Luke 16:31 meaning
In the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, Jesus presents a profound teaching about eternal consequences, distinguishing between wealth's earthly allure and spiritual truths. Here, the rich man, emblematic of those who neglect the needs of others, finds himself tormented in the afterlife, while Lazarus, the destitute beggar, experiences comfort. The rich man's plea for his brothers to be warned reflects a deep concern for their fate, indicating that even the knowledge of judgment cannot change hardened hearts. This serves as a reminder that reliance on miraculous signs is insufficient for faith; scripture itself remains the essential guide to salvation.
The essence of this parable highlights the significance of one's choices in life, urging listeners to heed the words of the prophets and scriptures rather than seeking extraordinary confirmations. Ultimately, wealth can distract from spiritual truths, and true wisdom lies in recognizing the eternal over the temporal. The admonition that those who disregard the teachings of scripture are likely to continue in disbelief, even faced with the miraculous, encapsulates the central message of divine judgment and mercy. “If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be persuaded if someone rises from the dead.” (Luke 16:31)
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:
- 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
- Luke 7:31-35 meaning. “The Parable of the Children in the Marketplace” Jesus illustrates Judea’s rejection of both John the Baptizer as Elijah and Himself as the Messiah through a brief parable about children playing different kinds of music for people who refuse to respond appropriately.
- Luke 4:31-32 meaning. Jesus goes to the Galilean town of Capernaum. On the Sabbath He enters a synagogue, where Jesus teaches and those in attendance are amazed at the authority with which He teaches.
Set to dark modeSet to dark mode