And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus didn't just point out a few verses; he "went on interpreting" from passage to passage, showing that the entire Old Testament, from Genesis to Malachi, was woven with threads pointing to him. This wasn't a casual mention of prophecies, but a thorough unfolding of God's plan, demonstrating that his suffering and death were not a deviation from the Scriptures, but the very heart of them.
And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.
English Standard Version (ESV)
As Jesus walks with two disciples who are sadly discussing his crucifixion, he gently rebukes their lack of faith in the Old Testament prophets. He then proceeds to meticulously unpack the Scriptures, starting with Moses and continuing through the Prophets, showing them how every part of the Old Testament pointed directly to him, his suffering, and his eventual glory. This profound exposition continues until they reach their destination, Emmaus.
Ever feel like the Old Testament is a closed book? Jesus himself shows us how it's actually a giant treasure map, with every page leading to Him.
Imagine Jesus sitting down with these two disciples, their hearts heavy with doubt. He doesn't just say, 'Trust me, I'm alive!' Instead, He opens up the entire Old Testament, starting with Moses and going through all the Prophets.
A Unified Message
This wasn't a random selection of verses. Jesus masterfully wove together a narrative that spanned from the very first promise in Genesis (that Eve's offspring would crush the serpent's head) all the way to the Messianic prophecies of Malachi.
He showed them that the Law, the Psalms, the Prophets – they all testified to the Christ. The prophecies about suffering, death, and resurrection weren't separate events but part of one unfolding story. It was a divine roadmap, and Jesus was the destination.
We often wrestle with difficult passages. But here, Jesus himself steps in as the perfect commentary, making the ancient text come alive.
The disciples on the road to Emmaus were confused and disheartened. They had heard about the resurrection, but it hadn't fully clicked. Their hearts were 'slow to believe all the prophets had spoken.'
Divine Clarity
This is where Jesus steps in, not with new information, but with perfect interpretation. The Greek word used for 'interpreted' (διερμηνεύεν) suggests a thorough, passage-by-passage explanation. He didn't just point to verses; He unpacked them, showing the connections and the divine purpose behind them.
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This highlights a profound truth: while the Scriptures are God-breathed, Jesus himself is the ultimate key to understanding them. His life, death, and resurrection fulfill what the Old Testament foretold, and He grants understanding to those who seek Him.
Understand the original words
Mōysēs · Greek Noun
Referring to the Pentateuch, the first five books of the Bible attributed to Moses, which form the foundational law and historical narrative for Israel.
graphas · Greek Noun
The inspired writings of the Old Testament, regarded as authoritative, God-breathed revelation that points toward the redemptive work of Christ.
This moment on the road to Emmaus is pivotal, showing Jesus himself demonstrating how the entire Old Testament, from Moses to the Prophets, points to him. This interpretive key was essential for his earliest followers and remains vital for understanding the continuity of God's plan from the Old Covenant to the New.
c. 4000-450 BC
Old Testament Writings Compiled
The foundational texts of Judaism, from the Torah (Pentateuch) attributed to Moses to the writings of the Prophets, are composed and compiled over centuries.
c. 4 BC - AD 30/33
Life of Jesus of Nazareth
Jesus lives, teaches, performs miracles, and is ultimately crucified in Jerusalem, fulfilling numerous Old Testament prophecies.
c. AD 30/33 (Same Day as Resurrection)— this verse
Jesus Appears to Two Disciples on the Road to Emmaus
The resurrected Jesus encounters two of his disciples who are disheartened by his crucifixion. He interprets the Old Testament Scriptures concerning himself, opening their understanding.
c. AD 30-60
Apostolic Ministry and Teaching
The apostles, empowered by the Holy Spirit, begin to preach and teach, consistently demonstrating from the Jewish Scriptures that Jesus was the promised Messiah.
c. AD 60-62
Luke Writes His Gospel
Luke, the author of this Gospel, meticulously records the events of Jesus' life and ministry, including this profound encounter on the road to Emmaus.
This foundational promise, spoken right after the fall, is considered the first gospel and a prophetic reference to Christ's victory over sin and death.
Isaiah 53:1-12This iconic passage vividly describes the suffering servant who bears our iniquities, a prophecy Jesus would have undoubtedly used to explain his own passion.
Psalm 22:1-31Jesus' own cry from the cross ('My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?') echoes this psalm, which details the suffering and ultimate vindication of the righteous one.
Daniel 9:24-27This prophecy outlines a specific timeline for the Messiah, including his cutting off, which Jesus would have used to demonstrate that his suffering and death were part of God's predetermined plan.
Acts 2:14-36Peter's sermon following Pentecost directly references the Old Testament, particularly the Psalms and prophecies about Jesus, mirroring the kind of explanation Jesus gave the Emmaus disciples.
vincentLuke 24:27: "And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself."
He expounded (διερμήνυεν)Or interpreted: throughout (διά). Imperfect, he went on interpreting from passage to passage.
clarkeLuke 24:27: "And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself."
Beginning at Moses, etc. - What a sermon this must have been, where all the prophecies relative to the incarnation, birth, teaching, miracles, sufferings, death, and resurrection of the blessed Jesus were all adduced, illustrated, and applied to himself, by an appeal to the well known facts which had taken place during his life! We are almost irresistibly impell…
Jesus didn't just point out a few verses; he "went on interpreting" from passage to passage, showing that the entire Old Testament, from Genesis to Malachi, was woven with threads pointing to him. This wasn't a casual mention of prophecies, but a thorough unfolding of God's plan, demonstrating that his suffering and death were not a deviation from the Scriptures, but the very heart of them.
As Jesus walks with two disciples who are sadly discussing his crucifixion, he gently rebukes their lack of faith in the Old Testament prophets. He then proceeds to meticulously unpack the Scriptures, starting with Moses and continuing through the Prophets, showing them how every part of the Old Testament pointed directly to him, his suffering, and his eventual glory. This profound exposition continues until they reach their destination, Emmaus.
As Jesus walks with two disciples who are sadly discussing his crucifixion, he gently rebukes their lack of faith in the Old Testament prophets. He then proceeds to meticulously unpack the Scriptures, starting with Moses and continuing through the Prophets, showing them how every part of the Old Testament pointed directly to him, his suffering, and his eventual glory. This profound exposition continues until they reach their destination, Emmaus.
"And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself." — Jesus didn't just point out a few verses; he "went on interpreting" from passage to passage, showing that the entire Old Testament, from Genesis to Malachi, was woven with threads pointing to him. Th…
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Last reviewed October 2026