Luke 24:39

Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.

Behold {G1492} my {G3450} hands {G5495} and {G2532} my {G3450} feet {G4228}, that {G3754} it is {G1510} I {G1473} myself {G846}: handle {G5584} me {G3165}, and {G2532} see {G1492}; for {G3754} a spirit {G4151} hath {G2192} not {G3756} flesh {G4561} and {G2532} bones {G3747}, as {G2531} ye see {G2334} me {G1691} have {G2192}.

Look at my hands and my feet — it is I, myself! Touch me and see — a ghost doesn’t have flesh and bones, as you can see I do.”

Look at My hands and My feet. It is I Myself. Touch Me and see—for a spirit does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.”

See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye behold me having.

Commentary

Luke 24:39 captures a pivotal moment immediately following Jesus' resurrection, where He appears to His disciples in Jerusalem. The disciples, startled and terrified, believed they were seeing a spirit. Jesus' words here are a direct, empathetic, and undeniable demonstration of His physical, bodily resurrection.

Context

This verse occurs after the discovery of the empty tomb by the women, and the encounter of two disciples on the road to Emmaus, where Jesus revealed Himself in the breaking of bread. As these two disciples returned to tell the others, Jesus suddenly stood among them. Their initial reaction was fear and disbelief, assuming they were seeing a ghost or apparition (Luke 24:37). This verse is Jesus' compassionate response to their terror, offering concrete proof of His identity and the nature of His resurrection.

Key Themes

  • The Physical Reality of Christ's Resurrection: This is the central message. Jesus was not a ghost or an illusion. He explicitly invites them to "handle me, and see," emphasizing that "a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have." This physical aspect is crucial for the Christian faith, demonstrating Christ's tangible victory over death and the grave.
  • Overcoming Doubt and Fear: The disciples were deeply troubled and full of doubt. Jesus directly addresses their skepticism by providing irrefutable, sensory evidence. His invitation to touch Him serves to dispel their fears and solidify their understanding of His resurrection. This interaction parallels His later encounter with Thomas, who also required tactile proof.
  • The Identity of Jesus: By showing His hands and feet—which would still bear the marks of the crucifixion—Jesus confirms His identity as the same Jesus who was crucified, yet now glorified and resurrected. It assures them that "it is I myself," reinforcing His continuity before and after death.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "flesh and bones" (Greek: sarx kai ostea) is a simple yet powerful descriptor. It emphasizes the concrete, tangible nature of Jesus' resurrected body. It directly contrasts with the common understanding of a "spirit" as something incorporeal or ethereal, underscoring that His body, though transformed and no longer subject to the limitations of His pre-resurrection body, was still physically real and touchable.

Practical Application

Luke 24:39 offers profound assurance to believers today. It grounds the resurrection in historical reality, not just spiritual metaphor. This verse confirms that Jesus truly conquered death, not just spiritually but physically, providing the bedrock of Christian hope and the promise of a future bodily resurrection for believers. It encourages us to trust in God's power to bring life out of death and to overcome our own doubts by examining the abundant evidence of His work, knowing that our Savior lives in a real, resurrected body.

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Cross-References

  • John 20:27 (10 votes)

    Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust [it] into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.

  • 1 John 1:1 (9 votes)

    ¶ That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;

  • John 20:20 (6 votes)

    And when he had so said, he shewed unto them [his] hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord.

  • Ecclesiastes 12:7 (6 votes)

    Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.

  • Numbers 16:22 (4 votes)

    And they fell upon their faces, and said, O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, shall one man sin, and wilt thou be wroth with all the congregation?

  • 1 Thessalonians 5:23 (4 votes)

    ¶ And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and [I pray God] your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

  • Hebrews 12:9 (3 votes)

    Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected [us], and we gave [them] reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?