Luke 24:44

KJV

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.

KJV (with Strong's)

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}.

Complete Jewish Bible

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.”

Berean Standard Bible

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.”

American Standard Version

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.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Luke 24:44 is a profound declaration by the resurrected Jesus to His disciples, revealing the overarching purpose of the entire Old Testament. In this pivotal moment, Jesus asserts that His life, suffering, death, and glorious resurrection were not coincidental events but the precise and divinely orchestrated fulfillment of everything written about Him in the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms. This verse fundamentally establishes Jesus as the central interpretive key to all Scripture, underscoring the unity of God's redemptive plan unveiled progressively from ancient times to its culmination in Christ.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is situated within the immediate aftermath of Jesus' resurrection, specifically on the evening of that first Easter Sunday. Following His appearance to two disciples on the [road to Emmaus](/luke/24-13-35 "Luke 24:13-35 - The Emmaus Road Encounter"), where He similarly "opened to them the Scriptures" concerning Himself, Jesus suddenly appears to the larger group of disciples in Jerusalem. Their initial reaction is fear and disbelief, assuming they are seeing a spirit. Jesus reassures them by showing His hands and feet, inviting them to touch Him, and even eating a piece of broiled fish to prove His physical reality. It is in this context of profound wonder, lingering doubt, and dawning comprehension that Jesus speaks these words, providing the essential hermeneutical framework for understanding His entire mission and the divine narrative of salvation. This teaching serves as a crucial bridge between the Old Testament promises and the New Testament reality, preparing the disciples for their future witness.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The phrase "the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms" represents the standard Jewish tripartite division of the Hebrew Bible, commonly known by its Hebrew acronym, the TaNaK. The "Law of Moses" (Torah) refers to the Pentateuch (Genesis through Deuteronomy), the foundational books containing the covenant, commandments, and early history of Israel. "The Prophets" (Nevi'im) encompasses both the Former Prophets (Joshua, Judges, Samuel, Kings—historical narratives viewed through a prophetic lens) and the Latter Prophets (Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and the Twelve Minor Prophets—books of direct prophetic utterance). "The Psalms" (Ketuvim, or "Writings") is the third section, with Psalms being the largest and most prominent book, often used as a synecdoche for the entire collection, which also includes wisdom literature (Proverbs, Job), poetic books (Song of Solomon), and historical narratives (Ezra-Nehemiah, Chronicles). By invoking all three divisions, Jesus makes an all-encompassing claim: the entirety of the Jewish sacred scriptures, revered for centuries, testified to Him. This was a direct challenge to the prevailing Jewish understanding of the Messiah, which often focused on a political liberator rather than a suffering servant and resurrected Lord.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully articulates several foundational theological themes. Firstly, it underscores the **Fulfillment of Prophecy**, asserting that Jesus' life, death, and resurrection were the precise culmination of God's ancient promises and prophetic declarations. This theme validates Jesus' messianic claims and demonstrates God's faithfulness and sovereign control over history. Secondly, it establishes **Jesus as the Center of Scripture**, declaring unequivocally that the entire Old Testament narrative, from its earliest laws to its latest poetic expressions, ultimately points to and finds its meaning in Him. This challenges any reading of the Old Testament that divorces it from Christ, emphasizing its progressive revelation leading to the Messiah. Thirdly, the verse highlights the **Divine Authority and Unity of Scripture**, as Jesus Himself affirms the Old Testament's meticulous prophetic accuracy and its cohesive, divinely inspired message. Finally, it implicitly points to the **Necessity of Divine Illumination** for true understanding, as Jesus "opened their understanding" (see [Luke 24:45](/luke/24-45 "Luke 24:45 - Jesus Opens Their Understanding")) to grasp these profound truths, implying that human intellect alone is insufficient to fully comprehend the Christ-centered message of the Scriptures.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **fulfilled (Greek, _plēróō'_):** G4137, meaning "to make replete, i.e., to cram, level up, furnish, satisfy, execute, finish, verify." In this context, it signifies the complete and precise execution or accomplishment of what was foretold. It's not merely a general correspondence but a perfect realization of prophetic utterances and types. Jesus' life and work bring to full completion the divine blueprint laid out in the Old Testament.
* **written (Greek, _gráphō'_):** G1125, a primary verb meaning "to grave, especially to write; figuratively, to describe." This emphasizes the authoritative and fixed nature of the Old Testament prophecies. They were not vague oral traditions but recorded, tangible words, inscribed by divine inspiration, ensuring their reliability and the certainty of their fulfillment in Christ.
* **concerning me (Greek, _perí emoû'_):** G4012 (perí) meaning "around, with respect to, concerning" and G1700 (emoû) meaning "of me." This phrase is crucial as it explicitly states the subject matter of the Old Testament. It is not merely a collection of historical accounts or moral codes, but a unified testimony centered on the person and work of Jesus. This declaration by Jesus Himself provides the ultimate hermeneutical key for interpreting the entire Hebrew canon.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you,"**: This opening clause connects Jesus' post-resurrection teaching to His pre-crucifixion ministry. He reminds the disciples that He had consistently taught them about the necessity of His suffering and resurrection, even if they had not fully grasped it at the time (e.g., [Luke 9:22](/luke/9-22 "Luke 9:22 - Jesus Foretells His Suffering")). His present explanation is not new information but a clearer illumination of truths already revealed, now made understandable in light of His resurrection.
* **"that all things must be fulfilled,"**: The phrase "all things" (G3956, _pâs_) indicates a comprehensive fulfillment, leaving no prophecy or type unaddressed. The word "must" (G1163, _deî_) conveys divine necessity and inevitability. This was not a possibility but a divine imperative, part of God's unalterable plan for salvation, demonstrating His sovereignty and meticulous design.
* **"which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms,"**: This specifies the source of the prophecies: the entire Hebrew Bible. As discussed in the Context section, this tripartite division (Torah, Nevi'im, Ketuvim) covers every genre and historical period of the Old Testament. Jesus claims that every part of these sacred writings, from the earliest laws to the latest poetic expressions, contained predictions or foreshadowings of His life, death, and resurrection.
* **"concerning me."**: This concluding phrase is the interpretive key. It unequivocally declares that the central subject and ultimate focus of the entire Old Testament is Jesus Himself. This is a radical claim, asserting that the vast tapestry of Israel's history, law, prophecy, and wisdom literature finds its ultimate meaning and culmination in His person and redemptive work.

#### Literary Devices
Luke 24:44 is rich with **Didacticism**, as Jesus directly instructs His disciples, providing them with the authoritative interpretation of the Old Testament. The verse employs **Synecdoche** by using "the Psalms" to represent the entire third division of the Hebrew Bible (the Writings), highlighting its prominence while encompassing the whole. The overarching literary device is **Fulfillment**, which is both a theological concept and a narrative technique, demonstrating how earlier prophecies and types find their complete realization in Christ. This creates a sense of divine intentionality and a cohesive, unified narrative across both Testaments. Furthermore, the verse functions as a **Hermeneutical Key**, providing the disciples (and by extension, all believers) with the correct lens through which to understand the entire Old Testament: it is fundamentally Christ-centered.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Luke 24:44 serves as a foundational declaration for Christian theology, establishing the profound unity and Christ-centered nature of the entire biblical narrative. It reveals that God's redemptive plan, though progressively unveiled, has always had Jesus Christ as its ultimate goal and fulfillment. This verse dismantles any notion of discontinuity between the Old and New Testaments, presenting them as two inseparable parts of one divine story, with the Old Testament providing the promise, prophecy, and pattern, and the New Testament providing the perfect fulfillment in Christ. It underscores God's faithfulness to His promises and the meticulous precision of His sovereign plan, demonstrating that Jesus' life and work were not accidental but the culmination of centuries of divine preparation. This understanding is crucial for a robust Christology and for appreciating the depth of God's wisdom in orchestrating salvation history.

* [John 5:39](/john/5-39 "John 5:39 - Jesus States the Scriptures Testify of Him")
* [Acts 3:18](/acts/3-18 "Acts 3:18 - Peter Preaches the Fulfillment of Prophecy")
* [Romans 1:2](/romans/1-2 "Romans 1:2 - The Gospel Promised in the Scriptures")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Luke 24:44 offers profound implications for our faith and daily lives. It calls us to approach the entire Bible, especially the Old Testament, with a Christ-centered hermeneutic. When we read the Law, the Prophets, and the Psalms, we are not merely studying ancient history or moral codes, but tracing the unfolding story of God's redemptive love culminating in Jesus. This perspective enriches our understanding of God's character—His faithfulness, sovereignty, and meticulous planning. It strengthens our faith, knowing that the God who fulfilled every ancient promise concerning His Son is the same God who will fulfill His promises to us. Furthermore, it empowers us to share the gospel more effectively, demonstrating how Jesus is not an isolated figure but the climax of God's grand narrative of salvation, foreshadowed and foretold since the beginning. This verse encourages us to seek divine illumination when studying Scripture, recognizing that true understanding comes not just from intellect but from the Holy Spirit opening our minds to Christ.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does understanding the Christ-centered nature of the Old Testament deepen your appreciation for God's plan of salvation?**
* **In what ways might you intentionally seek to see Jesus in the Old Testament as you read it this week?**
* **How does the fulfillment of ancient prophecies in Jesus strengthen your faith in the trustworthiness of God's Word?**
* **What practical steps can you take to allow the Holy Spirit to "open your understanding" of the Scriptures, as Jesus did for His disciples?**

### FAQ
**What is meant by "the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms"?**

Answer: This phrase refers to the three main divisions of the Hebrew Bible, which Christians call the Old Testament. "The law of Moses" (Torah) comprises the first five books (Genesis through Deuteronomy). "The prophets" (Nevi'im) includes historical books like Joshua, Judges, Samuel, and Kings, as well as the major and minor prophetic books (e.g., Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Amos, Jonah). "The psalms" (Ketuvim, or "Writings") refers to the third section, with Psalms being the most prominent book, but also including wisdom literature (Proverbs, Job), poetic books, and other historical narratives (e.g., Ezra-Nehemiah, Chronicles). By mentioning all three, Jesus emphasizes that the *entire* Old Testament canon, in its entirety, pointed to Him. This tripartite division was the standard way Jews categorized their sacred texts during Jesus' time.

**Why is Luke 24:44 considered a pivotal verse for Christian theology?**

Answer: Luke 24:44 is pivotal because it provides the definitive Christ-centered hermeneutic (interpretive key) for understanding the entire Old Testament. It is Jesus Himself, post-resurrection, who declares that all of Scripture "concerning me" must be fulfilled. This verse establishes the unity of God's redemptive plan across both testaments, showing that the Old Testament is not merely a collection of disconnected stories or laws, but a coherent narrative progressively revealing God's plan of salvation culminating in Jesus Christ. It validates Jesus' messianic claims by demonstrating that His life, death, and resurrection were divinely orchestrated and foretold, reinforcing the trustworthiness and divine inspiration of the Bible. This understanding is foundational for Christian belief in the person and work of Christ.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Luke 24:44 is the ultimate declaration of Christ's centrality to all of Scripture. Jesus, the resurrected Lord, unequivocally states that the entire Old Testament—the Law, the Prophets, and the Psalms—is ultimately "concerning me." This means that every sacrifice, every covenant, every prophetic utterance, every historical event, and every poetic expression in the Hebrew Scriptures finds its ultimate meaning and fulfillment in Jesus. He is the true Passover Lamb whose blood atones for sin ([1 Corinthians 5:7](/1_corinthians/5-7 "1 Corinthians 5:7 - Christ Our Passover Lamb")); the greater Moses who delivers His people from bondage to sin ([Deuteronomy 18:15](/deuteronomy/18-15 "Deuteronomy 18:15 - A Prophet Like Moses") fulfilled in [Acts 3:22](/acts/3-22 "Acts 3:22 - Peter Quotes Moses")); the Davidic King who reigns eternally ([2 Samuel 7:12-16](/2_samuel/7-12-16 "2 Samuel 7:12-16 - God's Covenant with David") fulfilled in [Luke 1:32-33](/luke/1-32-33 "Luke 1:32-33 - Prophecy of Jesus' Reign")). He is the Suffering Servant of Isaiah who bears the iniquities of many ([Isaiah 53:5](/isaiah/53-5 "Isaiah 53:5 - The Suffering Servant") fulfilled in [1 Peter 2:24](/1_peter/2-24 "1 Peter 2:24 - Christ Bore Our Sins")). Even the Psalms, often deeply personal expressions of worship and lament, frequently point to His suffering, resurrection, and glorious reign (e.g., [Psalm 22](/psalm/22 "Psalm 22 - A Psalm of Suffering and Deliverance") and [Psalm 110](/psalm/110 "Psalm 110 - The Lord's Anointed King"), both quoted in the New Testament concerning Christ). Thus, Jesus is not merely a figure *in* the biblical narrative, but the very **telos** (purpose and end) of the narrative, the divine "Amen" to all of God's promises, ensuring that in Him, every ancient word finds its perfect and glorious completion ([2 Corinthians 1:20](/2_corinthians/1-20 "2 Corinthians 1:20 - God's Promises are Yes in Christ")).

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

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.