Jamieson–Fausset–Brown CommentaryLuke 24

CHAPTER 24

Lu 24:1-12. Angelic Announcement to the Women That Christ Is Risen--Peter's Visit to the Empty Sepulchre.

(See on Mr 16:1-8; and Mt 28:1-5). 5. Why, &c.--Astonishing question! not "the risen," but "the Living One" (compare Re 1:18); and the surprise expressed in it implies an incongruity in His being there at all, as if, though He might submit to it, "it was impossible He should be holden of it" (Ac 2:24).

6. in Galilee--to which these women themselves belonged (Lu 23:55).

7. Saying, &c.--How remarkable it is to hear angels quoting a whole sentence of Christ's to the disciples, mentioning where it was uttered, and wondering it was not fresh in their memory, as doubtless it was in theirs! (1Ti 3:16, "seen of angels," and 1Pe 1:12).

10. Joanna--(See on Lu 8:1-3).

12. Peter, &c.--(See on Joh 20:1-10).

Lu 24:13-35. Christ Appears to the Two Going to Emmaus.

13. two of them--One was Cleopas (Lu 24:18); who the other was is mere conjecture. Emmaus--about seven and a half miles from Jerusalem. They probably lived there and were going home after the Passover.

14-16. communed and reasoned--exchanged views and feelings, weighing afresh all the facts, as detailed in Lu 24:18-24. drew near--coming up behind them as from Jerusalem. eyes holden--Partly He was "in another form" (Mr 16:12), and partly there seems to have been an operation on their own vision; though certainly, as they did not believe that He was alive, His company as a fellow traveller was the last thing they would expect,

17-24. communications, &c.--The words imply the earnest discussion that had appeared in their manner.

25-27. fools--senseless, without understanding.

28-31. made as though, &c.--(Compare Mr 6:48; Ge 18:3, 5; 32:24-26).

32-34. They now tell each to the other how their hearts burned--were fired--within them at His talk and His expositions of Scripture. "Ah! this accounts for it: We could not understand the glow of self-evidencing light, love, glory that ravished our hearts; but now we do." They cannot rest--how could they?--they must go straight back and tell the news. They find the eleven, but ere they have time to tell their tale, their ears are saluted with the thrilling news, "The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon." Most touching and precious intelligence this. The only one of the Eleven to whom He appeared alone was he, it seems, who had so shamefully denied Him. What passed at that interview we shall never know here. Probably it was too sacred for disclosure. (See on Mr 16:7). The two from Emmaus now relate what had happened to them, and while thus comparing notes of their Lord's appearances, lo! Christ Himself stands in the midst of them. What encouragement to doubting, dark, true-hearted disciples!

Lu 24:36-53. Jesus Appears to the Assembled Disciples--His Ascension.

36. Jesus ... stood--(See on Joh 20:19).

37-38. a spirit--the ghost of their dead Lord, but not Himself in the body (Ac 12:15; Mt 14:26). thoughts--rather, "reasonings"; that is, whether He were risen or no, and whether this was His very self.

39-43. Behold, &c.--lovingly offering them both ocular and tangible demonstration of the reality of His resurrection. a spirit hath not--an important statement regarding "spirits." flesh and bones--He says not "flesh and blood"; for the blood is the life of the animal and corruptible body (Ge 9:4), which "cannot inherit the kingdom of God" (1Co 15:50); but "flesh and bones," implying the identity, but with diversity of laws, of the resurrection body. (See on Joh 20:24-28).

44-49. These are the words, &c.--that is, "Now you will understand what seemed so dark to you when I told you about the Son of man being put to death and rising again" (Lu 18:31-34). while ... yet with you--a striking expression, implying that He was now, as the dead and risen Saviour, virtually dissevered from this scene of mortality, and from all ordinary intercourse with His mortal disciples. law ... prophets ... psalms--the three Jewish divisions of the Old Testament Scriptures.

50-53. to Bethany--not to the village itself, but on the "descent" to it from Mount Olivet.