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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 24:35 mean?

Explanation

Luke 24:35 is part of the larger narrative of the Road to Emmaus, where two disciples are walking from Jerusalem to the village of Emmaus after the crucifixion of Jesus.

During the journey, the risen Christ joins them, but they do not recognize him.

Jesus converses with them and interprets scriptures concerning himself.

It is only later, when he breaks bread with them at a meal, that their eyes are opened and they recognize him, but he vanishes from their sight.

In this verse, the two disciples return to Jerusalem and recount to the eleven apostles and other followers gathered there what happened on the road and specifically how Jesus was recognized by them in the breaking of bread.

The verse captures both the literal event of recounting their experience and the deeper significance of the breaking of bread as an act of revelation and recognition.

The act of breaking bread is a metaphor for fellowship, shared beliefs, and as it will become evident in Christian tradition, the institution of the Eucharist or Communion.

Top Rated Luke Books

Historical Context

Luke 24:35 comes from the Gospel of Luke, which is believed to have been written around 80-110 AD, a few decades after the death of Jesus.

Luke wrote his gospel for a predominantly Gentile audience.

The story of the Road to Emmaus and the subsequent breaking of bread would have resonated with this Gentile and Jewish-Christian readership, as communal meals and bread-breaking were common cultural practices with deep-rooted social and religious significance.

The context, both before and after this verse, includes themes of revelation, belief, and doubt in the resurrection.

There is also a broader context of adversity and hope, as the disciples were grappling with the crucifixion of Jesus and were trying to understand the events that followed, including reports of his resurrection.

Theological Insights

Theologically, this verse implies the recognition and revelation of Jesus through the act of breaking bread, which Christians interpret as a prefiguration of the Eucharist.

The Eucharist is now a central sacrament in Christian liturgy, emblematic of Jesus' sacrifice and his presence among believers.

For many theologians, this event also emphasizes the idea that Jesus is not always recognized through sight alone but through acts and symbols central to the faith.

Furthermore, it highlights the importance of community and fellowship in the Christian life, as Jesus was revealed in the midst of a communal act.

Practical Applications

Believers today can draw from this verse the importance of fellowship and community in their spiritual lives. The act of sharing meals can be a sacred space for connection and revelation.

Additionally, this verse can teach the value of hospitality and opening one's home and table to others, recognizing the divine in the midst of everyday activities.

For those who participate in the ritual of the Eucharist, this text is a reminder of the presence of Christ in the sacrament and in the community gathered in his name. It might also encourage believers to seek Jesus in the Scriptures and in their interactions with others.

Cross-References

Luke 24:30-31 - "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."

Acts 2:42 - "And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers."
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

Two key phrases in this verse in the original Greek text are worth examining:

"were done in the way" (τῇ ὁδῷ) - The word translated as "way" or "road" (ὁδῷ) here is not just referring to a physical path but may also metaphorically suggest life's journey or spiritual pathway.
"breaking of bread" (κλάσει τοῦ ἄρτου) - The term for "breaking" (κλάσει) carries with it the connotation of division and sharing, while "bread" (ἄρτου) was a staple food item and a symbol of sustenance and life.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In the Jewish tradition, bread holds significant religious value, symbolizing provision and blessing, especially during the Passover meal.

Comparatively, in the Christian faith, the breaking of bread develops additional layers of meaning post-resurrection, becoming associated with the body of Christ and the communion of believers.

Other religious traditions also have rituals involving food and sharing meals, often as expressions of community and shared belief. For example, in many ancient religions, communal feasts were a common way to worship and commune with the gods.

Scientific Perspectives

From a scientific perspective, one might explore the psychological impact of communal eating on human social behavior. Studies have shown that sharing meals can strengthen group cohesion and build trust.

While the verse discusses a religious recognition, science might frame the event in terms of the cognitive and emotional bonds that form in communal settings.

The sudden recognition of Jesus could also be discussed in terms of psychological phenomena such as priming, where the disciples' previous experiences with Jesus and their subsequent conversation primed them to finally recognize him through the familiar action of breaking bread.

Commentaries

Biblical scholars and theologians have offered various interpretations of Luke 24:35.

Many agree that this verse suggests a moment of profound realization for the disciples when they recognize the risen Christ. They note that the Emmaus story is a pattern of the Christian liturgical experience, moving from hearing the Word to breaking the bread.

Commentators like Scott Hahn have linked this event to the Mass, seeing in the disciples' journey a mirror of the liturgical structure of the Word and the Eucharist.

Others, like N.T.

Wright, emphasize the verse's significance in understanding the resurrection as a historical and transformative event that opened the disciples’ eyes to the new creation inaugurated by Jesus.

Luke 24

Luke 24

What does Luke 24:35 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 24:35 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?