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.
And {G1161} he said {G2036} unto them {G846}, These {G3778} are the words {G3056} which {G3739} I spake {G2980} unto {G4314} you {G5209}, while {G5607} I was yet {G2089} with {G4862} you {G5213}, that {G3754} all things {G3956} must {G1163} be fulfilled {G4137}, which {G3588} were written {G1125} in {G1722} the law {G3551} of Moses {G3475}, and {G2532} in the prophets {G4396}, and {G2532} in the psalms {G5568}, concerning {G4012} me {G1700}.
Yeshua said to them, “This is what I meant when I was still with you and told you that everything written about me in the Torah of Moshe, the Prophets and the Psalms had to be fulfilled.”
Jesus said to them, “These are the words I spoke to you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about Me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms.”
And he said unto them, These are my words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must needs be fulfilled, which are written in the law of Moses, and the prophets, and the psalms, concerning me.
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Zechariah 12:10
And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for [his] only [son], and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for [his] firstborn. -
Luke 24:26
Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? -
Luke 24:27
And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. -
Zechariah 9:9
¶ Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he [is] just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass. -
Acts 13:33
God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee. -
Psalms 110:1
¶ A Psalm of David. The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool. -
Psalms 110:7
He shall drink of the brook in the way: therefore shall he lift up the head.
Luke 24:44 is a pivotal verse, capturing Jesus' post-resurrection teaching to His disciples. Here, He reveals the profound truth that His life, death, and resurrection were not random events but the precise fulfillment of centuries of Old Testament prophecy. This verse underscores the unity and divine inspiration of all Scripture, presenting Jesus as the central figure of God's redemptive plan.
Context
This statement occurs on the evening of Jesus' resurrection, as He appears to His disciples in Jerusalem. They are initially startled and disbelieving, thinking He is a spirit. After reassuring them and even eating fish to prove His physicality, Jesus opens their understanding to the Scriptures. This post-resurrection teaching follows a similar discourse on the road to Emmaus, where He explained how "all the Scriptures" pointed to Himself. His words here are crucial for the disciples' future mission, providing them with the interpretive key to the Old Testament.
Key Themes
Linguistic Insights
The phrase "the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms" is a comprehensive reference to the three main divisions of the Hebrew Bible (the Old Testament).
- The Law of Moses (Torah): Refers to the first five books (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy), containing God's law, creation accounts, and early history.
- The Prophets (Nevi'im): Includes the historical books (Joshua, Judges, Samuel, Kings) and the prophetic books (Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and the Twelve Minor Prophets).
- The Psalms (Ketuvim - Writings): While "Psalms" is specifically mentioned as the first and often most prominent book in this section, it stands for the entire collection of "Writings," which also includes books like Proverbs, Job, Song of Solomon, Ruth, Lamentations, Ecclesiastes, Esther, Daniel, Ezra-Nehemiah, and Chronicles.
This tripartite division, known as the TaNaK (an acronym from the first Hebrew letter of each division), was the standard Jewish classification of their sacred texts. By referring to all three, Jesus emphasizes that every part of their sacred tradition testified to Him.Significance & Application
Luke 24:44 is foundational for Christian theology and Bible study. It teaches us to read the Old Testament with Christ as the central interpretive key. Every sacrifice, every prophecy, every historical figure, and every poetic expression can be seen as pointing forward to Jesus. This comprehensive reference emphasizes that the entire Old Testament points to Christ, echoing Jesus' earlier words that the Scriptures testify of Him. This fulfillment is a cornerstone of Christian theology, frequently preached by the apostles, as seen in Peter's sermon in Acts.
For believers today, this verse:
- Strengthens Faith: The precise fulfillment of prophecy demonstrates God's sovereignty and the trustworthiness of His Word.
- Encourages Old Testament Study: It motivates us to delve into the Old Testament, knowing that it reveals more about Jesus and God's overarching plan of salvation.
- Provides Clarity: It offers a Christ-centered framework for understanding seemingly disparate parts of the Bible, revealing its cohesive narrative.
In essence, Jesus Himself confirms that the entire Old Testament is a grand symphony, with Him as the crescendo, fully harmonizing God's eternal purposes.