And they said one to the other: Was not our heart burning within us, whilst he spoke in the way and opened to us the scriptures?
και ειπον προς αλληλους ουχι η καρδια ημων καιομενη ην εν ημιν ως ελαλει ημιν εν τη οδω και ως διηνοιγεν ημιν τας γραφας
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Their hearts were “burning,” either ignited by the fire of the Lord's words, which, when explained by Him, stirred them deeply and resonated with the truth of His teachings, or because as He unfolded the Scriptures for them, they felt their hearts resonate, acknowledging inwardly, This is indeed the Lord who speaks to us.
When the clear messages of the Gospel are grasped, the profound mysteries concealed within the Lord's miracle will become apparent. Consider His assertion that it was necessary for what was foretold about Him to be accomplished in Christ. Where is it foretold? He mentions the law, the prophets, and the psalms, leaving no portion of the Old Testament unaddressed. It was water. This is why the Lord deemed those disciples lacking in understanding; they were still experiencing water rather than wine. How did He transform the water into wine? By enlightening their minds and interpreting the Scriptures for them, starting from Moses and extending through all the prophets.
Consequently, once their hearts were revived, they exclaimed, Did not our hearts burn within us on the journey as He opened the Scriptures? (cf. Luke 24:32). Indeed, they recognized Christ in the texts where they had not previously seen Him.
Success is limited and merit is diminished if our only restraint from straying is the fear of retribution. Compassion and love are far more effective; thus, the Lord inspires us to seek His mercy and ignites a yearning for the divine: I have come to bring fire upon the earth (Lk. 12:49). This fire does not consume the good of this world, but instead fosters goodwill, purifying the sacred vessels within the Lord's house and obliterating the hay and stubble (Cf. 1 Cor. 3:12-15). This divine fire eradicates all earthly desires fostered by the pleasures of this age, as it consumes the works of the flesh destined for ruin. The fire burned in the spirits of the prophets, as St. Jeremiah described: And I became like a blazing fire in my bones (Jer. 20:9).
Concerning this fire of the Lord, it is declared, Fire shall burn before Him (Ps. 96:3). The Lord Himself embodies this fire, having proclaimed: ‘I am a scorching and indestructible fire’ (See Ex. 3:2; 24:17; Deut. 4:24; Heb. 12:29). For the fire of the Lord is an everlasting illumination, and from this fire the lamps are lit, of which He previously stated, Let your loins be girded and your lamps burning (Luke 12:35). The lamp is essential as the day of this life is like night (Cf. Origen: hom in Lue. fr. 80 (SC; 87. P. 536)). The village of Emmaus might have been conflated with the name of the apostle; further examination of this episode reveals that St. Ambrose refers to Cleopas' companion as Ammaon, a name not cited by other ancient texts. Cleopas and his companion testify that the Lord instilled this fire within them: Did not our heart burn .... on the road when He opened the Scriptures to us? (Lk. 24:32). This clearly demonstrates the illuminating effect of the fire upon the inner depths of the heart. This may very well be the reason the Lord will arrive in fire (See Isaiah 66:15), to consume all iniquities at the moment of resurrection, fulfilling the hopes of all through His manifestation and enlightening the virtues and mysteries.
My heart burns within me, and a fire is ignited in my thoughts (Psalm 38:4). The most severe wounds, as we understand, are treated with caustic substances or flames. A wise individual tends to their own afflictions; yet, even as a healer, if their own wound is inflamed, it is a sign they have not attained complete wisdom and tranquility. Their heart ignites with fever, consumed by self-reproach and mockery, and if they remain silent, a deep unease gnaws at them. Just as friction between stones can generate sparks, so too does a guilty conscience ignite with shame when reminded of its faults, igniting a fire in its thoughts. There exists a beautiful fire that sears yet does not consume.
Such a fire was witnessed by Moses when he encountered a flame in a thornbush, which burned without being consumed (Exod. 3:2). This is the fire that weakens sin and annihilates its shame through its fervor. It is ignited by reflection on the holy Scriptures; Jeremiah seems to allude to this when he states, "And there was a blazing fire shut up in my bones" (Jeremiah 20:9). Perhaps this same fire was felt by Cleopas and his companion when, after the Resurrection, Christ approached and walked with them, saying, "Did not our heart burn within us while he talked with us by the way?" (Lk. 24:32). The Lord came to cast this fire upon the earth (Luke 12:49), to enlighten all souls, inspire fervor, and consume sin.
The same profound love, with wings like blazing fire, soars above the souls and hearts of the faithful, purging all that is temporal and worldly, while exalting all that is authentically divine. Wherever this fire extends its reach, it guides towards fulfillment. The Lord Jesus introduced this sacred flame to the earth, igniting faith, sparking reverence, illuminating love, and radiating justice. Through this fire, He enlivened the hearts of His apostles, as Cleopas attests, saying, "Did not our heart burn within us...when He expounded the Scriptures to us?" (Lk 24:32). Thus, the wings of fire symbolize the fervor found in divine Scripture.
Flames exemplify the concepts of striking and quaking. Translation of the Gospel of Luke. Translation by Hierom. Theodore (Yulaev) especially for Exeget.ru PG 129, 1097
Instructors possess impassioned speech, for when they proclaim the love of God, they ignite fervor in the hearts of their listeners. The teachings of one who instructs hold little weight if they do not inspire love. This passionate impartation comes directly from the very essence of Truth, as evidenced by those who remarked, "Did not our heart burn within us when he spoke to us on the road, and when he expounded the Scriptures to us?" The act of hearing the word sets the spirit ablaze, dissolving the chill of bondage, and awakening the soul to a longing that transcends earthly desires. This authentic love, which envelops the soul, brings forth profound sighs; yet, in the midst of such anguish, the soul nourishes itself on these very trials. She delights in the commandments of heaven, and the more enlightenment she gains from them, the more her spirit is ignited, transforming her once wavering desires into a fervor fueled by divine words.
On the other hand, there were still those who did not believe (Mark 16:13). Additionally, not all the faithful grasped His current existence. It was essential for the Lord to provide them with spiritual nourishment following the distressing days, in alignment with His divine purpose, and to reinforce His earlier connections with them. For this reason, the Lord planned to reveal Himself to them collectively. At that time, due to their wavering faith, the grace of the Holy Spirit was to withdraw from them, only to be fully restored on the day of Pentecost (with the arrival of the Holy Spirit). First, however, the Lord aimed to draw back some members of His flock who had departed from Jerusalem.
Among these was Cleopas, a relative of the Lord (Mary, Cleopas' wife is referred to as the sister of the Mother of God in John 19:25). The identity of the other individual remains unclear. Both were making their way from Jerusalem to Emmaus, a village about 60 stadia away. They left Jerusalem before the news of the Lord's appearance to Mary Magdalene became known. Along the journey, they discussed the recent events that had transpired in Jerusalem. The disgraceful death of Jesus had dashed their hopes of seeing Him as the Restorer of Israel. The Lord, in part altering His appearance (Mark 16:12) and partially concealing their vision (Luke 24:16), joined them and engaged in a conversation, demonstrating that it was necessary for the Messiah, the Restorer of Israel, to suffer according to the Scriptures; that this suffering was the pathway to glory. Through His reasoning, He led them to understand that if they recognized Jesus as the Messiah, His death should not be viewed as the end of His mission; instead, they should anticipate the promised glorification through His resurrection. Jesus spoke extensively (for it was not a short journey), explaining the significance of the prophetic texts concerning the Messiah’s suffering and resurrection. The Evangelist does not specify which scriptures the Lord referenced, but it is likely they were the same ones later cited by the disciples and apostles Peter and Paul in their teachings and letters. The words were a source of joy for the disciples, igniting their hearts with enthusiasm. When they arrived at their destination, the companion urged to continue on, but they insisted he stay and shared an evening meal with them. At that moment, He revealed Himself to them in the breaking of the bread; perhaps they noticed the wounds in His hands, but He suddenly vanished from their sight. This realization deepened their certainty that they had indeed encountered not just an ordinary living person. They promptly returned to Jerusalem to share the news with the Apostles.
They came to realize that Christ had truly risen, and they marveled at their failure to recognize Him during their journey to Emmaus. Did not our hearts set ablaze (they remarked to each other) as He conversed with us along the way and illuminated the Scriptures for us?
As they reached Emmaus, their conversation was profound and uplifting. The stranger appeared ready to continue on His way, but they urged Him to remain with them. While sharing a modest meal, He took the bread, blessed it, broke it, and distributed it to them. In that moment, their eyes were opened, and despite His altered appearance, they recognized that the Lord was in their midst. However, once they realized who He was, He vanished from their sight. They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while He spoke with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?” Without delay, they got up and returned to Jerusalem, bringing with them the astonishing news. No one doubted the veracity of their testimony. They were welcomed with joyful confirmations that “the Lord has truly risen and has appeared to Simon."
Did not our hearts burn within us? The travelers experienced a profound reinforcement of their faith through the presence of the Risen Christ, especially during His insightful dialogue with them on the journey, where He elucidated the Scriptures. The phrase "hearts burning" reflects a uniquely delightful and uplifting mental state, sparked by an extremely impactful and uplifting encounter (Psalms 38:4, Jeremiah 20:9). This was the emotional atmosphere they experienced during their discussions with the Lord, ignited by His revelatory explanations of Scripture.
Their hearts were enkindled either by the fire ignited by the Lord's teachings, as they resonated with His words as truth, or, as He opened the Scriptures to them, they felt a profound internal acknowledgment that the One interpreting these truths was indeed their Lord.
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Greek text, 23 words with lemma, transliteration and Strong’s number. Tap to expand.
THEOSIS