Luke 16:31 Meaning and Explanation
“And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The rich man's request sounds compassionate: he wants warning sent to his five brothers. Yet the answer reaches deeper than the need for more alarming evidence. Luke 16:31 asks what keeps people from repentance when God has already spoken clearly through the Scriptures entrusted to them.
Abraham answers that a heart refusing Moses and the prophets will remain unpersuaded even by a messenger risen from death. God's revealed word already gives sufficient witness calling people to repent.
The Context of Luke 16:31
Jesus tells this account after teaching his disciples about stewardship, faithfulness, serving God rather than mammon, and the searching knowledge of God. Covetous Pharisees have derided him, and Jesus has affirmed the enduring authority of the law. In the account, the rich man dies and asks Abraham to send Lazarus from the dead to warn his brothers. Abraham has already said that they possess "Moses and the prophets." The rich man insists that a visitor from death would bring repentance. Verse 31 is Abraham's final answer, ending the chapter with the authority and urgency of God's witness.
What Does Luke 16:31 Mean?
"If they hear not Moses and the prophets" identifies the witness already available to the rich man's brothers. Moses stands for the books associated with Israel's foundational law, and the prophets for God's continuing calls to faithfulness, mercy, justice, and hope. To hear them means more than receiving sounds or possessing sacred writings. It means giving heed to God's voice with a willing heart. "Neither will they be persuaded" exposes a moral and spiritual resistance. The issue is deeper than insufficient information. The brothers have been given words that reveal God's character, warn against sin, and summon his people to love him and their neighbors. Their response to that witness matters urgently.
The closing phrase, "though one rose from the dead," answers the rich man's proposed remedy. He imagines that an extraordinary sign would secure repentance where Scripture had failed. Abraham says that a refusal of God's established testimony will continue unless the hearer truly receives it. This fits the movement of the chapter. Jesus has confronted the misuse of wealth and the self-justification of those esteemed by people. The rich man had Lazarus at his gate during his lifetime, along with the covenant Scriptures that taught care for the needy. His brothers likewise need faithful hearing that bears fruit in their treatment of God and other people. The verse gives serious weight to present opportunities for obedience.
Jesus himself rose from the dead, and Luke's Gospel has prepared readers to see the force of this saying in that light. His resurrection is God's mighty vindication of his Son, while it also confirms the truth toward which Moses and the prophets point. The risen Jesus later explains that the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms speak of the Messiah's suffering and resurrection. Luke 16:31 therefore does not diminish the resurrection. It shows its harmony with the Scriptures God had already given. Faith receives God's witness as a whole: his prior word, his call to repentance, and his decisive act in raising Jesus. The warning remains searching because even great light calls for an honest response.
Bible Verses Related to Luke 16:31
“The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken;”
- Deuteronomy 18:15
“Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?”
- Isaiah 58:6
“For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me.”
- John 5:46
“And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.”
- Luke 24:44
Where Luke 16:31 Echoes in Scripture
Luke 24:44-47 provides a strong canonical echo. After his resurrection, Jesus opens the disciples' understanding to the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms, showing that they bear witness to the Messiah's suffering, resurrection, and the preaching of repentance. That scene joins the two elements held together in Luke 16:31: the authority of the Scriptures and the reality of resurrection. The risen Christ leads his followers back into the Scriptures rather than treating them as a lesser witness.
How to Apply Luke 16:31 Today
We may sometimes wait for an experience dramatic enough to settle every question or move every reluctant heart. This verse directs us toward the witness God has already placed before us. We can listen attentively when Scripture exposes greed, indifference, self-justification, or neglect of a neighbor in need. We can also speak of God's word with humility, recognizing that persuasion belongs to more than forceful argument or striking events. Ordinary faithfulness includes reading carefully, praying honestly, receiving correction, and acting on the mercy and justice God has made known. Today's response matters; the rich man's brothers were urged to hear while they still had time.
Reflection & Prayer
Where have we treated clearer obedience as though it must wait for a more dramatic sign? Consider one part of God's word that calls for a concrete response in our use of resources or care for someone nearby. Suggested prayer: "Lord, give us ears to hear your word, hearts ready to repent, and grace to walk faithfully in the light you have given."