Luke 16:27-28 Then he said, ‘I
beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father’s house, for I
have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this
place of torment.’
It is always during pains and sufferings, that a wicked person wakes up
from his sinful lifestyle. Only then will he begin to understand the cause of
his painful punishment, which will enable him to see the coming judgment upon
all those living in similar abominable ways. This will cause him to break away
from his own selfishness and begin to care for others.
1 Pet 4:1-2 Therefore, since
Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind,
for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, that he no longer
should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the
will of God.
So brethren, rejoice for suffering is used by God to correct us from our
sinful ways so that we will be able to bear the fruit of righteousness.
God placed Lazarus right in front of the rich man’s house so that everyone, including his five brothers, can see his pitiful conditions.
Luke 16:29-31 Abraham said to
him, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.’ And he said, ‘No,
father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ But
he said to him, ‘If they do not hear
Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise
from the dead.’”
All devout Jews who truly keep the words of God (in Moses and the
Prophets) will be saved. They will accept our Lord Jesus Christ as their
Saviour. The priesthood, scribes, Pharisees and religious leaders with the
exceptions of Nicodemus and some others, were proud and covetous and could not
see the truth to be saved. All those devout Jews who faithfully came back to
observe the feast were all saved.
Act 2:5, 37-41 And there
were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under
heaven... Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to
Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” Then
Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name
of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of
the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who
are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.” And with many other words
he testified and exhorted them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse
generation.” Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and
that day about three thousand souls were added to them.
Mat 23:13-14 “But woe to you,
scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of heaven
against men; for you neither go in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are
entering to go in. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you
devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. Therefore, you
will receive greater condemnation.”
The religious leaders were blinded by their pride and covetousness. So
instead of receiving salvation, they wanted to kill our Lord Jesus and Lazarus
because he was raised from the dead by our Lord Jesus.
John 12:9-11 Now a great many of the Jews knew that He was there; and they came, not for Jesus’ sake only, but that they might also see Lazarus, whom He had raised from the dead. But the chief priests plotted to put Lazarus to death also, because on account of him many of the Jews went away and believed in Jesus.
