Luk 24:14-31 | Barnes

Luke 24:14-31

Verse 15. Communed together. Talked together.

And reasoned. They reasoned, doubtless, about the probability or improbability that Jesus was the Messiah; about the evidence of his resurrection; about what was to be done in the present state of things.

Jesus himself drew near, &c. The disciples were properly employed. Their minds were anxious about the state of things, and they endeavoured to arrive at the truth. In this state of things Jesus came to solve their doubts, and to establish them in the belief that he was the Christ; and we may learn from this that Christ will guide those who are sincerely endeavouring to know the truth. They who candidly and seriously endeavour to ascertain what is true and right he will direct; and often in an unexpected manner he will appear, to dissipate their doubts and to scatter all their perplexities. Our duty is sincerely to strive to ascertain the truth, and to do his will; and if his people do this, he will not leave them to perplexity and wandering.

(h) "communed" Mal 3:16, Mt 18:20, Lk 24:36 Verse 16. Their eyes were holden. This expression is used merely to denote that they did not know who he was. It does not appear that there was anything supernatural or miraculous in it, or that God used any power to blind them. It may easily be accounted for without any such supposition; for,

1st. Jesus appeared in another form (Mk 16:12)--that is, different from his usual appearance.

2nd. They were not expecting to see him--indeed, they did not suppose that he was alive and it required the strongest evidence to convince them that he was really risen from the dead.

(i) "holden" Jn 20:14,15, 21:4 Verse 17. What manner of communications, &c. What is the subject of your conversation? What is it that has so much affected your minds? They were deeply affected in the recollection of the death of Jesus; and, as became all Christians, they were conversing about him, and were sad at the overwhelming events that had come upon them. Verse 18. Art thou only a stranger? &c. This is an expression of surprise that he should be unacquainted with an affair that had made so much noise, and that had been attended with so remarkable circumstances. The word stranger here denotes one who had come to reside at a place only for a time, not a permanent inhabitant. Many Jews came up from all parts of the world to Jerusalem, to keep the Passover there. They appear to have taken Jesus to be such a stranger or foreigner. The meaning of this verse may be thus expressed: "The affair concerning which we are sad has been well

known, and has made a great talk and noise, so that all,

even the strangers who have come up to remain there but

a little time, are well acquainted with it. Art thou the

only one of them who has not heard it? Is everybody so

well acquainted with it, and thou hast not heard of it?

It is a matter of surprise, and we cannot account for it."

(k) "Cleopas" Jn 19:25 Verse 19. A prophet. A teacher sent from God. They did not now call him the Messiah, for his death had led them to doubt that, but they had no doubt that he was a distinguished prophet. The evidence of that was so clear that they could not call it in question.

Mighty in deed. Powerful in working miracles, in raising the dead, healing the sick, &c.

In word. In teaching.

Before God and all the people. Manifestly; publicly. So that God owned him, and the people regarded him as a distinguished teacher.

(l) "prophet" Lk 7:16, Jn 3:2, Acts 2:22 (m) "mighty" Acts 7:22 Verse 20. Mt 26:59, also Mt 26:60-66

(n) "now" Lk 23:1, Acts 13:27,28 Verse 21. We trusted. We hoped and expected.

Should have redeemed Israel. That he was the Messiah, who would have delivered the nation from the Romans.

Besides all this. It is to be observed that Cleopas states things just as they occurred to his own mind. There is little connection. His mind is confused and distracted. There were so many things that were remarkable in Jesus; there was so much evidence that he was the Messiah; their hopes had been so suddenly dashed by his death, and the succeeding events had been so wonderful, that his mind was confused, and he knew not what to think. The things which he now stated served to increase his perplexity. The expressions here are perfectly natural. They bespeak an agitated mind. They are simple touches of nature, which show that the book was not forged. If the book had been the work of imposture, this artless and perplexed narrative would not have been thought of.

Today is the third day, &c. Jesus had foretold them that he would rise on the third day. This they did not understand; but it is not improbable that they looked to this day expecting something wonderful, and that the visit to the sepulchre had called it to their recollection, and they were more and more amazed when they put all these things together. As if they had said, "The third day is come, and we have not seen him. Yet

we begin to remember his promise--the angels have

informed us that he is alive--but we do not know

how to put these things together, or what to make

of them."

Verses 22,23. Certain women. See Mt 28:1-7; Jn 20:12

A vision of angels. An appearance of angels, or they had seen angels. See Jn 20:12. Verse 24. Certain of them which were with us. Peter and John. See Jn 20:2-9.

(q) "Certain" He 5:11,12 Verse 25. O fools. The word fool sometimes is a term of reproach denoting wickedness. In this sense we are forbidden to employ it in addressing another, Mt 5:22. That, however, is a different word in the Greek from the one which occurs here. The one there used implies contempt, but the one employed in this place denotes weakness or dulness. He reproached them for not seeing what he had himself so clearly predicted, and what had been foretold by the prophets. The word used in the original does not imply as much reproach as the word fool does among us. It was not an expression of contempt; it was an expression denoting merely that they were thoughtless, and that they did not properly attend to the evidence that he must die and rise again.

Slow of heart to believe. Not quick to perceive. Dull of learning. They had suffered their previous opinions and prejudices to prevent their seeing the evidence that he must die and rise from the dead.

All that the prophets have spoken. Respecting the character and sufferings of the Messiah. Lk 24:27.

(r) "O, fools" He 5:11,12 Verse 26. Ought not Christ, &c. Ought not the Messiah. Was there not evidence that he would do it? and was it not indispensable that he should, in order to fulfil the prophecies? The necessity of his suffering these things referred to here was that it was foretold that he would. The reason why it was predicted, and why it was necessary that it should occur, was that it was proper that God should manifest his justice, and do honour to his law, and secure the due regard for his government, while he pardoned the guilty.

(s) Lk 24:46, Acts 17:3, He 9:22,23 Verse 27. Beginning at Moses. At the writings of Moses, or at the beginning of the Old Testament; or rather the word beginning should be separated from what follows, denoting simply that he commenced his discourse, and not that he began at the prophets as well as at Moses; thus, "And commencing his discourse, or replying to them, he expounded from Moses and the prophets," &c.

All the prophets. The books of the Old Testament generally.

He expounded. He explained or interpreted it to them. Probably he showed them that their notions of the Messiah were not according to the Scriptures. They expected a temporal prince; they were perplexed because Jesus had not assumed the regal power, but had been put to death. He showed them that according to the prophecies he ought to suffer, and that his death, therefore, was no argument that he was not the Messiah.

In all the scriptures. In all the writings of the Old Testament. They were called scriptures because they were written, the art of printing being then unknown.

The things concerning himself. Concerning the Messiah. It does not appear that he applied them to himself, but left them, probably, to make the application. He showed what the Scriptures foretold, and they saw that these things applied to Jesus of Nazareth, and began to be satisfied that he was the Messiah. The most striking passages foretelling the character and sufferings of Christ are the following, which we may suppose it possible our Saviour dwelt upon to convince them that, though he was crucified, yet he was the Christ: Gen 3:15, De 18:15, Gen 49:10, Nu 21:8-9, Is 53:1-12, Dan 9:25-27; Is 9:6,7, Ps 110:1-7, Ps 16:1-11, Ps 22:1-31, Mal 4:2-6

(u) "Moses" Lk 24:44, Acts 3:22 (v) "the prophets" Acts 10:43, 26:22 Verse 28. He made as though he would have gone further. He did not say he would go farther, but he kept on as if it was not his intention to stop, and doubtless he would have gone on if they had not constrained him to tarry.

(w) "and he made as though" Gen 32:26, Mk 6:48 Verse 29. Constrained him. They urged him, or pressingly invited him. They did not yet perceive that it was Jesus, but they had been charmed and delighted with his discourse, and they wished to hear him farther. Christians are delighted with communion with the Saviour. They seek it as the chief object of their desire, and they find their chief pleasure in fellowship with him. The two disciples felt it a privilege to entertain the stranger, as they supposed, who had so charmed them with his discourse; and so those to whom the gospel is preached, and who love it, feel it a privilege, and not a burden, to show kindness to those who bear to them the message of salvation.

Abide with us. Remain with us, or pass the night in our house. Verse 30. Sat at meat. Reclined at the table, or while he was at supper.

He took bread and blessed it, &c. This was the office of the master of a feast, and perhaps this first attracted particularly their attention. Though he was in their house, yet he acted as master of the feast, as he used to do with them before his death. Perhaps, also, as he gave them the bread, they observed the prints in his hands, and they knew that it was Jesus. This was not a sacramental, but a common supper; yet our Saviour sought a blessing on the food, and thus set an example to all his followers to acknowledge God in their daily gifts, and to seek his benediction in all their enjoyments.

(2) "vanished" or, "ceased to be seen of them" Verse 31. Their eyes were opened. The obscurity was removed. They saw him to be the Messiah. Their doubts were gone, and they saw clearly that he was risen, and was truly, as they had long hoped, the Saviour of men. It is not meant that they were before blind, but that they did not know till then who he was.

He vanished out of their sight. He suddenly departed. It does not appear that there was anything miraculous in this, but, during their surprise, he took the opportunity suddenly to withdraw from them.

(2) "vanished" or, "ceased to be seen of them"