Yes, Jesus opened their understanding because they still could not comprehend the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies without divine enablement.
Even after seeing His resurrected body and the scars, the disciples still didn't believe fully (Luke 24:41). Jesus then opened their understanding so they could grasp that all things written in the Law, Prophets, and Psalms concerning Him had to be fulfilled (Luke 24:44-45). This wasn't a result of human study but a sovereign act of God.
Luke 24:45 — This verse directly states that Jesus opened their understanding to comprehend the Scriptures.
In Luke 24, after His resurrection, Jesus appeared to His disciples, showed them His hands and feet, and ate broiled fish and honeycomb to prove He was physically present (Luke 24:39-42). Yet the Bible says they 'believed not for joy and wondered' (Luke 24:41). Then Jesus said, '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' (Luke 24:44). Then He 'opened their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures' (Luke 24:45). This act enabled them to finally see how His suffering and resurrection fulfilled the Old Testament prophecies.
Les Feldick emphasizes that the disciples' lack of understanding was not due to ignorance but to a divine necessity. Even with Jesus physically present and showing His scars, they still couldn't comprehend what had happened (Luke 24:41). Les explains that the Old Testament was full of prophecies concerning Christ, but it was in such subdued language that even the prophets didn't fully grasp it (1 Peter 1:12). The opening of their understanding was a sovereign act of God; it wasn't because they had the 'smarts' to figure it out. Similarly, today, true comprehension of Scripture comes only through a salvation experience and the Holy Spirit's enlightenment. Les also notes that Jesus expounded the Scriptures concerning Himself, showing that the prophetic program had been fulfilled and could have continued immediately, but Israel rejected it.
After opening their understanding, Jesus explained that the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms had to be fulfilled concerning Him (Clip 1). He also expounded unto them the things concerning Himself from Moses and all the prophets (Clip 2). Les notes that they finally understood the whole prophetic program that had been fulfilled and was still to be fulfilled, but Israel rejected it, so God turned to the Gentiles (Clips 7).
Les teaches that we cannot comprehend spiritual things from the natural man; we need a salvation experience and the Holy Spirit to enlighten us (Clip 6). This was true even for the disciples; they weren't given the understanding because of their own intellect but because God opened their eyes (Clip 3). The Old Testament prophets themselves didn't fully comprehend the events, as God didn't expect them to (Clip 5).
Les applies this principle to believers today: when we suddenly see a scriptural truth, we shouldn't thank Les, but say, 'Thank you, Lord, for opening my eyes,' because He is the one who helps us discern spiritual truth (Clip 0). This happens after salvation, when the Holy Spirit enlightens us and the Scriptures begin to open up (Clip 6).
Disciples Didn't Believe Even After Seeing Jesus' Scars
Les shows that even with Jesus physically present and showing His hands and feet, the disciples still didn't believe it was Him — they needed divine intervention to understand.
Jesus Opened Their Understanding
Les highlights Luke 24:45 as the secret of biblical understanding: Jesus opened their understanding to comprehend the fulfillment of the Law, Prophets, and Psalms.
Old Testament Full of Prophecies
Les explains that the Old Testament was full of details about Christ, and Jesus expounded these to the disciples, showing them they should have known.
Understanding Comes from God, Not Human Intellect
Les uses Peter's confession to show that even the disciples couldn't recognize Jesus without God opening their understanding.
Christ's Resurrection Body: What Yours Will Look Like
But they didn't take the time to study, they didn't take the heart to really comprehend, and on top of that of all things, I think God kept it from them. But anyway, verse 29, "...they thought that he would continue on his way, and they constrained him, saying, Abide with us, for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent.
Prophets Didn't Fully Comprehend
Les points out that even Old Testament prophets didn't put the whole picture together, so it's no surprise the disciples needed help.
We Need Salvation to Understand Scripture
Les teaches that we cannot comprehend the Bible from the natural man; we need a salvation experience and the Holy Spirit to open the Scriptures.
Old Testament Prophecies Hidden in Subdued Language
Les notes that Old Testament prophecies were in such subdued language that no one comprehended them, which is why the disciples didn't understand Jesus' predictions.
Luke 24:41: And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat?
Shows that even after seeing Jesus' scars, they still didn't believe He had resurrected.
Luke 24:44: 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.
Jesus explains that all Old Testament prophecies about Him had to be fulfilled.
Luke 24:45: Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,
The key verse showing Jesus' sovereign act of opening their minds.
1 Peter 1:12: Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.
Shows that even Old Testament prophets didn't fully understand the prophecies, and angels desired to understand these things.
The disciples were still in a natural state, unable to comprehend spiritual truths without divine enablement. Even after seeing Jesus' resurrected body, they didn't believe (Luke 24:41). Jesus had to sovereignly open their understanding to see the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies. Les teaches that this is still true today: we need a salvation experience and the Holy Spirit's enlightenment to understand the Bible.
Yes, Les says that when a scriptural truth suddenly becomes clear, it's because God has opened our eyes. This happens after we come into a relationship with Christ through salvation. The Holy Spirit then enlightens us, and the Scriptures begin to open up (Clip 6).
Watch the Teaching: Why the Twelve Apostles Stayed in Jerusalem — Acts 1 & 8