Luke 24:25

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

Then {G2532} he {G846} said {G2036} unto {G4314} them {G846}, O {G5599} fools {G453}, and {G2532} slow {G1021} of heart {G2588} to believe {G4100}{G1909} all {G3956} that {G3739} the prophets {G4396} have spoken {G2980}:

He said to them, “Foolish people! So unwilling to put your trust in everything the prophets spoke!

Then Jesus said to them, “O foolish ones, how slow are your hearts to believe all that the prophets have spoken!

And he said unto them, O foolish men, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken!

Commentary

Context of Luke 24:25

This verse is part of the famous Emmaus Road encounter, which occurred on the very day of Jesus’ resurrection. Two disciples, Cleopas and another unnamed companion, were walking from Jerusalem to Emmaus, deeply distraught and confused by the recent events of Jesus' crucifixion and the bewildering reports of an empty tomb. Jesus joins them on their journey, unrecognized, and hears their sorrowful account. In this verse, Jesus responds to their lack of understanding and faith, setting the stage for a profound revelation.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Spiritual Blindness and Disbelief: Jesus confronts the disciples' inability to grasp the truth of His resurrection, despite it being foretold in the Old Testament. Their hearts were "slow" to believe, indicating a dullness or resistance to spiritual revelation, even in the face of compelling evidence.
  • The Centrality of Prophecy: Jesus emphasizes that His suffering, death, and resurrection were not unexpected tragedies but direct fulfillments of "all that the prophets have spoken." This highlights the Old Testament's unified testimony to the coming Messiah and His redemptive work, underscoring God's consistent plan.
  • Jesus as the Interpreter of Scripture: This verse initiates Jesus' profound teaching that follows, where He expounds on how the Old Testament prophecies point directly to Him (Luke 24:27). He reveals the true meaning of the Scriptures, which had been hidden from their understanding.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV translates Jesus' opening remark as "O fools." The Greek word used here is anoētoi (ἀνόητοι), which does not imply moral depravity or wickedness in the sense of being evil, but rather a lack of understanding, thoughtlessness, or being "without intellect." It suggests they were spiritually dull or slow to perceive, not foolish in a derogatory sense, but rather "uncomprehending" or lacking spiritual insight.

The phrase "slow of heart to believe" (Greek: bradeis tē kardia tou pisteuein) further clarifies this. It points to a slowness or reluctance in their spiritual understanding and acceptance of truth, particularly concerning the divine plan revealed through the prophets. Their heart, the center of their intellect and will, was sluggish in embracing what God had already declared.

Practical Application

Luke 24:25 serves as a powerful reminder for believers today. Often, we too can be "slow of heart" to fully grasp and believe God's promises and truths, even when they are clearly laid out in His Word. This verse encourages us to:

  • Diligently Study Scripture: Like the disciples, we need the Holy Spirit and diligent study to truly understand God's Word and see how all of it points to Christ (John 5:39).
  • Embrace Prophetic Fulfillment: Recognizing how Old Testament prophecies were fulfilled in Jesus strengthens our faith and confirms the trustworthiness of God's Word and His overarching plan for salvation.
  • Ask for Spiritual Understanding: We should pray for an "enlightened understanding" so that we are not dull or resistant to the profound truths of the Gospel, especially the central truth of the resurrection and its implications for our lives.
Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Mark 7:18

    And he saith unto them, Are ye so without understanding also? Do ye not perceive, that whatsoever thing from without entereth into the man, [it] cannot defile him;

  • Hebrews 5:11

    Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing.

  • Hebrews 5:12

    For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which [be] the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.

  • Mark 9:19

    He answereth him, and saith, O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him unto me.

  • Mark 16:14

    ¶ Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen.

  • Mark 8:17

    And when Jesus knew [it], he saith unto them, Why reason ye, because ye have no bread? perceive ye not yet, neither understand? have ye your heart yet hardened?

  • Mark 8:18

    Having eyes, see ye not? and having ears, hear ye not? and do ye not remember?
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