The National tribune., 1890-12-04
SUNDAY MEDITATION.


st. Luke "a 25-32. That Is orr sole report
How the author know the facts We cannot tell
tSee, however. Pet, / 2l.l SIS. Matthew and
John were present, but neither ever ailude to
the subject. IL is supposed s.. Marks Gospel
was practically 81. Peters. There IT, however,
bat a general notice in that Gospel OF the FIN
maus episode. to wit, 10 Il. st. Luke wrote
ct Aebaia, Greece, A. ID. 81.
2 Tms
See under same head in lesson for last week.
We simply move on for, say, one hour --eall it
o'clock p. IN. IL was toward evening. ". 90
The day was far spent. We cannot tell how
long Christ remained with tho two. The iuyi-
tatiOn abide with us " probably was intended
10 cover the night, and hence included lodg ug.
We cannot tell how long he recliEed with the
two. We would suppose, as we read the ae-
count that the ideHtity OF Jesus was soon estab-
lished. We often recognize q friend by some
peculiar motion. gait. habit without even see
ing his face. The blessing referred to in verse
30 was asked as q rule at the beginning Of ths
meal. We cannOs tell whether Christ ate.
g. Place
On Emnaus see under the same head in les
son for last week. We suppose the two Disci-
pies lived at Emmaus, having home, aud able
to entertain. We M ght infer they lived in the
same house. We SEQ they supPed together aud
jointly invited Christ to be their guest.
4. The Tue Disciples.
For full account see last weeks lesson. This
was Christs third appearance after his resur-
rection-the fourth, if we also count his Ap-
peaTancs 70 81. Peter, as noticed in V. 80.
8, Critical Notes
l. "He made as though" ". e5.) He would
have passed on had the two not asked him 20
remain, aud in shat ease the fellow pilgrim who
overlook them woHld not have become known.
lie knew what would happen, bat or course rs
could not presume. Christ did Just as a purely
human being would do. lie could not do other
wise without disclosing his identity, and the
moment for that had not yet arrived. Oriental
hospitality was liberal There were no hotels.
Compare Gen, 1885, Jude, 1879; XII, As;
Acts, 10: I5.)
O. Constrained" ". 29.) How? BY re-
minding him how late il was By extending 10
him very cordial invitation. He yielded by
loving eompulsiOn.
g. "Abids-tarry" (y. 29) These are the
same in Greek. Christ promptly accepted the
invitation. Though stranger Jesus impressed
himself on the two. He was so interested in
them, and discovered such knowledge Of the
Scriptures, that they were drawn toward him
and needed him. Ia turn, he saw them in great
distress aud wanted to comfort them. We have,
too, an Illustration Of the simplicity of Eastern
customs.
4. Meat" ". aO) The word mea. does
not necessitate the presenca of heshly food IL
is a general word tor Victgals. One item OF
diet is specified, bread. The meal was a nero
Ordinary one, and not celebration Of the Holy
Communion. And yet il il suggestive as in
deed every meal may be, Of the Eucharistie
Supper. After their journey they must have
needed rcfreshment. Tie meal may have been
in readiness as soon as tho three entered the
house. Ii would not, however, require long
Ia al q
there customary.
3. Blessed" (V. 3d. He asked blessing
on the food. Ii was Hebrew habit to seek a
blessing at tho table. Jesus, several tines
during bis ministry, when about % cat with
his Disciples or others, blessed tho food. sought
God's blessing on the meal. The host generally
performed this duty. He could request his
guest 10 bless the PROVISIONS aud weul1 be
quite likely 10 ask him, ard that specially if
the stranger were a prominent or learned per-
son. We do not know whether or not Jesus
were invited to ask the blessing 1t may 30 he
assumed such duty, and this very fact. which
IN itself was - claim TO superiority, may have
arrested the attention Of the two and aroused
their suspicious.
6. eyes were opened" ". b. In verse
l6th We read. Their eyes were holden" By
eyes being opened ws understand that the hold
referred TO in the 18th verse was relaxed
Either their vision was cleared or else Christ's
form assumed a more natural appearance. In
taking and blessing the bread the prints OF the
nails in his hands would be- exposed, recalling
tie cruciixion. tst. John, 90: ~
z. Vanished out Of their sight" ". 81
DR.. A. g. Kendrick says PretsrnaturalIy,
without their knowing whittier or how he
went, or whether indeed he went anywhere.
lie was now with them; the next moment he
was gone. SO of all his appearances and dis
appearances after his resurrection. What would
b4f4V bava Ia v.-os ff.ay
action Of the spiritual body"
LANCE states Christ ayailed himself of the
confusion and JOY OF the first moment after the
discovery" Dr. James Strong puts il thus
BEFORE they had recovered from their aston
ishment he was gone, having suddenly risen
and abruptly quilted the house."
&. Heart burn" ". 81 By different
pointing Of the SyTiac, Prof ]. Fl. Hall rem
ders, Was not our heart heavyf" One an
eent Greek authority reads, when translated
WAS not our heart hid Tor vailed) within us?"
The meaning Is, were we not lacking in good
judgment2 We are reminded Of 20 FOOLS" in
verse -. And in fact there is preeept from
the Talmud which declares persons are unWiso
who when travelling do not converse about re-
ligious concerns. We ordinarily understand
that the two meant by their hearts burning
that as they talked they felt glow Of interest,
a warmth of inspiration, at expansion of mind,
an uplifting of heart, passion of admiration,
thrill Of joy, an impetuous sensation OF love.
We are doubtless to understand a complex
feeling.
O. "Opened the Scriptures" ". 32) Notice
"expounded in verse ~. The Scriptures Of
that day were the Old Testament, beginning
with the books of Moses and closing with the
prophecies The meaning is that ne began his
explanations by referring first TO the writings
of Moses and then passed ON to the books of
the prOphets-not that he began with both the
penteteueh and prophecies. He showed that
with proper understanding Of the Scriptures
no Ought TO be surprised at the fact the
Messiah suffered, was insulted and prosecuted,
aud was ut length ANONYMOUSLY put 20 death.
Jesus did not, of course. make a personal ap-
plicstiOn Of the Scriptures, since such a reve-
lation would have exposed his identity We
may suppose Christ called attention, e. a., TO
the following Scriptures: Gen. 3 10; 40 10;
M, 81 :S. 81; Deu., Is: Is; Ps., Is, 22, 10;
Is, .: o, z; 50; Dam, o: 25-H.
6. Suggestions.
/. Avoid the practice Of deception. II Ia
everything as n moral quality to be sincere
One is not, however, obliged prematurely to
reveal certain plans. There is a time for every
thing. prov, IL 49, A mere hypothesis for
didactic puTpOse-an effort to attract attention
Of pupil by an absurd ppOsition-imitation
not to deceive for purposes Of traffic and self
interest financially, but to make attractive-the
setting of traps for catching rascals-disguises
so as 20 escape waylayeTs-these are not TO be
classed with deceits. but rather with devices
not To De ranked with articles, but rather with
expedients. And yet we do we'll to heed the
IfaUEi RIM uiGa nf Iafa parr