Luke 16 31

Luke 16:31 kjv

And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.

Luke 16:31 nkjv

But he said to him, 'If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.' "

Luke 16:31 niv

"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.'?"

Luke 16:31 esv

He said to him, 'If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.'"

Luke 16:31 nlt

"But Abraham said, 'If they won't listen to Moses and the prophets, they won't be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead.'"

Luke 16 verses

Luke 16 31 Meaning

Luke 16:31 declares that the established divine revelation found in the Law and the Prophets (the Old Testament Scriptures) is the sufficient and authoritative means for humanity to come to belief and repentance. It asserts that those who willfully disregard this written word will not be persuaded even by the most extraordinary and compelling sign, such as someone rising from the dead. The verse highlights that the problem of unbelief lies not in a lack of evidence or a need for more dramatic proof, but in the rebellious condition of the human heart, which resists God's truth, regardless of the accompanying phenomenon.

Luke 16 31 Context

Luke 16:31 is the concluding statement of the Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus (Lk 16:19-31). In the parable, the rich man dies and goes to Hades (torment), while Lazarus, a poor beggar who suffered greatly, goes to Abraham’s side (comfort). From his torment, the rich man appeals to Abraham, first for relief, and then, upon denial, for a warning to his five brothers still living on earth. The rich man argues that if someone (like Lazarus) were to return from the dead and warn them, his brothers would repent. Abraham's reply in Luke 16:31 serves as the culmination of the parable's teaching, addressing the rich man's underlying misunderstanding about what leads to genuine faith and repentance. It critiques the human tendency to seek sensational signs over diligent adherence to God's already-revealed Word. This parable, told by Jesus, is situated within a broader discussion with the Pharisees concerning their love of money and their distorted view of the Law (Lk 16:14-18), directly confronting their spiritual blindness and self-righteousness.

Luke 16 31 Word analysis

• He said: Refers to Abraham, a patriarch esteemed by the Jewish people, symbolizing the collective wisdom of their ancestors and covenant faithfulness. His words carry profound authority within the parable's narrative.
• to him: Refers to the rich man, who, even from Hades, is still seeking to direct others based on his worldly understanding rather than divine truth. His concern for his brothers is rooted in the mistaken belief that dramatic evidence is lacking.
• ‘If they do not hear: Greek: ἀκούσωσιν (akousōsin), meaning "to hear, listen, perceive, understand, obey." This word implies not merely a passive reception of sound but an active, attentive listening that leads to comprehension, adherence, and obedience. It indicates a spiritual state of readiness and willingness to act upon what is heard. The negative condition highlights their current, pervasive failure to heed.
• Moses: Refers to the five books of the Torah (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy), which contain God's Law and the foundational narratives of Israel's covenant with Him. It symbolizes the Law's foundational revelation of God's character and demands for righteousness.
• and the Prophets: Refers to the Nevi'im (prophets) section of the Old Testament, comprising historical books (like Joshua, Samuel, Kings) and prophetic books (like Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and the Minor Prophets). This designation, alongside "Moses," forms a common Jewish phrase (often "Law and the Prophets" or "Moses and the Prophets") encompassing the entirety of the inspired Hebrew Scriptures of the Old Testament, the complete body of divine revelation available to the people.
• neither will they be convinced: Greek: πεισθῶσιν (peisthōsin), meaning "to be persuaded, to believe, to yield, to submit to." It implies an internal change of mind or heart that results in conviction and action, leading to repentance and faith. The strong double negative ("neither... not...") underscores the certainty of their unbelief.
• if someone rises from the dead.’: This refers to the ultimate, extraordinary, and incontrovertible sign – a literal resurrection. In the parable, it's a hypothetical event posed by the rich man, suggesting that such a miracle would undoubtedly compel belief. Unbeknownst to the rich man, Jesus Himself would soon rise from the dead, and yet many who saw evidence still did not believe. It tests the premise that overwhelming proof automatically leads to faith, exposing it as false.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "He said to him": This simple phrase underscores the authoritative finality of the statement. It is Abraham, representing divine wisdom and continuity of covenant, delivering a definitive truth to the rich man.
• "If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets": This phrase establishes the pre-eminence and sufficiency of God's written word. The Old Testament Scriptures are presented as the full and sufficient revelation necessary for understanding God's will and achieving salvation. The failure to "hear" is a willful spiritual deafness, not an intellectual deficit. It's a statement about moral responsibility regarding revealed truth.
• "neither will they be convinced": This indicates an absolute consequence. Their existing spiritual resistance is so profound that even a miracle of the highest order cannot overcome it. It highlights that the root of unbelief is not a lack of external evidence, but an internal hardened heart.
• "if someone rises from the dead": This is the climax of the rich man's misguided appeal. It directly anticipates Jesus' own resurrection, which many would witness firsthand and still reject, proving the point Abraham makes. It powerfully emphasizes that dramatic supernatural occurrences alone cannot produce saving faith without a receptive heart.

Luke 16 31 Bonus section

• This verse powerfully foreshadows Jesus' own resurrection (as the ultimate "someone rising from the dead") and the widespread unbelief it met, particularly among those who were deeply entrenched in rejecting God's prior revelations. It affirms that intellectual arguments or even miraculous signs are insufficient to change a heart hardened against God's truth.
• The passage implicitly teaches that faith is ultimately a response to the Word of God working in a willing heart, rather than an intellectual conclusion based solely on external data. It shifts the responsibility from God's provision of evidence to humanity's receptivity.
• The parable warns against prioritizing extraordinary spiritual experiences or manifestations over diligent adherence to and living by the Scriptures. It underscores that God has provided sufficient revelation for all who genuinely seek Him.

Luke 16 31 Commentary

Luke 16:31 delivers a profound truth: true faith is cultivated through an obedient response to God's established revelation in Scripture, not through the pursuit or exhibition of sensational miracles. The rich man's plea for a resurrected messenger to warn his brothers reveals a fundamental misunderstanding of the nature of conviction. Abraham's definitive reply corrects this by asserting that a heart that deliberately rejects the readily available and authoritative written word will remain unconvinced, even in the face of the most undeniable and miraculous evidence, such as resurrection. This reveals that the core issue preventing belief is not a deficiency of proof, but a moral and spiritual one—a hardness of heart and a rebellious unwillingness to heed God's truth. The passage foreshadows Jesus' own resurrection, which many witnessed or heard about, yet still refused to believe, demonstrating the unchanging spiritual reality that faith stems from God's grace enabling one to respond to His Word, not from human demands for signs. The problem is a "won't," not a "can't."