THINGS GOD DOES TO BLESS PEOPLE

Luke 24:45

Morning Meditation 11/13/14

"Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,"

The scene is after the crucifixion and resurrection. Two of the Lord's disciples were going from Jerusalem to Emmaus. The discussion was about the empty tomb. They did not understand the resurrection even though Jesus had taught them that He would rise again.

This is what happened. It is described in Luke 24:13-17, "And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs. And they talked together of all these things which had happened.. And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them. But their eyes were holden that they should not know him. And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad?"

First of all, it is clear that they did not understand what had happened. Jesus in His resurrected body joined them, disguising Himself so they would not recognize Him, then He ask, "What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad?"

And one of the disciples whose name was Cleopas answered and said in Luke 24:18, "...Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days?" It surprised these disciples that this stranger (Jesus who had closed their eyes to who He was) had not heard of what had happened in Jerusalem in the last three days. The crucifixion of Jesus was a public matter and all of Jerusalem knew about it.

Jesus ask them for an explanation and their explanation revealed their lack of knowledge of the Old Testament Scriptures that applied to the Messiah. So Jesus said to them, "O fools and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: Ought not Christ (the Messiah) to have suffered these things, and to enter into His glory?" (Parenthesis mine).

Jesus explained to them all the Scriptures of the Old Testament that applied to Him as the Messiah. As soon as they understood that it was Jesus with whom they spoke, and after He opened their eyes that they might know Him (Luke 24:31), and He disappeared from them, Luke 24:32-35 tells us, "And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures? And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them, Saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon. And they told what things were done in the way, and how he was known of them in breaking of bread."

When they found the eleven and made this explanation, we are told in Luke 24:36-39, "And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit. And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts? Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have."

Then He reminded them in verse 44 what He had explained to them while He was yet with them, that all things had to be fulfilled that Moses and the prophets had written of Him.

Then we have the words of our text: "Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,"

Let's look at the following from these Scriptures,

IT IS POSSIBLE TO HEAR AND NOT UNDERSTAND

Jesus was the greatest teacher on earth. No one has or will ever excel Jesus in His use of words and illustrations to communicate truth. We are told in John 1:18, "No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him." The word "declared" translates "exegeomai" and means, "to draw out in narrative, unfold a teaching used in Greek writing of the interpretation of things sacred and divine." It is in the aorist tense which means that it is in the past tense and is a once for all act.

A verse that at least in part explains this word is found in Hebrews 1:3, "Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;" Jesus birth, life, and ministry interpreted God to men. He was and is the express image of God. When He speaks, God is speaking. So the Father sent the Son to reveal the invisible God to men and let them know that He loves them and is providing a way of salvation for them.

The Lord Jesus continues to call preachers and Christians in general to tell the story of God's love through His Son Christ Jesus our Lord. Men hear the words but do not understand. Can they understand? I will have to answer yes to that question. One is not held responsible for what he cannot do. But when men hear from God and they refuse to understand, and they do not try to understand, they are responsible, and will answer for it in the judgment. Man is so highly opinionated that when the subject of God arises their personal opinions blind their minds to what they are hearing.

Man's opinion is formed from birth. He hears people talk, he goes to school and college, and he hears men's opinion taught, and in the context of his life experience he forms an opinion about God and the Bible.. This is what happened to the Jews when Jesus came on the scene. The Jews are a very opinionated people. So are we. I have had people come to church where I have pastored, and walk out on me when all I was doing was explaining a passage of Scripture. They said, "That's just the preacher's opinion." That kind of reasoning suggests that the Bible cannot be understood and every one who explains it in a way that differs from their opinion dodges the issue by saying, "That's just the preacher's opinion."

One of the common saying of our day is, "The Bible is just another book written by men." They do not believe it is the inspired Word of God. Men who are opinionated to this extent are going to hear the words, but they are not going to understand.

The second thing I want to point out is,

JESUS SEEMS TO PLACE THEIR LACK OF UNDERSTANDING SQUARELY UPON THEM

Jesus said to the two disciples who were going from Jerusalem to Emmaus, Luke 24:25, "Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken:" He said they were "slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken." First of all, Jesus assumes that what the prophets said was from God and completely accurate. He told them that they were wrong not to believe all that they prophets had spoken.

What about us? Do we believe that the Bible is the inspired Word of God, and that because it is, we can believe all it says literally? Do we believe it is a completely accurate road map by which we can chart out our Christian pilgrimage, and know because we are walking according to the Scriptures, we are pleasing to God? If we are walking according to the Scriptures, we can know we are saved and pleasing Him. It is a life of faith. Faith in what? Faith in God and what He says in His Word. We do not need extra Biblical revelation. God has given us a perfect Book that is as up to date today as when it was written. What was wrong two thousand years ago is wrong today. What was right two thousand years ago is right today. God's Book never gets old.

Jesus places the responsibility of the lack of understanding the Scriptures squarely upon them. This is the reason He said, "O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken." Then finally,

JESUS OPENED THEIR HEARTS TO UNDERSTAND

Jesus said in our text "Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,"

Why did Jesus wait until this point to open their understanding that they might understand the Scriptures? I will give you my personal opinion. First of all, He did hold them responsible for their lack of understanding. I believe this is brought out in the words, "O fools and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken." The word "believe" is the key word in this statement. There is no question in my mind that they were saved. They had believed to the saving of their soul. Second, it is possible to be an unbelieving believer.

The Bible says in Hebrews 3:12, "Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God." The exhortation here is to "brethren." These were brethren in Christ. It is totally inconsistent with the use of the word "brethren" in this context to apply this word to anyone except brothers in Christ. So the exhortation is to believers who are in danger of allowing their hearts to become hardened and unbelieving.

There are two ways that you can choose to live as a Christian. You can be positive toward the Divine view point, i.e., believe the Scriptures without question, and without the slightest reservation, or, one can become negative and rationalize the Scriptures from the human viewpoint, i.e., treat the Bible like it is not literally God's Word without question, i..e., verbally inspired, inerrant, and applicable to us as an up to date Word from God. People in this second view point interpret the Scriptures from the stand point of human reason and are not committed without question or the slightest reservation to the teaching of the Scriptures. They think we must interpret the Scriptures in the light of modern science and situation ethics. They are willing to allow homosexuality within the Church, they call it a sickness and not sin, they can make room for the killing of the unborn, they impose their views on the Scriptures instead of allowing the Scriptures to form their views of what is right and what is wrong.

I do not believe that Jesus opens our hearts to understand the Scriptures unless we are believers in Him, and want to know and understand, and approach the Scriptures as the only rule of faith and practice. This includes a willingness to practice what we understand from the Scriptures.

Jesus told His disciples in John 16:12, "I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now."

If you want to know the truth, and you are willing to surrender to the truth if it is revealed, the Holy Spirit will open the Scriptures to your understanding. This is an attitude in which we should walk.

May the Lord bless these words to our hearts.

In Christ

Bro. White