Lucas 24
R.C.H. Lenski · Citado em PreceptAustin
Lucas 24
Lenski explains their heart problem - In the Scriptures kardia is the seat of the personality, of the ego, and thus of the thinking, the feeling, and especially also the willing. The avenue into the heart is, indeed, through the intelligence, but the intelligence will see or not see what the inner personality desires. So both are here rebuked, but the full weight of the rebuke falls on these hearts that are so "slow to be believing," etc., epi with the dative stating "on" what the confidence of faith should rest. "Slow," sluggish, means unresponsive to the prophetic words that ought to awaken faith (cf Ro 10:17). This is the resistance to the gracious power in the divine words. See how Jerusalem resisted to the last, and now hear the Savior's complaint regarding even his disciples. (See The Interpretation of St. Luke's Gospel) Ryle on slow of heart - This expression should be carefully noted. The disciples believed many things which the prophets had spoken. But they did not believe all. They believed the predictions of Messiah’s glory, but not of Messiah’s sufferings. Christians in modern times too often err in like manner, though in a totally different direction. They believe all that the prophets say about Christ’s sufferings, but not all that they say about Christ coming the second time in glory. The writer of Hebrews made a similar statement regarding the Jews inability to understand how Melchizedek was a foreshadowing of the Messiah writing "Concerning him we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food." (Hebrews 5:11-12+). (Luke 24) Gilbrant makes an excellent point - Faith in the Resurrection comes not from seeing an empty tomb, but from believing the Scriptures and Jesus' words about His mission. This is an important lesson, a lesson that Jesus had been trying to teach throughout His earthly ministry. Belief is not a matter of evidence, it is a matter of faith. No amount of evidence or proof can convince a sinful or unbelieving heart. To "see" requires not eyes, but eyes of faith. Many people had seen Jesus perform miracles by multiplying bread, healing the crippled and the lame, and even raising people from death. But even though these people saw the miracles with their eyes, they saw only with natural eyes, not with eyes of faith. Jesus' efforts during His ministry to get people to see or hear with faith was constantly underscored by His words, "He that hath ears to hear, let him hear" (Lk 8:8). (Complete Biblical Library) Slow (1021)(bradus) means literally slow (opposite of quick or prompt), but figuratively (as in our present passage) describes mental and spiritual slowness, thus dull, slow to learn, understand or react. Lacking intellectual acuity. Heart (2588)(kardia) does not refer to the physical organ but is always used figuratively in Scripture to refer to the seat and center of human life. The heart is the center of the personality, and it controls the intellect, emotions, and will. The heart of their problem was their heart. THEIR BASIC PROBLEM: FAILURE TO ACCEPT BIBLE PROPHECY All that the prophets have spoken - The prophets had not "stuttered" but had spoken plainly enough. Since Jesus says "all" presumably they believed (as alluded to earlier) some of what the prophets spoke of the Messiah (especially the predictions of His glory, but not His suffering). Peter was a slow learner, but he did learn, for later he taught.. “Of Him ALL the prophets bear witness (testify) that through His Name (Jesus - Mt 1:21, Acts 4:12) everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins.” (Acts 10:43+) Gilbrant on all that the prophets have spoken, the little word all is critical - The word "all" (pasin) is important because the disciples, like most of the Jews of the time, had concentrated on the parts of the Old Testament which promised a time of blessing, prosperity and deliverance when the Messiah came, but they had ignored the parts which spoke of a Suffering Servant who must lose His life to get it. Large portions of Isaiah 42-53 speak of this Servant who must suffer at the hands of His enemies in order to bring redemption. (Complete Biblical Library) Kistemaker - Only when we see how all the Scriptures are centered in Christ (ED: AS BEST WE CAN ON THIS SIDE OF VEIL), as the revelation of the Triune God, so that in the Old Testament everything points forward to him, and in the New everything proceeds from him, will we be able to understand the Bible. As Leon
Lucas 24
Lenski - We now see why Luke reported the distance. It was not so far but what the two could easily retrace their steps. We take it that they got back to Jerusalem by about nine o'clock. Two facts are notable: they knew just where to go, and they found not only the apostles but also others together in one place. This is what the morning's news of the resurrection had done in spite of the disbelief with which it was received. (The Interpretation of St. Luke's Gospel) Found gathered together the eleven and those who were with them - The eleven is because they were minus Judas the traitor where "the eleven" is a technical term for the disciples after his departure. Strictly speaking when the two disciples from Emmaus found the eleven, there actually were only 10, because Thomas was not present at this time (cf Jn 20:24). The eleven - occurs 6 times in the NT - Matt. 28:16; Mk. 16:14; Lk. 24:9; Lk. 24:33; Acts 1:26; Acts 2:14. Gathered together is athroizo only here in the NT and derived from athroos meaning assembled in crowds. The passive voice (probably divine passive) is interesting suggesting that their gathering was the result of exertion of an outside force (? Spirit). MacArthur agrees noting that the verb is in the passive voice "perhaps indicating that those present had been gathered by the prompting of the Holy Spirit to witness the appearance of Jesus that would take place that night."... The evidence was mounting that Jesus was alive and had risen from the dead. Mary Magdalene (John 20:11-17), the other women (Matt. 28:8-10), and Cleopas and the unnamed disciple (Luke 24:13-32) had all seen Him, and Luke’s narrative is about to refer to one more appearance and describe yet another. (Lk 24:34) (See Luke Commentary) Albert
Lucas 24
Lenski comments on the phrase "Jesus came" -- "Among the strange ideas connected with these words are these: Jesus climbed up a ladder and through a window; or descended from the roof down a stairway; or sneaked into the house before the doors were locked; or slipped in when the two from Emmaus were let in; or was allowed to come in through the connivance of the doorkeeper. All these agree in denying a miracle." Amazing how far one can go to try to hide a miracle!) In fact the only way into the room would have been first to knock. Jesus did not knock but simply appeared. Mark 16:14 adds the detail that the disciples "were reclining at the table" indicating they were having a meal. (Although not everyone accepts this section of Mark as authentic). One can envision the scene in this room, with excitement and hope now in the air, as these Jewish men with considerable animation and gesticulations "were telling these things," the things reported by Simon and by the two disciples from Emmaus. It is interesting that when Peter was released from jail by the angel, the gate had to be opened for him to pass through, but Peter's body was not in the same state as that of the risen Savior. (Acts 12:10) I love R C H Lenski's comments on Jesus' appearance - In his risen and glorified state time, space, the rock of the tomb, the walls and the doors of buildings no longer hamper the body of Jesus. He appears where he desires to appear, and his visible presence disappears when he desires to have it so. This is wholly supernatural, wholly incomprehensible to our minds. Nor may we ask or seek to comprehend where Jesus stayed during the intervals between his appearances during the forty days. When our bodies shall eventually enter the heavenly mode of existence, we may know something of these supreme mysteries, but we doubt if even then we shall really comprehend the profundities of the divine omnipresence of which the human nature of Jesus partakes and which he exercised since his vivification in the tomb as in these wondrous appearances. "He came and stood in their midst" is all that human thought and language can say. He did not walk through anything. The disciples did not see him take so many steps from the door or the wall to their midst. He was there, and that was all. (See The Interpretation of St. Luke's Gospel)
Lucas 24
Lenski adds that eirene "is both the condition of peace, when our sins are gone, salvation is ours, and God is our friend, and the feeling of peace that results from this condition. The feeling may fluctuate and even be absent at times, but the condition abides unchanged as long as faith and salvation abide. The feeling will blossom again and again out of the condition and grow in intensity." (Interpretation of St. Luke's Gospel) Because of Jesus' atoning death, men can have peace WITH God (Ro 5:1+) and the peace OF God (Php 4:6-7+).
Lucas 24
Lenski adds that the disciples "were like so many today who seek to apply to the body of the risen Lord some of the notions they associate with bodies in the natural state and with conceptions of spirit beings. These notions still produce all manner of unbelief as regards the bodily resurrection of Jesus. Because the mind is too small and puny to take in the infinitely great it resorts to denial of what lies beyond and above its grasp. Yet even finite nature is full of mysteries too great, too intricate, too profound for the mind ever to grasp and to penetrate; shall we, therefore, come with denials?" (Ibid)
Lucas 24
Lenski comments - Did they think that only the spirit of Jesus had returned to them from the other world? That notion, too, Jesus dispels at once. Luther takes occasion in this connection to explode the spiritistic superstitions as though the spirits of the dead are able to return from the other world and are able to communicate with us in some way. The Bible denies this throughout. God refuses to send one from the dead to warn us or to preach to us, 16:31, and has forbidden us to try to talk with the dead, Deut. 18:11; Isa. 8:19. Jesus calls the disciples to calm, sensible consideration. (The Interpretation of St. Luke's Gospel)
Lucas 24
Lenski on Bethany - (This) does not, of course, mean that Jesus went to Bethany but only to that point on the Mount of Olives where the road forks, one branch going on to Jericho, the other to Bethany. It is noteworthy that both the agony and the ascension took place on the Mount of Olives; the places are located some distance apart but are still on the same ridge. Our humiliations and our exaltations often lie close together. Jesus and the disciples had often walked over this piece of road during these past days—think how they were walking it now! (Ibid)