Luke 24:29

But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them.

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(29) Abide with us: for it is toward evening.—As .part of the narrative, the words have the interest of bringing before us the eager desire of the disciples to know more of the wisdom which they had been drinking in from the lips of the unknown Teacher. They could not bring themselves to part with one who had done so much for them. Devout imagination has, however, legitimately read other meanings in it. “Abide with me” has become the burden of the most popular of evening hymns, the true prayer for the evening of each day, for the evening of each man’s life, for the moments when hopes fail and we commune one with another and are sad; for those, also, when our hearts burn within us in the half-consciousness that Christ is speaking to us through the lips of human teachers.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

24:28-35 If we would have Christ dwell with us, we must be earnest with him. Those that have experienced the pleasure and profit of communion with him, cannot but desire more of his company. He took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them. This he did with his usual authority and affection, with the same manner, perhaps with the same words. He here teaches us to crave a blessing on every meal. See how Christ by his Spirit and grace makes himself known to the souls of his people. He opens the Scriptures to them. He meets them at his table, in the ordinance of the Lord's supper; is known to them in breaking of bread. But the work is completed by the opening of the eyes of their mind; yet it is but short views we have of Christ in this world, but when we enter heaven, we shall see him for ever. They had found the preaching powerful, even when they knew not the preacher. Those Scriptures which speak of Christ, will warm the hearts of his true disciples. That is likely to do most good, which affects us with the love of Jesus in dying for us. It is the duty of those to whom he has shown himself, to let others know what he has done for their souls. It is of great use for the disciples of Christ to compare their experiences, and tell them to each other.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Constrained him - They urged him, or pressingly invited him. They did not yet perceive that it was Jesus, but they had been charmed and delighted with his discourse, and they wished to hear him farther. Christians are delighted with communion with the Saviour. They seek it as the chief object of their desire, and they find their chief pleasure in fellowship with him. The two disciples felt it a privilege to entertain the stranger, as they supposed, who had so charmed them with his discourse; and so those to whom the gospel is preached, and who love it, feel it a privilege, and not a burden, to show kindness to those who bear to them the message of salvation.

Abide with us - Remain with us, or pass the night in our house.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

29. constrained, &c.—But for this, the whole design of the interview had been lost; but it was not to be lost, for He who only wished to be constrained had kindled a longing in the hearts of His travelling companions which was not to be so easily put off. And does not this still repeat itself in the interviews of the Saviour with His loving, longing disciples? Else why do they say,

Abide with me from morn to eve,

For without Thee I cannot live;

Abide with me when night is nigh,

For without Thee I cannot die.

Keble

Matthew Poole's Commentary

See Poole on "Luke 24:28"

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

But they constrained him,.... The Arabic version renders it, "they held him by force": but the meaning is not, that they laid hands on him, and held him in a forcible manner against his will; but they were very urgent and importunate with him, that he would stay with them; they would take no denial. The sense is better given in the Persic version, "the disciples with importunity said unto him"; they were so pressing with arguments, that he could not withstand them:

saying, abide with us; his conversation was so engaging, and his discourses were so heavenly and instructive, so sweet and delightful, so powerful and moving, that they could not bear to part with him, but were exceeding desirous of his continuance with them, even though he was a stranger to them. And as they had in view their own pleasure and profit, so they urge the necessity and advantage of his stay, with respect to himself:

for it is towards evening, and the day is far spent; it might be four or five o'clock in the afternoon:

and he went in to tarry with them; for a while, not all night. So earnest, importunate, and resolute was the church, when she had found Christ, that he would abide with her, Sol 3:4.

Geneva Study Bible

But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Expositor's Greek Testament

Luke 24:29. παρεβιάσαντο, they constrained by entreaty, again in Acts 16:15, found in Genesis 19:9.—μεθʼ ἡμῶν, with us, presumably in their home or lodgings. If they were but guests they could not well invite another.—πρὸς ἑσπέραν, κέκλικεν ἡ ἡ.: two phrases where one was enough, by way of pressing their fellow-traveller. They make the most of the late hour, which is not their real reason.

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

29. Abide with us] It is this beautiful verse which has furnished the idea of Lyte’s dying hymn, ‘Abide with me, fast falls the eventide.’

he went in to tarry with them] Comp. Hebrews 13:2, “thereby some have entertained angels unawares.”

Bengel's Gnomen

Luke 24:29. Μεῖνον, abide) They were beseeching Him, from love for His own sake, and from hospitality, that He should not venture to proceed on His journey by night.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 29. - And he went in to tarry with them. Some have supposed that one at least of the two had a dwelling at Emmaus; but the position which the strange Teacher assumed as "Master of the household," in the solemn act recorded in ver. 30, seems to indicate that it was an inn where they sojourned. Luke 24:29

Vincent's Word Studies

They constrained (παρεβιάσαντο)

Contrary to (παρά) his apparent intention of going on. Only here and Acts 16:15.

Is far spent (κέκλικεν)

Lit., has declined. Wyc., is now bowed down.