John Calvin Commentary Luke 24:16

"But their eyes were holden that they should not know him." — Luke 24:16 (ASV)

But their eyes were restrained. The Evangelist expressly states this, so that no one would think that the appearance of Christ’s body was changed, or that the features of his countenance were different from what they had previously been.³¹⁴ For though Christ remained like himself, he was not recognized because the eyes of the beholders were restrained; and this removes all suspicion of a phantom or false imagination.

From this, we learn how great the weakness of all our senses is, since neither eyes nor ears perform their function unless power is continually communicated to them from heaven. Our members do indeed possess their natural properties; but to make us more fully aware that we hold them subject to the will of another, God retains in his own hand their use. Therefore, we should always consider it one of his daily favors that our ears hear and our eyes see, for if he does not continually enliven our senses, all their power will immediately fail.

I readily acknowledge that our senses are not often restrained in the same manner as happened at that time, causing such an obvious mistake about an object presented to us. However, by this single example, God shows that it is in his power to direct the faculties he has bestowed, so as to assure us that nature is subject to his will.

Now, if the bodily eyes, whose specific function is to see, are restrained whenever it pleases the Lord so that they do not perceive the objects presented to them, then our minds would be no more perceptive, even if their original condition remained intact. Indeed, in this wretched state of corruption, after being deprived of their light, our minds are subject to countless deceptions. They are sunk into such profound stupidity that they can only make mistakes, as happens to us continually.

The ability to properly discern between truth and falsehood, therefore, does not arise from the keenness of our own mind, but comes to us from the Spirit of wisdom. And it is especially in the contemplation of heavenly things that our stupidity is revealed, for not only do we imagine false appearances to be true, but we also turn the clear light into darkness.

³¹⁴ “Et qu’il y eut autres traits de visage qu’auparavant.”.”