Luke 24:26

26 Whether it behooved not Christ to suffer these things, and so to enter into his glory?

Luke 24:26 Meaning and Commentary

Luke 24:26

Ought not Christ to have suffered these things
Mentioned in ( Luke 24:20 ) as to be delivered by the chief priests, to be condemned to death, and to be crucified: Christ suffered many things in his personal character, being traduced as a sinful and wicked man, and a friend and encourager of sinners; as a man of immoral principles and practices; as an idolater, a blasphemer, an impostor, a seditious person; as one that had had familiarity with the devil, and did his miracles by his assistance, with a load of other reproaches; and these he endured, to answer to the loss of the divine honour and glory, sustained by the sin of man; and to teach his people patience, under the loss of their good names, characters, and reputations: and he suffered much in his body, in the infirmities of it; which he assumed with it, being in all things like to his brethren, excepting sin; and in the pains which he endured, through buffeting and scourging before his crucifixion, and when he hung upon the cross: and he suffered greatly in his soul, partly from the temptations of Satan; and partly from the treatment of his own disciples, through the frowardness of their spirits; and especially his being betrayed by one, denied by another, and forsaken by them all, must greatly afflict his mind; but chiefly from his bearing the loathsome sins of men, the strokes of justice, and the wrath of God; and particularly, through his being forsaken by him: and of all these there was a necessity; he ought to have suffered these things, as he did; the counsels and purposes of God, the covenant transactions and agreement he himself entered into with his Father, the prophecies of the Old Testament, and his own predictions concerning these things, together with the salvation of his people, in a way consistent with the justice of God, and the honour of his law, made them necessary: and to enter into his glory;
which began at his resurrection from the dead, and is seen in his exaltation and session at the right hand of God; upon his ascension he was received up to glory, entered into it, took possession of it, and is crowned with it; and which will still be more manifest, when he shall come to judge the world in righteousness; when his saints also shall appear in glory with him, and shall be everlasting spectators of his glory; and indeed, his entrance into glory is not merely for himself, but in the name and behalf of them. The Vulgate Latin version reads, "and so, or thus to enter into his glory"; that is, by the way of sufferings, which is the way through which his saints enter the kingdom, ( Acts 14:22 ) . And by a view of the glory that was to follow them, and which he and his people were to enjoy together, was he animated to endure them cheerfully and patiently; and this he is entered into, possesses and enjoys, as the consequence and reward of his sufferings.

Luke 24:26 In-Context

24 And some [men] of ours went to the grave, and they found so as the women said, but they found not him [but him they found not].
25 And he said to them, A! fools [O! fools], and slow of heart to believe in all things that the prophets have spoken.
26 Whether it behooved not Christ to suffer these things, and so to enter into his glory?
27 And he began at Moses and at all the prophets, and declared to them in all scriptures, that were of him. [And he beginning at Moses and all the prophets, expounded to them in all scriptures, which were of him.]
28 And they came nigh to the castle, whither they went. And he made countenance that he would go further.
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.