“He said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.’”
In this verse, Jesus reveals something about the nature of God’s word and something about the nature of fallen man.
In the parable of Lazarus and the rich man, the rich man requested that Lazarus be sent from the dead to witness to his brothers. In this request, though well-intended, the rich man revealed that he knew nothing about spiritual things. He thought that a fantastic event (ie, a visit from the dead) would turn his brothers’ hearts to God.
However, in the parable, Jesus had Abraham reply that the man’s brothers have already disregarded Moses and the prophets. In other words, that which the Holy Spirit uses to draw men to himself had been dismissed. Paul said it this way, “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of God.”
(Romans 10:17)
Paul told the Corinthians, “For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe.” (1 Corinthians 1:21)
Unfortunately, a lost man tends to set the requirements by which he will believe. “If you do this or that, I will believe.” If we examine those demands, we will see that they require something other than God’s word. We must be careful not to fall prey to the idea that we can draw people’s hearts to God without his word.
Father, help me not seek to serve you through worldly wisdom. Help me to give greater attention to your word and use it more regularly in my daily witness. Amen.
Speak Your Mind