Luke 24:31

KJV

And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight.

KJV (with Strong's)

And {G1161} their {G846} eyes {G3788} were opened {G1272}, and {G2532} they knew {G1921} him {G846}; and {G2532} he {G846} vanished {G1096}{G855} out of {G575} their sight {G846}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. But he became invisible to them.

Berean Standard Bible

Then their eyes were opened and they recognized Jesus—and He disappeared from their sight.

American Standard Version

And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Luke 24:31 marks the climactic moment on the road to Emmaus, where two disciples, who had been walking and conversing with the resurrected Jesus without recognizing Him, suddenly have their spiritual and physical eyes opened to His true identity. This profound recognition occurs as Jesus breaks bread with them, mirroring the Last Supper, and is immediately followed by His supernatural disappearance, emphasizing the unique, transcendent nature of His resurrected body and the divine orchestration of revelation.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is the dramatic turning point in the Emmaus road narrative, which begins in [Luke 24:13](/luke/24-13 "Luke 24:13 - The Emmaus Road Journey Begins"). Following the devastating events of the crucifixion and the perplexing reports of an empty tomb, two disciples, Cleopas and another unnamed companion, are dejectedly walking away from Jerusalem. Jesus joins them, but their eyes are "restrained" from recognizing Him ([Luke 24:16](/luke/24-16 "Luke 24:16 - Their Eyes Were Restrained")). He engages them in conversation, patiently explaining how the Old Testament Scriptures prophesied His suffering and glory ([Luke 24:25-27](/luke/24-25-27 "Luke 24:25-27 - Jesus Explains the Scriptures")). The narrative builds to the evening meal, where Jesus takes on the host's role, takes bread, blesses it, breaks it, and gives it to them ([Luke 24:30](/luke/24-30 "Luke 24:30 - Jesus Breaks Bread")), a sequence of actions deeply reminiscent of His institution of the Lord's Supper. Verse 31 is the immediate consequence of this act, the moment of divine illumination and subsequent disappearance, propelling the disciples back to Jerusalem to share their astonishing news.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The setting is the third day after Jesus' crucifixion, a time of immense confusion, grief, and dashed hopes for His followers. Travel by foot was common, and hospitality was a deeply ingrained cultural value in the ancient Near East. Inviting a stranger, especially a fellow traveler, into one's home for a meal was a common act of kindness and a sign of fellowship. The act of "breaking bread" was a significant part of Jewish communal meals, often performed by the head of the household. Beyond its literal meaning, it carried profound symbolic weight, especially after Jesus' institution of the Last Supper ([Luke 22:19-20](/luke/22-19-20 "Luke 22:19-20 - The Institution of the Lord's Supper")), where the broken bread represented His body given for them. For the early church, "breaking bread" became a common phrase for communal meals, including the Eucharist, signifying fellowship and remembrance of Christ. Jesus' post-resurrection appearances, including this one, frequently involved Him appearing and disappearing, demonstrating His glorified body's transcendence of normal physical limitations, a phenomenon not understood by first-century observers but consistent with the miraculous nature of His resurrection.
* **Key Themes:** This pivotal verse contributes significantly to several major themes within Luke's Gospel and the broader New Testament. Firstly, it underscores the theme of **Divine Revelation and Recognition**, highlighting that true spiritual understanding and recognition of Christ's identity are not merely intellectual achievements but require a supernatural opening of the eyes by God. The disciples' initial blindness, despite Jesus' extensive scriptural teaching, emphasizes this divine prerequisite. Secondly, the passage powerfully illustrates the **Significance of the Breaking of Bread** as a means through which Christ reveals Himself. This act, echoing the Last Supper and foreshadowing the early church's practice of communion ([Acts 2:42](/acts/2-42 "Acts 2:42 - The Early Church Devotes Itself to Breaking Bread")), suggests that Christ is often made known in acts of fellowship, remembrance, and shared worship. Finally, the immediate disappearance of Jesus after recognition speaks to the **Nature of the Resurrected Christ**, demonstrating His glorified body's ability to transcend physical constraints, appearing and disappearing at will, a characteristic seen in other post-resurrection encounters, such as His appearance to the disciples behind locked doors ([John 20:19](/john/20-19 "John 20:19 - Jesus Appears to Disciples Behind Locked Doors")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **opened (Greek, _dianoígō'_):** This word, from `G1272`, literally means "to open thoroughly" or "to unlock." In the context of Luke 24:31, it signifies more than mere physical sight; it implies a complete and profound spiritual illumination. It's used elsewhere in Luke to describe Jesus "opening" the Scriptures to His disciples' understanding ([Luke 24:45](/luke/24-45 "Luke 24:45 - Jesus Opens Their Understanding of the Scriptures")), suggesting a divine act of enabling comprehension and perception. The opening of their eyes here is a supernatural intervention, allowing them to perceive what was previously hidden.
* **knew (Greek, _epiginṓskō'_):** Derived from `G1921`, this verb means "to know upon some mark," "to recognize fully," or "to become fully acquainted with." It is a stronger form of "knowing" than a simple acquaintance (ginōskō), implying a deep, complete, and acknowledging comprehension of identity. The disciples didn't just see a man; they recognized *Him*—the resurrected Christ, their Lord and Teacher, in a moment of profound revelation.
* **vanished (Greek, _áphantos'_):** This word, `G855`, means "non-manifested" or "invisible." While the KJV uses "vanished," the underlying Greek phrase is `áphantos egeneto`, literally "he became unseen." The verb `egeneto` (from `G1096`, _gínomai_) means "to become" or "to come into being." Thus, "he became unseen" conveys a sudden, complete, and supernatural disappearance. It emphasizes that Jesus' presence was not bound by ordinary physical limitations, highlighting the miraculous and transcendent nature of His resurrected body.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And their eyes were opened":** This phrase describes a sudden, divinely orchestrated shift in perception. It was not merely a physical unclouding of vision, but a spiritual awakening that enabled the disciples to see beyond Jesus' disguised appearance and recognize His true identity. This "opening" implies a supernatural work of God, allowing them to comprehend the reality of the resurrected Christ.
* **"and they knew him":** Following the opening of their eyes, the disciples immediately and fully recognized Jesus. This "knowing" signifies a deep, comprehensive understanding and acknowledgment of who He was, not just a casual identification. The recognition was complete and undeniable, confirming the reality of His resurrection to them personally.
* **"and he vanished out of their sight":** Immediately upon their recognition, Jesus supernaturally disappeared. This sudden vanishing act underscores the transcendent nature of His resurrected body, which was no longer bound by earthly constraints. It also serves to prevent the disciples from clinging to His physical presence, instead compelling them to focus on His spiritual reality and the mission He had given them.

#### Literary Devices
Luke employs several powerful **Literary Devices** in this verse. The most prominent is **Dramatic Revelation**, where the identity of Jesus is suddenly and powerfully unveiled after a period of suspense and unrecognized presence. This creates a climactic moment, transforming the disciples' sorrow into astonishment and joy. There is also a significant use of **Symbolism**, particularly in the act of "breaking bread." This action, echoing the Last Supper, becomes the catalyst for recognition, symbolizing not only Jesus' sacrifice but also His ongoing presence in fellowship and communion. Furthermore, the narrative uses **Irony** throughout the Emmaus road account: the very person the disciples are mourning and discussing is walking beside them, explaining the Scriptures about Himself, yet they remain oblivious until the divinely appointed moment. This ironic tension heightens the impact of the final revelation in this verse.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Luke 24:31 profoundly illustrates that encountering the risen Christ and truly knowing Him is often a divinely initiated act, not solely dependent on human intellect or physical sight. The disciples' spiritual blindness, despite Jesus' extensive scriptural exposition, highlights the necessity of God's grace to open our eyes to truth. It suggests that Christ reveals Himself in unexpected ways and familiar actions, particularly in the context of fellowship and the remembrance of His saving work. This moment also underscores the unique nature of the resurrected body, capable of transcending physical limitations, and points to the spiritual rather than purely physical reality of Christ's ongoing presence among His people.

* [John 20:20](/john/20-20 "Disciples Rejoice at Seeing the Lord")
* [1 Corinthians 10:16](/1_corinthians/10-16 "The Cup of Blessing and the Bread")
* [Revelation 3:20](/revelation/3-20 "Jesus Stands at the Door and Knocks")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The Emmaus road experience, culminating in Luke 24:31, offers a timeless blueprint for our own encounters with the living Christ. Like the disciples, we often walk through life with unanswered questions, sorrow, or spiritual blindness, even when Jesus is present with us. This passage reminds us that Jesus actively seeks us out, walks with us, and patiently expounds His Word to us, preparing our hearts for revelation. The moment their eyes were opened, coinciding with the breaking of bread, powerfully teaches us that Christ often makes Himself known in the ordinary acts of Christian fellowship, in the shared meal, and in the diligent study of Scripture. Our ability to truly "see" and "know" Him is a gift of divine grace, a spiritual awakening that transforms our perspective and fills us with joy and purpose. It compels us to look for His presence not only in grand, miraculous displays but also in the simple, sacred rhythms of our Christian walk and community.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what ways might my "eyes" currently be "restrained" from fully recognizing Jesus' presence and work in my life?**
* **How does engaging with Scripture and participating in Christian fellowship, particularly communion, prepare my heart for deeper encounters with Christ?**
* **What does Jesus' sudden disappearance teach me about the nature of His presence today, and how can I cultivate a spiritual awareness of Him even when I cannot physically see Him?**

### FAQ

**Why were the disciples unable to recognize Jesus initially, and what caused their eyes to be opened?**

Answer: The text states in [Luke 24:16](/luke/24-16 "Their Eyes Were Restrained") that "their eyes were restrained, that they should not know him." This suggests a divine act, a supernatural veiling of Jesus' identity, rather than a mere physical inability on their part. This restraint served a pedagogical purpose, allowing Jesus to first expound the Scriptures concerning Himself ([Luke 24:27](/luke/24-27 "Jesus Explains the Scriptures")) before revealing His resurrected self. Their eyes were "opened" in [Luke 24:31](/luke/24-31 "Their Eyes Were Opened") through another divine intervention, specifically triggered by Jesus' familiar actions of taking, blessing, and breaking the bread, a gesture deeply reminiscent of the Last Supper ([Luke 22:19-20](/luke/22-19-20 "The Institution of the Lord's Supper")). This suggests that true spiritual recognition of Christ is a gift of God, often revealed through the Word and the sacred actions He instituted.

**What is the significance of Jesus vanishing immediately after being recognized?**

Answer: Jesus' immediate disappearance ("he vanished out of their sight") after being recognized in [Luke 24:31](/luke/24-31 "Jesus Vanishes") underscores the unique, transcendent nature of His resurrected body. He was no longer bound by earthly limitations, able to appear and disappear at will, as also seen when He appeared to His disciples behind locked doors ([John 20:19](/john/20-19 "Jesus Appears to Disciples Behind Locked Doors")). This vanishing act served several purposes: it prevented the disciples from clinging to His physical presence, emphasizing that His post-resurrection reality was not limited to a physical, earthly form; it highlighted the miraculous nature of His resurrection; and it propelled the disciples into action, sending them back to Jerusalem to bear witness to what they had seen and heard, rather than remaining with Him. It points to the spiritual, rather than purely physical, reality of His ongoing presence.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Luke 24:31 stands as a profound Christ-centered fulfillment, demonstrating the resurrected Lord's ongoing engagement with His disciples and His unique method of revealing Himself. The narrative of the Emmaus road, culminating in this verse, illustrates how the Old Testament prophecies, which Jesus had just expounded ([Luke 24:27](/luke/24-27 "Jesus Explains the Scriptures")), find their ultimate meaning and fulfillment in His person and work. Jesus, the long-awaited Messiah, is revealed not merely through intellectual understanding of the Scriptures, but through a divine act of revelation that opens the eyes of the heart. His breaking of bread, echoing the Last Supper ([Luke 22:19](/luke/22-19 "Jesus Institutes the Lord's Supper")), foreshadows the New Covenant established through His body broken for sin, and points to the ongoing presence of Christ in the communal life of the church, particularly in the Eucharist. His sudden disappearance, rather than signifying absence, points to His ascension and omnipresent spiritual reality, where He is no longer confined to a single location but is present with believers everywhere through the Holy Spirit ([Matthew 28:20](/matthew/28-20 "Jesus Promises His Presence Always")). Thus, this verse beautifully encapsulates the transition from an earthly, physical Christ to the glorified, ascended Lord who continues to reveal Himself to His followers through His Word and Spirit, transforming sorrow into joy and doubt into unwavering faith, just as He did for the disciples on the road to Emmaus, sending them forth as witnesses to His resurrection ([Luke 24:48](/luke/24-48 "You Are Witnesses of These Things")).

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

Luke 24:16

But their eyes were holden that they should not know him.

John 8:59

Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.

Luke 4:30

But he passing through the midst of them went his way,

John 20:13

And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him.

John 20:16

Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.