Luke 16:31

31 But he said to him, 'If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone rises from the dead.'"

Luke 16:31 Meaning and Commentary

Luke 16:31

And he said unto him.
&c.] That is, Abraham said unto him, as the Syriac, Persic, and Ethiopic versions express it:

if they hear not Moses and the prophets;
as they did not, nor regarded what they said of Christ, but disbelieved both him and them:

neither will they be persuaded:
or brought to repent and believe;

though one rose from the dead;
as Christ did; whose resurrection, the truth of it they endeavoured to baffle, stifle, and suppress: this was the sign Christ gave them, of the truth of his Messiahship; and yet they repented not of what they had done to him, that they might believe in him; but remained still in their impenitence and infidelity, and so died. This shows the regard that ought to be had to the written word, as read, or preached; and that it is a sad sign of a desperate condition, when men reject divine revelation. Beza's ancient copy adds, "and should go unto them".

Luke 16:31 In-Context

29 But Abraham said, 'They have Moses and the prophets; they must listen to them.'

30 And he said, 'No, father Abraham, but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent!'

31 But he said to him, 'If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone rises from the dead.'"