evening, and the day is nearly over." So He went in to stay with them.

30 But as soon as He had sat down with them, and had taken the bread and had blessed and broken it, and was handing it to them,

31 their eyes were opened and they recognized Him. But He vanished from them.

32 "Were not our hearts," they said to one another, "burning within us while He talked to us on the way and explained the Scriptures to us?"

33 So they rose and without an hour's delay returned to Jerusalem, and found the Eleven and the rest met together, who said to them,

34 "Yes, it is true: the Master has come back to life. He has been seen by Simon."

35 Then they related what had happened on the way, and how He had been recognized by them in the breaking of the bread.

36 While they were thus talking, He Himself stood in their midst and said, "Peace be to you!"

37 Startled, and in the utmost alarm, they thought they were looking at a spirit;

38 but He said to them, "Why such alarm? And why are there such questionings in your minds?

39 See my hands and my feet--it is my very self. Feel me and see, for a spirit has not flesh and bones as you see I have."

40 And then He showed them His hands and His feet.

41 But, while they still could not believe it for joy and were full of astonishment, He asked them, "Have you any food here?"

42 And they gave Him a piece of roasted fish,

43 and He took it and ate it in their presence.

44 And He said to them, "This is what I told you while I was still with you--that everything must be fulfilled that is written in the Law of Moses and in the Prophets and the Psalms concerning me."

45 Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures,

46 and He said, "Thus it is written that the Christ would suffer and on the third day rise again from among the dead;

47 and that proclamation would be made, in His name, of repentance and forgiveness of sins to all the nations, beginning in Jerusalem.

48 You are witnesses as to these things.

49 And remember that I am about to send out my Father's promised gift to rest upon you. But, as for you, wait patiently in the city until you are clothed with power from on high."

50 And He brought them out to within view of Bethany, and then lifted up His hands and blessed them.

51 And while He was blessing them, He parted from them and was carried up into Heaven.

52 They worshipped Him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy.

53 Afterwards they were continually in attendance at the Temple, blessing God.

Luke 24 Commentary

Chapter 24

The resurrection of Christ. (1-12) He appears to two disciples on the way to Emmaus. (13-27) And makes himself known to them. (28-35) Christ appears to the other disciples. (36-49) His ascension. (50-53)

Verses 1-12 See the affection and respect the women showed to Christ, after he was dead and buried. Observe their surprise when they found the stone rolled away, and the grave empty. Christians often perplex themselves about that with which they should comfort and encourage themselves. They look rather to find their Master in his grave-clothes, than angels in their shining garments. The angels assure them that he is risen from the dead; is risen by his own power. These angels from heaven bring not any new gospel, but remind the women of Christ's words, and teach them how to apply them. We may wonder that these disciples, who believed Jesus to be the Son of God and the true Messiah, who had been so often told that he must die, and rise again, and then enter into his glory, who had seen him more than once raise the dead, yet should be so backward to believe his raising himself. But all our mistakes in religion spring from ignorance or forgetfulness of the words Christ has spoken. Peter now ran to the sepulchre, who so lately ran from his Master. He was amazed. There are many things puzzling and perplexing to us, which would be plain and profitable, if we rightly understood the words of Christ.

Verses 13-27 This appearance of Jesus to the two disciples going to Emmaus, happened the same day that he rose from the dead. It well becomes the disciples of Christ to talk together of his death and resurrection; thus they may improve one another's knowledge, refresh one another's memory, and stir up each other's devout affections. And where but two together are well employed in work of that kind, he will come to them, and make a third. Those who seek Christ, shall find him: he will manifest himself to those that inquire after him; and give knowledge to those who use the helps for knowledge which they have. No matter how it was, but so it was, they did not know him; he so ordering it, that they might the more freely discourse with him. Christ's disciples are often sad and sorrowful, even when they have reason to rejoice; but through the weakness of their faith, they cannot take the comfort offered to them. Though Christ is entered into his state of exaltation, yet he notices the sorrows of his disciples, and is afflicted in their afflictions. Those are strangers in Jerusalem, that know not of the death and sufferings of Jesus. Those who have the knowledge of Christ crucified, should seek to spread that knowledge. Our Lord Jesus reproved them for the weakness of their faith in the Scriptures of the Old Testament. Did we know more of the Divine counsels as far as they are made known in the Scriptures, we should not be subject to the perplexities we often entangle ourselves in. He shows them that the sufferings of Christ were really the appointed way to his glory; but the cross of Christ was that to which they could not reconcile themselves. Beginning at Moses, the first inspired writer of the Old Testament, Jesus expounded to them the things concerning himself. There are many passages throughout all the Scriptures concerning Christ, which it is of great advantage to put together. We cannot go far in any part, but we meet with something that has reference to Christ, some prophecy, some promise, some prayer, some type or other. A golden thread of gospel grace runs through the whole web of the Old Testament. Christ is the best expositor of Scripture; and even after his resurrection, he led people to know the mystery concerning himself, not by advancing new notions, but by showing how the Scripture was fulfilled, and turning them to the earnest study of it.

Verses 28-35 If we would have Christ dwell with us, we must be earnest with him. Those that have experienced the pleasure and profit of communion with him, cannot but desire more of his company. He took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them. This he did with his usual authority and affection, with the same manner, perhaps with the same words. He here teaches us to crave a blessing on every meal. See how Christ by his Spirit and grace makes himself known to the souls of his people. He opens the Scriptures to them. He meets them at his table, in the ordinance of the Lord's supper; is known to them in breaking of bread. But the work is completed by the opening of the eyes of their mind; yet it is but short views we have of Christ in this world, but when we enter heaven, we shall see him for ever. They had found the preaching powerful, even when they knew not the preacher. Those Scriptures which speak of Christ, will warm the hearts of his true disciples. That is likely to do most good, which affects us with the love of Jesus in dying for us. It is the duty of those to whom he has shown himself, to let others know what he has done for their souls. It is of great use for the disciples of Christ to compare their experiences, and tell them to each other.

Verses 36-49 Jesus appeared in a miraculous manner, assuring the disciples of his peace, though they had so lately forsaken him, and promising spiritual peace with every blessing. Many troublesome thoughts which disquiet our minds, rise from mistakes concerning Christ. All the troublesome thoughts which rise in our hearts at any time, are known to the Lord Jesus, and are displeasing to him. He spake with them on their unreasonable unbelief. Nothing had passed but what was foretold by the prophets, and necessary for the salvation of sinners. And now all men should be taught the nature and necessity of repentance, in order to the forgiveness of their sins. And these blessings were to be sought for, by faith in the name of Jesus. Christ by his Spirit works on the minds of men. Even good men need to have their understandings opened. But that we may have right thoughts of Christ, there needs no more than to be made to understand the Scriptures.

Verses 50-53 Christ ascended from Bethany, near the Mount of Olives. There was the garden in which his sufferings began; there he was in his agony. Those that would go to heaven, must ascend thither from the house of sufferings and sorrows. The disciples did not see him rise out of the grave; his resurrection could be proved by their seeing him alive afterwards: but they saw him ascend into heaven; they could not otherwise have a proof of his ascension. He lifted up his hands, and blessed them. He did not go away in displeasure, but in love, he left a blessing behind him. As he arose, so he ascended, by his own power. They worshipped him. This fresh display of Christ's glory drew from them fresh acknowledgments. They returned to Jerusalem with great joy. The glory of Christ is the joy of all true believers, even while they are here in this world. While waiting for God's promises, we must go forth to meet them with our praises. And nothing better prepares the mind for receiving the Holy Ghost. Fears are silenced, sorrows sweetened and allayed, and hopes kept up. And this is the ground of a Christian's boldness at the throne of grace; yea, the Father's throne is the throne of grace to us, because it is also the throne of our Mediator, Jesus Christ. Let us rely on his promises, and plead them. Let us attend his ordinances, praise and bless God for his mercies, set our affections on things above, and expect the Redeemer's return to complete our happiness. Amen. Even so, Lord Jesus, come quickly.