WWUTT 2532 Jesus Opens the Minds of His Disciples (Luke 24:44-49)

Jesus opened the minds of his disciples that they would understand how the law and the prophets and the Psalms all pointed to him and how he is the fulfillment of the scriptures when we understand the text.

This is when we understand the text, studying God's word to reach all the riches of full assurance in Christ. Find all our videos online at www .wutt .com, as well as links to follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

Here's your teacher, Pastor Gabe Hughes.

Thank you, Becky, and greetings, everyone. Between today and tomorrow, we're going to conclude our study in the Gospel of Luke, and this will also complete our study through the Synoptic Gospels, Matthew, Mark, and Luke.

Jesus Fulfills the Law, the Prophets, and the Psalms

So we're back in chapter 24, and I'm reading in verses 44 to 49. Hear the word of the Lord. Then Jesus said to them, these are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me and the law of Moses and the prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.

Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures and said to them, thus it is written that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.

You are witnesses of these things, and behold, I am sending the promise of my father upon you, but stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high. So even here in this final address that Jesus gives to his apostles, this is broken up into three parts.

We begin with him talking about how the law and prophets and Psalms all point to himself and opening their minds to understand the scriptures. Then we have him say that repentance for the forgiveness of sins must be proclaimed to all nations, and you are witnesses of these things.

And finally, verse 49, he says that he's going to send the promise of the father. We know this to be the Holy Spirit, but stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high. So those are the three parts we're gonna be looking at as we come into this passage here.

Let's go back up to verse 44. Jesus said to them, "'These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you.'". Now, even though Jesus was with his disciples for 40 days between his resurrection from the dead and his ascension into heaven, that's a number we get from Acts chapter one, which we'll start in Acts, I guess, next week.

But even though Jesus was with them for that amount of time, 40 days between his resurrection and ascension, whenever he makes reference to when I was still with you, that's in reference to the time before he was crucified.

So from the time that he called his first apostles to the time that he died, that's the time that he spent with his disciples. That's what he means when he says, when I was still with you. Even then, he talked to them about the law and the prophets and the Psalms and how those things had pointed to Jesus.

We got a little bit of that when we were reading in Matthew, Mark, and Luke. But the big body of it, when it comes to the most number of scriptures that we have from the Old Testament that point to Christ, we really get a lot of that in Acts through Revelation.

That's not in the gospels as much as it is in the later books in the New Testament. And not every single verse about Christ in the Old Testament is referenced in the New Testament. But the New Testament gives us enough groundwork that when we go back into the Old Testament, we are able discerningly to find those passages that point to Jesus.

So Jesus says to them, these are the words I spoke to you while I was still with you. He taught them those things while he was with them. In the Upper Room Discourse in John's Gospel, that's from chapters 13 to 17, he says to them that the Holy Spirit will come to them and the Holy Spirit will bring back to their memory the things that Jesus has taught to them.

The Spirit will also teach them more things, but they'll be able to remember what Jesus taught them because of the power from on high that will be given to them. Sometimes as we've been going through the gospels, I've made reference to The Chosen because that's like the big Jesus show that's out right now.

And there's another season that's coming up in 2026. So in that show, which adds a lot to what we actually have in the gospels, even the creator of the show has said 95 of what's in the show is not from the gospels.

But the creators of the show have taken liberties to depict how these things would have been written down. I think in particular of the scene between Jesus and Nicodemus, and by the way, in case I need to add this caveat, I do not endorse this show at all.

I think it causes way more problems than it actually helps people with. It does not educate, but leads astray. Anyway, in the scene between Jesus and Nicodemus, Jesus is telling Nicodemus about the way you enter into the kingdom of God is you must be born again.

You must be born from above. And then there's a scene where it kind of cuts away from Jesus and Nicodemus talking, and it shows John and another disciple, and John is writing things down. And the other disciple says to John, have you ever heard anything like this before?

And John says, shh, shh, shh, trying to shush him because he wants to hear so he can write all this down. That's not how that would have gone. There weren't disciples following Jesus around with pen and paper, and writing down every word he said so that they wouldn't forget about it.

There's also another scene in the Chosen where John is interviewing people, and it's through interviewing people that even some of the women will say lines that come from Jesus in the gospels. Anyway, it's just very confusing.

Doesn't help anybody at all. It just will twist the scriptures. And as Peter warns in 2 Peter 3 .16, that could be to your own destruction. So we must be very, very careful in the way that we handle these things.

The disciples weren't writing down whatever Jesus said. The Holy Spirit would bring back to their remembrance what Jesus said, and then guide them in what they wrote down, including what we're reading here in the Gospel of Luke.

So during that time of Jesus' ministry with his disciples, he did tell them about how the law and the prophets and the Psalms pointed to him. Now, last week, when we were reading of the road to Emmaus, there's a portion there where Jesus is telling them about how the scriptures pointed to him.

Beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. Now, when I read that last week, I went through the scriptures, Genesis to Malachi, and showed you different passages that pointed to Christ.

I didn't spend a lot of time in the Psalms. I think I only mentioned one or two Psalms. So let me do more Psalms here concerning the Messiah. What do the Psalms say, and how do the Psalms point to Jesus?

Well, Psalm 89 says that the Messiah would come from the lineage of David. This is verses three through four. You have said, I have made a covenant with my chosen one. I have sworn to my servant, David, I will establish your offspring forever and build your throne for all generations.

So that's repeating the Davidic covenant right there in Psalm 89. It's also said in Psalm 1849 that Jesus will be a Messiah for all people. For this, I will praise you, O Lord, concerning the nations and sing to your name.

Any reference to the nations is a reference to people even beyond Judah and Jerusalem. Psalm 229 says, yet you are he who took me from the womb. You made me trust you at my mother's breast. And this is also to say that the Messiah will know his father from childhood.

And we see that fulfilled. We saw that in Luke chapter two. In Psalm 2210, it says, on you, I was cast from my birth and from my mother's womb, you have been my God. And the Messiah will be called by God while still in the womb, just as Jeremiah was called from the womb, just as Paul was set apart before he was even born.

So it would be even from the womb that Jesus would be called as the son of God to walk in the ways of the father. Another Psalm, Psalm two, verse six. As for me, I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill.

Oh, the Messiah will be called the King of the Jews. And the very next verse in Psalm two, I will tell of the decree. The Lord said to me, you are my son. Today, I have begotten you. The Messiah would be the son of God.

And that's even pointed out in Hebrews chapter one. Psalm 89, verse 26. He shall cry to me, you are my father, my God, and the rock of my salvation. Thus fulfilling that the Messiah will call God his father.

Also, the Messiah will be God's only begotten son. And that said in Psalm 89, 27, I will make him the firstborn, the highest of the Kings of the earth. The Messiah will be eternal. And it said in Psalm 102, of old, you laid the foundation of the earth and the heavens are the work of your hands.

They will perish, but you will remain. They will all wear out like a garment. You will change them like a robe and they will pass away, but you are the same and your years have no end. That's also a reference in Hebrews chapter one, showing definitively that that is about Jesus.

We also know that the Messiah is the creator of all things. Psalm 102 again, of old, you laid the foundation of the earth and the heavens are the work of your hands. Again, a reference also in Hebrews chapter one, which clearly points out there, this is talking about Jesus.

We know from Psalm 110, that the Messiah will be Lord and King. Psalm 110 verse one, the Lord says to my Lord, sit at my right hand until I make your enemies, your footstool. We also know the Messiah will be a priest after the order of Melchizedek.

Later on in Psalm 110, the Lord has sworn and will not change his mind. You are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek. We'll know that the Messiah is the stone that was rejected by the builders.

In Psalm 118, the stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. And Peter talks about that also in first Peter chapter two, and we have that reference in Matthew 21, that that is concerning the Christ.

Concerning the Messiah's betrayal and death, we've talked about this a little bit already with Judas betraying Christ and how this was foreordained. It was foretold in the scriptures. In Psalm two, beginning in verse one, why do the nations rage and the people's plot in vain?

The kings of the earth set themselves and the rulers take counsel together against the Lord and against his anointed saying, let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us. And we know that Pilate, Herod, the rulers of the synagogue, all of these different people conspired to put the Messiah to death.

And so it was fulfilled in the conspiracy that we saw in the previous chapter to have Jesus crucified. We also know that the Psalms say that Jesus would be crucified. This is Psalm 22 again, for dogs encompass me, a company of evildoers encircle me, they have pierced my hands and my feet.

That was even prophesied in the Psalms. There's many, many different prophecies in Psalm 22. We looked at when Jesus was being crucified, including that they would cast lots for his garments, that he would be hung between criminals or numbered amongst the transgressors.

Those things are spoken about in that Psalm as well. We know that the Messiah would be accused by false witnesses in Psalm 27, verse 12, give me not up to the will of my adversaries for false witnesses have risen against me and they breathe out violence.

There would be many attempts to kill Jesus. And we saw that even in Nazareth when they tried to put Jesus to death. Psalm 31, 13, for I hear the whispering of many terror on every side as they scheme together against me as they plot to take my life.

We also know that the Messiah would be hated without cause as said in Psalm 69, verse four, more in number than the hairs of my head are those who hate me without cause. Mighty are those who would destroy me, those who attack me with lies.

What I did not steal must I now restore. And Luke 23 and John 15 point to that fact. We also know that the Messiah would offer up a prayer for his enemies. As we read about this in Luke 23, 34, when Jesus was dying on the cross and he said, father, forgive them for they know not what they do.

It was prophesied that Jesus would do this very thing. Psalm 109, verse four, in return for my love, they accuse me, but I give myself to prayer for them. We know that the Messiah's betrayer would have a short life.

According to Psalm 109, verse eight, may his days be few, may another take his office. And Acts chapter one is even gonna show us how that prophecy was fulfilled through Judas's betrayal of the Christ.

Concerning the Messiah's resurrection and exaltation, these things were prophesied about in the Psalms as well. Psalm 16, verse eight, I have set the Lord always before me because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.

Therefore, my heart is glad and my whole being rejoices. My flesh also dwells secure for you will not abandon my soul to Sheol or let your Holy One see corruption. And in Acts chapter two, Peter points out how that scripture was fulfilled in Christ.

We know that the Messiah would ascend back to heaven, which is coming up here at the end of Luke. That was even prophesied in the Psalms. Psalm 68, verse 18, you ascended on high, leading a host of captives in your train and receiving gifts among men, even among the rebellious, that the Lord God may dwell there.

And we know that the Messiah would be exalted to the right hand of God. According to Psalm 80, verse 17, but let your hand be on the man of your right hand, the son of man whom you have made strong for yourself.

And that also referenced in Acts chapter five, verse 31. So these are just a few examples of how the Psalms point to the Messiah and some of those prophecies that were made even among David's songs that have been fulfilled in Christ Jesus.

So as Jesus says to them about the law of Moses and the prophets and the Psalms, how they must be fulfilled in Christ. So we have seen even from the Psalms, those things concerning Jesus. In verse 45, back to Luke 24, by the way, verse 45, he then opened their minds to understand the scripture.

So he explained these things to them, but even supernaturally opens their minds so that they can understand what it is that Jesus is saying. It makes sense to them and they know how to communicate it to others and teach them.

And so he said to them, thus it is written that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead. This is the same thing that he said to those disciples on the road to Emmaus. And he went through the scriptures with them and showed them how the Messiah fulfilled all of these things.

So he is doing this with all the apostles. And he said to them that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You know, the call to faith is synonymous with the call to repentance.

As Jesus at the beginning of his earthly ministry had said, repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand or at the beginning of Mark's gospel, repent and believe the gospel. To turn from something to something else.

So the call to believe is also a call to repent. Those things are synonymous. And so Jesus saying in verse 47, repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations. This is faith for the forgiveness of sins.

Believing in Jesus, you turn from your unbelief to belief. And by faith in Christ, we are saved. This would start in Jerusalem. And this is kind of a teaser even for what is coming up in the book of Acts, which we will start next week.

You are witnesses of these things, Jesus says. And then verse 49, to close this out, behold, I am sending the promise of my father upon you, but stay in the city until you are closed with power from on high.

So verses 47 to 49 become a teaser to the book of Acts, which of course was also written by Luke. Luke gives that introduction at the start of this gospel to Theophilus, oh most excellent Theophilus. And then he addresses Theophilus again at the beginning of the book of Acts.

So this is teasing that out. The word of Christ, the message of the gospel would be proclaimed beginning in Jerusalem. That's in Acts chapters one and two. And then behold, I am sending the promise of my father upon you, but stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.

And we see that come to fulfillment in Acts chapter two, when the Holy Spirit comes upon the disciples and they go into Jerusalem, proclaiming the message of the gospel, even speaking in tongues that many of the people there would hear the gospel spoken in their own language.

So this is the final address that Jesus makes. It's the final quote that we have from Jesus, at least at the end of Luke's gospel. There are more words that Jesus will say to his disciples when we get to Acts chapter one.

But for the meantime, this is Jesus' closing quote at the end of the gospel of Luke. And when we come back to this tomorrow, we'll read of his ascension to heaven, verses 50 to 53. And that will conclude our study in Luke's gospel.

Let us pray. Heavenly father, we are so thankful for the scriptures that you have given to us. The Holy Spirit guiding men to write down the things that they have written so that we may know the mind of God.

We may know what your will is for us and how we may please the Lord. We will know the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ so that we may believe in him and be forgiven our sins and clothed in righteousness, having everlasting life in his name.

Lord, may we love to study these things and open our minds and hearts that we may understand them more fully, that we may be sanctified in your truth as Jesus prayed in John 17, for your word is truth.

Lead us in paths of righteousness. May we live righteously for you today, fleeing sin and doing those things that are pleasing to God who has done so much for us by your grace. It's in the name of Jesus that we pray, amen.

Pastor Gabe keeps a regular blog, sharing personal thoughts, alerting readers to false teachers and offering commentary on the church and social issues. You can find a link to the blog through our website, wwutt .com.

Thank you for listening and join us again tomorrow as we continue our study in God's word when we understand the text.