Luke 24:25 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And he said to them, "O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!

NIV: He said to them, "How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken!

NASB: And then He said to them, 'You foolish men and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken!

CSB: He said to them, "How foolish and slow you are to believe all that the prophets have spoken!

NLT: Then Jesus said to them, 'You foolish people! You find it so hard to believe all that the prophets wrote in the Scriptures.

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

NKJV: Then He said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken!

Jesus has been listening to an account of His last three days. The day He rose from the dead, He met with Mary Magdalene and the other women (John 20:11–18; Matthew 28:9–10). They told the disciples what they had seen. Two of the disciples, Cleopas and a friend, left the locked room in Jerusalem and headed to Emmaus, a village about seven miles away (Luke 24:9–13).

Jesus hid His identity and came to the men, asking what they were talking about (Luke 24:16–17). Cleopas told Him (Luke 24:18–21). Cleopas gets to the point where Peter and John corroborate the women's story of the empty tomb, but the men don't believe He's risen, and Jesus steps in (Luke 24:22–24).

When the women met the two angels at Jesus' tomb, one of them said, "Why do you seek the living from the dead? He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee" (Luke 24:5–6). The angel is gracious with the women. They had heard Jesus say He was going to die and rise again three days later. Their lack of faith kept them from understanding.

Jesus is harsher with the men. Like the women, they heard Jesus prophesy His crucifixion and resurrection, and because of their unbelief the truth was hidden from them (Luke 9:45; 18:34). If they couldn't believe Jesus was going to die, they can't believe He would be raised again.

But they also had the chance to study the Old Testament. Psalms 16 and 22 and Isaiah 53 are a treasure trove of specific prophecies about Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection. If Jesus fills the description of the Messiah as given in the Old Testament, and He dies as described in the prophets, but He hasn't finished the Messiah's work, the only possible outcome is He must rise again.

After years of studying such Scriptures, the men should have been able to see where they fit with Jesus' own teaching. Add the women's account, and it's obvious: Jesus had to die and rise from the dead.

Luke 24:13–27 contains a meeting between Jesus and two disciples, along the road from Jerusalem to Emmaus. They don't recognize Him. Yet He lets them explain what they've experienced the last three days. When they finish, He points out their foolishness and shows them how the crucifixion and resurrection were prophesied in the Old Testament. When they invite Jesus for a meal, He reveals Himself and disappears. The two men return to Jerusalem to tell the larger group of disciples (Luke 24:28–35). Mark 16:12–13 gives a synopsis, but are likely not part of the original manuscript of Mark.

After Jesus is executed and buried (Luke 23:52–53), the women who had followed Him from Galilee come to improve His burial condition. They find an open, empty tomb and angels. The disciples are informed. Two of them spend time speaking with a stranger while walking, only to realize it was Jesus Himself. Jesus appears to His followers, eating fish and explaining how His role as Messiah was predicted in Scripture. Jesus then ascends to heaven while His disciples worship.

Luke 24 describes how Jesus' followers learned of His resurrection. Luke 23 recorded His legal trials, crucifixion, death, and burial. Acts chapter 1, also written by Luke, explains how Jesus' followers prepare for the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and the beginning of the church. Luke 24's theme is the fulfillment of prophecy from Jesus and the Old Testament prophets. Once Jesus' followers understand, He returns to heaven. Matthew 28 includes how the Sanhedrin bribed the guards. John chapter 20 adds Thomas coming to believe while chapter 21 records Peter's reconciliation with Jesus.

Luke was a traveling companion of Paul (Acts 16:10) and a physician (Colossians 4:14). Unlike Matthew, Mark, and John, Luke writes his gospel as an historian, rather than as a first-hand eyewitness. His extensive writings also include the book of Acts (Acts 1:1–3). These are deliberately organized, carefully researched accounts of those events. The gospel of Luke focuses on the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ. Luke's Gentile perspective presents Christ as a Savior for all people, offering both forgiveness and direction to those who follow Him.