Luke 16:28 meaning

In this poignant narrative, the rich man, who finds himself in torment, makes a desperate plea for Lazarus to return to warn his brothers about their impending judgment. This request reveals two critical elements: the lingering bonds of familial love and the ineffectiveness of their current understanding of salvation. The rich man's concern for his five brothers highlights a real fear that those still living might follow the same path of indulgence and negligence that led to his own demise. He seeks a miracle, believing that a risen Lazarus would sway his brothers to repent.

Yet, in this exchange, we see a profound principle underscored by Abraham: the sufficiency of Scripture. As noted, even extraordinary signs will not persuade the hard-hearted; this alludes to a broader theme regarding the importance of Scripture as the primary means of faith and repentance. Those who ignore biblical teachings may very well find themselves in similar torment, illustrating a stark warning about the consequences of a life lived in disregard for God's word and an exhortation towards heeding its profound truths.

This quick synopsis was AI autogenerated utilizing existing TheBibleSays commentaries as the primary source material. To read a related commentary that has been fully developed, see the list below. If there is an issue with this summary please let us know by emailing:[email protected]

Deeper Commentary Covering this Verse:

  • Luke 16:19-31 meaning. Jesus tells the Pharisees "The Parable of the Rich Man and Poor Lazarus." It is a story about a rich and a poor man who die. Both go to Hades—the place of the dead. The poor man is brought to paradise/Abraham’s bosom and lives on in a state of comfort. The rich man whose master was money (rather than God) is in a place of agony where his riches offer no aid. The formerly rich man calls across a gulf to Abraham with two requests—both of which Abraham denies. The first request is to send Lazarus to him with a drop of water to cool his tongue from the flames. The second request is for Abraham to send Lazarus to his five godless brothers to warn them to repent and avoid the suffering. Abraham tells him it would do no good, because if they do not listen to what God has already spoken through the scriptures, they will not listen to what someone says who has returned from the dead

Other Relevant Commentaries:

  • Matthew 16:24-28 meaning. Jesus concludes His revelatory conversation with His disciples in Caesarea Philippi by informing them that they too must die if they are to follow Him. Jesus gives the paradox of discipleship, that they must lose their lives for His sake if they are to find their lives. He promises to repay their faithfulness, and prophesies that some of them will see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom before they die.
  • Luke 16:10-12 meaning. Jesus continues His teaching about money. He tells His disciple the faithfulness principle. He who is faithful in a very little thing will be faithful in much greater things. And He who is unrighteous in a very little thing is unrighteous in much. Jesus infers this principle to our earthly opportunities to be faithful or unrighteous in very little things now and the consequences this will have for the much greater responsibilities given or denied us in the life to come. Jesus also reminds His disciples that they cannot serve both God and Money.
  • Luke 16:14-15 meaning. Luke informs the readers that the Pharisees who had been listening to Jesus teach about money were scoffing at what He said. Luke describes the Pharisees as "lovers of money." Jesus rebukes them as self-justifiers who seek to appear righteous before men and reminds them that God sees the reality of their wicked hearts. He also says that men are terrible judges of what is truly good.
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