The Pulpit Commentary — Luke — Volume 2 — Section 262

where ~ufferings and death are spoken of as of bread" been recognized by the Catholio belonging to the perfect picture of the Ser- Church as the sacrament, that later Romanist vant of the Lord and the ideal King. His divines ha".e even pressed it o.s a scriptural hearers would k'"llow well how strangely the demonstration for the abuse which adminis- agony of Cah-ary was foreshadowed in those tered the. elements under one form (com- vind word-pictures he oalled before their pare, for mstance, the 'Refutation of the memories in the course of that six-mile 9<>nf~ssion of Augsberg,' quoted by Stier, wolk from Jeruralem to Emmaus. ~n his comment on this passage of Luke, Yer. 28.-And they drew nigh 11.Dto the Words of the Lord Jesus'). How unneces- village, whither they went: and he 'made sary and forced such a construction is, Bishop aa though he would have gone further. Wordsworth poiuts out in his note on eh. This was no feint or deception. The Lord xxiv. SO, "It may ba remembered that ·would have left them then to themselves bread (ltp'Tos) was to the Jews a general had they not prayed him with real earnest- name for food, including drink e.s well as ness to abide with them. "How many are meat .••. 'rhus bread became spiritually there," says Stier, "to whom he has drawn an expressive term for all the blessings near, but with whom he has not tarried, received from communion in Christ's body because they have suffered him to 'go and blood, and the ,c>..&cru ltp.,-ou, or' breaking Rway again,' in his living and heart-mov- of bread,' was suggestive of the source from ing words I How comparatively rare is it which these blessing-a flow, (viz.) Christ's for men to reach the full blessing they body ( ,c>,.rf,µ.,11011) broken (l Cor. xi. 24) ; might receive (see, for example, the stri:king hence ,c>..&cru &.p.,-ou in Acts ii. 42 is a general historical instance, 2 Kings xiii. 14, 19) I" term for tho Holy Eucharist." But these were not content to let the un- Ver. 31.-B:e vanished out of their sight. known Teacher pass on, and see no more of Not here, not now, can we hope to understand him. and hear no more of his strange power- the nature of the resurrection-body of the ful 1ea.ching. It is the words of, and the Lord ; it is and must remain to us, in our thouf!ht contained in, this verse which sug- present condition, e. mystery. Certain facts gested the idea of the well-known hymn- have, however, been revealed to us : (1) The " Abide with me ; fa.st falls the eventide." Resorrection was a reality, not an appear- ance ; for on more than one occasion the Lord Ver. 29.-And he went in to tarry with permitted the test of touch. He also e.te them. Some have supposed that one at before hie disciples of their ordinary food. least of the two had a dwelling at Emmaus; (2) Yet there was a manifest exemption but the position which the strange Teacher from the common conditions of bodily (cor- assumed as •• Master of the household," in poreal) existence; for he comes through e. the solemn act recorded in ver. 30, seems to closed door; he could withdraw himself indicate that it was e.n inn where they so- when he would from touch as well as journed. from sight; he could vanish in a moment Ver. 30.-Ancl it oame to pass, as he sat at from those looking on him ; he could, as meat with them, he took bread, and bleased men gazed on him, rise by the exertion of it, and brake, and gave to them. There was hie own will into the clouds of heaven. (3) e. deep significance in the concluding act He was known just as he pleased and when of this memorable e.ppee.rance of the risen he pleased; for at times during the "forty Lord. This taking the bread, and blessing days " men and women looked on him with- it, and breaking it, e.nd then giving it to out a gleam of recognition, at times they them, was no ordinary act of courtesy, or gazed at him, knowing well that it was the welcome, or friendship;which, from a. master Lord. On the words, " be vanished out of or teacher might be shown to his disciples. their sight," Godet writes, "It must be It resembles too closely the great sacramental remembered that Jesus, strictly speaking, act in the upper room, when Jesus was alone was already no more with them (ver, 44), and with his apostles, for us to mistake its the.t the miracle consisted rather in his solemn ea.cramental character. The great appearing than in his disappearing." Dr. teachers of the Church in different ages Westcott expresses the same truth in differ- have generally so understood it. . So _Chry- ent language, "What was natural to him sostow in the Eastern, and Augustine m the before was now miraculous, who.t was before Western Church; so Theophylact, and later miraculous is now natural." Beza the Reformer e.ll affirm that this meal Ver. 32.-And the:, said one to another, we.e the sacrament. It taught men generally, Did not our heart bum within us, while he even more pla.inly than did the first. sacre_d talked with us by the wa:, 1 better rendered, institution teach the twelve, that m th!S wa, not owr heart burning within us, while, solemn breaking of bread the Church would etc.? recognize their Me.8ter's presence. So gene- Vers. 33, 34.-And the:, rose up the same rally, in fact, has this Emma111 ••breaking hour, and retumed to J'e?U11alem. "The:, on. xx1v. 1-53.] THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. LUKE. 273