Witnessing with Power
Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father’s house: For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. Luke 16:27, 28
Read 2 Corinthians 5:11-21
The lost rich man seems to have understood that his first request was impossible to fulfill; one cannot be released from hell. But then the man thought of his brothers. Why would Jesus include this in the parable? Is this a sign that we must not only think of ourselves but also about our brothers and sisters? Notice that earlier the rich man had called Abraham, ‘father’. Perhaps he hoped to highlight the bond between to incline Abraham to fulfill his desire. I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father’s house. By this request we see that the rich man still expected Lazarus to be of service to him, though he had never given Lazarus any recognition before. Abraham must send Lazarus to his father’s house, to his family. Apparently he had five brothers who were living their lives in a similar way that he had done. They needed to be warned, lest they also end up with him in hell. That needed to be avoided at all costs.
This was surely very true! But this cannot be decided after our eternal destiny has been determined. Then it is too late! In the original Greek, the rich man used strong language. He asked that Lazarus would give a powerful, unceasing witness of his state. Thereby the terribleness of his condition was emphasized. In this way the Lord Jesus gave a very earnest warning to His hearers. This warning also comes to you.
Thought: Our tomorrows might favour the devil’s agenda.
Psalter 338: 1,2 (based on Psalm 119) O Lord, Thy perfect righteousness Is in Thy judgments shown; In Thy unchanging faithfulness Thy truth Thou hast made known. Because Thy foes forget Thy law My soul is greatly stirred; Thy servant loves the purity, Of Thy most holy word.