Luke 16:30-31 Jack Downey

“‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’

“He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’”

The Pharisees refused to believe in Jesus. This seems to be prophetic that when Jesus is raised from the dead they still won’t believe. From Matthew’s gospel we find that when the guards reported what happened they decided to bribe the guards to lie rather than accept the truth and believe in Jesus. While they were religious they lacked faith.

Hebrew 4 says: for unto us the gospel was preached as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.

Romans 1:16-17

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of Godthat brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew,then to the Gentile. For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”

Romans 10:17

Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.

The Pharisees refused to hear the word Jesus delivered, the word of God. It kept them from growing in faith. Much like Pharaoh refused to believe Moses and hardened his heart the Pharisees hardened their hearts when they refused to believe.

Hebrew 11:1

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.

While we don’t see God we believe He is. We believe he created all things.

Hebrew 11:6

But without faith it is impossible to please him; for he that cometh to God must first believe that is, and that he is rewarder of them that diligently seek him.