Luke 16:27-31

Luke 16:27-31

[27] Then  he said,  I pray  therefore,  father,  that  thou wouldest send  him  to  father's  house:  [28] For  I have  five  brethren;  that  he may testify  unto them,  also  come  into  place  of torment.  [29] Abraham  saith  unto him,  They have  Moses  and  the prophets;  let them hear  them.  [30] And  he said,  Nay,  father  Abraham:  but  if  one  went  unto  them  from  the dead,  they will repent.  [31] And  he said  unto him,  If  they hear  not  Moses  and  the prophets,  neither  will they be persuaded,  though  one  rose  from  the dead. 

What does Luke 16:27-31 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

Clearly the testimony of the Old Testament ( Luke 16:16) was more convincing than any testimony from a person who might return to the living with a message from Hades. This statement condemned the Pharisees who were listening to Jesus but had explained away the Old Testament revelation about Messiah and had asked Jesus for more signs ( Luke 11:16). It also implied that they would not believe on Jesus even though Jesus would rise from the dead (cf. Luke 9:22; Luke 11:29-30; Luke 13:32). The testimony of the Scriptures is powerful because that is what God has chosen to use to bring conviction of spiritual need (cf. Hebrews 4:12). Angels had appeared to people in Old Testament times, but hardhearted people did not believe them either ( Genesis 19:14). Evidently people in Hades have a concern for the lost on earth, but they can do nothing about it.
"There is an implication that the rich man"s unpleasant situation was due not to his riches (after all, Abraham had been rich), but to his neglect of Scripture and its teaching. But the rich man does not agree. He knows how he had reacted to the possession of the Bible." [1]
Not long after this teaching Jesus did raise someone from the dead who bore witness to Jesus" identity, another Lazarus. What was the reaction of the Pharisees? They tried to kill both Jesus and Lazarus ( John 11:45-53; John 12:10-11). Perhaps this is the key to why Jesus gave the poor man in this parable the name Lazarus. Perhaps he wanted the Pharisees to remember the lesson of the Lazarus in this parable when He raised the other Lazarus from the dead.
These verses should warn us against putting too much hope in signs and wonders as what will persuade people to believe in Jesus (cf. John 10:41-42). The Word of God is a more convincing witness to Him than any miracle. This does not mean that miracles are valueless. God used them to corroborate the testimony of Scripture in the past, and He may do so occasionally today, but Scripture is the Holy Spirit"s primary tool in bringing people to repentance (cf. John 16:7-15).
This teaching concerning greed warned the disciples and the Pharisees. They should serve God as faithful servants rather than serving mammon. We should also beware of the possibility of disbelieving Scripture and explaining it away if we make mammon our god, as the Pharisees did.
"Two themes dominate: the idea of divine evaluation in the afterlife and the hardness of heart that cannot be overcome even by resurrection." [2]
"The dialogues from the afterlife in this passage reveal a series of vital truths that serve as correctives to some modern erroneous doctrines. (1) There is immediate consciousness after death; therefore soul sleep is not taught in the Bible. (2) Post-death destinies are irreversible; therefore there is no purgatory or second chance of salvation after death. (3) No one can lose or gain salvation after death. The decisions of this life are final and determinative. (4) The judgments that determine the eternal destinies of either torment or blessing are just. (5) Signs should never be sought as a substitute for the Word of God. The Word of God is the only adequate basis for faith ( Luke 16:29; see Romans 10:17)." [3]