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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 24:40 mean?

Explanation

Luke 24:40 illustrates a pivotal moment where Jesus Christ, after His crucifixion and subsequent resurrection, presents Himself to His disciples and shows them the wounds on His hands and His feet.

This action serves as tangible proof to the disciples that He has indeed risen from the dead.

The hands and feet are pointed out because these parts of Jesus' body had been nailed to the cross, leaving marks that were recognizable signs of His crucifixion.

The act of showing His wounds serves both as a form of identification and as confirmation of His physical resurrection, demonstrating that He was not merely a spirit but had a bodily presence.

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Historical Context

This verse is part of the post-resurrection narratives in the Gospel of Luke, which date back to the first century A.D.

The disciples are likely experiencing a range of emotional reactions: fear, doubt, and astonishment.

Jesus appears to them to provide comfort and to strengthen their faith.

The notion that someone could rise from the dead would have been as startling then as it is now.

In ancient Jewish culture, a physical resurrection was not a widely held expectation; the Messiah’s defeat of death in such a literal sense was a transformative concept.

Theological Insights

Theologically, this verse carries significant weight.

In Christian doctrine, the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ is a core tenet, it is seen as the definitive proof of His divine nature and the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy.

By showing His hands and feet, Jesus addresses the doubt that may arise from human reason when confronted with the miraculous.

It also asserts the truth that the same Jesus who was crucified is the one who has risen, ensuring continuity between the pre-resurrection and the post-resurrection Jesus.

From a different theological perspective, this emphasis on physical evidence can been seen as bridging the spiritual and the material worlds, highlighting the Christian belief in the future resurrection of the body that believers will experience.

Practical Applications

In practical terms, Luke 24:40 can remind believers today to seek evidence of God's work in their lives and to recognize the importance of their embodied experience.

It may also encourage Christians to be patient with their own doubts and to look for ways God may be making His presence and reality known to them.

Additionally, it tends to reassure believers of the hope of their own resurrection and eternal life.

Cross-References

John 20:20: "And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side.

Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord."

John 20:27: "Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing."
Psalm 22:16: "For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet."
Zechariah 13:6: "And one shall say unto him, What are these wounds in thine hands? Then he shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends."

Language Study

In the original Greek text, the word ἔδειξεν (edeixen), translated as "shewed" or "showed," conveys the action of displaying or presenting something for observation.

The words for "hands" (χεῖρας, cheiras) and "feet" (πόδας, podas) are straightforward in their anatomical references and do not hold much ambiguity. The use of these particular nouns is significant since it presents physical parts of the body, affirming the corporeal nature of Jesus' resurrection.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Comparisons can be drawn with the ancient mystery religions, which often involved secretive rituals and mythological tales of gods dying and being reborn.

However, the Christian narrative differs significantly in that it does not present the resurrection as a mythical account but as a historically-grounded event.

Additionally, in many pagan myths, the gods' appearances are often grand and overpowering, while the Christian narrative describes Jesus' post-resurrection appearances as humble, inviting scrutiny and belief through gentle revelation.

Scientific Perspectives

From a scientific perspective, the concept of someone being physically dead and then returning to life days later goes against our biological understanding of death and decomposition.

Science would typically approach Jesus' wounds and resurrection from a skeptical standpoint, seeking natural explanations for these events.

Nonetheless, many who study the science-religion dialogue suggest that extraordinary claims like the resurrection, while not verifiable through scientific methodology, may be explored as phenomena of religious experience or as narratives carrying metaphorical truth.

Commentaries

Various biblical scholars and theologians have explored Luke 24:40 extensively.

Some emphasize the didactic purpose of the verse, showing that Jesus wanted His disciples to fully comprehend the reality of His resurrection. Others suggest that the wounds on Jesus' resurrected body serve as a powerful symbol of His sacrifice for humanity's sins.

Commentators like Matthew Henry have interpreted the verse as an act of compassion by Jesus to alleviate the fears and doubts of his followers. Modern scholarship often continues to wrestle with the physicality of the resurrection and how it should be understood in contemporary Christian faith.

Luke 24

Luke 24

What does Luke 24:40 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 24:40 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?