Luke 16:24

“And he cried and said, father Abraham, etc.] The Jews used to call Abraham their father, and were proud of their descent from him, (<400309>Matthew 3:9 <430833>John 8:33,39) and so persons are after death represented by them, as speaking to, and discoursing with him; as in the passage cited in the note (see Gill on “<421622>Luke 16:22”) to which the following may be added f507; “says R. Jonathan, from whence does it appear that the dead discourse with each other? it is said, (<053404>Deuteronomy 34:4) “And the Lord said unto him, this is the land which I sware unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, saying”, etc. what is the meaning of the word “saying?” the holy blessed God said to Moses,…”

“Father Abraham--a well-founded, but unavailing, claim of natural descent (Luk 3:8; Joh 8:37). mercy on me--who never showed any (Jam 2:3). send Lazarus--the pining victim of his merciless neglect. that he may--take me hence? No; that he dares not to ask. dip . . . tongue--that is the least conceivable and the most momentary abatement of his torment; that is all. But even this he is told is (1) unreasonable.”

“Father Abraham - The Jews considered it a signal honor that Abraham was their “father” - that is, that they were “descendants” from him. Though this man was now in misery, yet he seems not to have abandoned the idea of his relation to the father of the faithful. The Jews supposed that departed spirits might know and converse with each other. See Lightfoot on this place. Our Saviour speaks in conformity with that prevailing opinion; and as it was not easy to convey ideas about the spiritual world without some such representation, he, therefore, speaks in the language which was usual in his time. We are not, however, to suppose that this was “literally” true, but only that it was designed to…”

“Father Abraham, have mercy on me - It cannot be denied, but here is one precedent in Scripture of praying to departed saints: but who is it that prays, and with what success? Will any, who considers this, be fond of copying after him? Luke 16:25”

“16:24 I am in anguish in these flames: See Matt 25:41; Rev 20:10, 14-15. • Send Lazarus: Ironically, the man was still treating Lazarus as a lowly servant.”

“Father: Luk 16:30, Luk 3:8; Mat 3:9; Joh 8:33-39, Joh 8:53-56; Rom 4:12, Rom 9:7, Rom 9:8 have: Sa1 28:16; Isa 27:11; Jam 2:13 in water: Isa 41:17, Isa 41:18, Isa 65:13, Isa 65:14; Joh 4:10, Joh 4:14, Joh 7:37; Rev 7:16, Rev 7:17, Rev 22:1 and cool: Zac 14:12; Jam 3:6 for: Isa 66:24; Mat 25:41; Mar 9:43-49; Th2 1:8; Rev 14:10, Rev 14:11, Rev 19:20, Rev 20:15 Luke 16:25”