King James Version
What Does Luke 24:5 Mean?
“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? the living: or, him that liveth”
Context
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? the living: or, him that liveth
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.
Topics in This Verse
Commentary
Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers(5) **Why seek ye the living among the dead?**—Better, as in the margin, *Him that liveth.* The question was enough to change the whole current of their thoughts. The Lord whom they came to honour as dead was in very deed “living,” was emphatically “He that liveth,” alive for evermore (Revelation 1:18). The primary meaning of the words is, of course, limited to this; but like the parallel, “let the dead bury their dead” (see Note on Matthew 8:22), they suggest manifold applications. It is in vain that we seek “Him that liveth” in dead works, dead formulæ, dead or dying institutions. The eternal life that is in Christ is not to be found by looking into the graves of the past in the world’s history, or in those of our individual life. In both cases it is better to rise, as on the “stepping-stones of our dead selves,” to “higher things.”
Charles John Ellicott (1819–1905). Public Domain.
Historical Context
This verse is found in the book of Luke. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.
Theological Significance
Luke 24:5 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.
Cross-References
Verses related to Luke 24:5
Cross-references from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge