Luke 24:27
And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Jesus didn't just point to passages; he unpacked them, "going through" them to show how they all pointed to Him. This wasn't a quick glance but a thorough interpretation, revealing that the entire Old Testament, from its very beginning with Moses, was a tapestry woven with threads foretelling His coming and His work. The depth of His explanation turned their sorrow into burning conviction.
On the road to Emmaus, two disciples are dejectedly discussing Jesus' crucifixion and the strange reports of his resurrection. The resurrected Jesus joins them, but their eyes are kept from recognizing him, allowing for an open conversation about their sorrow. He gently rebukes their slowness to believe what the prophets foretold, then proceeds to teach them from the Old Testament Scriptures, explaining all the passages that pointed to the Messiah's suffering and glory.
Imagine Jesus sitting down with you after His resurrection, ready to explain the Bible. What would He focus on? This verse gives us a clue, and it's bigger than you might think.
When Jesus opened up the Scriptures for the two disciples on the road to Emmaus, He started with Moses and the Prophets. This wasn't just a quick overview; He 'expounded' or 'interpreted' them, unpacking everything that pertained to Himself.
A Unified Message
The ancient Jewish Scriptures, what we call the Old Testament, weren't a collection of disconnected stories and laws. Jesus revealed them as a unified message pointing forward to Him. From the very first promise in Genesis 3:15 to the final prophecies, every part held a piece of the puzzle.
More Than Just Prediction
This wasn't just about predicting future events. Jesus showed how the Law, the sacrifices, the tabernacle, and the lives of key figures all served as types and shadows pointing to His ultimate work of redemption. He wasn't just proving He was the Messiah; He was revealing the depth of God's plan unfolding through Him.
The disciples' eyes were 'held' so they didn't recognize Jesus. Once He opened the Scriptures for them, their hearts burned. What was it about His teaching that was so illuminating?
Jesus' interpretation wasn't just about reciting facts. The Greek word for 'expounded' (διερμηνεύω - diermēneuō) implies a thorough, ongoing explanation, moving from passage to passage. He didn't just point to verses; He unfolded their meaning.
Revealing the 'Why'
For the disciples, the biggest obstacle was reconciling the Messiah's suffering with their expectations. Jesus addressed this head-on, explaining that His suffering and death were not a deviation from the plan, but a necessary part of it, as foretold by the prophets. He showed them that the cross wasn't an end, but the appointed way to His glory.
Igniting Hearts
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 event showcases Jesus actively reinterpreting the entirety of the Old Testament through the lens of his own life, death, and resurrection, revealing a unified divine plan that the disciples had previously misunderstood.
c. 1440-1400 BC
Pentateuch Compiled
The first five books of the Hebrew Bible, traditionally attributed to Moses, are compiled. These writings form the foundational part of the Old Testament and would later be referenced by Jesus as the starting point for explaining prophecies about himself.
c. 450-400 BC
Prophetic Books Canonized
The collection of writings from the Prophets, which include extensive Messianic prophecies, are finalized and accepted as part of the Hebrew canon. These writings, along with the Pentateuch, form the 'Law and the Prophets' that Jesus references.
c. 200 BC - AD 30
Septuagint Translation
The Hebrew Scriptures are translated into Greek, making them accessible to a wider audience, including Hellenistic Jews and later, early Christians. This translation would have been familiar to many in the early church.
c. AD 30-33
Crucifixion of Jesus
Jesus is arrested, tried, and crucified in Jerusalem. This event deeply perplexes his followers, who had hoped he would redeem Israel, and forms the immediate context for their despair.
This is the foundational 'proto-gospel' promise of a descendant who would crush the serpent's head, which Jesus beginning at Moses would have certainly expounded as referring to himself.
Psalm 22:1-31This psalm graphically details the suffering of a righteous one, which Jesus would have used to show how the Old Testament pointed to his crucifixion and subsequent vindication.
Isaiah 53:1-12This iconic chapter describing the suffering servant who bore the sins of many would have been a key passage for Jesus to explain the necessity of his atoning death.
Daniel 9:24-27This prophecy concerning the 'anointed one' and the specific timing of his coming, suffering, and future kingdom would have provided a detailed roadmap for Jesus' explanation.
Acts 2:22-36This sermon by Peter demonstrates how the early church understood and preached Christ's suffering and resurrection using the Old Testament scriptures, echoing Jesus' own teaching on the road to Emmaus.
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 to passages; he unpacked them, "going through" them to show how they all pointed to Him. This wasn't a quick glance but a thorough interpretation, revealing that the entire Old Testament, from its very beginning with Moses, was a tapestry woven with threads foretelling His coming and His work. The depth of His explanation turned their sorrow into burning conviction.
On the road to Emmaus, two disciples are dejectedly discussing Jesus' crucifixion and the strange reports of his resurrection. The resurrected Jesus joins them, but their eyes are kept from recognizing him, allowing for an open conversation about their sorrow. He gently rebukes their slowness to believe what the prophets foretold, then proceeds to teach them from the Old Testament Scriptures, explaining all the passages that pointed to the Messiah's suffering and glory.
On the road to Emmaus, two disciples are dejectedly discussing Jesus' crucifixion and the strange reports of his resurrection. The resurrected Jesus joins them, but their eyes are kept from recognizing him, allowing for an open conversation about their sorrow. He gently rebukes their slowness to believe what the prophets foretold, then proceeds to teach them from the Old Testament Scriptures, explaining all the passages that pointed to the Messiah's suffering and glory.
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This wasn't an academic lecture. The result of Jesus' teaching was that the disciples' hearts 'burned within them.' This highlights that true understanding of Scripture, especially concerning Christ, is not just intellectual but also deeply spiritual and transformative.
AD 30 or 33 (Same Day as Resurrection)— this verse
Jesus Appears on Emmaus Road
Jesus, post-resurrection and unrecognized, encounters two disciples walking to Emmaus. He joins them and begins to 'interpret' the Scriptures concerning himself, starting with Moses and the Prophets.
c. AD 40-60
Early Apostolic Preaching
Following Jesus' resurrection and ascension, the apostles begin preaching and teaching, frequently referencing the Old Testament (Law and Prophets) to demonstrate that Jesus was the prophesied Messiah.
"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 to passages; he unpacked them, "going through" them to show how they all pointed to Him. This wasn't a quick glance but a thorough interpretation, revealing that the entir…
