Luke 24:44

And hee said vnto them, These are the words which I spake vnto you, while I was yet with you, þ all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the Law of Moses, & in the Prophets, and in the Psalmes concerning me. Luke 24:44 (KJV)

Context: The context of this verse is important for a better understanding. In the preceding verses (Luke 24:36-43), Jesus appears to His disciples after His resurrection and proves His physical presence by showing them His hands and feet. The disciples were still astonished and uncertain, so Jesus further interacts with them to help them comprehend the significance of His resurrection.

Jesus’ Explanation: In Luke 24:44, Jesus explains to His disciples that everything that happened to Him was according to the Scriptures. He refers to “the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms.” These categories encompass the three main sections of the Hebrew Scriptures, or what we now refer to as the Old Testament.

• The Law of Moses: This refers to the first five books of the Bible—Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy—which were traditionally attributed to Moses. Jesus indicates that the events surrounding His life, death, and resurrection were prophesied in these books.
• The Prophets: This category includes the prophetic books such as Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, and the twelve minor prophets. These books contain numerous prophecies concerning the coming Messiah, His sufferings, and His ultimate victory.
• The Psalms: While specifically mentioning the Psalms, Jesus is likely using this term to represent the entire Writings (or Wisdom literature), which includes Psalms, Proverbs, Job, Daniel, Esther, Chronicles, and other books. Many of these writings contain prophetic elements and speak of the Messiah’s reign and experiences.

Fulfilled Prophecies: Jesus emphasizes that “all things must be fulfilled.” This highlights that the events surrounding His life, death, and resurrection were not random or accidental but were part of God’s plan as revealed in the Scriptures. He came to fulfill the prophetic promises and to accomplish God’s plan of redemption for humanity.

The Centrality of Christ: Jesus makes it clear that all these prophecies and writings of the Old Testament Scriptures were ultimately about Him. The entirety of the Old Testament points to the coming of the Messiah, Jesus Christ. He is the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets, and the Psalms (and the broader Writings) contain references to Him as well.

This verse underscores the importance of understanding how the Old Testament Scriptures pointed to Jesus and how His life, death, and resurrection fulfilled those prophecies. It highlights the continuity and unity of the Bible, showing that the Old Testament sets the stage for the coming of Christ and the establishment of His kingdom.

By acknowledging the fulfillment of Scripture in His life, Jesus encourages His disciples to trust in Him and to recognize that God’s plan was being perfectly executed. This understanding would later equip them to proclaim the gospel and the significance of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection to others.

In summary, Luke 24:44 teaches us that Jesus fulfilled the prophecies and promises of the Old Testament Scriptures. It emphasizes the centrality of Christ in the entire Bible and affirms the divine plan of redemption through His life, death, and resurrection.