PrevLuke 24:30Next

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 24:30 mean?

Explanation

The verse Luke 24:30 takes place after Jesus' resurrection when he appears to two of his disciples on the road to Emmaus.

The disciples do not recognize him at first.

With this verse, we reach the moment of revelation, the climax of this particular narrative, when Jesus is revealed to his companions.

He sits down to share a meal with them, and it is through the familiar action of blessing, breaking, and distributing the bread that his identity is made known to them.

This is more than a simple description of a meal; it is laden with meaning and echoes the Last Supper, where Jesus instituted the Eucharist.

The 'breaking of bread' is a phrase which would later be associated by the early church with the rite of communion, and this event symbolizes the presence of Christ with his followers through this sacrament.

Top Rated Luke Books

Historical Context

Luke 24:30 is set in the context of the immediate aftermath of Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection, around 30-33 A.D.

Judaism was the dominant religious tradition in the region, and shared meals had significant religious and communal connotations.

Breaking bread was an intimate act, often associated with hospitality, fellowship, and covenant.

Additionally, this scene would resonate with the early Christian community, which Luke would be writing to around 60-90 A.D., as they practiced the "breaking of bread" in memory of Jesus' death and resurrection.

Theological Insights

From a Christian theological perspective, this verse emphasizes the resurrected Jesus' continued presence and revelation to his followers and has implications for the understanding of the Eucharist or Communion.

Many Christian traditions view this verse as a portrayal of Jesus' ability to reveal himself in the ordinary elements of life, such as bread, and through established rituals like blessings.

This has led to various interpretations regarding the real presence of Christ in the sacrament of Communion.

In Catholicism, it supports the doctrine of transubstantiation, whereas Protestant traditions might view it more symbolically.

Practical Applications

This verse can inspire individuals to recognize the sacred in the ordinary aspects of life and be open to encounters with the divine in unexpected places and moments.

It encourages hospitability and the value of sharing meals as meaningful community experiences.

For those of Christian faith, it supports the practice of communion and can be seen as an invitation to regularly participate in this rite as a means of spiritual nourishment and remembrance of Jesus.

Cross-References

Luke 22:19: "And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me."
Acts 2:46: "And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,"
1 Corinthians 11:24: "And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me."

Language Study

In the original Greek text of Luke 24:30:

"Blessed" (εὐλόγησεν, eulogesen) means to give thanks or to speak well of.

It is where the English word "eulogy" comes from.

"Brake" (κλάσας, klasas) entails the action of breaking, which was a customary way to start a meal in Jewish tradition.
"Gave" (ἐπέδιδουν, epedidoun) implies the action of giving or distributing to them.

The tense used suggests a continuous action, which can reflect the ongoing giving and grace of Christ.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

The act of breaking bread and sharing a meal has parallels in many other cultural and religious traditions as a symbol of fellowship and peace.

In ancient Greek culture, for instance, sharing a meal could be a part of religious fellowship known as a "symposium." In Judaism, meals are often ceremonial events with blessings over bread and wine, like the Shabbat or Passover meals.

The resemblance between these cultural practices and the Christian Eucharist suggests a shared human understanding of the communal and spiritual significance of shared meals.

Scientific Perspectives

From a scientific perspective, the process of eating together can be analyzed in terms of biology and psychology. Communal eating helps establish social bonds and is a key component of human evolution as a social species.

While this verse does not directly relate to any specific scientific concept, it acknowledges the importance of shared experiences in building community, which resonates with findings in social sciences about human behavior and social cohesion.

Commentaries

Commentaries on Luke 24:30 offer various insights into its significance:

Many scholars note the parallels with the Last Supper and the post-resurrection meals that Jesus shares, emphasizing the theme of recognition and revelation during meals.
Some commentaries, like those by theologians like R.C.H.

Lenski, focus on the liturgical and sacramental aspects, suggesting that this passage reflects the early Christian practice of the Lord's Supper.

Others, such as those from the social-historical perspective, analyze how the act of Jesus breaking bread with his disciples breaks social barriers, reflecting a radical inclusivity that was central to his ministry.

Luke 24

Luke 24

What does Luke 24:30 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 24:30 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?