In the first three studies of this important word and concept of the New Testament, Paul established that after salvation, we should be involved in "being transformed through the renewing of the mind νοῦς (Strong's #3563). Paul also said that we are to be renewed in the spirit of our mind (νοῦς) (Ephesians 4:23). In 1 Corinthians 1:10, Paul taught that believers should be involved in the growth process of "being knit together in the same mind (νοῦς) and the same judgment."
Last week we began the second phase of our study of νοῦς which centers on how the believer develops spiritual perception. We saw how Paul, in 1 Corinthians 2:14-16, taught that a psychical man, one functioning at optimum mental capacity but without spiritual perception, does not understand the things of the Lord because the things of the Lord are spiritually discerned. The human being with his natural abilities does not have the capacity to be able to discern the spiritual things of Christ. Paul pointed out that only the spiritual man, the one who has the Spirit of God within him, has the capacity to understand the spiritual things of the Lord because the Spirit of God reveals them to him. Paul ended Chapter Two by making the statement: "But we ourselves have the mind (νοῦς) of Christ." The person who has truly been saved by the Spirit of God has the Spirit of the living God residing within. God's Spirit reveals the spiritual things of God to God's people. A great example of this is found in Luke 24:13-45 and it serves as the focus of this week's study.
In his gospel, Luke records that two disciples were traveling to the village of Emmaus on the third day after Jesus had been crucified (Luke 24:13). As they were talking about recent events, Jesus Himself drew near to them and began traveling with them. Luke 24:16 tells us:
"And their eyes were held in order that they might not recognize F1 Him." (Literal Translation)
The Greek word for "held" is κρατὲω (Strong's #2902) and means "to grip." The Lord purposely held their eyes from recognizing Him. As we follow this through, we come to an understanding as to why the Lord would prevent someone from recognizing Him. First, beginning with verse 18, the disciple named Cleopas asked the Lord if He was the only person traveling in Jerusalem who was unaware of the things that had taken place. Jesus asked in verse 19, "What things?" It is here that we gain insight into how the Lord works to develop His followers' perceptive processes. Obviously, Jesus knew what had happened in Jerusalem; He wasn't asking these disciples for information, but was drawing out the condition of their hearts in order that He might begin to transform them. They revealed their heart conditions by four things that they communicated to Him.
First, they said they were referring to the things that happened to Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet and was mighty in work and word. Second, they said that the chief priests and rulers delivered Him over unto judgment of death and crucified Him. Third, they told Jesus that they were continually putting their hope on this one who had been crucified to be the Redeemer of Israel; but, in discouragement, they said that this was now the third day since all of these things had taken place. Fourth, they related that certain women had gone to the tomb and had returned astonishing the disciples with the news that they did not find His body, but had seen angels declaring, "He is living." The two disciples then told Jesus that others went to the tomb finding it just as the women had said, "but Him they did not see." (Luke 24:24) Then Jesus made this statement:
"O Senseless and slow in heart to believe upon everything which the prophets spoke; was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer F2 these things and that He should enter F3 into His glory?' And having begun from Moses and from all of the prophets, He was interpreting to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself." (Luke 24:25-27 — Literal Translation)
The word Jesus used for "senseless" is the Greek word ἀνὸητος (Strong's #453) that means, "to be without perception." ̓Ανὸητος is derived from Alpha, used as a negative particle, and νοὲω (Strong's #3539) which is the verb form of νοῦς, "perception." It is obvious from our study of νοῦς that Jesus was not scolding the disciples for lacking a natural spiritual ability to understand what the Scriptures were saying, because He would not expect them to be able to understand or perceive scriptural truth without the Holy Spirit revealing it to them. The Lord pointed out to these disciples that they did not have the ability to perceive the things of the Lord and that their hearts were slow in grasping "everything" the prophets spoke. He then proceeded to "interpret for them from all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself." Later, these two disciples looked back on this time and said, "Was not our heart burning in us as He was speaking to us in the road and as He was opening to us the Scriptures?" (Luke 24:32 — Literal Translation) Here we see two principles that the Lord continually taught: the first is that every person does not have the spiritual ability to understand the spiritual things of God; and second, only the Lord, through His Spirit, can reveal spiritual things.
In fact, this is the key to understanding the Lord's teachings in the Gospels. The Lord never taught His disciples to come up with their own faith or spiritual perception and understanding. Instead, for three years the disciples were put in circumstances revealing their inability to function spiritually. A good Scripture verse expressing what the Lord was teaching His disciples for the three years He physically walked with them is found in John 15:5. Jesus said, "...without Me, you are not able F4 to do one thing." (Literal translation) All of the time the Lord spent walking and talking with His disciples, both in Jerusalem and on the road to Emmaus, He was working with them, preparing their hearts to receive the truth of the Word of God when it was time for them to perceive it.
As the Lord and the two disciples drew near to Emmaus, Jesus looked as if He were going to continue traveling. The disciples asked Him to remain with them. Jesus would have gone on had they not constrained Him to stay with them. Their desire for Jesus to spend more time with them was evidence that the Lord's ministry to them during their travel together was now changing their hearts. Jesus stayed with them for the evening meal. He took bread, blessed it, and was continually giving pieces of the bread to them. Luke 24:31 tells us what happened as Jesus was breaking the bread and giving it to them:
"and their eyes were opened and they recognized Him and He Himself became invisible from them." (Literal translation)
The translation "were opened" represents the passive voice of the verb διανοὶγω (Strong's #1272) that means to "open completely." The passive voice means that they were the recipients of the action of having their eyes opened. Although He had held their eyes earlier in the day from knowing Him, the Lord chose, at this time, to cause them to recognize Him. Their hearts had been prepared to realize the final outcome of the Lord's crucifixion: He is living!
The disciples went back to Jerusalem that very hour and told the apostles what had happened. While they were speaking, Jesus Himself appeared in the room. He showed them the nail prints in His hands and His feet. He also ate a meal in front of them to prove that they were not seeing a ghost, but the resurrected Christ. Then He said to them, as recorded in Luke 24:44-45:
"…'These are the words which I spoke to you while still being with you, that it is necessary that all things should be fulfilled F5 which have been written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and Psalms concerning Me.' Then He opened their mind (νοῦς), in order that they might understand F6 the Scriptures." (Literal translation)
The disciples were now ready to "perceive" the things of the Lord concerning His crucifixion and resurrection. This happened only after the Lord had prepared their hearts and had opened their perceptive abilities to understand the Scriptures. The natural, human being is not capable of arriving at the correct understanding of the things of the Lord using his own, human abilities. The Spirit of the Lord must develop the condition of the heart and then reveal the understanding of Christ.
Jesus continued to explain from the Scriptures that it was necessary for Him to suffer and die and to rise the third day. The disciples were now ready for the coming of the Holy Spirit who would fill their hearts and use them for His glory.
Paul taught that it is necessary for a believer to be transformed through the renewing of his perceptive processes and that we should all be in the process of spiritual growth to be knit together with the same spiritual perception and judgment. Paul also taught that the only way a person can perceive the spiritual things of the Lord is by the Spirit of God revealing these things to that person. In Luke 24, we also come to realize that the Lord Himself can prevent a person from recognizing Him, not just in the physical realm, but also in the spiritual realm. He can prevent His people from knowing Him until He has changed their hearts and minds, which are naturally without perception. The Lord, by His Spirit, is the One who opens the perceptive processes of the believer so that he can see the Lord and understand the teaching of Scripture concerning Him.
Next week we will continue our study of νοῦς from Romans 1:28.
Technical Notes:
F1 The Greek articular infinitive of purpose τοῦ͂μὴ͂ἐπιγνῶναι, "the not to recognize" is translated by διὰ͂νὰ͂μὴ͂γνωρὶσωσιν, "in order that they might not recognize..."
F2 The infinitive of purpose παθεῖν with the accusative subject τὸν͂χριστὸν is translated, νὰ͂πὰθῇὁ͂Χριστὸς, "that the Christ should suffer."
F3 The infinitive of purpose εἰσελθεῖν is translated, νὰ͂εἰσὲλθῃ, "that He should enter."
F4 The Greek word δὺναμαι (Strong's #1410) that is usually translated "can" in most English translations, literally means "ability" or "capacity." Jesus is telling His disciples that without Him, they have no ability or capacity to function in the spiritual things of Christ.
F5 The infinitive πληρωθῆναι, "to be fulfilled" is translated νὰ͂πληρωθῶσι, "that they might be fulfilled."
F6 The articular infinitive τοῦ͂συνιὲναι expressing purpose, "the to understand," is translated, διὰ͂νὰ͂καταλὰβωσι, "in order that they might understand."
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Bill Klein has been a pastor, counselor, and educator for the past 41 years. He has had extensive training and education in biblical languages, and has authored a Biblical Greek course.
He is currently serving as Professor of Biblical Greek at Master's Graduate School of Divinity, and president of BTE Ministries - The Bible Translation and Exegesis Institute of America, a non-profit organization located in California that provides Bible study tapes and Greek study materials through their website BTEMinistries.org.