Exegesis on Luke 24

Final Exegesis: Luke 24: The Road to Emmaus

Detailed Observations of Luke 24:13-34

Excerpt of Luke 24:13-35, The Message Translation

That same day two of them were walking to the village Emmaus, about seven miles out of Jerusalem. They were deep in conversation, going over all these things that had happened. In the middle of their talk and questions, Jesus came up and walked along with them. But they were not able to recognize who he was. He asked, "What's this you're discussing so intently as you walk along?" They just stood there, long-faced, like they had lost their best friend. Then one of them, his name was Cleopas, said, "Are you the only one in Jerusalem who hasn't heard what's happened during the last few days?" He said, "What has happened?"

They said, "The things that happened to Jesus the Nazarene. He was a man of God, a prophet, dynamic in work and word, blessed by both God and all the people. Then our high priests and leaders betrayed him, got him sentenced to death, and crucified him. And we had our hopes up that he was the One, the One about to deliver Israel. And it is now the third day since it happened. But now some of our women have completely confused us. Early this morning they were at the tomb and couldn't find his body. They came back with the story that they had seen a vision of angels who said he was alive. Some of our friends went off to the tomb to check and found it empty just as the women said, but they didn't see Jesus."

Then he said to them, "So thick-headed! So slow-hearted! Why can't you simply believe all that the prophets said? Don't you see that these things had to happen, that the Messiah had to suffer and only then enter into his glory?" Then he started at the beginning, with the Books of Moses, and went on through all the Prophets, pointing out everything in the Scriptures that referred to him. They came to the edge of the village where they were headed. He acted as if he were going on but they pressed him: "Stay and have supper with us. It's nearly evening; the day is done." So he went in with them. And here is what happened: He sat down at the table with them. Taking the bread, he blessed and broke and gave it to them. At that moment, open-eyed, wide-eyed, they recognized him. And then he disappeared. Back and forth they talked. "Didn't we feel on fire as he conversed with us on the road, as he opened up the Scriptures for us?" They didn't waste a minute. They were up and on their way back to Jerusalem. They found the Eleven and their friends gathered together, talking away: "It's really happened! The Master has been raised up--Simon saw him!" Then the two went over everything that happened on the road and how they recognized him when he broke the bread.

Detailed Observation

Text:

1.General Structure:

-When examining this passage, we see that Jesus' presence (recognized and unrecognized) holds the story together. Whenever there is a break or change of scenery, it is caused by something Jesus says or does, or is initiated by Jesus. They are summed up as Jesus joining, asking, rebuking, pretending, and revealing.

-The major events or breaks are:

1. Jesus joining the two travelers

2. Jesus asking about "this prophet"

3. Jesus rebuking the men and calling them "foolish and slow-hearted"

4. Jesus pretends as if he were going farther on down the road

5. Jesus reveals himself after the breaking of bread

2. Repetition & Progression of Ideas:

-The only repeated word that has significance is "opened."

3. Basic Content:

-Who?

-Characters are two men: Cleopas and his friend (unnamed), Jesus Christ; reference to Moses and the Prophets

-What?

-Presumably a walk back home from Jerusalem, which is made after the death and burial of Jesus Christ. These three men make an informative and inspiring narrative walk, which is about sixty furlongs, or about two miles.

-When?

-First day of the week; same day as Jesus' resurrection, three days after his death

-Where?

-On the road to Emmaus, which is the same road used to get to the city of Jaffa.

-Possibly the modern day city of Kolonieh

-Emmaus is located in between Jaffa and Jerusalem

-Why?

-We do not know for certain why the men were going to Emmaus, but most likely it was their home. Most likely, they had been to Jerusalem for the trial and crucifixion of Jesus Christ, and now heading back home. This story is placed after his resurrection for further proof that Jesus is alive.

4. Key Words:

1. "Now that same day..." v. 13

2. "downcast" v. 17

3. "things" v. 18, 19

4. "hoped" v. 21

5. "redeem" v. 21

6. "slow of heart" & "foolish" v. 25

7. "acted" v. 28

8. "urged" v. 29

9. "opened" v. 31

10. "disappeared" v. 31

11. "burning" v. 32

5. Important Connectives:

-Conjunctions:

-"But": v. 16, v. 21, v. 23, v. 24, v. 29

-"If": v. 28

-"Since": v. 21

-Prepositions:

-"In": v. 19, v. 27, v. 29

-"With"