Luke 24 40

Luke 24:40 kjv

And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet.

Luke 24:40 nkjv

When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His feet.

Luke 24:40 niv

When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet.

Luke 24:40 esv

And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet.

Luke 24:40 nlt

As he spoke, he showed them his hands and his feet.

Luke 24 verses

Luke 24 40 Meaning

This verse signifies a pivotal moment in the resurrection narratives, as Jesus provides tangible and undeniable proof of His physical, bodily resurrection to His disciples. Having just reassured them that He was not a spirit, but a being of "flesh and bones" (v. 39), Jesus substantiated this claim by displaying the very marks of His crucifixion on His hands and feet. This act served to dispel their doubts, confirm His identity as the crucified Messiah, and establish the reality and nature of His glorified, yet physical, body.

Luke 24 40 Context

Luke 24:40 occurs in the immediate aftermath of Jesus' resurrection, on the evening of the first Easter Sunday. The two disciples who had journeyed to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-35) have just returned to Jerusalem to report their encounter with the risen Lord to the eleven and their companions. While they are still speaking, Jesus suddenly appears among them, despite locked doors. His sudden appearance causes great alarm; they are startled and frightened, believing they are seeing a spirit (Lk 24:37).

Jesus immediately seeks to calm them, offering words of peace and questioning their troubled hearts. He asks them why doubts have arisen, then challenges them to observe His hands and feet, which bore the unmistakable marks of crucifixion, and encourages them to touch Him, stating that a spirit does not possess flesh and bones as He clearly does. The historical and cultural context underscores the common ancient belief in spirits and apparitions, which the disciples initially assumed. Jesus' demonstration of His physical body, including the lingering wounds, was crucial in establishing the concrete, tangible reality of His resurrection against these deeply ingrained spiritual fears and against any future claims that His resurrection was merely spiritual or visionary. It grounds their belief in historical fact.

Luke 24 40 Word analysis

• And when he had said this: This phrase links the physical demonstration directly to Jesus' preceding words in verse 39, where He encourages them to "See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me and see; for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have." It emphasizes that His words and actions work in tandem to establish the truth of His bodily resurrection. It implies immediate, direct response to their fear and doubt.
• he shewed (ἔδειξεν - edeixen): The Greek verb "δεικνύω" (deiknyo) means to show, point out, or exhibit. It denotes an active, deliberate, and direct presentation. Jesus wasn't merely perceived; He intentionally presented the evidence. This act was designed for clear observation, removing ambiguity about His presence and form. It was a demonstrative action for conviction.
• them: Refers to the collective body of disciples present, including the eleven apostles and others who were with them (Lk 24:33). This corporate witness strengthens the testimony of the resurrection. It underscores the shared nature of their doubt and the communal aspect of Jesus' self-revelation.
• his hands and his feet: These are the specific locations on the human body where the nails were driven during crucifixion (as seen in Ps 22:16, a prophetic psalm often associated with the crucifixion). The presence of the crucifixion wounds on these body parts served as irrefutable proof of two things:
  • Identity: It unequivocally identified Him as Jesus, the one who was crucified. These were personal, distinguishing marks.
  • Physicality: It demonstrated that His resurrected body was not a mere phantom or spirit, but a tangible, physical body. The scars remained, showing continuity with His pre-crucifixion body. The scars themselves, rather than being healed completely, are present, signifying a glorious but still marked body, eternally bearing witness to His sacrifice.

Luke 24 40 Bonus section

The presence of the crucifixion marks on Jesus' resurrected body holds profound theological significance. It shows that His suffering was real, His sacrifice complete, and His victory over death total, yet the cost is forever commemorated. These are not signs of a continued state of suffering, but glorious insignia of His completed work and triumph. Moreover, the enduring scars on Jesus' hands and feet can be seen as an eternal testament to His identity and love, a permanent reminder to the Father, to Himself, and to all creation of the covenant He made and fulfilled. They signify that suffering endured for redemption leaves its mark, transforming it into glory, and that our High Priest (Heb 4:14-16) uniquely understands our weaknesses, having walked a path of ultimate suffering.

Luke 24 40 Commentary

Luke 24:40 presents the essential truth of Jesus' physical resurrection through compelling visual and implied tactile evidence. Having been terrified and believing they saw a ghost, the disciples' initial shock and disbelief are directly addressed by Jesus. His intentional act of displaying His hands and feet, bearing the indelible marks of His crucifixion, served as the ultimate proof not only of His identity as the Christ but also of the corporeal reality of His risen body. This wasn't merely a spirit appearing; it was the same Jesus, physically raised from the dead, overcoming the grave, and still bearing the wounds that proclaimed His completed sacrifice. The presence of the scars highlights a divine continuity—His glorified body is still uniquely His, forever displaying the tokens of His atoning work, cementing the foundation for the disciples' future witness and all Christian faith in a historically verifiable, physical resurrection.