What is the meaning of Luke 24:38? Why are you troubled, Jesus speaks these words moments after appearing to His disciples on resurrection day. Luke records that “they were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a spirit” (Luke 24:37). • Their fear reveals how quickly the human heart forgets God’s promises, even after hearing Jesus predict His resurrection (Luke 9:22; 18:33). • Earlier, Jesus had assured them, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe in Me as well” (John 14:1). The risen Christ now calls them back to that peace. • Isaiah 26:3 reminds that perfect peace is anchored in a steadfast mind, not shifting circumstances. • The gentle question exposes their turmoil without condemnation, inviting them to receive the same peace He still offers: “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you” (John 14:27). • Casting all anxiety on Him (1 Peter 5:7) remains the antidote to inner agitation, then and now. and why do doubts arise in your hearts? The second half of the sentence probes their inner reasoning. • Doubt had been an ongoing struggle among the disciples—some worshiped the risen Lord “but some doubted” (Matthew 28:17). • Jesus addresses not mere intellectual curiosity but heart-level skepticism that resists believing what God has already spoken (Luke 24:25; cf. Hebrews 3:12). • He immediately offers concrete evidence—His hands, His feet, and a shared meal (Luke 24:39-43)—demonstrating that faith is never blind; it rests on real, historical acts of God. • Thomas’s later encounter (John 20:27-29) echoes this pattern: questions answered, doubts displaced by worship. • James 1:6 warns that unresolved wavering makes a person “like a wave of the sea,” yet Hebrews 11:1 defines faith as confident assurance built on God’s character and deeds. summary In Luke 24:38, the risen Jesus compassionately uncovers fear and doubt, then replaces them with peace and assurance grounded in His bodily resurrection. He still meets troubled hearts, invites honest confession of unbelief, and supplies the evidence and presence that turn hesitation into confident, worshipful trust. |
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