The beloved physician Luke wrote how Jesus said, “There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day. And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, and desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores, 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. And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 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. But Abraham said, Son, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and you are tormented. And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from here to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from there. Then he said, I pray you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father's house. For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. Abraham said unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. And he said, No, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent”, and in chapter sixteen and verse thirty-one of his book Luke wrote how Abraham said, “if they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead” where we read:
And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets,
neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.
The verse reads, “And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets,” Luke began with the words, “and he said unto him” or “and Father Abraham uttered, declared and proclaimed to the rich man”, “if they hear not Moses” which means “whether the rich man's five brothers do not attend to, consider, understand and perceive the sense of what is said by Moses whose name means drawing out and was the legislator of the Jewish people” “and the prophets” or “and the men who were moved by the Spirit of God and hence his organ or spokesman who solemnly declared to men what they received by inspiration, especially concerning future events, and in particular such as relate to the cause and kingdom of God and to human salvation”. Luke shared how Jesus said “Abraham” began to tell the “rich man” what would be the result if his “five brothers” did not listen to “Moses and the prophets”.
The verse goes on to say, “neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.” Luke continued with the words, “neither will they be persuaded” or “no and not in any way would the rich man's five brothers believe or have confidence and trust in what was declared”, “though one rose” which means “even if a person were to be raised, lifted up and resurrected”, “from the dead” or “apart and separate from the lifeless, destitute of life, inactive and inanimate”. Luke shared how Jesus said “Abraham” continued to answer the “rich man” by telling him his “five brothers” would not be “convinced” even if a person were to “rise” from the “dead” and non-living.
When we think through Luke's words in this verse, we learn how people who believe they would be “persuaded” about “heaven and hell” if someone came back from the dead and told them what they were like. Jesus, through this story about the beggar Lazarus and the rich man, said “Abraham” told them this would not “convince” them either. God sent His Son Jesus to die on the cross for the sins of mankind, and everyone who believes and trusts in Him as their personal “Savior and Lord” will be “saved” from their “sinful state” and receive “everlasting life” with God. Those who refuse and reject God's offer of Jesus will suffer consequences like this “rich man” and no one will be able to save or rescue them anymore.
Next time we begin a new chapter and see Luke shares how Jesus says, “It is impossible but that offenses will come” so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book
“Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the
marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the
Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms
Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County"
in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com
; http://www.barnesandnobles.com
; download to e-books, and find it locally at
www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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