Then Abraham said, “If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if someone should rise from the dead.” Luke 16:31 NABRE
Jesus is teaching in an area where the religious leaders are near enough to hear. He provides some specific descriptions about breaking God’s law and then goes into the parable of a rich man and a poor man named Lazarus who ends up in the bosom of Abraham. The rich man is blessed in life, dressing in fine linen and eating sumptuously every day, as if a king. At death the rich man ends up in the netherworld where he is tormented constantly. Lazarus who had nothing in life ends up comforted with Abraham. The parable goes on with the rich man asking Abraham for help, a drink, and then asking Abraham to send someone to his father’s home to warn his five brothers, so they don’t end up in the same place. Jesus ends the parable indicating they had Moses and the prophets, if they don’t listen to them, even sending someone back from the dead would not persuade them to change. The parable fills in several questions about life after death. Ultimately, Jesus becomes the prophet who returns from the dead and speaks about life eternal and salvation and as He predicts even when someone came back from the dead not everyone was convinced to change their ways.
We have the messages of Jesus told by those around Him in life and shared through the years. Lazarus the rich man lived his life selfishly, while Jesus desires we live for others. We don’t hear that Lazarus broke any laws but certainly he wasn’t a man for others. We think following the law is required to be in the bosom of Abraham, but in fact it is love that leads us there.
What areas of your life are you selfish? What special comforts could you share with those needier?
We think following the law is required to be in the bosom of Abraham, but in fact it is love that leads us there. Click To Tweet#bible #godisgreat #jesus #christianity #dailybibleverse @youversion #BeAnEncourager #Abraham #comfort #Luke #everybodyalways #god #jesuschrist #jesussaves #godisgood #dailydevotion #biblestudy #scripture #bibleverse #verseoftheday #cross #last #Matthew #loveeachother #godisgreat #thisVineyard #youversion #everythingalways