Why might people reject the message of "Moses and the Prophets"? Framing the Question Luke 16:31: “But Abraham replied, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead.’ ” Abraham’s sober observation shows that rejecting Scripture is not a matter of insufficient evidence but a matter of the heart. Below are key reasons people turn away from the clear witness of “Moses and the Prophets.” 1. Hardened Hearts • Sin’s deceitfulness callouses the conscience. • Hebrews 3:13: “so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.” • Isaiah 6:9-10 pictures a people whose hearts have “grown dull,” refusing to perceive truth. 2. Love of Darkness Over Light • Spiritual light exposes sin; many prefer the shadows. • John 3:19: “people loved the darkness rather than the Light, because their deeds were evil.” • Moses and the Prophets confront idolatry, immorality, greed—uncomfortable truths for an unrepentant heart. 3. Pride and Self-Righteousness • The law reveals our need for mercy, but pride insists, “I’m fine.” • Romans 10:3: “For they were ignorant of God’s righteousness and sought to establish their own.” • Acts 7:51-53 records Stephen accusing Israel of resisting the Spirit “just as your fathers did.” 4. Trust in Earthly Riches • In the parable (Luke 16), the rich man’s wealth dulled his sense of eternal need. • Deuteronomy 8:13-14 warns prosperity can lead hearts to forget the Lord. • Material security often masquerades as spiritual security. 5. Influence of Culture and Tradition • Cultural voices can drown out prophetic truth. • Jeremiah 7:4 shows Judah chanting “The temple of the LORD” as a cultural slogan while living in disobedience. • Jesus rebuked traditions that nullified God’s word (Mark 7:8-9). 6. Spiritual Blindness Orchestrated by the Enemy • 2 Corinthians 4:4: “The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers.” • Satan sows doubt about God’s goodness and the reliability of His word, beginning in Genesis 3:1. 7. Willful Unbelief Despite Miracles • Israel saw plagues, the Red Sea, Sinai’s fire—yet grumbled (Psalm 106:7). • John 12:37: “Even after Jesus had performed so many signs in their presence, they still did not believe in Him.” • Miraculous proof cannot overcome a will set against surrender; the issue is volition, not verification. 8. Suppression of Truth to Continue in Sin • Romans 1:18: “men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness.” • The moral claims of Moses demand change; rejecting the message feels easier than reordering life. 9. Misplaced Expectations of God’s Revelation • Some want a spectacular sign while ignoring the written Word. • Luke 11:29: “This generation is a wicked generation; it seeks a sign.” • God already spoke through Moses and every prophet, culminating in Christ (Hebrews 1:1-2). Living Application • Examine your heart: Am I resisting Scripture’s authority because it confronts cherished sins? • Submit to the plain words of Moses and the Prophets, finding their fulfillment in Jesus (Luke 24:27). • Treasure the sufficiency of God’s written Word; it is more reliable than even a resurrection sign for a heart ready to believe. People reject Moses and the Prophets not for lack of evidence but because of an inner disposition that only God’s grace can transform. Listen today while the Word still calls. |
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