Luke 16:27-31 Meaning: Do We Need a Sign? and the Sufficiency of Scripture
27“He said, ‘I ask you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father’s house—
28for I have five brothers—that he may testify to them, so they won’t also come into this place of torment.’
29“But Abraham said to him, ‘They have Moses and the prophets. Let them listen to them.’
30“He said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’
31“He said to him, ‘If they don’t listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if one rises from the dead.’”
27Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father’s house:
28For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.
29Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.
30And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.
31And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.
27And he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father’s house;
28for I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.
29But Abraham saith, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.
30And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one go to them from the dead, they will repent.
31And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, if one rise from the dead.
27`And he said, I pray thee, then, father, that thou mayest send him to the house of my father,
28for I have five brothers, so that he may thoroughly testify to them, that they also may not come to this place of torment.
29`Abraham saith to him, They have Moses and the prophets, let them hear them;
30and he said, No, father Abraham, but if any one from the dead may go unto them, they will reform.
31And he said to him, If Moses and the prophets they do not hear, neither if one may rise out of the dead will they be persuaded.'
27And he said, I beseech thee then, father, that thou wouldest send him to the house of my father,
28for I have five brothers, so that he may earnestly testify to them, that they also may not come to this place of torment.
29But Abraham says to him, They have Moses and the prophets: let them hear them.
30But he said, Nay, father Abraham, but if one from the dead should go to them, they will repent.
31And he said to him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, not even if one rise from among [the] dead will they be persuaded.
Meaning in one sentence
Why the rich man's request for a messenger from the dead was denied, and what that means for how we hear God's word today.
Context
Jesus has just finished the parable of the rich man and Lazarus. The rich man, suffering in torment, pleads with Abraham to send Lazarus back from the dead to warn his five brothers, so they might avoid his fate. Abraham refuses, saying the brothers already have the writings of Moses and the prophets, the Old Testament Scriptures. The rich man insists that a spectacular sign would make them repent. But Abraham gives the final word: if they will not listen to the Scriptures, not even a resurrection will persuade them. The passage is the climax of the parable, driving home a point about the power and completeness of God's revealed word.
Key Words
Two Greek words capture the tension in this passage. The rich man asks that Lazarus testify to his brothers. The Greek word diamarturomai (διαμαρτύρομαι) means to solemnly warn, to give earnest testimony. It is a strong, urgent word. But Abraham counters with a different verb: the brothers should listen to what they already have. The Greek akouō (ἀκούω) can mean simply to hear, but it also carries the sense of paying attention, understanding, and obeying. The brothers already have the testimony that matters.
There is also a fine distinction in how each speaker talks about a messenger from the dead. The rich man asks for someone coming apo (ἀπό) the dead, meaning from the direction of the dead. Abraham answers with ek (ἐκ) the dead, meaning one who rises out from among the dead, fully identified with them. The shift hints that even a literal resurrection would not change a heart that refuses what God has already said.
Finally, the rich man insists that such a visitor would make his brothers repent. The Greek metanoeō (μετανοέω) means to change one's mind, to turn around. Abraham uses a different word for the result: they will not be persuaded. The root peithō (πείθω) means to convince or win over. The point is subtle but powerful: repentance is not a transaction with evidence, but a persuasion of the heart that only God's word can bring.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians across traditions have wrestled with the rich man's motivation. Many commentators see his request as an expression of genuine, though misguided, concern for his brothers. The Cambridge Bible suggests it shows a “dawn of a less selfish spirit.” Others, like Jamieson-Fausset-Brown, view it as “bitter reproach against God and the old economy, as not warning him sufficiently.”
Whatever the rich man's motive, Abraham's response is the heart of the passage: the Scriptures are enough. Calvin wrote that “we have received an undoubted rule of life” in Moses and the prophets, and we have no right to expect more. Poole, a Puritan commentator, agreed that God will have men believe the propositions of His word, not satisfy their curiosity with extraordinary signs. The lesson unites readers across traditions: trust what God has already spoken.
A common misunderstanding
Some readers think the parable teaches that a person's soul can return from the dead to warn the living. But the whole point of Abraham's answer is to deny that possibility: the living already have everything they need in Scripture. Jesus is addressing a common human desire for dramatic signs, and He redirects us to the word we already possess. The story is a parable, not a manual for afterlife communication.
Living This Out
This week, you may catch yourself wishing for something more dramatic. Maybe you think, “If I could see a miracle, I would finally believe and obey.” Perhaps you feel that the Bible is not enough for the challenges you face, and you crave a special sign or a word from someone who has died. This passage invites you to stop looking for spectacular proof and to start listening to what you already have.
Open the Scriptures with a new seriousness. Read the words of Moses and the prophets, and in our day, the full witness of Christ and the apostles. Let them speak to you as the authority they are. The greatest sign has already been given: Jesus rose from the dead. The question is whether you will listen.
Main takeaway: God's written word is a sufficient and powerful witness that can persuade the heart, and no spectacular sign can replace a humble ear for Scripture.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
A rich man in a story wanted someone to come back from the dead to warn his brothers. But Abraham said they already have God's words in the Bible. God's words are enough to help us know what is right.
For ages 9, 12
This story makes us think: do we really need a miracle to believe? The rich man thought his brothers would only listen if they saw a dead person come back. But Jesus says the Bible is enough. Even though Jesus Himself rose from the dead, some people still didn't believe. The real question is: are we paying attention to what God has already said?
Questions People Ask
Is the story of the rich man and Lazarus a true story or a parable?
Most Christians throughout history have read it as a parable or illustrative story, not a literal account of the afterlife. Jesus often used parables to teach spiritual truths. The story uses familiar imagery to make a point about the sufficiency of Scripture and the danger of ignoring God's word.
What does 'Moses and the prophets' mean in this passage?
It refers to the Old Testament Scriptures, which were the Bible that Jewish people had at the time. The first five books were written by Moses, and the prophets wrote the rest. Abraham says these writings are enough to teach people how to live and to warn them about judgment.
Does this mean God never sends messengers from the dead today?
The point of the parable is that we should not look for such extraordinary signs. God has given us His written word, and we are to listen to that. While Christians believe Jesus physically rose from the dead, even that miracle did not convince everyone. The call is to trust what Scripture already says.
Was the rich man genuinely concerned about his brothers, or was he just trying to excuse himself?
Commentators are divided. Some see a glimmer of genuine concern, while others think he was blaming God for not warning him enough. Either way, Abraham's response shows that the real issue is not the lack of a sign, but the refusal to listen to what God has already clearly said.
For pastors & researchers
Greek interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study