Luke 16:29

KJV

Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.

KJV (with Strong's)

Abraham {G11} saith {G3004} unto him {G846}, They have {G2192} Moses {G3475} and {G2532} the prophets {G4396}; let them hear {G191} them {G846}.

Complete Jewish Bible

But Avraham said, ‘They have Moshe and the Prophets; they should listen to them.’

Berean Standard Bible

But Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; let your brothers listen to them.’

American Standard Version

But Abraham saith, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Luke 16:29, within Jesus' Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus, presents Abraham's definitive response to the rich man's plea for a miraculous sign. Abraham asserts that the rich man's five brothers already possess sufficient divine revelation in "Moses and the prophets" (the Old Testament Scriptures) to guide them to repentance and salvation. This statement profoundly underscores the sufficiency and authority of God's revealed Word, implying that a lack of belief stems not from a deficit of evidence, but from an unwillingness to heed the truth already provided.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is a crucial turning point in the Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus, found in [Luke 16:19-31](/luke/16-19-31 "The Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus"). Jesus narrates the stark contrast between a rich man who lived in luxury and a poor beggar named Lazarus. Both die, but their eternal destinies are reversed: Lazarus is carried to Abraham's side, while the rich man finds himself in torment in Hades. The rich man, now suffering, pleads with Abraham first for a drop of water, and then, crucially, to send Lazarus back from the dead to warn his five living brothers. Abraham's response in [Luke 16:29](/luke/16-29 "Luke 16:29 - They Have Moses and the Prophets") directly addresses this plea, rejecting the notion that an extraordinary sign is necessary or even effective for those who refuse to listen to God's existing revelation. The parable as a whole serves as a powerful warning about the dangers of wealth, the importance of compassion, and the eternal consequences of one's choices in this life, particularly in response to God's Word.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The phrase "Moses and the prophets" was a well-understood Jewish idiom referring to the entire body of Old Testament Scriptures. "Moses" specifically denoted the Pentateuch (the first five books of the Bible, traditionally attributed to Moses, containing the Law), while "the prophets" encompassed the prophetic and historical books. This comprehensive term signified the complete divine revelation given to Israel. In Jewish thought, these Scriptures were considered the authoritative and sufficient guide for life, faith, and understanding God's will. The rich man's request for a sign from the dead reflects a common human tendency to seek extraordinary validation for spiritual truths, a tendency often challenged by Jesus, who frequently pointed to the existing Scriptures as sufficient evidence (e.g., [John 5:39-40](/john/5-39-40 "John 5:39-40 - You Search the Scriptures... Yet You Refuse to Come to Me")). The parable also implicitly critiques the prevailing Jewish belief among some that being a physical descendant of Abraham guaranteed salvation, highlighting that true relationship with God requires obedience to His revealed Word.

* **Key Themes:** Abraham's statement in [Luke 16:29](/luke/16-29 "Luke 16:29 - They Have Moses and the Prophets") powerfully contributes to several key themes within Luke's Gospel and broader biblical theology. Foremost is the **sufficiency of divine revelation**. The text asserts that God's Word, as contained in the Old Testament, provides all necessary truth for understanding God's demands and the path to salvation. No additional, extraordinary signs are required. This theme is echoed throughout the New Testament, emphasizing the Bible's complete adequacy for equipping believers (e.g., [2 Timothy 3:16-17](/2_timothy/3-16-17 "2 Timothy 3:16-17 - All Scripture is God-Breathed")). Another prominent theme is **human responsibility**. Individuals are held accountable for their response to the truth they have been given. The rich man's brothers' potential condemnation would not be due to a lack of evidence or warning, but a deliberate choice to disregard the clear teachings of "Moses and the prophets." This highlights the moral culpability of unbelief. Finally, the verse, in its broader parabolic context, touches upon the **finality of post-mortem destiny**. Once death occurs, the opportunity for repentance and a change of eternal standing is past. The focus then shifts entirely to the living and their urgent responsibility to respond to God's Word while they still have the chance, a sobering warning consistent with Jesus' call to repentance in [Luke 13:3](/luke/13-3 "Luke 13:3 - Unless You Repent, You Will All Likewise Perish").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **saith (Greek, _légō'_):** From G3004, meaning "to lay forth," or "relate in words," often implying systematic or set discourse. Here, it denotes Abraham's authoritative and definitive declaration. It's not a casual remark but a pronouncement of truth, underscoring the finality and weight of his response to the rich man's desperate plea.
* **have (Greek, _échō'_):** From G2192, a versatile verb meaning "to hold," "possess," or "be in a certain condition." In this context, it signifies that the brothers already possess the Scriptures – they are available to them, they have access to them, and thus, they are responsible for them. It highlights the availability and accessibility of God's revelation.
* **hear (Greek, _akoúō'_):** From G191, a primary verb meaning "to hear" in various senses, including to "give audience to," "listen," and "understand." In this imperative form ("let them hear"), it is a command for active, obedient listening that leads to understanding and action, not merely passive reception of sound. It implies a receptive heart and a willingness to respond to the truth.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Abraham saith unto him":** This phrase establishes the speaker as Abraham, the revered patriarch, lending immense authority and weight to the pronouncement. His words are not merely an opinion but a foundational truth within the parable's theological framework, reflecting God's perspective on revelation and responsibility.
* **"They have Moses and the prophets":** This is the core assertion. "They have" emphasizes that the rich man's brothers are not lacking in information or divine guidance. "Moses and the prophets" is a well-known Jewish idiom for the entire Old Testament Scriptures. This signifies that all necessary truth for life, salvation, and understanding God's will has already been revealed and is accessible to them. It negates the idea that a new, extraordinary sign is needed.
* **"let them hear them":** This is an imperative, a command or strong exhortation. "Let them hear" implies not just passive listening, but active, obedient attention and response to the teachings found in "Moses and the prophets." It underscores that the issue is not a lack of revelation, but a lack of receptive hearts and a willingness to obey what has already been clearly communicated. The responsibility lies squarely with the living to respond to the Word they possess.

#### Literary Devices
The verse effectively employs **Synecdoche**, where "Moses and the prophets" stands for the entire Old Testament Scriptures. This literary device efficiently communicates the comprehensive nature of God's prior revelation. There is also a subtle **Irony** at play: the rich man, who ignored the Law and Prophets in life, now seeks a miraculous sign for his brothers, only to be told that the very revelation he neglected was and remains sufficient. The entire parable, including this verse, functions as **Didacticism**, serving as a teaching tool by Jesus to convey profound spiritual truths about wealth, judgment, and the sufficiency of God's Word. The verse itself is part of a **Dialogue**, Abraham's direct and authoritative response to the rich man's plea, which lends immediacy and dramatic weight to the theological point being made.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Luke 16:29 serves as a profound theological statement on the nature and sufficiency of divine revelation. It asserts that God has provided ample truth through His written Word to guide humanity to repentance and salvation, rendering extraordinary signs unnecessary for those who are unwilling to believe. The core issue is not a deficit of evidence, but a disposition of the heart—a refusal to "hear" and obey what has already been clearly revealed. This principle highlights human accountability and the grave consequences of spiritual apathy or deliberate rejection of God's truth. The verse implicitly challenges any notion that God is obligated to provide additional proofs for those who harden their hearts against His existing Word.

* [Deuteronomy 18:15](/deuteronomy/18-15 "Deuteronomy 18:15 - A Prophet Like Moses")
* [John 5:39-40](/john/5-39-40 "John 5:39-40 - You Search the Scriptures... Yet You Refuse to Come to Me")
* [2 Timothy 3:16-17](/2_timothy/3-16-17 "2 Timothy 3:16-17 - All Scripture is God-Breathed")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Luke 16:29 offers a timeless challenge and comfort for believers and non-believers alike. For those who follow Christ, it powerfully affirms the absolute sufficiency of the Bible. We are not to wait for miraculous visions, dramatic signs, or audible voices from heaven to validate our faith or prompt our obedience. God has already spoken comprehensively and authoritatively through His Word. Our responsibility is to diligently study, internalize, and obey what we have been given. This verse calls us to a deeper commitment to Scripture, recognizing it as the primary means by which God reveals Himself, guides our lives, and equips us for every good work. For those who struggle with belief or seek reasons to dismiss spiritual truths, this verse serves as a sobering reminder that a lack of faith is often not due to insufficient evidence, but a hardened heart unwilling to respond to the clear and abundant revelation already present. It challenges us to examine our own hearts: are we genuinely seeking truth, or are we making excuses for our unbelief by demanding signs that God has already deemed unnecessary?

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How seriously do I take the "Moses and the prophets" (God's Word) that I already possess in my life?**
* **Am I prone to seeking extraordinary signs or experiences when the ordinary means of grace (Scripture, prayer, community) are sufficient for spiritual growth and guidance?**
* **In what ways might I be like the rich man's brothers, failing to "hear" or obey what God has already clearly revealed in His Word?**
* **What practical steps can I take to more intentionally "hear" and apply the teachings of Scripture in my daily life?**

### FAQ
**Does Luke 16:29 imply that miraculous signs are never effective for belief?**

Answer: Luke 16:29 does not necessarily imply that miraculous signs are *never* effective for belief. Rather, it emphasizes that if one is unwilling to respond to the clear, sufficient revelation of God's Word, even the most extraordinary sign—like a resurrection from the dead—will not compel them to believe. The issue is not the *lack* of evidence, but the *hardness* of the human heart. Throughout the New Testament, Jesus performed many signs and wonders, and some *did* believe because of them (e.g., [John 2:23](/john/2-23 "John 2:23 - Many Believed in His Name When They Saw the Signs")). However, many others witnessed the same miracles and still refused to believe, often seeking even more signs (e.g., [Matthew 12:38-39](/matthew/12-38-39 "Matthew 12:38-39 - The Sign of Jonah")). The point of Abraham's statement is that if someone rejects the fundamental truth found in the Law and the Prophets, their unbelief is so deeply rooted that even a resurrected person would fail to persuade them.

**What does "Moses and the prophets" specifically refer to?**

Answer: "Moses and the prophets" is a common and comprehensive Jewish idiom referring to the entirety of the Old Testament Scriptures. "Moses" specifically denotes the Pentateuch, the first five books of the Bible (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy), traditionally attributed to Moses, which contain the foundational Law and early history of Israel. "The prophets" refers to the rest of the Hebrew Bible, encompassing the historical books (like Joshua, Judges, Samuel, Kings) and the prophetic books (like Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and the Twelve Minor Prophets). Together, this phrase signifies the complete body of divine instruction, revelation, warnings, and promises given to Israel, which was considered fully authoritative and sufficient for understanding God's will and the path to righteousness. Jesus Himself often used this phrase to refer to the Old Testament, as seen in passages like [Luke 24:27](/luke/24-27 "Luke 24:27 - Jesus Explained the Scriptures to Them") and [Luke 24:44](/luke/24-44 "Luke 24:44 - Jesus Explains the Scriptures Concerning Himself").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Luke 16:29, with Abraham's declaration, finds its ultimate Christ-centered fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. "Moses and the prophets" were not ends in themselves, but bore witness to the coming Messiah. Jesus Himself affirmed this, explaining to His disciples after His resurrection that "everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled" ([Luke 24:44](/luke/24-44 "Luke 24:44 - Jesus Explains the Scriptures Concerning Himself")). Indeed, on the road to Emmaus, Jesus "interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself" ([Luke 24:27](/luke/24-27 "Luke 24:27 - Jesus Explains the Scriptures to the Disciples on the Road to Emmaus")). To truly "hear Moses and the prophets" is to hear Christ, for they testify about Him ([John 5:39](/john/5-39 "John 5:39 - You Search the Scriptures... Yet You Refuse to Come to Me")). The rich man's brothers, had they truly heeded the Scriptures, would have been prepared to recognize and receive Jesus, the very Word made flesh ([John 1:14](/john/1-14 "John 1:14 - The Word Became Flesh")). Abraham's point—that if one rejects the clear revelation of God's Word, they will not be convinced even by a resurrection—chillingly foreshadows the rejection of Christ's own resurrection by many who had already hardened their hearts to the prophetic testimony concerning Him. The ultimate "hearing" God desires is hearing the Gospel of Christ, which is the culmination and perfect embodiment of all that Moses and the prophets foretold, offering true repentance and eternal life.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Acts 15:21

For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.

Luke 24:27

And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.

2 Timothy 3:15

And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

2 Timothy 3:17

That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

Isaiah 34:16

Seek ye out of the book of the LORD, and read: no one of these shall fail, none shall want her mate: for my mouth it hath commanded, and his spirit it hath gathered them.

Luke 16:16

The law and the prophets [were] until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it.

Acts 17:11

These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.