“If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead.” ~Luke 16:31
Ever notice how there are somethings you just can’t convince someone of, no matter how hard you try? Jesus experienced that too.
In this parable, Jesus tells the story of a rich man and Lazarus. Not the same Lazarus He raised from the dead at the end of the Gospels. The rich man is never given a name. Jesus said that in life, the rich man had everything a person could ever desire. The poor man was so poor that even the dogs licked his wounds. That doesn’t mean a cute little golden retriever licked him. Dogs were wild animals back then, and still are in much of the Middle East. They were dirty and feared.
In death, the rich man is in hell and still doesn’t get it. Lazarus is hanging out with Abraham in heaven. The rich man sees Lazarus, recognizes him as a servant, and tries to call him over. As if the servant is eternally stuck on the bottom of life. We don’t hear from Lazarus. Jesus tells us that Abraham spoke up and reminded the rich man that there is a chasm between them so that no one can cross over.
At that point the rich man understands. He realizes it’s too late for him, but he asks that Abraham send Lazarus to his brothers to warn them. He said to Abraham, “If someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent!” That’s when we get the line from this week’s verse. “If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead.”
Someone has risen from the dead. His name is Jesus. But even without Him, the people had enough with just the Law. Salvation is by faith in Jesus Christ alone, but Jesus was talking to a group of people who were just learning that. The Law had been around for a couple of thousand years at that point. Archeology has shown that the Old Testament was complete at that point, just as we have it today. The teachers of the day would have had access to the entire thing, Genesis through Malachi. They were without excuse for their inability to recognize their Savior.
If Jesus says they should have been able to understand the times based on the Old Testament, do we? So many people say they are “New Testament Christians.” But our God is an eternal God and has revealed Himself from the beginning of time, not just in the last two thousand years. How often do we look back and find our Savior in Genesis, Judges, Lamentations, and Hosea? God, whether Father, Son, or Holy Spirit, is present throughout every word of Scripture. Are we listening?