Luke Lesson 31

Memory verses for this week: Phil 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Introduction: We conclude our study of the book of Luke this week as we study Chapter 24. In last week’s lesson, we witnessed the trial that Jesus faced, first being judged before Pilate, then Herod, and then back to Pilate. Pilate could find no fault in Christ, but the crowd demanded that he be crucified. So to pacify the people, Pilate washed his hands and released the murderer Barabbas to them and sentenced Jesus to die on the cross. The chapter closed as Jesus commended his soul to God and died there between the two thieves on a hill called Mount Calvary.

Luke 24:1 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.

It says that the women came the first day of the week and came to the tomb. They had come to embalm the body with spices, and they are surprised to find that the stone was rolled away from the sepulchre. It was very early in the morning when they arrived at the grave.

Luke 24:4 And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments:

Luke 24:5 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?

When they entered the tomb, the body of Jesus was missing. They are confused and wonder who has taken away the body. It says in verse 4 that as they stood perplexed, two men stood by them in shining garments. No doubt these were angels of the Lord. They ask them “Why seek ye the living among the dead?” Praise God Jesus is not with the dead, but He is alive forevermore. They tell them that the Lord has risen.

Luke 24:6 He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee,

Luke 24:7 Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.

Luke 24:9 And returned from the sepulchre, and told all these things unto the eleven, and to all the rest.

The angels tell them that Jesus is not in the grave any longer, but he had risen. They ask if they remembered the words that Jesus spake to them while he was with them in Galilee. He had told them that He must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified, and on the third day He would rise again. It says in verse 8 that they remembered the words and went back and told the disciples what the angels had said.

Luke 24:10 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.

Luke 24:11 And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not.

Luke 24:12 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.

The disciples did not believe the women. It appeared that they were speaking as it where ‘idle tales.’ Many times, the things of God take faith, and the common man will not believe what God is doing. But to please God, we must have faith.

Rom 1:17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

Heb 10:38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.

Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Peter arose after the women told them what they had seen and heard, and the goes to the grave. It says in the account in the book of John that John also went to the tomb.

John 20:1 The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre.

John 20:2 Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him.

John 20:3 Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre.

John 20:4 So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre.

John 20:5 And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in.

John 20:6 Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie,

John 20:7 And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself.

John 20:8 Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed.

John 20:9 For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead.

Luke 24:13 And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs.

Luke 24:15 And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them.

These two, an unnamed disciple of the Lord and the other Cleopas, were walking to a village called Emmaus which was near Jerusalem (about a 2 hour walk). Some believe Cleopas was Joseph’s brother, but we are not certain of this. As they walked along, they were discussing all the things that had happened concerning Christ and His death. As they walked, Jesus himself drew near and walked with them. Here He was in the midst of them and they didn’t even know who He was. Sometimes in our own lives, Jesus may be right there with us, sometimes even carrying us through trials, sorrow, and disappointments, and we as Christians may not recognize it. In every day of our life, we need to let the Holy Spirit guide us and draw near to God. We have the promise that if we draw near to God, He will draw near to us. And as we do that, we become more aware of the workings of the Lord in our lives.

Jesus himself drew near, as a stranger who, seeing them travel the same way that he went, told them that he should be glad of their company. We may observe it, for our encouragement to keep up Christian conference and edifying discourse among us, that where but two together are well employed in work of that kind Christ will come to them, and make a third. When they that fear the Lord speak one to another the Lord hearkens and hears, and is with them of a truth; so that two thus twisted in faith and love become a threefold cord, not easily broken, Eccl. 4:12. They in their communings and reasonings together were searching for Christ, comparing notes concerning him, that they might come to more knowledge of him; and now Christ comes to them. Note, They who seek Christ shall find him: he will manifest himself to those that enquire after him, and give knowledge to those who use the helps for knowledge which they have. [i]

Luke 24:17 And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad?

Luke 24:18 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 there in these days?

As they walked with Jesus, he asked them why they were so sad. Cleopas asks if he is a stranger in Jerusalem since he was not aware of all the things that had taken place.

Luke 24:19 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:

Luke 24:20 And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him.

Luke 24:21 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.

Luke 24:22 Yea, and certain women also of our company made us astonished, which were early at the sepulchre;

Luke 24:23 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.

Luke 24:24 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.

Jesus, knowing full well all things, asked them “What things?” It says they began to explain all about Christ and how he was a prophet in deed and word before God and all the people. They explained how that the chief priests and rulers had delivered him to be condemned to death, and had him crucified. Some of the people had believed that Christ was the Messiah and would deliver Israel from the Romans. They go on to discuss how that the women had came and not found the body, and that certain angels told them that he was alive. Jesus asked this question so that He might be able to elaborate upon the scriptures and teach them using the Word of God.

Luke 24:25 Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken:

Luke 24:26 Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?

Luke 24:27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.

Jesus condemns their lack of faith and ability to believe as he began at Moses and expounded unto them all the scriptures that pertained to Christ and how God would send him, how he would live a sinless life, and ultimately be put to death for the payment of sin there at Calvary. It probably wasn’t five minutes before the men knew that his was no stranger to the things of God and knew ALL about the Lord Jesus Christ. However, they were still blinded to the fact that it was Jesus speaking to them.

This is a very important section, friend. The Lord, in speaking about His resurrection, did not show them the prints of the nails in His hands to prove it. He referred them to the Scriptures rather than to the nail prints. He told them, “You should have believed what the prophets said.” It is well to note the Lord’s attitude toward the Bible. The day in which we live is a day of doubt. There are people who are actually saying that you cannot be intelligent and believe the Bible. Many people are afraid that they will not be considered intelligent; so they don’t come out flat-footed and say whether they believe the Bible or not. I suppose it is the most subtle and satanic trap of our day to discount the inerrancy and integrity of the Word of God. Christ says a man is a fool not to believe it. He gave a unanimous and wholehearted acceptance of the Bible’s statements, with no ifs, ands, or buts.

The other day I picked up a seminary professor and took him to a filling station, because he had car trouble. As we rode along, I asked him about his school’s viewpoint of the inerrancy of Scripture. “Well,” he said, “you mean the infallibility of the Bible?” I replied “Wait a minute, you are arguing semantics. You know what I mean, and I know what you mean. Do you or do you not believe in the inerrancy of Scripture?” Well, he wouldn’t make a forthright declaration whether or not he believed it. He wanted to appear intelligent. Frankly, a lot of these men do not have the intestinal fortitude to stand for the Word of God. I think their problem is more intestinal than intellectual!

Men may want to impress others with their intellectual ability. I don’t worry about impressing other people, but I believe God, and believe all the words in God’s Word are true. I believe the sooner we come to grips with that truth, the sooner God can really use us effectively in His work.

Luke 24:28 And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they went: and he made as though he would have gone further.

Luke 24:29 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.

As they come into the village of Emmaus, the day was well spent, and they asked Jesus to stay there with them. They ask him to abide with them since the day was far spent. So he agreed to tarry there with them.

Luke 24:30 And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them.

Luke 24:31 And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight.

Luke 24:32 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?

When they sat down to eat with Christ, it says he blessed the food and brake and gave it to them. And finally, they knew who this man was. It says in verse 31 that their eyes were opened, and they knew him. That is what God wants every man to do. To know who Jesus Christ really is, and to find Him as their own personal savior. You can see that the things Jesus taught on their walk to Emmaus had deep spiritual meaning to them. They said “Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?” When we are truly saved and we hear God’s word proclaimed, it does have an effect upon us. And there is NO ONE who could teach and expound the Word of God like Jesus.

Mark 1:21 And they went into Capernaum; and straightway on the sabbath day he entered into the synagogue, and taught.

Mark 1:22 And they were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes.

Luke 24:33 And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them,

Luke 24:35 And they told what things were done in the way, and how he was known of them in breaking of bread.

We see the two men return to Jerusalem immediately to tell the apostles about how that the Lord had appeared unto them. They were excited about this. There is some that believe that it was Simon Peter who journeyed with Cleopas to Emmaus and that is what this means in verse 34. That is possible, and it is also possible that the Lord came to speak to Simon alone. Perhaps his three denials were cause for the Lord to speak directly to Him and encourage him in the work of the Lord. Whatever or however it happened, you know the apostles were glad to hear the things that had come to pass.

Luke 24:36 And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.

Luke 24:37 But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit.

Thomas was not present with the others the first time that Jesus appeared. When he appeared, it says they were all terrified and frightened. Perhaps the Lord looked much more like a spirit now that he was resurrected than he looked when he was with them earlier. Jesus tells them to be at peace and not to be afraid.

John 20:19 Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.

John 20:20 And when he had so said, he showed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord.

John 20:21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.

John 20:22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:

John 20:23 Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.

John 20:24 But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.

Luke 24:38 And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts?

Luke 24:39 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.

Luke 24:40 And when he had thus spoken, he showed them his hands and his feet.

Luke 24:41 And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat?

Jesus questions as to why they are troubled. Nothing had happened that they had not been warned would come to pass. He shows them his hands and feet and tells them to touch Him if they desired. A spirit is not the same as a body, and this frightened the apostles. He even asks for food, and they give him some fish and a honeycomb to eat.

Luke 24:44 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.

Luke 24:45 Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,

It says that Jesus opened their minds to understanding the scriptures. For whatever purpose, God had not allowed them to understand all the scriptures nor some of the things Jesus had taught up until now. He explained to them all the things that had be fulfilled from the law of Moses and from the prophets and Psalms. It is a great day when we begin to understand the scriptures.

John 5:39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.

Luke 24:46 And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:

Luke 24:47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

Of course when we speak of the commission to the church, we normally read the account given in Matthew where it explains things in great detail. But here it tells us that it behoved Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day. And Christ tells them to go forth preaching the Gospel in all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. The beginning point for us who live in Wichita Falls, Texas is here in our city. And after that, we branch out to other counties and states, and then ultimately to all the world. I am proud we have 30 missionaries in countries all around the world, and also proud that we have our own mission which is about to build a church there in Godley south of Ft. Worth. By doing these things, we are effectively carrying out the Lord’s command.

Luke 24:49 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.

Luke 24:50 And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them.

Luke 24:51 And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven.

We know Bethany is a town the Lord loved as he many times came here to visit with his good friends, Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. He tells them to tarry for a time in Jerusalem, and later they would be endued with power from on high. That came on the day of Pentecost as Jesus baptized the church with the Holy Spirit. It says he lifted up his hands, blessed them, and parted being carried up into heaven. What a sight that must have been. And just as they watched Jesus ascend, one day all of us who know Jesus as our Lord will see Him coming in the east in the clouds. I think it will be a lot sooner than many think.

Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

Acts 1:9 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.

Acts 1:10 And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;

Acts 1:11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.

We have record of the coming of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost in Acts chapter 2.

Acts 2:1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.

Acts 2:2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.

Acts 2:3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.

Acts 2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Acts 2:5 And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.

Acts 2:6 Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.

Acts 2:7 And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans?

Acts 2:9 Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia,

Acts 2:10 Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes,

Acts 2:11 Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.

Acts 2:12 And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this?

It is always important when talking of Pentecost and the coming of the Holy Spirit to reiterate that the Holy Spirit has never baptized anyone. The Holy Spirit was what Jesus used to baptize that day. That was promised in John by John the Baptist. There are many fillings of the Holy Spirit, but that is different that being baptized.

John 1:33 And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.

Luke 24:53 And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen.

After these words, Jesus is taken up to Heaven where he sits making intercession for His children. It says the people worshipped Jesus and returned with great joy.

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Prov 4:18 But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.

Practice Random Acts of Kindness. Each act spreads, and many will be blessed.

[i]Henry, Matthew, Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Bible, (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers) 1997.

[ii]J. Vernon McGee, Thru the Bible commentary [computer file], electronic ed., Logos Library System, (Nashville: Thomas Nelson) 1997, c1981 by J. Vernon McGee.

Luke Chapter 24