Bible Commentary (1871–1879 Edition)
Christ, Jppears to Tuo of His Disciples. LUKE XXIV. He Appears to the Assembled Disciples, why, (tc.—Astonishing question ! not ' the risen,' but " the Living One" (cf. Revelation 1. 18); and the surprise expressed in it implies an inconyruity in His being thereat 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—liow 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 <S'«)io/t." Most touching and precious intelligence this. The oul.y one of the Eleven to whom He appeared alone was he, it seems, who had so shamefully denied Him. Wluit passed at that interview we shall never know here. Probaljly it was too sacred for disclosure. See on Mark 1(3. 7. The two from Emmaus now relate what had happened to them, and while thus comparing notes of their Lord's appearances, lo ! Himself stands in the midst of them. What encouragement to doubting, dark, true-hearted disciples!
all, as if, though he might *t(6mit to it, "il was impossible He should be holden of it" (Acts 2. 24). G. In Gnlllee—to which tliese women themselves belonged, cli. 23. 55. 7.
remarkable it is to hear angels quoting u whole sentence of Christ's to the disciples, mentioning where it was uttered, and wondering it was not fresh on tiielr memory, as doubtless it was in theirs! (1 Timothy
8. Ifi, "seen of angels," and 1 Peter 1. 12.) 10. JoannaSee on ch. 8. 1-3. liJ. Peter, &c.—See on John 20. 1, &c.
13-35. Christ Appears to the Two Going to Emmaus.
13. Two of titcm—one was C'leopas (IH), who the other was is mere conjecture. Einmaws—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 i\ 18-21. drew near—coming up behind them as from Jerusalem, eyes holden—Partly He was " in another form" (Mark 16. 12), and partly tliere seems to have been an operation on their own vision ; though certainly, as thej' did not believe that
36-53. Jesus Appears to the A.sse.hhled Disciples— His Ascension. 36. Jesus stood—Sec on John 20. 19. 37, 38. a spirit—the ghost of their dead Lord, but not Himself in the body. (Acts 12. 15; Mattliew 14. 26.) thoughts —rather ' reasonings;' ('.e., whether He were risen or no, and whether this was His very self. 39-43. Belxold, &c. lovingl.v otfering them both ocular and tangible demonstration of the realit.v of His resurrection, a spirit liath not—an important statement regarding "spirits." flesh and bones—He says not " flesh and blood;" for the blood
was alive, His company as a fellow-traveller was the last thing they would expect. 17-^4. communications, Ac—The words imply the earnest discussion that had appeared in their manner. 18. kuoweiit not, <Sc.—If he knew not the events of the last lew days in Jerusalem, he must be a mere sojourner; if lie did, how could he suppose tlioy would be talking of anything else? How artis the life of the animal and corruptible body (Genesis 9.
4), which "cannot inherit the kingdom of God," 1 Corinthians 15.50; but "flesh and bones," implying the tcie/i<//^, but with diversity of laws, of th* resurrection-body. See on John 20.24-28. believed not for joy, Ac-They did believe, else they had not rejoiced. [Bengel.] But it seemed too good to be true. (Psalm 126. 1, 2.) lioneycomb —common frugal fare, anciently, eat before them i. e., let them see Him doing it : not for His own necessity, but their conviction. 44-49. Tlvese are tl»c words, &c. q. d., "Now you will understand what seemed so dark to .you when I told you about " the Sou of man being put to death and rising again" (ch. 18.31-34). while yet with you— striking expression, implying that He was now, as the dead and risen Saviour, virtually dissevered from this scene of mortal it.v, and from all ordinary intercourse with His mortal disciples, law . . . prophets . . . psalms The three Jewish divisions of the Old Testament Scriptures, then opened he, &c.—a statement of unspeakable value; expressing, on the one hand, Christ's immediate access to the human spirit and absolute power oier it, to the adjustment of its vision, and permanent rectification for spiritual discernment (than which it is impossible to conceive a stronger evidence of His proper divinity); and, on the other hand, making it certain Umtthetnanner of interpreting the Old Testament ivhich the apostles afterwards emless all this! concerning Jesus, Ac—As if feeling it a relief to have some one to unburden his thoughts and feelings to, this disciple goes over the main facts in his own desponding style, and this was just what our Lord wished, we trusted, &c.—They expected the promised Deliverance at His hand, but in the current sense of it, not by His death, besides all this—not only did his death seem to give the fatal blow to their hopes, but He had been two days dead already, and this was the third. It is true, they add, some of our women gave us a surprise, telling us of a vision of angels they had at the empty grave this morning that said He was alive, and some of ourselves who went thither confirmed their statement; but then Himself they saw not. A doleful tale truly, told out of the deepest despondency. 25-27. foolssenseless, without understanding, ought not Christ—
' the Christ,' ' the Messiali.' to suffer . . . and enter f. e., through the gate of suflfering (and snt Tering "these thm{/s," or such a dealh.) to enter into His glory. 'Ye believe in the glory; but these very suH'erings are the predicted gate of entrance into it.' Moses and all tlie prophets, Ac—Here our Lord l)oth teaches us the reverencedue to Old Testament Scripture, and the great burden of it^" Himself." 28-31. made as though, <tec.—Cf. Mark ployed (see the Acts and Epistles), /tax the direct sanction of Christ Himself, behoved Clirist—See on v. 26. beginning at Jenisalem—(1. ) As the metropolis and heart of the then e-xisting kingdom of God:—"to the Jew first," Romans 1.16; Acts 13. 46; Isaiah 2. 3 (see on Matthew 10.
6. 18; Genesis 18. 3, 5; 32. 24-28. eonstrained, *c.—But for this, the whole design of the interview had been last; but U wfts not to be lost, for He who only wished to be constrained had kindled a longing in the hearts of His travelling companions which was not to be so eaiIy put olt'. And <loes not this still repeat itself In the interviews of the Saviour with His loving, longing disciples? Else why do they say,
6). (2.) .\s the great reservoir and laborator.y of all the sin and crime of the nation, thus procdaiming for all titne that there is morc.v in Christ for the chief of sinners. (See on Matthew 23. 37.) witness—Cf. Acts 1. 8, 22. I send—the present tense, to intimate its nearness, promise of my Father1, e., ' what my Father hath promised ;' the Holy Ghost, of which Christ is the authoritative Dispenser. (John U. 7; Revelation 3.1; 5.6.) endued— ' invested,' or 'clothed with;' implying, as the parallels show (Romans
Abide with me from morn to eve, For without Tlu-e I cannot live;
Aliide with mc when night is nigh. For without Thec' I cannot die. Ki:ble.
13. 14; 1 Corinthians 15.53; Galatians 27; Colossians 3, he look . , , and Idcsaied . . . and tlieir eyes wei-e opened—The stranger first startles tliem by taking the place of ma.ster at their own table, but on proceeding to that act which reproduced the whole scene of the last Supper, a rush of associations and recollections disclosed their guest, and He stood confessed before their itstoiilshed |{a/e—TUKiR KisEN Lokd! They were going to gaze on Hitn, perhaps embrace Him, but that moment He is gone!
9, 10), tlu'ir being so penetrated and acted upon by consciotti siipernoiiiral "power" (in the full sense of that word) as to stamp with Divine authority the whole exercise of their apostot ic office, including, of course, their pc/i as well as their mouth. 50-53. to Betliaoiy-not to tlie village Itself, but on the descent to it from Mount Olivet, wliilc lie blessed. . . parted, Ac. — Sweet intimation! Iiuarnate Love, Crucified Love, Risen Love, now on the wing for heaven, waiting only tliose o<Ioro\is gales which were to waft Him to the skies, goes away in benedictions, that in the character of Glorified, Enthroned Love, He might continue
It w:ui enough. 32-34. They now toll each to the other how their heart* burned—were fired-within them at His talk and liia expois Uions of Scripture. 'Ah ! this accounts