Luke 16:27

Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house:

Then ^{G1161} he said ^{G2036}, I pray ^{G2065} thee ^{G4571} therefore ^{G3767}, father ^{G3962}, that ^{G2443} thou wouldest send ^{G3992} him ^{G846} to ^{G1519} my ^{G3450} father's ^{G3962} house ^{G3624}:

“He answered, ‘Then, father, I beg you to send him to my father’s house,

‘Then I beg you, father,’ he said, ‘send Lazarus to my father’s house,

And he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father’s house;

Luke 16:27 is a pivotal moment in Jesus' parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus, found in Luke 16:19-31. In this verse, the rich man, now suffering in Hades, shifts his plea from himself to his living family members.

Context of Luke 16:27

This verse immediately follows Abraham's definitive statement that a "great gulf" is fixed between the realms of torment and comfort, making passage impossible (Luke 16:26). Realizing his own fate is sealed, the rich man’s focus turns to his five brothers who are still alive on earth. His desperate request to Abraham is for Lazarus, whom he previously ignored, to be sent back as a messenger to warn his family, hoping they might avoid his agonizing fate. This scene underscores the finality of eternal judgment and the rich man's belated concern for others.

Key Themes and Messages

The Finality of Eternal Destinies: The rich man's plea highlights that once physical death occurs, one's eternal state is fixed. There is no second chance or opportunity to change one's destiny after death, nor can those in torment cross over to comfort.
Belated Concern for Family: While seemingly compassionate, the rich man's concern for his brothers arises only after he experiences the painful consequences of his own choices. This is not a repentance born of love for God or genuine sorrow for his earthly indifference, but rather a desire to prevent his family from joining him in suffering.
The Sufficiency of God's Word: This request sets the stage for Abraham’s profound response in later verses, emphasizing that people have "Moses and the prophets" (the Scriptures) as their guide (Luke 16:29). The parable strongly teaches that God's revealed Word is sufficient for salvation and guidance, and no miraculous sign, even one from the dead, is more persuasive for those who refuse to believe the Scriptures (Luke 16:31).

Linguistic Insights

The rich man addresses Abraham as "father" (Greek: pater), acknowledging a shared lineage as a descendant of Abraham. However, this familial connection does not guarantee salvation or provide an escape from judgment. The request "send him" (Greek: pempsēs auton) reveals his desperate hope for a supernatural intervention, despite the established impossibility of crossing the gulf. It underscores his belief that a dramatic, visible sign would be more effective than the spiritual guidance already available.

Practical Application

Luke 16:27 serves as a powerful reminder of several truths for believers today:

Urgency of Repentance: It emphasizes the critical importance of responding to God's Word and repenting of sin during one's lifetime, as there is no opportunity after death (Hebrews 9:27).
Value of Scripture: The parable powerfully affirms the Bible's authority and sufficiency. We are called to heed God's warnings and promises in His Word now, rather than waiting for extraordinary signs or experiences.
Genuine Compassion: True love and concern for family and friends should lead us to share the Gospel with them while they are still alive, rather than waiting until it is too late.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

No cross-references found for this verse.