Daily Devotions
Luke
Luke 24:1-32 "AN INTERESTING CHOICE OF WORDS"
Day 345 – Luke 24
Text: Luke 24:1-32
AN INTERESTING CHOICE OF WORDS
The Lord Jesus chose His words well when He rebuked His disciples. He rebuked them for not knowing, or more specifically, for not having learned their lessons well. This was the intended meaning when He addressed them with these words, “O foolish ones.”
He also rebuked them for their lack of ability “to believe”. This problem was a general problem that seemed to have particularly afflicted that generation. Hence Jesus deplored their lack of faith with these words, “O faithless and perverse generation” (Luke 9:41). When He spoke those words, His Disciples were also included because they had failed to apply their faith effectively, and thus could not cast out the demon from an epileptic young lad.
Jesus chose a different set of words this time, when He rebuked these two disciples on their way to Emmaus. His words of rebuke provide interesting insight concerning the human heart. He rebuked His disciples with these words,
“Slow of heart to believe…”
Luke 24:25
What did Jesus mean when He described His Disciples as being “slow of heart” to believe?
THE WORD “HEART” IN BIBLICAL LITERATURE
The usual meaning of the word “heart” is a reference to the vital muscular human organ responsible for the circulation of blood in the body.
However, the word “heart” is usually used metaphorically in the Scriptures. A careful trace of the use of this word reveals a whole variety of uses. Let us consider some of these applications.
1. It is a general reference to the center of inner life. This would include the idea of consciousness or awareness of the individual.
2. It is also reference to the human will and its power to make decision.
3. It could also refer to the emotions and the desires of the individual.
What did Jesus mean when He rebuked the disciples for their “slowness of heart” to believe? He certainly held them responsible for the state of their heart, and their faith. The clue to the understanding of this phrase seems to lie in the word “slow”. This word suggests a long time lag from knowledge to faith.
It wasn’t difficult to acquire knowledge, for Jesus Himself taught His Disciples! He desired His Disciples to possess more than knowledge however. He wanted them to convert the knowledge gained to strong and deep faith in Him.
The means of converting knowledge to faith involves the heart directly. Knowledge must be internalized. Knowledge must affect the human emotions to the level of the will. The whole inner life must be so deeply affected by the truths Jesus taught that faith results!
However, if the heart is “slow” in comprehension and/or application of the truth taught, then there wouldn’t be that fruit of faith that is all-important! We are fully accountable for the kind of heart we have. If we lack knowledge, we are foolish indeed. . If we do not have faith, we are guilty. If we have slowness of heart, we can blame no one but ourselves!
DEEP PROBLEMS THAT WERE NEVER QUITE RESOLVED
It would be interesting and important to make a study of the hearts of the disciples as they followed Jesus. How much had their hearts really been impacted by their Teacher?
In the miracle of Jesus walking on the sea (Matthew 14:22-36), the Gospel writers noted that the Disciples became afraid. They were not sure that the “apparition” they saw was Jesus or whether it was a ghost.
Matthew noted the words of rebuke Jesus uttered.
“And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand
and caught him, and said to him,
‘O you of little faith, why did you doubt?’ “
Matthew 14:31
The phrase “O you of little faith” was used in the Synoptic Gospels, and always with reference to the Disciples. The problem of “little faith” was something that even Peter, the leading disciple suffered from.
In Mark’s Gospel, we have an even stronger remark recorded. We read these words,
“Then He went up into the boat to them, and the wind ceased.
And they were greatly amazed in themselves beyond measure,
And marveled.
For they had not understood about the loaves,
Because their heart was hardened.”
Mark 6:51,52
The disciples always had difficulty understanding the lessons Jesus sought to teach them. When Jesus taught the people The Parable of The Sower and The Seed (Mark 6:1-25) the disciples expressed difficulty in understanding what their Teacher sought to teach. Jesus had to say,
“Do you not understand this parable?
How then will you understand all the parables?
Mark 4:13
All these problems (Cf. Luke 24:25) were really deep problems that affected the Disciples . They were difficulties that were never really resolved. They had problems with mastering the lessons Jesus taught. They had problems developing their faith. They had problems because of a hardened heart. (The use of the Perfect Tense suggests that the Disciples had a hardened heart from way back!) Do we not have the same problems?