In the New Testament, the term "chiding" refers to Jesus' gentle rebuke or correction of His disciples, often highlighting their lack of understanding or faith. One notable instance of this occurs after His resurrection, when Jesus appears to two of His followers on the road to Emmaus. This event is recorded in the Gospel of Luke.

The Road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-35)

Following His resurrection, Jesus encounters two disciples traveling to the village of Emmaus. As they walk, they discuss the recent events concerning Jesus' crucifixion and the reports of His resurrection. Unrecognized by them, Jesus joins their conversation and listens to their expressions of doubt and confusion.

In Luke 24:25-26 , Jesus chides them, saying, "O foolish ones, how slow are your hearts to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and then to enter His glory?" Here, Jesus gently rebukes their slowness to believe the prophetic Scriptures that foretold His suffering and resurrection. His words serve as a reminder of the importance of faith and understanding in the fulfillment of God's plan.

The Importance of Faith and Understanding

Jesus' chiding of His disciples underscores the necessity of faith and spiritual insight. Despite having been with Jesus and witnessing His miracles and teachings, the disciples often struggled to fully grasp the significance of His mission and the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies. This moment on the road to Emmaus highlights the disciples' need to move beyond a mere intellectual acknowledgment of the Scriptures to a heartfelt belief in their truth.

The Role of Scripture

In His rebuke, Jesus emphasizes the role of Scripture in revealing God's redemptive plan. By pointing the disciples back to the prophetic writings, He affirms the authority and reliability of the Scriptures. This encounter serves as a powerful reminder for believers to diligently study and trust in God's Word, allowing it to illuminate their understanding and strengthen their faith.

The Revelation of Jesus

After chiding the disciples, Jesus proceeds to explain the Scriptures concerning Himself, beginning with Moses and all the Prophets (Luke 24:27). This revelation transforms their understanding and ignites their hearts with faith. Later, as Jesus breaks bread with them, their eyes are opened, and they recognize Him (Luke 24:30-31). This moment of recognition signifies the transformative power of encountering the risen Christ and the deepening of faith that comes through understanding His Word.

Application for Believers

Jesus' chiding of His disciples for their slowness of heart serves as a timeless lesson for believers. It calls Christians to examine their own hearts and to seek a deeper understanding of God's Word. By embracing the truth of Scripture and allowing it to shape their faith, believers can overcome doubt and grow in their relationship with Christ. This passage encourages a reliance on the Holy Spirit to open the eyes of the heart, leading to a fuller comprehension of the mysteries of God's redemptive plan.Matthew 15:16
And Jesus said, Are you also yet without understanding?
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Matthew 16:8,9,11
Which when Jesus perceived, he said to them, O you of little faith, why reason you among yourselves, because you have brought no bread?
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Mark 7:18
And he said to them, Are you so without understanding also? Do you not perceive, that whatever thing from without enters into the man, it cannot defile him;
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Luke 24:25
Then he said to them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken:
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John 14:9
Jesus said to him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet have you not known me, Philip? he that has seen me has seen the Father; and how say you then, Show us the Father?
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