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Reading: Luke 16:19-31

“There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. 20 At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores 21 and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.

22 “The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side.24 So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’

25 “But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. 26 And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’

27 “He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my family, 28 for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’

29 “Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’

30 “‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’

31 “He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’”

Focus: “He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’” (verse 31)

Reflection

What a sobering parable! Such a sobering picture of the human condition: like the rich man, there are times when those in the "lap of luxury" and do not even notice those who are sitting so close to us.

The final words of the parable in verse 31 are shocking. We assume that if someone rose from the dead (the greatest miracle we can imagine?) people would be convinced and would repent.

But this is not the case.

If there hearts are already hard ("they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets") they "will not be coninved even if someone rises from the dead." If people do not listen to the "lesser revelation" (Moses and the Prophets) they will be ready to listen to the "greater revelation" (someone rising form the dead).

And all of this points to the resurrection of Jesus. As one of my study Bibles states it:

"Abraham says the family members are too hardhearted to receive any call to repentance. This remark alludes to Jesus’ resurrection—which gives Him authority as a witness who has come from the dead. In the context of Jesus’ response to the Pharisees (Luke 16:14–15), this closing comment serves to rebuke their unbelief: They will not heed the Law and the Prophets, nor will they heed Jesus’ powerful revelation of God’s truth—even when it comes in the form of His resurrection" (Faithlife Study Bible, Lk 16:31)."

May our hearts listen to Moses and the Prophets so that we be convinced by the One who rose from the dead!