The Giving of Sight by Sovereign Grace

(The Message of the Bible on the Road to Emmaus, Part 2)

May 03, 2006

Pastor Matt Black

Midweek Service

Luke 24:1-53

Discipleship: What are the Ten Commandments of God’s moral law?

(Quote them.)

Catechism Questions

Q1. Who is the first and best of beings?

A. God is the first and best of beings.

Q2. What is the chief end of man?

A. To glorify God and to enjoy Him forever.

Q3. How do we know there is a God?

A. The light of nature in man and the works of God plainly declare that there is a God, but His Word and Spirit only do effectually reveal Him unto us for our salvation.

Q4. What is the Word of God?

A. The Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, being given by divine inspiration, are the Word of God, the only infallible rule of faith and obedience.

Q5: How do we know that the Bible is the Word of God?

A: The Bible reveals itself to be God's Word by the heavenliness of its doctrine, the unity of its parts, its power to convert sinners and to edify saints. But the Spirit of God only, bearing witness by and with the Scriptures in our hearts, is able fully to persuade us that the Bible is the Word of God.

Q6: May all men make use of the Scriptures?

A: All men are not only permitted, but commanded and exhorted, to read, hear, and understand the Scriptures.

Q7: What do the Scriptures mainly teach?

A: The Scriptures mainly teach what man is to believe about God and what duty God requires of man.

Introduction: Open your Bibles tonight to Luke 24. The title of our message tonight is: “The Giving of Sight by Sovereign Grace.” We are going to see in what way that Christ gives life and comprehension to sinful man.

Last week we talked about the most important principle when we come to the Bible:

You are not a true Holy Spirit led student of the Bible unless you see Christ from Genesis to Revelation. To really understand any particular text of Scripture, we must discern how it relates to the Person and Work of Christ.”

The hermeneutic that we have of the Bible is all important. What does the word hermeneutic mean? It means how do we interpret the Bible.

It’s not enough to know the Bible. Look at John 5:39.

John 5:39

Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.

Verse 39. Search the scriptures. The word translated search here means to search diligently or anxiously. It is applied to miners, who search for precious metals—who look anxiously for the bed of the ore with an intensity or anxiety proportionate to their sense of the value of the metal.[1]

There were these religious Jews who were literally searching the Scriptures as if their life depended on it. They were doing this—anxiously and intensely studying their Old Testament. They were trusting in them for eternal life. But guess what? They missed the whole point. They were blinded because they did not see Christ.

Again, what did Paul say of them in 1 Corinthians?

2 Corinthians 3:15 But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart.

Is that you? How do you read the Bible? Do you read it with your heart burning with love for Christ? Or are you reading it like a text book?

Is there a veil on your heart? Of course there is a vail on every man’s heart. “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9).

Turn over to Matthew 19 and verse 23 to see the dilemma. Here you have Jesus speaking just after the rich young ruler went away sad because he had great riches and he did not want to give them up and follow Jesus Christ. We read here in Matthew 19 and beginning with verse 23, “Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man [i.e. A MAN WHO TRUSTS IN HIS RICHES] shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. 24 And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. 25 When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed [OR AS MARK SAYS “astonished out of measure”], saying, Who then can be saved?” You see they thought Messiah’s kingdom would be earthly, so it made sense that they should gather the most wise and rich and influential people for it. They missed the point. They had a self-centered understanding of the Kingdom. In fact, the kingdom is Spiritual. The Kingdom is composed of those “born of God.” But Jesus gives the sovereign ultimatum in verse 26, “But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.”

A man cannot stop trusting in that which is earthly—his riches—his goals—his aspirations—etc. So the disciples come to a very logical conclusion: “Who then can be saved?” (verse 25). They were “exceedingly amazed” or as Mark 10:25 says they were “astonished out of measure.” They were tripping over themselves in amazement. Whoa! Did you He just said? Do you know what that means? Who then can be saved?! You see they knew the condition of all men. We all have deceitful hearts. We all have a veil over our heart.

Let’s come to our text once again.

Read Luke 24:1-53

1 ¶ Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them. 2 And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre. 3 And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments: 5 And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead? 6 He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee, 7 Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again. 8 And they remembered his words, 9 And returned from the sepulchre, and told all these things unto the eleven, and to all the rest. 10 It was Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other women that were with them, which told these things unto the apostles. 11 And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not. 12 Then arose Peter, and ran unto the sepulchre; and stooping down, he beheld the linen clothes laid by themselves, and departed, wondering in himself at that which was come to pass.

13 ¶ And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs [SEVEN MILES]. 14 And they talked together of all these things which had happened. 15 And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them. 16 But their eyes were holden [HELD SHUT or PREVENTED] that they should not know him. 17 And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad? 18 And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas [POSSIBLY THE BROTHER OF JOSEPH, HUSBAND OF MARY], answering said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days? 19 And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people: 20 And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him. 21 But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done. 22 Yea, and certain women also of our company made us astonished, which were early at the sepulchre; 23 And when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that he was alive. 24 And certain of them which were with us went to the sepulchre, and found it even so as the women had said: but him they saw not.

1. MAN’S CORRUPTION, PROBLEM: UNBELIEF

25 Then he [CHRIST] said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: 26 Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? 27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. 28 And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they went: and he made as though he would have gone further. 29 But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them. 30 And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them. 31 And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight. 32 And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures? 33 And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them, 34 Saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon [PETER].

[1 Corinthians 15:5 And that he was seen of Cephas [PETER], then of the twelve:]

35 And they told what things were done in the way, and how he was known of them in breaking of bread.

36 ¶ And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. 37 But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit. 38 And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts? 39 Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have. 40 And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet. 41 And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat? 42 And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb. 43 And he took it, and did eat before them. 44 And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.

2. MAN’S COMPREHENSION, PERCEPTION: FAITH GIVEN BY SOVEREIGN GRACE

45 Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, 46 And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: 47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 And ye are witnesses of these things. 49 And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.

3. MAN’S COMPULSION, PLEASURE: JOY!

50 ¶ And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them. 51 And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven. 52 And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy: 53 And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen.

Review

So we left off last week discussing how men by nature are ignorant of God! They have the veil over their heart! They have their hearts committed to the things of this world in such a way that apart from a miracle of grace, they will NEVER be saved. This ignorance is a hardness and dullness of heart by birth and by choice that cannot be overcome by any human means.

I. We learned about Man’s Corruption here in Luke 24.

Man’s problem is that he has by nature a heart hardened by unbelief. Here, we must come to our text and notice several very important things.

First, Christ was a STRANGER to those on the road to Emmaus. They did not recognize Him. Verse 16 says these TWO “did not know [Christ]. Christ was a stranger to them! Why was He a stranger? Some people have thought that the reason they didn’t recognize Christ is that His resurrected body looked different than His earthly body. That is not the case. Let’s look closer at the text.

Look at verse 11—

11 And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not. Christ had promised that He would rise again, but they did not believe Christ. Human circumstances always trump the Words of Christ to the unbelieving and carnal heart. They were skeptics!

See the real problem was that there is a SATURATION of unbelief. What does verse 11 say? “They believed them not.”

So two of them (those who did not believe the Resurrection account of Mary and the other women) went that same day to a village called Emmaus. It was about a seven mile journey. The Risen Christ came and began walking with them. Now remember they “BELIEVED NOT” that He was risen from the dead. As far as they were concerned, Christ’s dead body was somewhere around there—it was not in the tomb, but someone had it. He was dead in their minds!! Meanwhile the very body they think is dead is walking next to them! Christ is alive!! Yet they are still in their in belief.

Now we looked further in verse 15 and 16, and we see the reason why they were unbelieving.

There was a SHUTTING of their eyes by Sovereign Grace.

15 And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them. 16 But their eyes were holden [HELD SHUT or PREVENTED] that they should not know him.

Here we come to an important principle:

Man’s eyes are blinded until God gives spiritual sight. To put it another way, man is dead until God gives spiritual life. Look at how Deuteronomy puts it:

Deuteronomy 29:4 Yet the LORD hath not given you an heart to perceive, and eyes to see, and ears to hear, unto this day.

So these disciples who had not yet seen Christ had BLINDED EYES. They could not see. This was by nature and by choice, yes. But it was also because God was the only one who could open their eyes, and HE HAD NOT CHOSEN TO SOVEREIGNLY OPEN THEIR EYES YET.

Paul gives insight into this in Romans 11.

Romans 11:7 What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded. Paul says only the elect are given spiritual sight. The rest of mankind it says “were blinded.” Obviously God did not blind these people. God leaves them to remain in their spiritually blind state. And before you start complaining that God is not fair, you need to realize that you don’t want God to be fair. If God were fair, we would all be left blinded to suffer the eternal consequences of our sins.

So we saw last week that Christ was a STRANGER to these two, that there was a SATURATION of unbelief, that there was a SOVEREIGN SHUTTING of their eyes, and then we saw:

They had SELF-CENTERED idea about the Person of Christ! (verse 21ff)

21 But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done. [AND WE DON’T SEE HIM!] 22 Yea, and certain women also of our company made us astonished, which were early at the sepulchre; 23 And when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that he was alive. 24 And certain of them which were with us went to the sepulchre, and found it even so as the women had said: but him they saw not. [THEY SAW HIM NOT, SO WE THINK THEY’RE DREAMING THIS UP….]

Their idea of REDEMPTION was wholly PHYSICAL. The other disciples had this idea also. Look at

Acts 1:6 When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?

Of course by Pentecost, they had their theology (i.e. their FOCUS) straightened out, since Peter preached in Acts 2:39 that Christ’s Redemption and restoration of His kingdom came at His RESURRECTION. It’s not the PHYSICAL that Christ is concerned about. In other words—It’s not about us! It’s about Christ!

E. Then we see Christ’s SCATHING rebuke.

So last week, we saw man’s corruption—they were blinded in sin and left in their blindness by Christ. Now we are going to see how these two specifically and mankind in general sheds the corruption in the heart and is given comprehension.

II. So let’s look at Man’s comprehension.

What we are going to find is that man’s perception is imparted by God’s sovereign Love, Mercy, and Grace. Before we get into our text again in Luke 24, let’s ask ourselves some hard questions and do a bit of an overview on how a person comes to believe in Jesus Christ.

I. Introduction

Why don’t all men believe?

Why don’t all men every where readily believe the Gospel and turn to Christ? Scripture gives us an overarching reason.

Deuteronomy 29:4 Yet the LORD hath not given you an heart to perceive, and eyes to see, and ears to hear, unto this day.

John 10:26 But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you. 27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:

So the difference is that God imparts understanding sovereignly. He opens eyes; He opens the heart of man miraculously.

Illustration: Why is it that men come to Christ? Line up all God’s people from all time and ask them, what is the difference between you and the lost man? There are those that say that Christ calls all men in the same way where ever they are. That is not true in any way.

Think about it. Why did Abraham come to know the Lord? Did God call all men in Ur to come to Him? No, he did not. He had a special call for Abraham. Was it fair that out of all the people in Ur that only Abraham was called? Actually, it would have been fair to leave Abraham to die in his sins in Ur. That is what Abraham deserved. So why didn’t all the people of Ur leave their idolatry with Abraham? The answer? They were not called. As Jesus said (John 10:26), “ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep.” We could say the same thing about the Ninevites. Why the Assyrian Ninevites and not the Babylonians? Why didn’t the Lord convert the Philistines or the Jebusites? Why? As Jesus said (John 10:26), “ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep.” Why? Deuteronomy 29:4 Yet the LORD hath not given you an heart to perceive, and eyes to see, and ears to hear, unto this day.

Ok, now here’s another question.

Why do some men Believe?

Ezekiel 36:26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.

John 10:26 But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you. 27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:

So why do some men believe? The answer? “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:”

The voice of Jesus calls out to His elect people, and they follow? Why do they follow? Obviously we are all called to “go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature.” In a sense all men are called. But what does Christ say in Matthew 22:14? “For many are called, but few are chosen.” So not only are we called, but we are chosen. That is the difference. All are called, but there are some who are called “effectually.” They are called to salvation, and the result intended was accomplished. So why do some men believe? Because…

1. First of all they are called out of Spiritual Death

Man is born “in Adam.” 1 Corinthians 15:22 clearly that “in Adam all die…”

The message tonight that we find in Luke 24, is really expounded upon in the epistles. Before we enter into our text in Luke, let’s remember what Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15:45. He says, “The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.” In other words, what this verse is saying is that Christ is the Source of all life! He is a life-giving Spirit. By the power of the Spirit of God, Christ was raised up from the dead for the purpose of raising up others to spiritual life and understanding. Christ said this was His purpose for coming over and over again. Look at John 5:21 For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will. These people that Christ calls are “dead in trespasses and sins” as John 5:25 says, “The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God.” When has a dead man heard anything? Christ raises the dead so that they can hear! The actual life being infused into the soul comes through the Word of God as Christ explains in the next chapter in John 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. As Paul says over in Romans 10:17, “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

Paul says the same thing in Colossians 2:12-13 “Wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith [FAITH IN WHAT? IN THE WORD OF GOD] of [i.e. WHICH CAME BY] the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. 13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;

2. They are called out of Darkness

Peter tells us that God has “called [us] out of darkness into his marvellous light” (1 Peter 2:9). Paul tells us in Ephesians 5:8, “ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord.”

3. They are called out of this World

John 15:19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.

4. They are called into Union with Christ

1 Corinthians 1:9 God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship [UNION] of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

5. They are called into Holiness

1 Peter 1:15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;

6. They are called unto Eternal Life

1 Timothy 6:12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.

1 Peter 5:10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus

Romans 8:28 sums it up by saying that all Christians are “the called according to His purpose.”

Now when we speak of God’s purposes, we are talking about that which God has willed. Now when you or I want something, it can be frustrated or denied. If I want chocolate ice cream, my wife is free to give me vanilla or strawberry because my will is easily frustrated, right?! But God’s purposes can never, ever be frustrated. That would mean that there is one greater than God. Isaiah 14:27 says it well, “For the LORD of hosts hath purposed, and who shall disannul it? and his hand is stretched out, and who shall turn it back?”

Albert Barnes said this about God’s calling, “Christians are said to be called because God has invited them to be saved, and has sent into their hearts such an influence as to make the call effectual to their salvation. In this way their salvation is to be traced entirely to God.”

This influence is what we are going to look at tonight in our text of Luke 24.

Having introduced our subject, let’s get into the text.

Exegesis

The first thing we learn concerning finally understanding and perceiving the Gospel, is that

I. Christ alone can truly assess the human heart (The Exposition of the Human Heart)

Look at verse 25, “Then he [CHRIST] said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken.” Christ gives a correct assessment of not just these two men, but of mankind in general. We are “slow of heart,” and indeed, we are “fools”.

We by nature are “slow of heart.” Nobody needed to tell you that. You know that. David said in Psalm 51:5 “Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.”

He gets pretty descriptive in Psalm 58:3, “The wicked are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies.”

And in case you were wondering, Who are the wicked? Ephesians 2:3, Paul says that “we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.”

Job said there is nothing “more abominable and filthy” than “man, which drinketh iniquity like water” (Job 15:16).

So these two walking on the road to Emmaus were just like all the rest of humanity. Christ assessed their heart and gave the verdict:”fools and slow of heart to believe…” Then we see that Christ alone can assess the human heart,

II. Secondly, Christ alone can give spiritual light through His Word. (Expositional Preaching!)

Luke 24

25 Then he [CHRIST] said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: 26 Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? 27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.

And after his appearance in the midst of the apostles, He says again in verse 44, “And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. 45 Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,”

Psalm 19:7 The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.

Romans 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

1 Corinthians 1:18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. In other words, it is effectual!! It brings about the results intended!

John 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

So we see an exposition of the human heart, an exposition of Scripture, and finally we see a conversion of the soul!

III. Christ alone opens the eyes of man through sovereign grace (Transformation of the Soul!)

Christ opened their eyes!! The opening of the eyes IS conversion.

Luke 24: 30 And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them. 31 And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight. 32 And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?

Remember Paul’s commission in Acts 2:17-18? The Lord to Paul that He would be “Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee, 18 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.”

Conclusion: So what is the difference when we go evangelizing between those that will trust in Christ and those who remain in their sins? Do you understand that they can do NOTHING to effect their eternal salvation. We need to give them the word of God and pray that the Spirit will give them life. That Jesus Christ would be a “quickening Spirit” to them!

Closing Hymn: 483 Like a River Glorious