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 16:31KJVWhat does Luke 16:31 mean?
Luke 16:31 says that if people do not listen to what Moses and the prophets have already said, they will not be convinced even if someone comes back from the dead to warn them. The verse highlights the idea that a miraculous sign is not enough to change a closed mind if someone ignores the clear message already given.
In this verse, Jesus is telling a story about a rich man and a poor man named Lazarus. The speaker is Abraham, responding to the rich man's request that Lazarus be sent back to warn his brothers. Abraham’s answer stresses that the teachings found in the Scriptures (called "Moses and the prophets") are already sufficient for people to understand what God wants from them. The verse suggests that those who refuse to listen to these teachings are unlikely to be persuaded by even the most dramatic miracles.
The Greek behind Luke 16:31
- πείθω (peithō, "persuaded"): This word means to convince or win over. The Greek here carries the sense of a deep, inner change of mind, not just being impressed or startled.
- ἀκούω (akouō, "hear"): This word means more than just hearing sounds; it often implies paying attention and responding. The verse points out that real listening involves a willingness to be changed by what is heard.
- ἐκ νεκρῶν (ek nekrōn, "from the dead"): This phrase refers to someone returning from the realm of the dead. The use of this strong image underlines how even the most astonishing event would not sway someone who is set against believing.
Why Luke 16:31 matters
- Luke 16:31 clears up the idea that miracles alone are enough to produce faith; it shows that a person’s openness to God’s message is more important than witnessing supernatural events.
- The verse connects the story to the broader theme in Luke’s Gospel about the sufficiency and authority of the Scriptures for guiding people to truth.
- Luke 16:31 helps explain why, later in the Gospel, some people do not believe even after Jesus’ own resurrection, highlighting the importance of a receptive heart.