Luke 24:27

KJV

And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.

KJV (with Strong's)

And {G2532} beginning {G756} at {G575} Moses {G3475} and {G2532}{G575} all {G3956} the prophets {G4396}, he expounded {G1329} unto them {G846} in {G1722} all {G3956} the scriptures {G1124} the things concerning {G4012} himself {G1438}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Then, starting with Moshe and all the prophets, he explained to them the things that can be found throughout the Tanakh concerning himself.

Berean Standard Bible

And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He explained to them what was written in all the Scriptures about Himself.

American Standard Version

And beginning from Moses and from all the prophets, he interpreted to them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Luke 24:27 captures a pivotal moment on the road to Emmaus where the resurrected Jesus, unrecognized by two disheartened disciples, masterfully unveils the profound Christological thread woven throughout the Hebrew Scriptures. He demonstrates that the entire Old Testament narrative, from the Law of Moses to the writings of the Prophets, consistently points forward to His person, mission, suffering, and glorious resurrection, thereby providing the divine interpretive key for understanding God's redemptive plan.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Luke 24:27 is nestled within the profound post-resurrection narrative of Jesus' appearance to two disciples on the road to Emmaus, spanning [Luke 24:13-35](/luke/24-13-35 "Luke 24:13-35 - The Emmaus Road Encounter"). The disciples were dejected and confused, having heard reports of Jesus' resurrection but failing to grasp its spiritual and theological implications. Their conversation with the unrecognized Jesus reveals their deep sorrow and misapprehension of the Messiah's role, particularly His suffering and death. Jesus patiently listens, then gently rebukes their slowness of heart, before embarking on this comprehensive exposition of the Scriptures, which ultimately ignites their hearts and leads to their recognition of Him at the breaking of bread. This verse marks the theological turning point in their journey from despair to illuminated understanding.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** For first-century Jews, "Moses and all the prophets" represented the entirety of the Old Testament canon, typically divided into the Law (Torah), the Prophets (Nevi'im), and the Writings (Ketuvim). The Jewish people held the Scriptures in the highest regard as the revealed Word of God, containing promises of a coming Messiah. However, their prevailing expectation was often of a political or military deliverer who would liberate Israel from Roman oppression, rather than a suffering servant who would die and rise again. This cultural lens often obscured the prophetic passages concerning the Messiah's atoning work. Jesus' exposition directly challenges and reorients this understanding, demonstrating that the Scriptures, properly interpreted, foretold a Messiah who must suffer before entering His glory, as articulated in [Luke 24:26](/luke/24-26 "Luke 24:26 - The Messiah Must Suffer").
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully underscores several foundational themes within the Gospel of Luke and the broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it establishes **Jesus as the Fulfillment of Scripture**, asserting that He is the ultimate subject and culmination of all Old Testament prophecy, making sense of seemingly disparate narratives and prophecies. Secondly, it highlights **The Unity and Coherence of God's Word**, demonstrating a seamless continuity between the Old and New Testaments, where promises and foreshadowings in the Law and Prophets find their ultimate revelation and accomplishment in Christ. Finally, it emphasizes **Divine Revelation and Illumination**, showing that true understanding of spiritual truths, especially concerning Christ, requires not just intellectual study but also a divine opening of the mind, as Jesus later does for all the disciples in [Luke 24:45](/luke/24-45 "Luke 24:45 - Jesus Opens Their Minds to Understand Scripture").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **expounded (Greek, _diermēneúō'_):** From G1329, this verb means "to explain thoroughly" or "to interpret." It implies a detailed, comprehensive, and clear explanation, leaving no room for misunderstanding once the truth is presented. Jesus did not merely quote verses; He unveiled their deeper meaning, demonstrating how the Messianic thread runs through the entire fabric of the Old Testament, connecting seemingly disparate passages into a unified narrative centered on Himself.
* **scriptures (Greek, _graphḗ'_):** From G1124, referring to "holy Writ" or "a document." In this context, it specifically denotes the sacred writings of the Old Testament. The use of the plural "scriptures" emphasizes the breadth of the Old Testament canon, indicating that Jesus drew from various books and sections, not just a few isolated proof texts, to reveal the comprehensive witness to Himself.
* **concerning (Greek, _perí'_):** From G4012, this preposition means "with respect to," "about," or "pertaining to." It highlights the direct and singular focus of Jesus' exposition: everything He explained from the Old Testament was directly "about Himself" (G1438, _heautoû_), confirming that He is the central subject and interpretive key to all divine revelation.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And beginning at Moses and all the prophets":** This phrase specifies the scope of Jesus' teaching. "Moses" refers to the Pentateuch (the first five books of the Old Testament, also known as the Law or Torah), while "all the prophets" encompasses the prophetic books and, by extension, the entire remaining Old Testament canon (excluding the Law). This indicates that Jesus' exposition was comprehensive, drawing from the breadth of the Hebrew Scriptures to reveal His prefigured reality.
* **"he expounded unto them in all the scriptures":** This describes Jesus' method and the source of His teaching. He "expounded" (thoroughly explained and interpreted) the Scriptures, not merely citing them. The phrase "in all the scriptures" reiterates the comprehensive nature of His teaching, emphasizing that His self-revelation was not limited to a few Messianic proof texts but was deeply embedded throughout the entire Old Testament narrative.
* **"the things concerning himself":** This clause reveals the profound subject of Jesus' exposition. The entire Old Testament, when properly understood, is not merely a collection of laws, histories, and prophecies, but a unified narrative pointing to the person and work of Jesus Christ. He is the central figure, the fulfillment of all types, shadows, and prophecies contained within the sacred texts.

#### Literary Devices
Luke 24:27 masterfully employs several literary devices to convey its profound theological message. **Christological Interpretation** is the overarching device, as Jesus Himself provides the definitive hermeneutic for understanding the Old Testament, demonstrating that its ultimate meaning is found in Him. This act functions as a divine **Illumination**, where the previously veiled understanding of the disciples is opened by the very subject of the Scriptures. There is also an element of **Inclusio** with the subsequent verse [Luke 24:44](/luke/24-44 "Luke 24:44 - Jesus Explains the Scriptures Again"), where Jesus reiterates the same principle to the larger group of disciples in Jerusalem, stating that "all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me." This repetition underscores the vital importance of this truth. Furthermore, the narrative subtly employs **Dramatic Irony**, as the disciples are unaware they are walking and conversing with the very Messiah whom the Scriptures proclaim, adding a layer of poignant tension to the scene.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Luke 24:27 is a foundational text for understanding biblical theology, asserting that Jesus Christ is the interpretive key to the entire Old Testament. It dismantles any notion of a disjointed or fragmented biblical narrative, instead revealing a unified, Christ-centered story of redemption. The Law, the Prophets, the historical narratives, and the wisdom literature all contribute to a grand tapestry that ultimately points to God's climactic redemptive act in Jesus. This passage teaches us that to truly understand the Old Testament, we must read it through the lens of Christ, recognizing Him as the fulfillment of all its promises, types, and prophecies. Without Christ, the Old Testament remains a closed book; with Him, it becomes a vibrant testimony to God's consistent plan of salvation.

* [John 5:39](/john/5-39 "John 5:39 - The Scriptures Testify of Me")
* [Acts 3:22-24](/acts/3-22-24 "Acts 3:22-24 - Moses and All the Prophets Spoke of Jesus")
* [1 Peter 1:10-12](/1_peter/1-10-12 "1 Peter 1:10-12 - Prophets Inquired About Christ")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Luke 24:27 offers profound guidance for how believers today should approach and engage with the Scriptures. It calls us to adopt a Christ-centered hermeneutic, recognizing that the entire Bible, from Genesis to Revelation, is ultimately about Jesus. This means actively seeking to understand how the Old Testament narratives, laws, prophecies, and wisdom literature find their ultimate meaning and fulfillment in Christ. Such an approach transforms our reading from a mere academic exercise into a deeply spiritual encounter, as we discover the consistent, unfolding story of God's redemptive love culminating in His Son. Just as Jesus opened the disciples' understanding, we too must humbly pray for the Holy Spirit to illuminate God's Word for us, enabling us to see Christ on every page, to grasp the unity of God's redemptive plan, and to be transformed by the truths revealed. This Christ-centered reading fosters a deeper appreciation for the Bible's divine inspiration and its power to nourish our souls, strengthen our faith, and guide our lives in alignment with God's eternal purposes.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does understanding the Old Testament as "concerning himself" (Jesus) change your approach to reading its various books and narratives?**
* **In what ways have you experienced the Holy Spirit "opening your understanding" to see Christ in passages you previously found confusing or disconnected?**
* **What specific Old Testament stories or prophecies have you encountered that, when viewed through a Christ-centered lens, reveal new depths of meaning about Jesus?**

### FAQ
**What does "Moses and all the prophets" signify in this verse?**
Answer: "Moses and all the prophets" is a common Jewish shorthand for the entire Old Testament canon. "Moses" refers to the Pentateuch (the first five books: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy), also known as the Law or Torah. "All the prophets" encompasses the major and minor prophetic books, and by extension, the historical books and the Writings (like Psalms, Proverbs, etc.). So, Jesus' exposition covered the full breadth of the Hebrew Scriptures, demonstrating that the entire Old Testament bears witness to Him.

**Why did Jesus need to "expound" these things to the disciples? Didn't they already know the Scriptures?**
Answer: While the disciples were undoubtedly familiar with the Old Testament, their understanding was incomplete and often clouded by prevailing Jewish expectations of a conquering Messiah, rather than a suffering one. They struggled to reconcile Jesus' death with their understanding of the Messiah. Jesus' "expounding" (Greek _diermēneúō_, meaning to thoroughly explain or interpret) was necessary to provide the divine interpretive key—Himself—thereby revealing the true, unified message of the Scriptures concerning His suffering, death, and resurrection as God's redemptive plan. It wasn't just about knowing the texts, but understanding their ultimate meaning and fulfillment in Him.

**How does this verse relate to the concept of biblical inspiration?**
Answer: Luke 24:27 powerfully affirms the divine inspiration and coherence of the Old Testament. It shows that God's revelation is not haphazard but a meticulously planned and unified narrative, with Christ as its central theme. The fact that Jesus could draw from the entire Old Testament to explain "the things concerning himself" underscores that these ancient texts were divinely authored with a foresight that perfectly anticipated and prefigured the coming of the Messiah. It highlights the Bible's supernatural origin and its singular, consistent message across centuries and diverse authors.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Luke 24:27 stands as a profound declaration of Christ's centrality to all of Scripture and, by extension, to God's entire redemptive plan. Jesus Himself, the resurrected Lord, becomes the ultimate interpreter of the Old Testament, revealing that its every page, from the earliest promises in [Genesis 3:15](/genesis/3-15 "Genesis 3:15 - The Protoevangelium") to the prophetic visions, ultimately points to Him. He is the true and greater Moses, the fulfillment of the Law ([Matthew 5:17](/matthew/5-17 "Matthew 5:17 - Jesus Fulfills the Law")), the ultimate Prophet ([Deuteronomy 18:15](/deuteronomy/18-15 "Deuteronomy 18:15 - A Prophet Like Moses")), and the King foretold by the prophets ([Isaiah 9:6-7](/isaiah/9-6-7 "Isaiah 9:6-7 - The Child Born, The Son Given")). Every sacrifice, every feast, every covenant, and every historical event in the Old Testament finds its ultimate meaning and culmination in His person and work. The temple rituals and the Levitical priesthood, for instance, are not ends in themselves but shadows pointing to Christ, our great High Priest and the perfect, once-for-all sacrifice ([Hebrews 9:11-14](/hebrews/9-11-14 "Hebrews 9:11-14 - Christ Our High Priest")). Thus, Jesus is not merely a character in the biblical story; He is the very point and purpose of the story, the Alpha and Omega, through whom all things were created and in whom all things hold together ([Colossians 1:15-17](/colossians/1-15-17 "Colossians 1:15-17 - Christ is Supreme")). His resurrection, which the disciples initially struggled to comprehend, is revealed as the climactic event foreseen throughout the Law and the Prophets, validating His claims and inaugurating the new covenant in His blood.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Isaiah 7:14

Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

Luke 24:44

And he said unto them, These [are] the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and [in] the prophets, and [in] the psalms, concerning me.

Isaiah 53:1

¶ Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?

Isaiah 53:12

Therefore will I divide him [a portion] with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

Deuteronomy 18:15

¶ The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken;

Jeremiah 33:14

Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will perform that good thing which I have promised unto the house of Israel and to the house of Judah.

Jeremiah 33:15

In those days, and at that time, will I cause the Branch of righteousness to grow up unto David; and he shall execute judgment and righteousness in the land.