Luke 16:30

Nay, father Abraham. The rich man protests against the decision of Abraham, implying that he knows better than Abraham does. Apparently he had not found the OT convincing evidence, and doubts that his five brothers will. Those who today lightly cast aside the solemn messages of the OT would do well to ponder the fate of the rich man of this parable who, though he had access to “Moses and the prophets,” had not been profited thereby.

If one went unto them. That is, if any one would come to them from the dead. As noted under v. 19, the rich man represents not only individuals who fail to take advantage of the opportunities this life provides for the formation of character and for doing good to their fellow men, but also the Jewish nation, which, as a corporate entity, was pursuing the same course (see Vol. IV, pp. 30-33).

In demanding additional evidence the rich man reflects the repeated demands of the scribes and Pharisees for “a sign.” But the life, teachings, and works of Jesus constituted convincing evidence of His divinity for all whose motives were sincere (cf. on Matt. 15:21; 16:1). However, the kind of evidence Jesus offered them was not the kind they wanted.