31 “But he told him, ‘If they don’t listen to Moses and the prophets, they will not be persuaded if someone rises from the dead.’” (Luke 16:31 CSB)

What is really required to persuade someone of something?

If it is something we want to believe in or be part of it can be very easy.

If it is not something that falls within our interest or beliefs then it can be very hard.

Much has been written on our “circle of influence” and within this we typically have very strong persuasive powers. Out side of our circle that becomes much harder.

In our passage today there are two men; one is wealthy and enjoys all that life has the offer, the other is destitute and a begger with infirmaries who seeks only crumbs from the wealthy man’s table. Both die and the begger goes to heaven while the wealth man ends up in hell. The wealthy man ask that the begger go to his brothers to talk to them so to save them from a similar fate.

Yet, Abraham tells the man that they have all they need to know to be saved from such a fate. And in a foreshadowing of Christ death and resurrection, that even that would not persuade them.

Learning the truth does not always lead to a right change of mind.