Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
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Luke
Book: Luke
Chapter: 24
Overview:
The
Resurrection of Christ.
(1-12) He appears to two disciples
On the way to
Emmaus.
(13-27) And makes himself known to them.
(28-35) Christ appears to the other disciples.
(36-49) His
Ascension.
(50-53)
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.