A Deceitful Heart
Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead. Luke 16:29-31.
Read John 11:39-46
Abraham did not remain silent. He answered the rich man, though not in the affirmative. There is much instruction in this answer. Listen to what God says, also to us today, in this answer: They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them, referring to the testimony of the Old Testament.
They needed to give their attention to the Scriptures and live accordingly. The brothers did not require extra warnings from another source. The Lord had given them His Word, and that is more than sufficient.
In our day we have much more than Moses and the prophets. We have the complete Word of God and the knowledge that the Word was made flesh (John 1:14). Moreover, in this capacity the Lord Jesus Christ has given us the final Word of God (Heb. 1:1). There will not be any new revelation. Whoever will not submit to this Word of the living God will remain as they are, forever lost (John 3:36).
The rich man did not agree with Abraham, which is natural of fallen man. Have you already seen that you think you know better than the Lord? Nay, father Abraham, he replied, but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. That would have been quite something. However, that would not change the resolve of the natural man. The prophet told us that man’s heart is full of deceit and desperately wicked. Basically, that’s what Abraham said in his reply: If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead. Are you also convinced of that?
Thought: To enter heaven you must be born again.
Psalter 415: 2 (based on Psalm 25) Unto me, O Lord Jehovah, Show Thy ways and teach Thou me; So that, by Thy Spirit guided, Clearly I Thy paths may see. In Thy truth wilt Thou me guide, Teach me, God of my salvation; All the day for Thee I bide, Lord, with eager expectation.