Luke 16:30
in Luke 16‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone is sent to them from the dead, they will repent.’
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one go to them from the dead, they will repent.
KJV
And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.
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This verse in Luke 16
Commentary
18 notes on this verseHence the rich man also replied: "No, my father; but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will believe." To whom a truthful judgment is immediately spoken: "If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they believe someone who has risen from the dead," because indeed those who despise the words of the law will fulfill the precepts of the Redeemer, who rose from the dead, with greater difficulty the more subtle they are.
This site's exposition
sent to them from the dead
on Luke 16:30-31
Abraham answers that those deaf to Moses and the prophets will not be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead. The Gospels test this twice, in the raising of Lazarus of Bethany and the resurrection of Jesus, and many witnesses met each with unbelief.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers5 voices
He and his brothers were in the habit of making fun of the prophets. I imagine and have no doubt at all that he talked with his brothers about the prophets. He talked about their urging us to do good and forbidding us to do wrong, and their frightening us with torments to come and promising rewards to come. He made fun of all this and said with his brothers, "What life is there after death? What does rottenness in the grave remember? What do ashes feel? Everyone is carried there and buried. Whoever came back from there and was heard?" That is the reason, as he remembered his words, that he wanted Lazarus to go back to his brothers, so that now they would not say, "Whoever came back from there?" This also has a very suitable and proper answer. This man, you see, seems to have been a Jew. That is why he said, "Father Abraham." He got an excellent and fitting answer. "If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, they will not be convinced even if one should rise from the dead." This was fulfilled with the Jews, because they did not listen to Moses and the prophets, nor did they believe Christ when he rose. Had he not foretold this to them before, "If you believed Moses, you would also believe me"?
(ubi sup.) He asks that Lazarus should be sent, because he felt himself unworthy to offer testimony to the truth. And as he had not obtained even to be cooled for a little while, much less does he expect to be set free from hell for the preaching of the truth. (de cura pro Mortuis habenda.) But some one may say, If the dead have no care for the living, how did the rich man ask Abraham, that he should send Lazarus to his five brethren? But because he said this, did the rich man therefore know what his brethren were doing, or what was their condition at that time? His care about the living was such that he might yet be altogether ignorant what they were doing, just as we care about the dead, although we know nothing of what they do. But again the question occurs, How did Abraham know that Moses and the prophets are here in their books? whence also had he known that the rich man had lived in luxury, but Lazarus in affliction. Not surely when these things were going on in their lifetime, but at their death he might know through Lazarus' telling him, that in order that might not be false which the prophet says; Abraham heard us not. (Isa. 63:10.) The dead might also hear something from the angels who are ever present at the things which are done here. They might also know some things which it was necessary for them to have known, not only past, but also future, through the revelation of the Church of God. (Quæst. Ev. ii. qu. 38.) But these things may be so taken in allegory, that by the rich man we understand the proud Jews ignorant of the righteousness of God, and going about to establish their own. The purple and fine linen are the grandeur of the kingdom. And the kingdom of God (he says) shall be taken away from you. (Rom. […]
In this place our Lord most plainly declares the Old Testament to be the ground of faith, thwarting the treachery of the Jews, and precluding the iniquity of Heretics.
(lib. de Anima.) But we are also taught something besides, that the soul of Lazarus is neither anxious about present things, nor looks back to aught that it has left behind, but the rich man, (as it were caught by birdlime,) even after death is held down by his carnal life. For a man who becomes altogether carnal in his heart, not even after he has put off his body is out of the reach of his passions.
Or he had five brothers, that is, the five senses, to which he was before a slave, and therefore he could not love Lazarus because his brethren loved not poverty. Those brethren have sent thee into these torments, they cannot be saved unless they die; otherwise it must needs be that the brethren dwell with their brother. But why seekest thou that I should send Lazarus? They have Moses and the Prophets. Moses was the poor Lazarus who counted the poverty of Christ greater than the riches of Pharaoh. (Heb. 11:26.) Jeremiah, cast into the dungeon, was fed on the bread of affliction; and all the prophets teach those brethren. (Jer. 38:9.) But those brethren cannot be saved unless some one rise from the dead. For those brethren, before Christ was risen, brought me to death; He is dead, but those brethren have risen again. For my eye sees Christ, my ear hears Him, my hands handle Him. From what we have said then, we determine the fit place for Marcion and Manichæus, who destroy the Old Testament. See what Abraham says, If they hear not Moses and the prophets. As though he said, Thou doest well by expecting Him who is to rise again; but in them Christ speaks. If thou wilt hear them, thou wilt hear Him also.
11 more voices on this verse
The Medieval Church4 voices
Thirdly, as to the reason for the petition proposed, he adds: But he said: No, father Abraham, but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent. In this he was showing the carnality of his brothers, inasmuch as they would be moved …
(in Hom. 40.) But he who had despised the words of God, supposed that his followers could not hear them. Hence it is added, And he said, Nay, father Abraham, but if one went to them from the dead they would repent. For when he heard the Scriptures he despised them, and thought them fables, and therefore according to what he felt himself, he judged the like of his brethren.
"No, father Abraham, but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent." To whom it was immediately answered with a true sentence:
But the rich man says: "No, father!" For just as he himself, hearing the Scriptures, did not believe and considered their words to be fables, so he supposed the same about his brothers, and judging by himself, says that they will not listen to the …
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
10 He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much. 11 If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? 12 And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man's, who shall give you that which is your own?
quarantine:scripture (2026-07-29) — verbatim-scripture
And he said, nay, father Abraham,....
The Nineteenth Century5 voices
If one went to them from the dead, etc. - Many are desirous to see an inhabitant of the other world, and converse with him, in order to know what passes there. Make way! Here is a damned soul, which Jesus Christ has evoked from the hell of fire! Hear him! Hear him tell of his torments! Hear him utter his regrets! “But we cannot see him.” No: God has, in his mercy, spared you for the present this punishment. How could you bear the sight of this damned spirit? Your very nature would fail at the appearance.
A commentator
J.C. Ryle1816–1900
Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: Luke (lightly modernized text, Grace Gems edition) (1858)
The parable we have now read, in one respect stands alone in the Bible. It is the only passage of Scripture which describes the feelings of the unconverted after death. For this reason, as well as for many others, the parable deserves especial attention. We learn, firstly, from this parable — that a man's worldly condition is no test of his state in the sight of God. The Lord Jesus describes to us two men — of whom one was very rich, and the other very poor. The one "fared sumptuously every day."
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
Then he said--now abandoning all hope for himself. send him to my father's house, &c.--no waking up of good in the heart of the lost, but bitter reproach against God and the old economy, as not warning him sufficiently [TRENCH]. The answer of Abraham is, They are sufficiently warned.
A commentator
J.C. Ryle1816–1900
Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: Luke (lightly modernized text, Grace Gems edition) (1858)
proposed
The parable we have now read, in one respect stands alone in the Bible. It is the only passage of Scripture which describes the feelings of the unconverted after death. For this reason, as well as for many others, the parable deserves especial attention. We learn, firstly, from this parable — that a man's worldly condition is no test of his state in the sight of God. The Lord Jesus describes to us two men — of whom one was very rich, and the other very poor. The one "fared sumptuously every day." The other was a mere "beggar," who had nothing that he could call his own. And yet of these two, the poor man had grace — and the rich man had none. The poor man lived by faith, and walked in the steps of Abraham. The rich man was a thoughtless, selfish worldling — dead in trespasses and sins. Let us never give way to the common idea that men are to be valued according to their income, and that the man who has most money is the one who ought to be the most highly esteemed. There is no authority for this notion in the Bible. The general teaching of Scripture is flatly opposed to it. "Not many wise, not many mighty, not many noble — are called." (1 Corinthians 1:26.) "Let not the rich man glory in his riches. But let him who glories glory in this — that he knows and understands me." (Jeremiah 9:24.) Wealth is no mark of God's favor. Poverty is no mark of God's displeasure. Those whom God justifies and glorifies — are seldom the rich of this world. If we would measure men as God measures them — then we must value them according to their grace. We learn, secondly, from this parable — that death is the common end to which all classes of mankind must come. The trials of the "beggar," and the sumptuous faring of the "rich man" — alike ceased at last. There came a time when both of them died. "All go to one place." (Ecclesiastes 3:20.)
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
Nay - No. They will not hear Moses and the prophets. They have heard them so long in vain, that there is no prospect now that they will attend to the message; but if one should go to them directly from the eternal world they would hear him. The novelty of the message would attract their attention, and they would listen to what he would say.
The words behind it
15 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ὁ | ho | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| δὲ | de | And | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| εἶπεν· | eipen | he said; | G2036 → | 925 times |
| οὐχί, | ouchi | No, | G3780 → | 54 times |
| πάτερ | pater | father | G3962 → | 410 times |
| Ἀβραάμ, | abraam | Abraham, | G11 → | 73 times |
| ἀλλ᾽ | all᾽ | but | G235 → | 635 times |
| ἐάν | ean | if | G1437 → | 352 times |
| τις | tis | one | G5100 → | 528 times |
| ἀπὸ | apo | from | G575 → | 640 times |
| νεκρῶν | nekron | [the] dead | G3498 → | 128 times |
| πορευθῇ | poreuthea | shall go | G4198 → | 147 times |
| πρὸς | pros | to | G4314 → | 700 times |
| αὐτούς, | autous | them, | G846 → | 5565 times |
| μετανοήσουσιν. | metanoesousin | they will repent. | G3340 → | 34 times |
ὁ<the>
hoG3588 →19766 times
δὲAnd
deG1161 →2765 times
εἶπεν·he said;
eipenG2036 →925 times
οὐχί,No,
ouchiG3780 →54 times
πάτερfather
paterG3962 →410 times
Ἀβραάμ,Abraham,
abraamG11 →73 times
ἀλλ᾽but
all᾽G235 →635 times
ἐάνif
eanG1437 →352 times
τιςone
tisG5100 →528 times
ἀπὸfrom
apoG575 →640 times
νεκρῶν[the] dead
nekronG3498 →128 times
πορευθῇshall go
poreutheaG4198 →147 times
πρὸςto
prosG4314 →700 times
αὐτούς,them,
autousG846 →5565 times
μετανοήσουσιν.they will repent.
metanoesousinG3340 →34 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Luke 13:3No, I tell you. But unless you repent, you too will all perish.
it leads to
- Acts 3:19
Repent, then, and turn back, so that your sins may be wiped away,
- Matthew 3:2
and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”
- Acts 3:19
Through
Luke 16:24So he cried out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue. For I am in agony in this fire.’
it leads to
- Revelation 22:1
Then the angel showed me a river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb
- John 4:10
Jesus answered, “If you knew the gift of God and who is asking you for a drink, you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.”
- Revelation 7:16–17
‘Never again will they hunger, and never will they thirst; nor will the sun beat down upon them, nor any scorching heat.’
- John 4:14
But whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a fount of water springing up to eternal life.”
- Revelation 22:1
Through
Luke 3:8Produce fruit, then, in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up…
it leads to
- Ezekiel 18:27–31
But if a wicked man turns from the wickedness he has committed and does what is just and right, he will save his life.
- Acts 26:20
First to those in Damascus and Jerusalem, then to everyone in the region of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, I declared that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds worthy of…
- Ezekiel 18:27–31
Where this verse is studied
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About Luke
Who and where
1 name in this verse with a page on the site.
This page draws on 18 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Alexander Maclaren, Expositions of Holy Scripture, Luke; Ambrose of Milan, Catena Aurea by Aquinas; Augustine of Hippo, SERMON 41.4; Augustine of Hippo, Catena Aurea by Aquinas; Bede, On the Gospel of Luke; Bonaventure, Commentary on Luke, Chapter 16; Gregory of Nyssa, Catena Aurea by Aquinas; Gregory the Dialogist, Forty Gospel Homilies, Homily 40; Gregory the Dialogist, Catena Aurea by Aquinas; J. C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on the Gospels, Luke; J.C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: Luke (lightly modernized text, Grace Gems edition); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Catena Aurea by Aquinas; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Luke.