Morning Bible Study: Luke 24:13-27

The Emmaus Disciples

13 Now that same day two of them were on their way to a village called Emmaus, which was about seven miles from Jerusalem. 

14 Together they were discussing everything that had taken place. 

15 And while they were discussing and arguing, Jesus himself came near and began to walk along with them. 

16 But they were prevented from recognizing him. 

17 Then he asked them, “What is this dispute that you’re having with each other as you are walking?” And they stopped walking and looked discouraged.

18 The one named Cleopas answered him, “Are you the only visitor in Jerusalem who doesn’t know the things that happened there in these days?”

19 “What things?” he asked them.

So they said to him, “The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet powerful in action and speech before God and all the people, 

20 and how our chief priests and leaders handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him. 

21 But we were hoping that he was the one who was about to redeem Israel. Besides all this, it’s the third day since these things happened. 

22 Moreover, some women from our group astounded us. They arrived early at the tomb, 

23 and when they didn’t find his body, they came and reported that they had seen a vision of angels who said he was alive. 

24 Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they didn’t see him.”

25 He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 

26 Wasn’t it necessary for the Messiah to suffer these things and enter into his glory?” 

27 Then beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted for them the things concerning himself in all the Scriptures.

Commentary

(the following is from Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary, 1706 -- www.christianity.com)

 

"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. 

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. 

Our Lord Jesus reproved them for the weakness of their faith in the Scriptures of the Old Testament. 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."

Who was Cleopas? Cleopas was not one of the twelve disciples, but believed to be one of the seventy [some manuscripts say seventy-two] referenced in Luke 10.

Morning Bible Study: Luke 24:1-12

Resurrection Morning

24:1 On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they [Other mss add and other women with them] came to the tomb, bringing the spices they had prepared. 

2 They found the stone rolled away from the tomb. 

3 They went in but did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 

4 While they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men stood by them in dazzling clothes. 

5 So the women were terrified and bowed down to the ground.

“Why are you looking for the living among the dead?” asked the men. 

6 “He is not here, but he has risen! Remember how he spoke to you when he was still in Galilee, 

7 saying, ‘It is necessary that the Son of Man be betrayed into the hands of sinful men, be crucified, and rise on the third day’?” 

8 And they remembered his words.

9 Returning from the tomb, they reported all these things to the Eleven and to all the rest. 

10 Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them were telling the apostles these things. 

11 But these words seemed like nonsense to them, and they did not believe the women. 

12 Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. When he stooped to look in, he saw only the linen cloths. So he went away, amazed at what had happened.

Commentary

(the following is from Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary, 1706 -- www.christianity.com)

"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."