Luke 24:30 Study Bible: It happened, that when he had sat down at the table with them, he took the bread and gave thanks. Breaking it, he gave to them.

◄ Luke 24:30 ►

While He was reclining at the table with them, He took bread, spoke a blessing and broke it, and gave it to them.

As He was reclining at the table with them
In the ancient Near Eastern culture, reclining at the table was a common practice during meals, especially for significant gatherings. This posture indicates a setting of intimacy and fellowship. The Greek word used here, "ἀνακείμενος" (anakeimenos), suggests a relaxed and communal atmosphere, emphasizing the closeness and shared experience between Jesus and His disciples. This setting is reminiscent of the Last Supper, highlighting the continuity of Jesus' ministry and His desire for intimate fellowship with His followers.

He took bread
The act of taking bread is deeply symbolic in the Jewish tradition. Bread, or "ἄρτος" (artos) in Greek, is a staple of life and often represents sustenance and provision. In the context of Jesus' ministry, bread also symbolizes His body, as seen in the Last Supper. By taking bread, Jesus is not only providing for the physical needs of His disciples but also pointing to the spiritual nourishment He offers as the Bread of Life (John 6:35).

spoke a blessing
The phrase "spoke a blessing" refers to the Jewish custom of giving thanks to God before a meal. The Greek word "εὐλογήσας" (eulogesas) implies a prayer of thanksgiving and consecration. This act of blessing the bread underscores Jesus' role as the mediator between God and humanity, acknowledging God's provision and sanctifying the meal. It also reflects the importance of gratitude and recognition of God's presence in everyday life.

and broke it
Breaking bread is a significant act that goes beyond the physical action. The Greek word "κλάσας" (klasas) indicates a deliberate and purposeful breaking. This act is reminiscent of Jesus' words at the Last Supper, where He broke the bread as a symbol of His body being broken for the salvation of humanity (Luke 22:19). It serves as a powerful reminder of the sacrifice Jesus made and the new covenant established through His death and resurrection.

and gave it to them
The giving of the bread signifies the sharing of Jesus' life and mission with His disciples. The Greek word "ἐδίδου" (edidou) suggests a continuous action, indicating that Jesus' giving is ongoing and abundant. This act of giving is a demonstration of Jesus' love and generosity, inviting His followers to partake in the blessings of His kingdom. It also serves as a call to believers to share the love and grace they have received with others, embodying the selfless nature of Christ's ministry.

Persons / Places / Events

1. Jesus Christ
The resurrected Lord who reveals Himself to His disciples through the breaking of bread.

2. The Disciples
Two followers of Jesus, one named Cleopas, who were traveling to Emmaus and encountered the risen Christ.

3. Emmaus
A village about seven miles from Jerusalem where the disciples were heading when they met Jesus.

4. The Breaking of Bread
A significant act where Jesus reveals His identity to the disciples, reminiscent of the Last Supper.

5. The Table
The setting for this intimate and revelatory moment, symbolizing fellowship and communion.

Teaching Points

Recognition Through Communion
The act of breaking bread is a means through which Jesus reveals Himself to His followers. It is a reminder of His sacrifice and presence.

Thanksgiving as Worship
Jesus gives thanks before breaking the bread, highlighting the importance of gratitude in our worship and daily lives.

Fellowship and Revelation
Gathering at the table with fellow believers can be a place of revelation and spiritual insight, as seen in this encounter.

Symbolism of Bread
Bread symbolizes sustenance and life. In breaking it, Jesus signifies His role as the Bread of Life, sustaining us spiritually.

The Importance of Spiritual Sight
The disciples' eyes were opened during this act, teaching us to seek spiritual insight and understanding through Christ.

Bible Study Questions

1. How does the act of breaking bread in Luke 24:30 connect to the practice of communion in the church today?

2. In what ways can we incorporate thanksgiving into our daily worship and prayer life, following Jesus' example?

3. How can fellowship with other believers lead to deeper spiritual insights and revelations?

4. What does it mean for Jesus to be the "Bread of Life" in your personal spiritual journey?

5. How can we cultivate spiritual sight to recognize Jesus' presence in our everyday lives, as the disciples did in Emmaus?

Connections to Other Scriptures

Luke 22:19
This verse describes the Last Supper, where Jesus breaks bread and gives thanks, establishing the practice of communion.

Acts 2:42
The early church devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching, fellowship, the breaking of bread, and prayer, showing the continued importance of this act.

1 Corinthians 11:23-26
Paul recounts the institution of the Lord's Supper, emphasizing the breaking of bread as a proclamation of the Lord's death until He comes.

Sermons

Further Lessons by the Way	Various Authors	Luke 24:13-32
Privilege; Unconscious Companionship; Incredulity	Various Authors	Luke 24:13-32
A Mistaken Here	F. Fitch, M. A.	Luke 24:13-35
A Suggestive Question	Canon Liddon.	Luke 24:13-35
A Wise Method of Dealing with Mourners	C. H. Spurgeon.	Luke 24:13-35
Christ Constrained to Abide	B. Beddome, M. A.	Luke 24:13-35
Christ Opening Scripture	D. Wilcox.	Luke 24:13-35
Christ Opening the Scriptures	Canon Fleming.	Luke 24:13-35
Christ Talking -- Hearts Burning	A. Raleigh, D. D.	Luke 24:13-35
Christ Warms the Heart	J. H. Hambleton, M. A.	Luke 24:13-35
Christ's First Sermon After His Resurrection	E. Hedding, D. D.	Luke 24:13-35
Christ's Method of Imparting Instruction	H. Melvill, B. D.	Luke 24:13-35
Christ's Resurrection	T. Armitage, D. D.	Luke 24:13-35
Communion with Christ	J. T. Woodhouse.	Luke 24:13-35
Disciples At Emmaus	W. Jackson.	Luke 24:13-35
Divine Influence Needed to Understand the Scriptures	H. W. Beecher.	Luke 24:13-35
Easter Consolations	Canon Liddon.	Luke 24:13-35
Easter Monday	J. A. Seiss, D. D.	Luke 24:13-35
Emmaus	J. R. Thomson.	Luke 24:13-35
Ends Proposed in the Sufferings of Christ	R. Hall, M. A.	Luke 24:13-35
Faith and Fact	Jesse B. Thomas, D. D.	Luke 24:13-35
Gain from the Sufferings of Christ	A. Dickinson, M. A.	Luke 24:13-35
Hallowed Feelings	John Rawlinson.	Luke 24:13-35
Him They Saw Not	W. Scott.	Luke 24:13-35
How to Detain Jesus in the Soul	E. B. Pusey, D. D.	Luke 24:13-35
Jesus Drawing Near	Clerical Library	Luke 24:13-35
Jesus Near, But Unrecognized	C. H. Spurgeon.	Luke 24:13-35
Jesus Risen	Bishop Home.	Luke 24:13-35
Our Lord's Question	B. Beddome, M. A.	Luke 24:13-35
Present, But Unknown	A. A. Lipscomb, LL. D.	Luke 24:13-35
Sad Hearts		Luke 24:13-35
Scripture Opened	J. Jowett, M. A.	Luke 24:13-35
Sunset Sorrow and Lost Hopes	H. Elvet Lewis.	Luke 24:13-35
The Absent Lord Appears	A. A. Ramsey.	Luke 24:13-35
The Bible a Rich Storehouse	H. W. Beecher.	Luke 24:13-35
The Bible Gives Light and Warmth		Luke 24:13-35
The Blessed Guest Detained	C. H. Spurgeon.	Luke 24:13-35
The Disclosure At Emmaus	C. S. Robinson, D. D.	Luke 24:13-35
The Evening Prayer of Christ's Friends	J. Igor, D. D.	Luke 24:13-35
The Folly of Unbelief	C. H. Spurgeon.	Luke 24:13-35
The Hidden Christ	H. W. Beecher.	Luke 24:13-35
The Journey to Emmaus	A. Raleigh, D. D.	Luke 24:13-35
The Journey to Emmaus	W. Landels.	Luke 24:13-35
The Lord is Risen Indeed	W. Landels.	Luke 24:13-35
The Meal At Emmaus	A. Maclaren, D. D.	Luke 24:13-35
The Means, Author, and Effects of Christian Instruction	H. H. Beamish, M. A.	Luke 24:13-35
The Necessity of Christ's Resurrection	M. H. Seymour, M. A.	Luke 24:13-35
The Opening of the Scriptures	H. C. Williams.	Luke 24:13-35
The Resurrection of Christ	A. C. Carr, M. A.	Luke 24:13-35
The Right Point of View	H. W. Beecher.	Luke 24:13-35
The Risen Christ the Best Escort on the Pilgrim, Age of Life	R.M. Edgar	Luke 24:13-35
The Spiritual Eye	J. Vaughan, M. A.	Luke 24:13-35
The Sufferings and Glory of Christ	W. L. Alexander, D. D.	Luke 24:13-35
The Sufferings and the Glory of the Christ	J. Waite, B. A.	Luke 24:13-35
The Walk to Emmaus	J. T. Higgins.	Luke 24:13-35
The Walk to Emmaus	T. S. Doolittle, D. D.	Luke 24:13-35
The Walk to Emmaus	D. C. Hughes, M. A.	Luke 24:13-35
The Walk to Emmaus	D. C. Hughes, M. A.	Luke 24:13-35
The Walk to Emmaus	J. B. Clark.	Luke 24:13-35
The Walk to Emmaus	R. Fuller, D. D.	Luke 24:13-35
Understanding the Scriptures		Luke 24:13-35
While He Talked with Us		Luke 24:13-35

People

Cleopas, James, Jesus, Joanna, Mary, Peter, Simon

Places

Bethany, Emmaus, Galilee, Jerusalem, Nazareth, Road to Emmaus

Topics

Blessed, Blessing, Brake, Bread, Breaking, Broke, Broken, Division, Giving, Handing, Making, Meat, Pass, Reclined, Reclining, Sat, Seated, Table, Thanks

Dictionary of Bible Themes

Luke 24:30

     2360   Christ, prayers of
     5573   table
     7933   Lord's Supper
     8352   thankfulness
     8676   thanksgiving

Luke 24:1-33

7241 Jerusalem, significance

Luke 24:13-32

5505 roads

Luke 24:15-32

2555 Christ, resurrection appearances

Luke 24:28-35

4418 bread

Luke 24:30-34

2555 Christ, resurrection appearances

Luke 24:30-35

8319 perception, spiritual

Library

Good Friday
Eversley, 1856. St. Luke xxiv. 5, 6. "Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen." This is a very solemn day; for on this day the Lord Jesus Christ was crucified. The question for us is, how ought we to keep it? that is, what sort of thoughts ought to be in our minds upon this day? Now, many most excellent and pious persons, and most pious books, seem to think that we ought to-day to think as much as possible of the sufferings of our Blessed Lord; and because we …
Charles Kingsley—All Saints' Day and Other Sermons

February 11 Morning
They that feared the Lord spake often one to another: and the Lord harkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name.--MAL. 3:16. It came to pass that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them.--Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst ot them.--My fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life. Let the word of Christ dwell in …
Anonymous—Daily Light on the Daily Path

March 23 Evening
They constrained him, saying, Abide with us.--LUKE 24:29. Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.--Tell me, O thou whom my soul loveth, where thou feedest, where thou makest thy flock to rest at noon: for why should I be as one that turneth aside by the flocks of thy companions?--I found him whom my soul loveth: I held him, and would not let him go. Let my beloved come into his garden, and eat …
Anonymous—Daily Light on the Daily Path

September 18 Morning
Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.--PSA. 119:18. Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures.--It is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.--I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes. Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight.--We have received, not the spirit of …
Anonymous—Daily Light on the Daily Path

December 7. "Abide with Us; for it is Toward Evening" (Luke xxiv. 29).
"Abide with us; for it is toward evening" (Luke xxiv. 29). In His last messages to the disciples in the 14th and 15th chapters of John, the Lord Jesus clearly teaches us that the very essence of the highest holiness is, "Abide in Me, and I in you, for without Me ye can do nothing." The very purpose of the Holy Ghost whom He promised was to reveal Him, that at "that day, ye shall know that I am in the Father, and ye in Me, and I in you," and the closing echo of His intercessory prayer was embraced …
Rev. A. B. Simpson—Days of Heaven Upon Earth

Peter Alone with Jesus
'The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon.' --LUKE xxiv. 34. The other appearances of the risen Lord to individuals on the day of Resurrection are narrated with much particularity, and at considerable length. John gives us the lovely account of our Lord's conversation with Mary Magdalene, Luke gives us in full detail the story of the interview with the two travellers on the road to Emmaus. Here is another appearance, known to 'the eleven, and them that were with them' on the Resurrection …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions Of Holy Scripture

The First Easter Sunrise
'Now, upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came onto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them. 2. And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre. 3. And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus. 4. And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments: 5. And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions Of Holy Scripture

The Risen Lord's Self-Revelation to Wavering Disciples
'And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs. 14. And they talked together of all these things which had happened. 15. And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus Himself drew near, and went with them. 16. But their eyes were holden that they should not know Him. 17. And He said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad? 18. And …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions Of Holy Scripture

The Meal at Emmaus
'And it came to pass, as He sat at meat with them, He took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them. 31. And their eyes were opened, and they knew Him; and He vanished out of their sight.'--LUKE xxiv. 30, 31. Perhaps the most striking characteristic of the Gospel accounts of our Lord's intercourse with His disciples, in the interval between the Resurrection and His Ascension, is the singular union of mystery and simplicity which they present. There is a certain air of remoteness and depth …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions Of Holy Scripture

The Triumphant End
'And as they thus spake, Jesus Himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. 37. But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit. 38. And He said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts? 39. Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself: handle Me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see Me have. 40. And when He had thus spoken, He shewed them His hands and His feet. 41. And while …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions Of Holy Scripture

Christ's Witnesses
'Ye are witnesses of these things. 49. And, behold, I send the promise of My Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.'--LUKE xxiv. 48, 49. Luke's account of the Resurrection and subsequent forty days is so constructed as to culminate in this appointment of the disciples to their high functions and equipment for it, by the gift of the Holy Spirit. The Evangelist has evidently in view his second 'treatise,' and is here preparing the link of …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions Of Holy Scripture

The Living Dead
'Why seek ye the living among the dead! 6. He is not here, but is risen.'--LUKE xxiv. 5,6. We can never understand the utter desolation of the days that lay betwixt Christ's Death and His Resurrection. Our faith rests on centuries. We know that that grave was not even an interruption to the progress of His work, but was the straight road to His triumph and His glory. We know that it was the completion of the work of which the raising of the widow's son and of Lazarus were but the beginnings. But …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions Of Holy Scripture

The Ascension
'And He led them out as far as to Bethany, and He lifted up His hands, and blessed them. 51. And it came to pass, while He blessed them, He was parted from them, and carried up into heaven.' --LUKE xxiv. 50, 51. 'And when He had spoken these things, while they beheld, He was taken up; and a cloud received Him out of their sight.'--ACTS i. 9. Two of the four Evangelists, viz., Matthew and John, have no record of the Ascension. But the argument which infers ignorance from silence, which is always rash, …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions Of Holy Scripture

"I Know!"
The man of God who has fixed his feet on the rock of salvation can say with certainty, "I know." If you have not got assurance and want it, just believe God's Word. If you go down South and ask those three million colored people how they think they are free, they won't talk about their feelings; they just believe that Abraham Lincoln made them free. They believe the proclamation, and so we must believe the proclamation God has made in the Bible. "One thing thou teachest," that is salvation. [Illustration: …
Dwight L. Moody—Moody's Anecdotes And Illustrations

Spiritual Power.
"And behold I send the promise of My Father upon you; but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem until ye be endued with power from on high."--ST. LUKE xxiv. 49. "Ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you."--ACTS i. 8. To-day we are celebrating the last of the series of historical festivals which mark the springtime of our Christian year. And without this one the rest would leave us with a sense of incompleteness; for we should be without its gift of the abiding and indwelling …
John Percival—Sermons at Rugby

On the Words of the Gospel, Luke xxiv. 36, "He Himself Stood in the Midst of Them, and Saith unto Them, Peace be unto You," Etc.
1. The Lord appeared to His disciples after His resurrection, as ye have heard, and saluted them, saying, "Peace be unto you." [3554] This is peace indeed, and the salutation of salvation: for the very word salutation has received its name from salvation. [3555] And what can be better than that Salvation Itself should salute man? For Christ is our Salvation. He is our Salvation, who was wounded for us, and fixed by nails to the tree, and being taken down from the tree, was laid in the sepulchre. …
Saint Augustine—sermons on selected lessons of the new testament

Beginning at Jerusalem
I. Ye that would faithfully serve Christ note carefully how he taught his disciples WHAT THEY WERE TO PREACH. We find different descriptions of the subject of our preaching, but on this occasion it is comprised in two things--repentance and remission of sins. I am glad to find in this verse that old- fashioned virtue called repentance. It used to be preached, but it has gone out of fashion now. Indeed, we are told that we always misunderstood the meaning of the word "repentance"; and that it simply …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 29: 1883

The Wounds of Jesus
First, what influence did the exhibition of the hands and feet have upon the disciples? Secondly, why is it that Jesus Christ, now in heaven, bears with him the scars in his flesh? And, then, thirdly, is there any lesson to us in the fact that Jesus Christ still wears his wounds? I think there is. I. First, then, OF WHAT USE WAS THE EXHIBITION OF THOSE WOUNDS TO THE DESCIPLES? I reply at once that they were infallible proofs that he was the same person. He said, "Behold my hands and feet, that it …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 5: 1859

Twenty-Fourth Day for the Spirit on Your Own Congregation
WHAT TO PRAY.--For the Spirit on your own Congregation "Beginning at Jerusalem."--LUKE xxiv. 47. Each one of us is connected with some congregation or circle of believers, who are to us the part of Christ's body with which we come into most direct contact. They have a special claim on our intercession. Let it be a settled matter between God and you that you are to labour in prayer on its behalf. Pray for the minister and all leaders or workers in it. Pray for the believers according to their needs. …
Andrew Murray—The Ministry of Intercession

Savonarola -- the Ascension of Christ
Girolamo Savonarola was born at Ferrara in 1452, and was admitted in 1475 into the novitiate of the Dominican Order, where he soon made himself conspicuous for eloquence, and in Florence attracted many hearers by his diatribes against corruption. Florence, having lost its independence as a republic, was completely under the sway of the Medici, who became arrayed against Savonarola, who aimed at establishing an ideal Christian commonwealth. When he attacked the Pope Alexander VI. his doom was practically …
Various—The World's Great Sermons, Volume I

Of the Fervent Desire of Certain Devout Persons to Receive the Body and Blood of Christ
The Voice of the Disciple O how great is the abundance of Thy sweetness, O Lord, which Thou hast laid up for them that fear Thee. When I call to mind some devout persons who draw nigh to Thy Sacrament, O Lord, with the deepest devotion and affection, then very often I am confounded in myself and blush for shame, that I approach Thine altar and table of Holy Communion so carelessly and coldly, that I remain so dry and without affection, that I am not wholly kindled with love before Thee, my God, …
Thomas A Kempis—Imitation of Christ

The Shadow of Disappointment.
But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel. LUKE xxiv. 21. In the accounts of the disciples, contained in the New Testament, there is no attempt to glorify them, or to conceal any weakness. From the first to the last, they think and act precisely as men would think and act in their circumstances;--they are affected just as others of like culture would be affected by such events as those set forth in the record. And the genuineness of their conduct argues the genuineness …
E. H. Chapin—The Crown of Thorns

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