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Luke 24

Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them.

And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre.

And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus.

And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments:

And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead?

He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee,

Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.

And they remembered his words,

And returned from the sepulchre, and told all these things unto the eleven, and to all the rest.

It was Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other women that were with them, which told these things unto the apostles.

And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not.

Then arose Peter, and ran unto the sepulchre; and stooping down, he beheld the linen clothes laid by themselves, and departed, wondering in himself at that which was come to pass.

And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs.

And they talked together of all these things which had happened.

And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them.

But their eyes were holden that they should not know him.

And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad?

And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass therein these days?

And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people:

And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him.

But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done.

Yea, and certain women also of our company made us astonished, which were early at the sepulchre;

And when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that he was alive.

And certain of them which were with us went to the sepulchre, and found it even so as the women had said: but him they saw not.

Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken:

Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?

And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.

And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they went: and he made as though he would have gone further.

But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them.

And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them.

And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight.

And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?

And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them,

Saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon.

And they told what things were done in the way, and how he was known of them in breaking of bread.

And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.

But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit.

And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts?

Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.

And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet.

And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat?

And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb.

And he took it, and did eat before them.

And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.

Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,

And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:

And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

And ye are witnesses of these things.

And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.

And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them.

And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven.

And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy:

And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen.

What does Luke 24:21 mean?

Explanation

The verse Luke 24:21 expresses the disappointment and confusion that Jesus' followers felt after his crucifixion.

They had believed Jesus was the Messiah ("he which should have redeemed Israel"), who would liberate Israel from foreign oppression and restore the kingdom to its former glory.

The phrase "to day is the third day since these things were done" refers to the time elapsed since Jesus' crucifixion.

This is significant because Jesus had foretold that he would rise on the third day.

The disciples' words reflect their loss of hope and the harsh reality of their unmet expectations.

Top Rated Luke Books

Historical Context

Luke 24:21 is part of the post-resurrection narrative in the Gospel of Luke, where two of Jesus' disciples are on the road to Emmaus and are joined by the resurrected Jesus, whom they do not recognize.

The historical context of this verse is in first-century Judea under Roman rule.

The Jews were anticipating a political and military savior to deliver them from Roman rule.

The crucifixion of Jesus, instead of appearing to be a fulfillment of messianic prophecy, seemed to dash all hopes of deliverance.

Theological Insights

Christian theology interprets this verse as emphasizing the disciples' misunderstanding of the nature of Jesus' ministry and messiahship. The disciples expected an earthly king, but the Christian understanding is that Jesus' purpose was spiritual redemption.

Moreover, discussions on prophetic fulfillment point to Jesus fulfilling prophecies like the Suffering Servant in Isaiah 53, rather than a political liberation.

Some theologians suggest that the disciples' disappointment was crucial for their understanding and witnessing of the resurrection, transforming their faith and their mission.

Practical Applications

Luke 24:21 can be used to reflect on the nature of hope and expectation in the face of adversity.

Sometimes what appears as failure or the end of one's hopes is a precursor to a new understanding or the unfolding of a different purpose.

Practical applications of this verse include trusting in God's plan even when it seems counter to expectations and understanding that divine timing can conflict with human timing.

Cross-References

Luke 24:5-7: "...Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee,"
John 20:9: "For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead."
Psalm 22:1-18: This passage is often associated with the suffering of Christ and reflects the nature of his mission as the Messiah.
Isaiah 53:3-5: Describes the Suffering Servant, seen as a prophecy of Jesus' atoning sacrifice for humanity's sins.

Language Study

In the original Greek text, the key phrase "which should have redeemed" is translated from "ἤλπιζεν λυτροῦσθαι" (ēlpizen lytrousthai).

The term "ἤλπιζεν" (ēlpizen) is the imperfect tense of "ἐλπίζω" (elpizō), which means "to hope".

It indicates a continuous past action. "λυτροῦσθαι" (lytrousthai) is an infinitive form from "λυτρόω" (lytroō) which means "to release by paying a ransom," commonly used in the context of redemption or salvation.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

The expectation of a redeemer in Luke 24:21 can be compared with other ancient cultures that had messianic figures.

For instance, in some strands of Zoroastrianism, there was an expectation of a Saoshyant, a savior figure.

In Jewish tradition, the idea of a messianic age is prevalent, where a messiah figure would establish a period of peace and harmony.

The disappointment expressed by the disciples resonates with the universal human experience of disillusionment when a deeply held belief or prophecy appears unfulfilled.

Scientific Perspectives

From a scientific perspective, discussions about Jesus' resurrection and the anticipation of the disciples in Luke 24:21 generally do not intersect with empirical scientific inquiry, as they involve matters of faith and supernatural events.

However, psychology may offer insights into human behavior in relation to hope, belief, and cognitive dissonance experienced by the disciples in the face of unexpected outcomes.

Commentaries

According to renowned biblical scholars, this verse is reflective of the disciple's lack of understanding of Jesus's words about his own death and resurrection.

Matthew Henry's Commentary states that often Jesus Christ's own disciples have more wrong thoughts about the Christ and his kingdom, taking it to be of this world.

Similarly, the Pulpit Commentary elaborates on the concept of the third day being significant in Judaism and the disciple's anticipation of immediate change, which did not align with what actually happened, contributing to their confusion and disappointment.

Luke 24

Luke 24

What does Luke 24:21 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Luke Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Luke 24:21 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Luke Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?