Luke 16:30,31

VAIN HOPES

‘And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.’

Luke 16:30

We may profitably consider what this means in its application to our own life. Such a warning is evidently meant to remind us that the mystery of sin in human life is not to be got rid of by any such reliance on vague hopes.

I. This mystery of sin in the heart and life, misleading, weakening, dragging us down, means in fact the subtle, poisonous, creeping power which evil inclinations exercise over a weak and depraved will. Are we, then, to trust to some sudden visitation from above, for which we make no preparation, to break down or overthrow a power of this kind? On the contrary, the words of this parable stand here to declare to us that it is nothing less than perversity and folly in any man to go on either defiling his nature, or degrading it, or even neglecting to strengthen and support it, under this delusion that some day the breath of heaven will sweep it clean or give it new vigour.

II. Instead of vaguely trusting to the hope of what some future call or help or happy visitation may do for us, let us obey the Divine injunction, which, when rightly understood, is very pressing, urging us, as we hope to see good days, to be very jealous of our present life and its tendencies; let us do this, standing always firm and immovable in the things that are pure and of good report.

III. At present we know that the way of Christ is still open before us, and that He calls us with a voice which never grows weary; but we feel equally that the future is dark, if we waste or misuse the present, and we do not know how long the heavenward path may be as open, or as easy, as it is to-day. For the question is not a question of God’s untiring patience or the never-failing love of Christ. The question is rather, whether it is not folly to expect that God will send upon us some other more powerful regenerating and strengthening influence, if we are now neglecting all this care and love and patient striving on our behalf.

Bishop Percival.

(SECOND OUTLINE)

THE TESTIMONY OF SCRIPTURE

To gather clearly the force of these words, you must carry in your minds that ‘Moses and the Prophets’ comprised the whole Bible, as it then existed, for the canon of the New Testament was not then formed. It is the same as if he had said, ‘If they do not believe the Bible, neither would they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.’

And now, what is the argument?

I. It is the great general truth that every man has provided for him, and within his grasp, all that is necessary for his salvation. It is certain that we are all of us often disposed to speculate, and to indulge fancies, and even to judge, and practically to blame, God in this matter. We think, ‘If God had but dealt with me as I have seen Him deal with other persons, how much more religious I should have been than I am now!’ Many are actually waiting at this moment for some such thing as that.

II. Does not the Spirit draw you now?—Is not the truth that you now know, larger than the truth that you obey? and, therefore, is not it all that you, at this moment, could bear? Are you not painfully conscious that if you would but act out the convictions given you, you would soon become a better man? Are not you perfectly aware that every good gift we have would increase, if only we exercised it? It is a very ignorant and foolish thought which those have who think that outward circumstances can do much for the soul of man! The worst circumstances cannot really hinder you, and the best cannot truly improve you! There is nothing but grace—sovereign, omnipotent grace, that can ever touch a man’s heart. A miracle, without grace, can do nothing, and grace, without a miracle, can do everything.

III. What are the means by which grace acts?—And the answer is ‘The Bible.’ ‘If they hear not Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.’ Do not doubt, but earnestly believe, that each time you peruse the Bible, God has some new special message which He is speaking to your soul. Let this be the attitude of your open, eager, waiting mind, ‘ Speak, Lord, for Thy servant heareth.’ In this way you will ‘hear Moses and the Prophets,’ yet not them, but Him who sent them.

—Rev. James Vaughan.