Luke 24:46 Meaning: The Necessity of Christ's Suffering and Resurrection
He said to them, “Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day,
And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:
and he said unto them, Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer, and rise again from the dead the third day;
and he said to them--`Thus it hath been written, and thus it was behoving the Christ to suffer, and to rise out of the dead the third day,
and said to them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved the Christ to suffer, and to rise from among the dead the third day;
Meaning in one sentence
In Luke 24:46, Jesus explains that His suffering and resurrection were necessary to fulfill Scripture. Discover why this matters for your faith.
Context
The disciples were still shaken. Jesus had appeared suddenly in their locked room, and they thought they were seeing a ghost. He showed them his hands and his feet, and even ate a piece of broiled fish to prove he was real. Then he did something they needed even more: he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. For the first time, they saw how the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms all pointed to him. Right in the middle of that lesson, Jesus says this verse. He is telling them, and us, that his suffering and resurrection were not a terrible accident. They were the plan God had been writing all along.
Key Words
Three Greek words carry the weight of this verse. The first is gegraptai, translated as “it is written.” It is a perfect tense verb: something written in the past that still stands. The Scriptures are not outdated; they are a settled promise. The second word is edei, “it was necessary.” This is not a mild suggestion. It points to a divine requirement, something that had to happen because of who God is and what he had promised for the salvation of the world. The third word is paschein, “to suffer.” It means to undergo an experience, often deeply painful, not just inconvenience but rejection, shame, and death. Together, these words show that the cross and the empty tomb were not an afterthought. They were the center of God’s plan from the start.
How Christians Read This Verse
Across Christian traditions, this verse is read as the hinge of the whole Bible. Protestant commentators like Matthew Henry and Gill emphasize that Christ’s suffering and resurrection were necessary because God had decreed them and the prophets had foretold them. In the Catholic and Orthodox traditions, the emphasis falls on the cross and resurrection as the central act of salvation, the way God undid the fall. John Calvin adds that without the Spirit opening our minds, even the clearest Scriptures remain closed to us. All traditions agree: this verse teaches that everything in the Old Testament pointed to Christ, and his work was not optional.
A common misunderstanding
Some readers think Jesus is simply saying “the Bible predicted I would suffer and rise,” as if the Old Testament were a collection of forecasts. In fact, the word “necessary” carries more weight. It means the suffering and resurrection were required by God’s own plan and by the nature of our salvation. As Gill explains, it was necessary because of God’s eternal decree and because of the prophecies. This is not just information about the future; it is the foundation of hope.
Living This Out
This week, when you face a hard situation, a conflict at work, a health concern, a disappointments, pause and tell yourself: God’s plan includes both suffering and resurrection. That does not mean the pain is good, but it does mean it is not the end. Then pick one Old Testament passage, maybe Isaiah 53 or Psalm 22, and read it looking for Jesus. Ask him to open your mind, as he did for the disciples, so you can see the story he has been telling all along.
Main takeaway: Christ’s suffering and resurrection were the necessary heart of God’s plan, written in Scripture for our salvation.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
Jesus died on a cross. But then he came back alive. That is what the Bible said would happen. God always keeps his promises.
For ages 9, 12
After Jesus rose from the dead, he appeared to his disciples. They were scared and confused, so Jesus proved he was really alive. Then he explained to them that the whole Old Testament, the books of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms, told about him. It was necessary for him to suffer and die, and then to rise on the third day. That was God’s plan all along. It shows us that even when things look bad, God is working out a good plan.
Questions People Ask
What does “behoved” mean in Luke 24:46?
The King James Version uses “behoved,” an old English word meaning “it was necessary” or “it was proper.” The underlying Greek word is edei, which points to a divine necessity, something that had to happen because God ordained it and the Scriptures foretold it. It was not merely fitting; it was required for salvation.
Why does Jesus say it was necessary for the Christ to suffer?
Jesus explains that his suffering and resurrection were necessary because they fulfilled what was written in the Law, the Prophets, and the Psalms. Commentators like Gill note two reasons: God’s eternal decree and the Old Testament prophecies. Without the cross, there would be no forgiveness of sins; without the resurrection, no victory over death.
What is the significance of “the third day” in this verse?
The phrase “the third day” points to the specific timing of Jesus’ resurrection, which he had predicted earlier (Luke 9:22). It also ties back to Old Testament patterns, such as Jonah being in the fish three days. The third day is the day God vindicated his Son and completed the work of redemption.
How does Luke 24:46 connect to the Old Testament?
Jesus says “Thus it is written,” referring to the entire Old Testament, the Law, Prophets, and Psalms. He had already explained to the two disciples on the road to Emmaus how the Scriptures spoke about him (Luke 24:27). So this verse is a summary: the Messiah’s suffering and resurrection were the central theme all along.
What does it mean that Jesus “opened their understanding” in Luke 24:45?
Jesus performed a divine act: he opened the disciples’ minds to grasp the Scriptures. Calvin comments that the inner teacher (the Holy Spirit) works together with the outward word. So understanding the Bible is a gift from Christ. Without him, we remain blind to its true meaning.
For pastors & researchers
Greek interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study