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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 24:3 mean?

Explanation

Luke 24:3 delivers a straightforward yet profound statement that is key to the Christian faith.

Following the crucifixion of Jesus, this verse narrates the moment when several women, who were followers of Jesus, went to his tomb with spices to anoint his body, as per the Jewish burial customs of that time.

Upon entering the tomb, they found it empty; the body of Jesus was not there.

This discovery was shocking to them because it was unexpected and contrary to natural events, dead bodies do not simply disappear from sealed tombs.

The empty tomb signified that something miraculous had occurred, which is later understood to be the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Top Rated Luke Books

Historical Context

The Gospel of Luke was written in a historical context where the Roman Empire dominated the region. Persecution and social ostracism were common for the early followers of Jesus.

The account in Luke is believed to have been written after the event, likely between A.D. 60 and A.D. 80.

The narrative recounts the visit to the tomb on the first day of the week, following the Jewish Sabbath, which would be our Sunday.

Jewish burial practices at the time involved anointing the body and preparing it properly for burial, which is why the women came to the tomb with spices.

Theological Insights

From a theological perspective, this verse underscores the core Christian concept of resurrection. To these women, the empty tomb was the first sign of Jesus's victory over death, a cornerstone of Christian doctrine.

Many theologians also note the significance of women being the first to witness the empty tomb and, shortly thereafter, the resurrected Jesus, highlighting their important role in the early church.

In the broader context of Jewish messianic expectations, the resurrection was a unique event that redefined the concept of messiahship.

Practical Applications

The teachings of this verse can be applied in daily life by inspiring hope and affirming the belief in life after death.

For Christians, the empty tomb is a symbol of the possibility of new beginnings and the triumph over seemingly insurmountable obstacles.

It encourages believers to face challenges with faith and optimism, keeping in mind that what appears to be an end could in fact be a new beginning.

Cross-References

Matthew 28:6 - "He is not here: for he is risen, as he said.

Come, see the place where the Lord lay."

Mark 16:6 - "And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him."
John 20:2 - "Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we know not where they have laid him."

Language Study

The key words in this verse are:

"Entered in" (εἰσῆλθον): A Greek word that implies going inside, suggesting an investigation or intentional action to verify the state of the tomb.
"Found" (οὐχ εὕρον): This Greek term signifies a discovery, or in this case, a lack thereof, underscoring an unexpected outcome.
"Body" (σῶμα): Here, it refers to the physical body of Jesus, which was supposed to be in the tomb.
"Lord Jesus" (τοῦ Κυρίου Ἰησοῦ): This is a reverent way to refer to Jesus, acknowledging his divine and authoritative identity.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In comparison to other ancient myths and religious interpretations, the concept of resurrection found in Christianity is unique, especially in the sense that it is presented as a historical and bodily resurrection.

Similar stories in various cultures might involve spiritual journeys or reincarnation, but not a one-time, physical resurrection from the dead with a promise of eternal life.

Scientific Perspectives

From a scientific standpoint, the concept of someone being raised from the dead is not supported by the natural law of biogenesis, where life can only come from life, not from non-life.

However, many argue that by definition, miracles are events that supersede natural law, and therefore, are not within the bounds of scientific analysis.

Commentaries

Various experts and biblical commentators have examined this verse.

Some assert the centrality of the empty tomb as historical validation for the claims of Jesus's resurrection. Others focus on the reliability of the Gospel accounts, due to the consistent testimonies about the empty tomb across the different Gospels.

Many highlight the importance of the women witnesses, with some scholars suggesting this lends credibility to the Gospel narratives since the testimony of women was undervalued in that culture, making it an unlikely fabrication.

Luke 24

Luke 24

What does Luke 24:3 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 24:3 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?