241 But on the first day of the week , at early dawn , they came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared . 2 And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb , 3 but when they entered , they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus . 4 While they were perplexed about this , behold , two men suddenly stood near them in dazzling clothing ; 5 and as the women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground , the men said to them, "Why do you seek the living One among the dead ? 6 "He is not here , but He has risen . Remember how He spoke to you while He was still in Galilee , 7 saying that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men , and be crucified , and the third day rise again ." 8 And they remembered His words , 9 and returned from the tomb and reported all these things to the eleven and to all the rest . 10 Now they were Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James ; also the other women with them were telling these things to the apostles . 11 But these words appeared to them as nonsense , and they would not believe them. 12 But Peter got up and ran to the tomb ; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen wrappings only ; and he went away to his home , marveling at what had happened .
13 And behold , two of them were going that very day to a village named Emmaus , which was about seven miles from Jerusalem . 14 And they were talking with each other about all these things which had taken place . 15 While they were talking and discussing , Jesus Himself approached and began traveling with them. 16 But their eyes were prevented from recognizing Him. 17 And He said to them, "What are these words that you are exchanging with one another as you are walking ?" And they stood still , looking sad . 18 One of them, named Cleopas , answered and said to Him, "Are You the only one visiting Jerusalem and unaware e of the things which have happened here e in these days ?" 19 And He said to them, "What things ?" And they said to Him, "The things about Jesus the Nazarene , who was a prophet mighty in deed and word in the sight of God and all the people , 20 and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to the sentence of death , and crucified Him. 21 "But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel . Indeed , besides e all this , it is the third day since e these things happened . 22 "But also some women among us amazed us. When they were at the tomb early in the morning , 23 and did not find His body , they came , saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said that He was alive . 24 "Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just exactly as the women also had said ; but Him they did not see ." 25 And He said to them, "O foolish men and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken ! 26 " Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and to enter into His glory ?" 27 Then beginning with Moses and with all the prophets , He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures . 28 And they approached the village where they were going , and He acted as though He were going farther . 29 But they urged Him, saying , "Stay with us, for it is getting toward evening , and the day is now nearly over ." So He went in to stay with them. 30 When He had reclined at the table with them, He took the bread and blessed it, and breaking it, He began giving it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized Him; and He vanished from their sight . 32 They said to one another , "Were not our hearts burning within us while He was speaking to us on the road , while He was explaining the Scriptures to us?" 33 And they got up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem , and found gathered together the eleven and those who were with them, 34 saying , " The Lord has really risen and has appeared to Simon ." 35 They began to relate their experiences on the road and how He was recognized by them in the breaking of the bread .
36 While they were telling these things , He Himself stood in their midst and said to them, "Peace be to you." 37 But they were startled and frightened and thought that they were seeing a spirit . 38 And He said to them, "Why are you troubled , and why e do doubts arise in your hearts ? 39 " See My hands and My feet , that it is I Myself ; touch Me and see , for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have ." 40 And when He had said this , He showed them His hands and His feet . 41 While they still could not believe it because of their joy and amazement , He said to them, " Have you anything here to eat ?" 42 They gave Him a piece of a broiled fish ; 43 and He took it and ate it before them. 44 Now He said to them, " These are My words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things which are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled ." 45 Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures , 46 and He said to them, " Thus it is written , that the Christ would suffer and rise again from the dead the third day , 47 and that repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations , beginning from Jerusalem . 48 "You are witnesses of these things . 49 "And behold , I am sending forth the promise of My Father upon you; but you are to stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high ."
50 And He led them out as far as Bethany , and He lifted up His hands and blessed them. 51 While He was blessing them, He parted from them and was carried up into heaven .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Luke 24:1-51
Commentary on Luke 24:1-12
(Read Luke 24:1-12)
See the affection and respect the women showed to Christ, after he was dead and buried. Observe their surprise when they found the stone rolled away, and the grave empty. Christians often perplex themselves about that with which they should comfort and encourage themselves. They look rather to find their Master in his grave-clothes, than angels in their shining garments. The angels assure them that he is risen from the dead; is risen by his own power. These angels from heaven bring not any new gospel, but remind the women of Christ's words, and teach them how to apply them. We may wonder that these disciples, who believed Jesus to be the Son of God and the true Messiah, who had been so often told that he must die, and rise again, and then enter into his glory, who had seen him more than once raise the dead, yet should be so backward to believe his raising himself. But all our mistakes in religion spring from ignorance or forgetfulness of the words Christ has spoken. Peter now ran to the sepulchre, who so lately ran from his Master. He was amazed. There are many things puzzling and perplexing to us, which would be plain and profitable, if we rightly understood the words of Christ.
Commentary on Luke 24:13-27
(Read Luke 24:13-27)
This appearance of Jesus to the two disciples going to Emmaus, happened the same day that he rose from the dead. It well becomes the disciples of Christ to talk together of his death and resurrection; thus they may improve one another's knowledge, refresh one another's memory, and stir up each other's devout affections. And where but two together are well employed in work of that kind, he will come to them, and make a third. Those who seek Christ, shall find him: he will manifest himself to those that inquire after him; and give knowledge to those who use the helps for knowledge which they have. No matter how it was, but so it was, they did not know him; he so ordering it, that they might the more freely discourse with him. Christ's disciples are often sad and sorrowful, even when they have reason to rejoice; but through the weakness of their faith, they cannot take the comfort offered to them. Though Christ is entered into his state of exaltation, yet he notices the sorrows of his disciples, and is afflicted in their afflictions. Those are strangers in Jerusalem, that know not of the death and sufferings of Jesus. Those who have the knowledge of Christ crucified, should seek to spread that knowledge. Our Lord Jesus reproved them for the weakness of their faith in the Scriptures of the Old Testament. Did we know more of the Divine counsels as far as they are made known in the Scriptures, we should not be subject to the perplexities we often entangle ourselves in. He shows them that the sufferings of Christ were really the appointed way to his glory; but the cross of Christ was that to which they could not reconcile themselves. Beginning at Moses, the first inspired writer of the Old Testament, Jesus expounded to them the things concerning himself. There are many passages throughout all the Scriptures concerning Christ, which it is of great advantage to put together. We cannot go far in any part, but we meet with something that has reference to Christ, some prophecy, some promise, some prayer, some type or other. A golden thread of gospel grace runs through the whole web of the Old Testament. Christ is the best expositor of Scripture; and even after his resurrection, he led people to know the mystery concerning himself, not by advancing new notions, but by showing how the Scripture was fulfilled, and turning them to the earnest study of it.
Commentary on Luke 24:28-35
(Read Luke 24:28-35)
If we would have Christ dwell with us, we must be earnest with him. Those that have experienced the pleasure and profit of communion with him, cannot but desire more of his company. He took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them. This he did with his usual authority and affection, with the same manner, perhaps with the same words. He here teaches us to crave a blessing on every meal. See how Christ by his Spirit and grace makes himself known to the souls of his people. He opens the Scriptures to them. He meets them at his table, in the ordinance of the Lord's supper; is known to them in breaking of bread. But the work is completed by the opening of the eyes of their mind; yet it is but short views we have of Christ in this world, but when we enter heaven, we shall see him for ever. They had found the preaching powerful, even when they knew not the preacher. Those Scriptures which speak of Christ, will warm the hearts of his true disciples. That is likely to do most good, which affects us with the love of Jesus in dying for us. It is the duty of those to whom he has shown himself, to let others know what he has done for their souls. It is of great use for the disciples of Christ to compare their experiences, and tell them to each other.
Commentary on Luke 24:36-49
(Read Luke 24:36-49)
Jesus appeared in a miraculous manner, assuring the disciples of his peace, though they had so lately forsaken him, and promising spiritual peace with every blessing. Many troublesome thoughts which disquiet our minds, rise from mistakes concerning Christ. All the troublesome thoughts which rise in our hearts at any time, are known to the Lord Jesus, and are displeasing to him. He spake with them on their unreasonable unbelief. Nothing had passed but what was foretold by the prophets, and necessary for the salvation of sinners. And now all men should be taught the nature and necessity of repentance, in order to the forgiveness of their sins. And these blessings were to be sought for, by faith in the name of Jesus. Christ by his Spirit works on the minds of men. Even good men need to have their understandings opened. But that we may have right thoughts of Christ, there needs no more than to be made to understand the Scriptures.
Commentary on Luke 24:50-53
(Read Luke 24:50-53)
Christ ascended from Bethany, near the Mount of Olives. There was the garden in which his sufferings began; there he was in his agony. Those that would go to heaven, must ascend thither from the house of sufferings and sorrows. The disciples did not see him rise out of the grave; his resurrection could be proved by their seeing him alive afterwards: but they saw him ascend into heaven; they could not otherwise have a proof of his ascension. He lifted up his hands, and blessed them. He did not go away in displeasure, but in love, he left a blessing behind him. As he arose, so he ascended, by his own power. They worshipped him. This fresh display of Christ's glory drew from them fresh acknowledgments. They returned to Jerusalem with great joy. The glory of Christ is the joy of all true believers, even while they are here in this world. While waiting for God's promises, we must go forth to meet them with our praises. And nothing better prepares the mind for receiving the Holy Ghost. Fears are silenced, sorrows sweetened and allayed, and hopes kept up. And this is the ground of a Christian's boldness at the throne of grace; yea, the Father's throne is the throne of grace to us, because it is also the throne of our Mediator, Jesus Christ. Let us rely on his promises, and plead them. Let us attend his ordinances, praise and bless God for his mercies, set our affections on things above, and expect the Redeemer's return to complete our happiness. Amen. Even so, Lord Jesus, come quickly.