Luke 16:25-31: a reflection

25“But Abraham said, ‘Son, remember that you, in your lifetime, received your good things, and Lazarus, in the same way, bad things. But here he is now comforted and you are in anguish. 26Besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, that those who want to pass from here to you are not able, and that no one may cross over from there to us.’ 27“He said, ‘I ask you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father’s house— 28for I have five brothers—that he may testify to them, so they won’t also come into this place of torment.’ 29“But Abraham said to him, ‘They have Moses and the prophets. Let them listen to them.’ 30“He said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ 31“He said to him, ‘If they don’t listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if one rises from the dead.’”

In the story of the rich man and Lazarus, the rich man, in torment, begs that Lazarus be sent to warn his five brothers, so they will not come to the same place. But Abraham answers: They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. When the rich man insists that a messenger from the dead would surely persuade them, Abraham replies: If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead. The problem is not a lack of evidence, but an unwillingness to heed the word they already have.

Notice the point Abraham makes: they have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. The rich man thought his brothers needed some dramatic sign, a messenger from the dead, to be persuaded. But Abraham says they already have what they need: the Scriptures, Moses and the prophets. If they will not heed the word of God they already have, no dramatic sign will persuade them; the problem is not insufficient evidence, but an unwilling heart. The word they already possess is sufficient, if they will heed it.

That truth is worth taking to heart, for we can imagine that we, or others, need some dramatic sign to believe or to change, while neglecting the word of God we already have. We can wish for some spectacular proof, some dramatic experience, while the Scriptures we already possess go unheeded. But if we will not heed God's word, no dramatic sign will finally persuade us; the real barrier is not lack of evidence, but an unwilling heart. Do not neglect the word of God you already have, wishing for some dramatic sign instead; you have Moses and the prophets, and all the Scriptures, sufficient to lead you to God, if you will heed them. Heed the word you already have, rather than waiting for a sign; the God who speaks in Scripture has given you enough, and the question is not whether you have sufficient evidence, but whether you will heed the word he has already given.

Lord, in the story of the rich man and Lazarus, the rich man begged that Lazarus be sent to warn his brothers; but Abraham answered, they have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them; and, if they do not hear them, neither will they be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead. Show me the point: the problem is not a lack of evidence, but an unwillingness to heed the word already given. I can imagine that I, or others, need some dramatic sign to believe or to change, while neglecting the word of you I already have. I can wish for some spectacular proof, some dramatic experience, while the Scriptures I already possess go unheeded. But if I will not heed your word, no dramatic sign will finally persuade me; the real barrier is not lack of evidence, but an unwilling heart. Keep me from neglecting the word of you I already have, wishing for some dramatic sign instead; I have Moses and the prophets, and all the Scriptures, sufficient to lead me to you, if I will heed them. Help me heed the word I already have, Lord, rather than waiting for a sign; you have given me enough in Scripture, and the question is not whether I have sufficient evidence, but whether I will heed the word you have already given. Help me heed your word.