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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 24:38 mean?

Explanation

In Luke 24:38, Jesus addresses his disciples' doubts and fears following his resurrection.

The context of the verse is a post-crucifixion appearance of Jesus to his followers, where they are startled and frightened, mistaking him for a spirit. In his response, He is acknowledging their doubts and challenging them to understand the reality of His resurrection.

The verse highlights the human tendency to experience uncertainty and fear even in the face of divine revelation.

Jesus's question, "Why are ye troubled?" addresses their emotional state.

He then follows with, "and why do thoughts arise in your hearts?" which speaks to the internal doubts and intellectual skepticism they have about his physical presence.

The deeper meaning of this question is an invitation for them, and by extension all believers, to move beyond fear and doubt to a place of trust and faith in Him.

Top Rated Luke Books

Historical Context

This verse is found in the Gospel of Luke, which is believed to have been written around 80-110 AD.

Luke was a physician and a companion of Paul.

This Gospel provides detailed accounts of Jesus's life, death, and resurrection.

During this time, the early Christian community faced skepticism from both Jews who did not accept Jesus as the Messiah and Gentiles who adhered to polytheistic religions.

The disciples themselves were Jews living under Roman occupation, and their hopes of a Messiah were typically in the form of a liberator from the oppressive Roman rule.

The suffering and death of Jesus on the cross had shattered their expectations.

His resurrection was not only miraculous but also difficult to understand within their cultural and historical context.

Theological Insights

From an orthodox Christian perspective, this verse demonstrates the divine knowledge of Christ, as he immediately knows the trouble in their hearts, and his resurrected body, which can still interact with his disciples.

Moreover, this verse captures an essential tenet of Christian belief: Jesus's resurrection is a cornerstone of the faith.

Different theological viewpoints can derive from this verse: some highlight the importance of faith over doubt; others may interpret Jesus's challenge as an invitation to seek understanding and reaffirm one's faith through questioning.

Liberation theologians might see in Jesus' questioning a call to introspection and a detachment from fear in the struggle for justice. Meanwhile, existentialists might argue that the verse underscores the tension between human anxiety and the search for meaning in the face of the divine.

Practical Applications

This verse encourages individuals to face their doubts, fears, and uncertainties. Practically speaking, believers are reminded that it is natural to experience confusion or fear, but they are also called to trust in God's promises and plan.

In daily life, one might see this as an encouragement to be honest about one's feelings but also to seek truth and reassurance through faith, prayer, and community.

In moments of doubt or crisis, this verse can serve as a reminder to seek peace and understanding through reflection and conversation with God and others.

Cross-References

John 20:19-20: “Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.”
John 14:27: "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you.

Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."

Matthew 14:27: "But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid."
Mark 6:50: "For they all saw him, and were troubled.

And immediately he talked with them, and saith unto them, Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid."

Language Study

The key words in the original Greek text of this verse that stand out are "ταράσσεσθαι" (tarassesthai) meaning "to be troubled" and "διαλογισμοί" (dialogismoi) meaning "thoughts" or "doubts." These terms suggest a state of emotional disturbance and mental questioning or reasoning.

The choice of "ταράσσεσθαι" could indicate not just a mild worry but a deep agitation, while "διαλογισμοί" encompasses a range of internal questioning that can include doubt, debate, or contemplation.

The use of both terms together captures the intersection of emotional upheaval and cognitive doubt.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Comparing this event to other ancient myths, the theme of a god or hero conquering death is not unique to Christianity, resurrection motifs can be found in various mythologies.

However, the appearance of the risen Jesus and his dialogue with the disciples sets this narrative apart from myth because it emphasizes personal relationship and transformation rather than a general pattern of death and rebirth.

In the Greco-Roman world, skeptics would have seen such accounts of resurrection as implausible, given their familiarity with mythological tales that were often understood allegorically rather than as historical events.

The Jewish tradition also has various interpretations of life after death, but the concrete idea of a bodily resurrection happening in historical time was unprecedented.

Scientific Perspectives

Modern scientific understandings of life and death do not support the concept of resurrection as described in the Bible.

Scientific consensus maintains that once biological death occurs, reanimation of a body in the way described by the New Testament is not possible by natural means.

However, some argue that science and religion address different realms of experience and that the resurrection is more a matter of theological belief than scientific inquiry.

Others may look to psychology and the study of human consciousness to explore the nature of experiences like those of the disciples, suggesting psychological or neurological explanations for their perceptions of Jesus after his death.

Commentaries

Biblical scholars and commentators have varying interpretations of this verse.

Some commentaries focus on the comforting nature of Jesus's appearance and words, emphasizing the peace he brings in the midst of fear and doubt.

Others highlight the role of this encounter in confirming the physical reality of Jesus's resurrection body, which could be touched and seen, challenging the disciples' misguided expectations of what a Messiah was supposed to be.

Still, others might draw attention to the rhetorical nature of Jesus's questions, which do not seek information but rather prompt self-examination and reflection in the listener.

Through these questions, Jesus invites the disciples to come to terms with their doubts and to grow in their understanding and faith.

Luke 24

Luke 24

What does Luke 24:38 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 24:38 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?