Lucas 24:27

And beginning at Moses, &c.— That his reproof might appear well founded, that their drooping spirits might be supported, and that they might be prepared for the discovery he was about to make of himself, which he explained all the types and prophesies of the Old Testament which relate to the Messiah's sufferings; such as the Mosaical sacrifices, the lifting up of the brazen serpent, the 22nd Psalm, the 53rd of Isaiah, &c. &c. It is no way necessary to suppose that Christ's sufferings, resurrection, and exaltation, are each of them distinctly foretold in each of those parts of the sacred writings which are mentioned in this verse. It is enough if Moses gave some intimation concerning him, which succeeding prophets carried on; and if, when all their testimonies are taken together, all these events are expressed by some one or other of them. The design of our Lord's entering into so particular an exposition of the prophets, or the sacred writers, was to shew, that by making a proper use of their understanding, they might from those very scriptures whose authority they allowed, have been convinced that the Messiah ought to have suffered, as they had seen him suffer, and to rise from the dead on the third day: that is, Christ chose rather to convince them by reason than by sense, or at least so to prepare their minds, that their assenting afterwards to the testimony of their senses, should be with the concurrence of their reason: he had proceeded in the same manner with the other disciples at Jerusalem; from all of whom he had hitherto withholden the evidence of sense, having not appeared to any of them, except Peter, till after the return of these two disciples to Jerusalem.

This proceeding, at once so becoming the Lord of righteousness and truth, and the moral liberty of man as a reasonable being, must have been prevented, had Christ discovered himself to them at his first appearing. Wonder and astonishment in that case would have taken the place of reason, and have left them, perhaps, when the strong impression was a little worn away, in doubt or scepticism. The point discussed upon the road was, whether it was agreeable to prophesy that Christ should suffer and rise again from the dead? Christ himself undertook to prove this proposition at large from the scriptures of the Old Testament; and the argument, through his grace, seemed to have its intended effect. Suppose now, that he had made himself known, and then entered upon his argument; what would have been the consequence? Plainly this, the surprise of seeing one from the dead, and the authority of Christ reasoning from the scriptures, must have disturbed their judgment, and made them, perhaps, submit to his interpretation of the prophesies, without considering particularly the justness and propriety thereof. The plain reason, therefore, why the discovery was not made sooner, is, that their understandings might be first convinced upon the strength of argument; while their minds were yet free from any impression by the event itself, and the irresistible force of Christ's authority.