Thank you for the interpretive question, “What means the expression: “He opened their minds so they could understand the scriptures” in Luke 24:45?”
In order to fully appreciate the statement by Jesus, context clarifies why Jesus opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. The problem is that the two disciples had a wrong understanding of Jesus.
Luke 24 says this, “Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. 14 They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. 15 As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; 16 but they were kept from recognizing him.
17 He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?” They stood still, their faces downcast. 18 One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” 19 “What things?” he asked.“ About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. 20 The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; 21 but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. 22 In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning 23 but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. 24 Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see Jesus.”
25 He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself…So he went in to stay with them. 30 When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. 32 They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?” (A searchable online Bible in over 150 versions and 50 languages). Bible citations are from the New International Version.
What did the two disciples believed who Jesus was? They said that he was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and the all the people. These two followers and many other followers did not fully understand who Jesus is. Their eyes were spiritually closed to the understanding of the Scriptures. They read the words of the Scriptures but didn’t understand who the Scriptures were referring to.
The Apostle Paul said this in II Corinthians 3, “We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to prevent the Israelites from seeing the end of what was passing away. 14 But their minds were made dull, for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read. It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away. 15 Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. 16 But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit” (NIV).
The two disciples would not have concluded on their own that the Scriptures spoke of Jesus being the Messiah. They were looking for a physical deliverer from the bondage of the Romans. Jesus came to give his people spiritual deliverance from the bondage of sin and death. That was the plan of God, spiritual deliverance before physical deliverance otherwise the kingdom of God will be without people!
Throughout Israel’s history, they were looking for a physical deliverer from Moses to the Judges and even through the Kings to bring in the Kingdom of God. Moses declared that a prophet will come whom they must obey. Throughout Israel’s history, God sent prophets and ultimately his Son, Jesus Christ.
Hebrews 1 says this, “In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe” (NIV).
Jesus took the time to explain from Moses through the Prophets concerning himself. He showed how he fulfilled the Scriptures of the coming Suffering Messiah, not the Reigning Messiah. He will come again not as the Suffering Messiah but the conquering Messiah who will deliver the Israelites from the Antichrist. The belief in a Suffering Messiah for the sins of the world is foreign to the beliefs by their teachers of the Law. It takes a work of God to enable individuals to believe the Scriptures of the Suffering Messiah before the coming of the Reigning Messiah.
SUMMARY: No one can understand so as to believe the Scriptures unless the Spirit of God works in that person’s heart and mind. Satan blinds the eyes of the non-believers.
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