Why did the apostles consider the women's words "nonsense" in Luke 24:11? Text Under Discussion “ ‘But their words seemed like nonsense to them, and they did not believe the women.’ ” (Luke 24:11) Snapshot of the Morning • Women visit the tomb at dawn (Luke 24:1). • An angel announces Jesus’ resurrection (24:5-6). • The women hurry back and report to the Eleven and the rest (24:9). • The men dismiss the report as “nonsense” (24:11). Why the Report Seemed Impossible • Prophecy Misunderstood – Though Jesus repeatedly foretold His resurrection (Luke 9:22; 18:31-33), the men envisioned a political kingdom, not an empty tomb. • Crushing Grief – Their Messiah died in public disgrace (23:44-49). Grief can eclipse memory and dull faith (John 20:19). • Fear of Roman and Jewish Authorities – Hiding behind locked doors (John 20:19), they expected persecution, not victory. • Lack of Precedent – While they had seen resurrections performed by Jesus (Luke 7:11-17; 8:49-56), none involved Someone raising Himself (John 10:18). • Spiritual Blindness – Jesus warned, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!” (Luke 24:25). Cultural Factors Amplifying Doubt • Legal Weight of Testimony – In first-century Judaism and the wider Greco-Roman world, women’s testimony often carried little legal force (cf. Josephus, Antiquities 4.8.15). • Societal Expectations – Men led religious instruction; women rarely delivered decisive news. • Psychological Bias – Sorrow-laden men might readily assume the women were victims of wishful thinking. The Greek Word “Nonsense” (lēros) • Used only here in the NT. • Describes delirious babble—what a fevered patient might mutter. • Conveys outright dismissal rather than cautious skepticism. God’s Intent in Allowing Female First Witnesses • Affirms Kingdom Upside-Down Values (Luke 1:52). • Highlights Divine Initiative—no one can claim the story was fabricated for credibility. • Confronts Human Pride by forcing the apostles to trust eyewitnesses they instinctively discounted. Results of Their Initial Unbelief • Peter runs to the tomb (Luke 24:12), evidence that doubt can drive investigation. • Jesus later rebukes and restores the group (24:25-27; 24:36-49), grounding their future preaching in firsthand experience. Takeaways for Modern Readers • Scripture is trustworthy even when it clashes with cultural norms or personal expectations. • God often chooses unlikely messengers (1 Corinthians 1:27-29). • Honest doubt, when surrendered to revealed truth, can deepen faith and zeal. |
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