Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen.
After resurrection, Jesus 'appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen' (ἐφανερώθη τοῖς ἕνδεκα ἀνακειμένοις, καὶ ὠνείδισεν τὴν ἀπιστίαν αὐτῶν καὶ σκληροκαρδίαν, ὅτι τοῖς θεασαμένοις αὐτὸν ἐγηγερμένον οὐκ ἐπίστευσαν). Jesus rebuked the eleven (Judas dead, replaced later by Matthias) for 'unbelief and hardness of heart' (apistian... sklērokardian, ἀπιστίαν... σκληροκαρδίαν). Despite multiple witnesses to resurrection, they disbelieved. 'Hardness of heart' echoes Jesus' earlier use (Mark 10:5) describing stubborn resistance to truth. Even disciples struggled with resurrection belief—this wasn't gullible acceptance of myth but reluctant conviction overcome by evidence. Thomas famously doubted until seeing Jesus (John 20:24-29). Jesus' rebuke shows that unbelief, even among disciples, deserves correction. Yet He didn't abandon them but commissioned them (vv. 15-18). Grace persists despite weakness.
Historical Context
The disciples' initial unbelief despite women's testimony (Mark 16:10-11) and other witnesses shows resurrection wasn't expected or easily believed. First-century Jews believed in general resurrection at history's end (Daniel 12:2; Martha's confession, John 11:24) but not individual resurrection in history's middle. Greek philosophy rejected bodily resurrection as crude (Acts 17:32). Jesus appeared multiple times—to Mary Magdalene (Mark 16:9; John 20:11-18), other women (Matthew 28:9-10), two disciples (Luke 24:13-35), Peter (Luke 24:34; 1 Corinthians 15:5), the eleven (Luke 24:36-49; John 20:19-23), Thomas (John 20:24-29), seven at Galilee (John 21), 500 at once (1 Corinthians 15:6), James (1 Corinthians 15:7), and at ascension (Acts 1:3-9). This multiple attestation convinced initially skeptical disciples, whose transformed lives (martyrdom for resurrection proclamation) authenticates their testimony.
Questions for Reflection
How does the disciples' initial unbelief despite multiple witnesses strengthen rather than weaken resurrection credibility?
What does Jesus' rebuke followed by commissioning teach about how He relates to weak, doubting disciples?
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Analysis & Commentary
After resurrection, Jesus 'appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen' (ἐφανερώθη τοῖς ἕνδεκα ἀνακειμένοις, καὶ ὠνείδισεν τὴν ἀπιστίαν αὐτῶν καὶ σκληροκαρδίαν, ὅτι τοῖς θεασαμένοις αὐτὸν ἐγηγερμένον οὐκ ἐπίστευσαν). Jesus rebuked the eleven (Judas dead, replaced later by Matthias) for 'unbelief and hardness of heart' (apistian... sklērokardian, ἀπιστίαν... σκληροκαρδίαν). Despite multiple witnesses to resurrection, they disbelieved. 'Hardness of heart' echoes Jesus' earlier use (Mark 10:5) describing stubborn resistance to truth. Even disciples struggled with resurrection belief—this wasn't gullible acceptance of myth but reluctant conviction overcome by evidence. Thomas famously doubted until seeing Jesus (John 20:24-29). Jesus' rebuke shows that unbelief, even among disciples, deserves correction. Yet He didn't abandon them but commissioned them (vv. 15-18). Grace persists despite weakness.