Luke 24:27

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

Luke 24:44

Verse 44. These are the words. Or this is the fulfilment of what I before told you respecting my death. See Lk 18:33, Mk 10:33.

While I was yet with you. Before my death. While I was with you as a teacher and guide.

In the law of Moses. The five books of Moses-- Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy. Among the Jews this was the first division of the Old Testament, and was called the law.

The prophets. This was the second and largest part of the Hebrew Scriptures. It comprehended the books of Joshua, Judges, 1st and 2nd Samuel, 1st and 2nd Kings, which were called the former prophets; and Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and the twelve smaller books from Daniel to Malachi, which were called the latter prophets.

The psalms. The word here used probably means what were comprehended under the name of Hagiographa, or holy writings. This consisted of the Psalms, Proverbs, Job, Song of Solomon, Ruth, Lamentations, Ecclesiastes, Esther, Daniel, Ezra, and Nehemiah, and the two books of Chronicles. This division of the Old Testament was in use long before the time of Christ, and was what he referred to here; and he meant to say that in each of these divisions of the Old Testament there were prophecies respecting himself. The particular subject before them was his resurrection from the dead. A most striking prediction of this is contained in Ps 16:9-11. Compare it with Acts 2:24-32, 13:35-37.

(f) "These are" Mt 16:21 (g) "that all things" Lk 21:22, Acts 3:18, 13:27,33 (h) "in the prophets" Lk 24:27 (i) "in the Psalms" Ps 22:1
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