Luke 24:27 Meaning: Jesus Unlocked the Scriptures
Beginning from Moses and from all the prophets, he explained to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.
And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.
And beginning from Moses and from all the prophets, he interpreted to them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.
and having begun from Moses, and from all the prophets, he was expounding to them in all the Writings the things about himself.
And having begun from Moses and from all the prophets, he interpreted to them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.
Meaning in one sentence
Luke 24:27 shows Jesus explaining how Moses and the prophets all point to him. The whole Old Testament is about Christ, not just a few verses.
Context
Two disciples walk to Emmaus, hearts heavy. Three days after the crucifixion, their hope that Jesus would redeem Israel has collapsed. A stranger joins them, and they pour out their confusion. The stranger, who is the risen Jesus himself, rebukes them gently: they are slow to believe what the prophets spoke. Then he does something remarkable. Starting with Moses and moving through every prophet, he shows them how the whole Old Testament points to him. Their hearts begin to burn as he opens the Scriptures. This verse sits at the hinge of the story, where the risen Christ becomes the interpreter of the Bible.
Key Words
Three Greek words carry the weight of this verse. The first, arxamenos (beginning), means taking up from a starting point and moving through. Jesus did not pick a few prooftexts. He started at the very beginning of Scripture, the books of Moses, and worked through the prophets in order. The second word, diermēneusen (interpreted), is richer than a simple explanation. It means to thoroughly translate or unfold meaning, the way you would translate a foreign language so someone can understand. The prefix dia suggests a thorough process, going from passage to passage. The third phrase, peri heautou (concerning himself), is personal. The Scriptures are not about abstract truths or moral lessons first. They are about a Person. Christ is the subject that holds every page together.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians across traditions have read this verse as a key to how the Old Testament relates to Jesus. Calvin stressed that the Law and Prophets must go before as guides to lead us to Christ; without them the gospel is incomplete. Barnes noted that Jesus corrected the disciples' expectation of a political Messiah and showed them the suffering Messiah instead. The Cambridge Bible lists dozens of specific prophecies from Genesis to Malachi that Jesus likely covered. While some traditions emphasize direct prediction and others see typology and pattern, all agree on the central truth: the entire Old Testament finds its meaning in Christ.
A common misunderstanding
A common misreading is to think Jesus simply pointed out a handful of isolated predictions. In fact, beginning from Moses and from all the prophets means he walked through the whole sweep of Scripture. Every part, not just a few verses, speaks of him. The disciples had missed the forest for the trees, and Jesus opened their eyes to the big story.
Living This Out
Read an Old Testament passage this week and ask one question: where does this point to Jesus? Not in a forced way, but with curiosity. The same risen Christ who walked with those two disciples is present when you open your Bible. Ask him to show you himself in the story. If you feel lost in Leviticus or stuck in the prophets, remember: the whole book is about him. Let that truth warm your heart the way it warmed theirs.
Main takeaway: The whole Old Testament finds its meaning in Jesus Christ, who suffered and entered his glory.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
Jesus walked with two friends and showed them that the whole Bible is about him. Even the old stories, like Moses and the prophets, all talk about Jesus. Isn't that amazing?
For ages 9, 12
Two of Jesus' followers were sad and confused because they thought the story was over when Jesus died. Then Jesus started walking with them and explained the whole Old Testament. He showed them that every part, from the first book to the last prophet, was really about him and what he came to do. When Jesus opens the Bible for us, we start to see the big picture too.
Questions People Ask
What does 'beginning from Moses and all the prophets' mean in Luke 24:27?
It means Jesus started his explanation at the first books of the Bible, the five books of Moses (Genesis through Deuteronomy), and then moved through all the prophetic books (Isaiah, Jeremiah, etc.) to show how the whole Old Testament points to him.
How can the Old Testament speak about Jesus if it was written before he was born?
Christians believe God inspired the Old Testament writers to speak about the coming Messiah through direct prophecies, symbolic events (like the Passover lamb), and patterns that Jesus fulfilled. Jesus himself taught that these writings were about him.
Why did Jesus call the disciples 'foolish' and 'slow of heart' in verse 25?
Jesus gently rebuked them because, even though they knew the Scriptures, they had not understood that the Messiah had to suffer before entering glory. Their expectations were too narrow, and they missed what the prophets had clearly said.
Did Jesus explain every Old Testament verse about himself during that walk?
Probably not each verse, but he gave an overview of the major themes and passages. The Bible commentators suggest he covered key prophecies like Genesis 3:15, the Passover, the brazen serpent, and Isaiah 53, showing the consistent testimony of Scripture.
What does this verse teach about how we should read the Bible today?
It teaches that Jesus is the key to understanding the whole Bible. When we read the Old Testament, we can ask how it points to Christ, and when we read the New Testament, we see how Jesus fulfills the promises. The whole book is one story about him.
For pastors & researchers
Greek interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study