When reading through the following texts from Luke 16, we will discover some profound insights into what the Savior has to say. In particular we will want to pay close attention to what the subject matter is about.
Luk 16:19 There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:
Luk 16:20 And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,
Luk 16:21 And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.
Luk 16:22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;
Luk 16:23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
Luk 16:24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.
Luk 16:25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.
Luk 16:26 And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, thatwould comefrom thence.
Luk 16:27 Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father’s house:
Luk 16:28 For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.
Luk 16:29 Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.
Luk 16:30 And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.
Luk 16:31 And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.
Some teachers may consider this passage to be about heaven and hell or the poor man’s reward versus the rich man’s reward, and while that may be true to some extent; the passage is focused on something else. I will cut to the chase, and assure you this passage is about repentance. Why do we need to repent? So that when we die we can enter Abraham’s bosom? Yes, but more importantly it is Elohim’s will for us to live the “Torah” the first five books of the bible. These are Moses’ writings and Elohim’s instructions for life as well. If we repent of our wrongdoings and return to the Torah of Elohim there is life in there, as well as eternal life.
For those who would contend that “all we need is Jesus”, you are using the very words of the rich man in this story (verse 30)
Luk 16:30 And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.
Here we would expect Yeshua (Jesus) to say
“Yeah Baby! They will repent because of the one that comes back from the dead”
“They don’t need the Torah and the prophets Just me”
” What a great Idea!
ONE FROM THE DEAD IS COMING BACK AND THAT WILL SOLVE EVERYTHING!”
As a matter of fact these are the very anthems most believers hold to in contradiction to what the Savior has to say!
The teaching of our Savior is explicit!
Luk 16:31 And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.
So once again I implore you to listen to the Saviors words and Hear (Obey) MOSES (The Torah) and the prophets which is what repentance is all about! Without doing that we will not be persuaded “even though one arose from the dead”.
Elohim Bless!
