In 2026, an intriguing book by Dennis Prager was published. He is an American conservative radio talk-show host, author, and columnist, and he co-founded PragerU, a media organization that produces short educational videos. Prager is known for his commentary on politics, culture, and religion.
His book, “If There Is No God,1ISBN 978-0-06-33530-1” argues that if God does not exist, then the concepts of “good” and “evil” cannot be seen as objective realities. Without God, these ideas become merely personal preferences or social agreements. Most of us would agree that we live in a world with established values, which raises the question of their origin. For those of us who believe in a Creator, we must consider whether our sense of virtue and obedience is grounded in a truth-based belief system. This leads us to ask, who ultimately defines good and evil in our world?
To find the answer, we will take a journey along Emmaus Road, one that transcends mere physical distance and delves into the heart and mind. In this exploration, we will uncover the truths found in Luke 24. This story centers on two disciples, burdened by disappointment and confusion, who meet a mysterious stranger who guides them toward the truth. Luke 24 doesn’t record the disciples using words like “values,” “good,” or “evil“. However, the passage does show a value question beneath their disappointment. Whose interpretation of reality will govern them: their feelings, the crowd’s verdict, or God’s revealed Word? In other words, even when the conversation does not use moral labels, the moment Jesus corrects them from the Scriptures, He implicitly answers the main question Prager was bringing forward: will “good” and “evil” be defined by human expectations and emotions, or by God’s Word and God’s Messiah?
Luke 24:18)[(mfn]NIV New International Version Translation[/mfn] –”Are you the only visitor in Jerusalem who doesn’t know the things that happened there in these days?”
Summary of Luke 24
Because Luke 24 does not quote the disciples using the words “good” and “evil,” we will use those terms to describe a moral reality Luke presents: Jesus treats Scripture as the authority that corrects false conclusions, and He frames the resurrection message in moral categories such as sin, repentance, and forgiveness (Luke 24:46–47). So the question “Who defines good and evil?” is not a claim about the disciples’ vocabulary; it is a claim about which authority the Apostle Luke presents as the final judge of right, wrong, truth, and obedience.
- The resurrection is announced (Luke 24:1–12): The women find the tomb empty and hear, “He is not here; he has risen!” The disciples initially doubt, but Peter runs to see, and confusion begins to give way to evidence.
- The road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13–35): Two disciples are “downcast” and say, “we had hoped…” Jesus listens, then corrects their interpretation by opening the Scriptures. Recognition leads to changed hearts (“burning“) and immediate witness.
- Jesus appears to the disciples (Luke 24:36–49): He calms their fear, shows his hands and feet, eats with them, and again “opens their minds” to understand Scripture: The Messiah must suffer and rise, and repentance and forgiveness will be preached to all nations, moral categories that assume real sin to turn from (evil) and real mercy to receive and live in (good).
- Commission and ascension (Luke 24:50–53): Jesus blesses them and is taken up. The disciples respond with worship, great joy, and continual praise, moving from shaken emotions to settled faith and obedient action.
It is easy to feel overwhelmed by our emotions, becoming downcast or disheartened, as the disciples did. Our world is continually redefining God’s values, which in turn are impacting our feelings. But who is responsible for this? If you listen to the media, our educational systems, governments, and the often disparaging political parties, you’ll see that everyone claims to be an expert. However, where does the world turn for its values? We know it seeks out opinions from various “expert” sources. Prager argues that without a divine standard, concepts such as good and evil become merely subjective opinions.
Similarly, the story of the Emmaus disciples shows how sincere emotions (feelings) can lead to misinterpretations of reality unless they are grounded in Scripture. Jesus doesn’t dismiss the disciples’ feelings; instead, He redirects them to the truth of God’s Word, thereby redefining what is right and wrong to believe about God’s Messiah, a truth that transforms hearts and inspires action.
In Luke 24, we encounter a narrative that illustrates the path from feelings to truth-based belief. The Emmaus disciples initially express their disappointment, saying, “We had hoped…” This reflects their emotional state as they interpret recent events through a lens of discouragement (Luke 24:17). Their assumptions about what is true are shaped by unfulfilled expectations (Luke 24:21–24). However, Jesus intervenes by grounding them in God’s revealed truth through Scripture (Luke 24:25–27), appealing to an authority that surpasses their internal experiences. This transformative encounter leads to a shift from mere feelings to a foundation of God’s Truth. Ultimately, this newfound understanding produces virtuous action, as the disciples exhibit courage and become witnesses to what they have experienced, returning immediately to share their testimony (Luke 24:33–35).
The disciples’ journey on the Emmaus Road underscores that: our feelings, no matter how intense, are not always reliable indicators of reality. While it is natural to experience emotions like sadness, disappointment, confusion, and even anger, we must recognize that these feelings can lead us astray if left unchecked. The encounter with Jesus illustrates that our understanding must be rooted in the Truth found in God’s Word, which leads us from mere emotional responses to a solid grounding in values.
When we say we must be grounded in “values,” we mean more than personal preferences or whatever seems right in the moment; we mean the steady moral beliefs God forms in us through His Word. As Jesus did on the road to Emmaus, opening the Scriptures and correcting mistaken conclusions, God steadies our hearts and shapes our choices by defining what is truly good: truth instead of spin, holiness instead of compromise, love that pursues another’s genuine well‑being, justice that treats people rightly, mercy and forgiveness rather than retaliation, humility that listens and turns back when needed, faith and hope that remain steady when feelings shift, obedience that submits to His commands, and courage to live and speak the Truth He has revealed. These are the kinds of values that don’t shift with culture or circumstance because they are rooted in God’s revealed character.
As we reflect on the Emmaus Road story, we are reminded that the shift from feelings to values based on Scripture is crucial for spiritual growth and moral integrity. Jesus did not dismiss the disciples’ emotions; instead, He guided them towards a deeper understanding that transformed their hearts and actions. This should be our model today. It calls us to reexamine our own interpretations of reality and to seek the truth that aligns with God’s Word, ensuring our actions are informed by God’s values rather than fleeting emotions.
When faced with emotional turmoil, instead of allowing those feelings to dictate our decisions, let’s turn to Scripture for guidance and clarity. Engage in thoughtful study and conversation with others about God’s Word, allowing it to inform your values and actions. As we cultivate a deeper understanding rooted in truth, may we embody the virtues that arise from it: courage, faithfulness, and a commitment to live out our beliefs. Embrace the journey from feeling to knowing, and let it transform not only your heart but also your actions in the world.
Contemplations
- When your feelings run strong, what conclusions do you tend to draw about what is true (about God, yourself, or others)?
- Idea to Explore: Re-read Luke 24:17–24 and list (1) what the disciples felt, and (2) what they assumed because of those feelings. Then think about one recent example from your week where emotion tried to become your “evidence.”
- Why does Jesus lead with Scripture on the Emmaus Road instead of first fixing the disciples’ circumstances?
- Idea to Explore: Consider what lasts longer: changed circumstances or renewed understanding. What does Luke 24:25–27 suggest Jesus believes is most urgent for lasting hope and obedience?
- What happens to a society when “good” and “evil” become only opinions rather than realities grounded in God?
- Idea to Explore: Identify areas where you feel pressure to redefine right and wrong (workplace, family, media, politics, school). What would change in your choices if God’s Word, not majority opinion, were treated as the final authority?
- By the end of Luke 24, what virtue is most visible in the disciples, and what specific action shows it is real?
- Idea to Explore: Compare Luke 24:33–35 with Luke 24:36–49. What did they do immediately after understanding? What “next right step” would mirror that virtue in your life this week?
- 1ISBN 978-0-06-33530-1 ↩︎