Charles Ellicott Commentary Luke 16:30

"And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one go to them from the dead, they will repent." — Luke 16:30 (ASV)

But if one went unto them from the dead.—The words are in accordance with the general Jewish craving for a “sign,” as the only proof of a revelation from God. (See Notes on Matthew 12:33; Matthew 16:1; 1 Corinthians 1:22.) The return of one who had passed into the unseen world and brought back a report of its realities would rouse, the rich man thought, the most apathetic.

So far the picture is generic, but if we follow up the suggestion which has thrown light upon the parable before, we will find here also a more individualizing feature. It is especially recorded of the Tetrarch that he had hoped to see some miracle done by Jesus (Luke 23:8). He had given utterance, when he heard of the miracles that had been actually performed, to the belief that John the Baptist was risen from the dead (see Note on Matthew 14:2), and yet that belief had not brought him one step nearer to repentance.