The rich man in this passage is depicted as suffering intensely in hell, tormented not only by his own anguish but also by the dreadful realization that his family may share the same fate. His misery is compounded by the awareness that those he loves remain on the same path of destruction. Within this account, Scripture reveals several indicators that led to his eternal ruin—signs that characterize those who are bound for judgment.

The hell-bound take the Word of God lightly.

One defining mark of the hell-bound is a dismissive or indifferent attitude toward the Word of God. Though the rich man was a Jew and therefore regularly exposed to the preaching and teaching of Scripture, his heart remained unmoved. He showed no genuine concern for applying God’s Word to his life. Rather than esteeming Scripture as primary, he relegated it to a secondary place beneath religious tradition and outward expressions of piety. External religiosity replaced heartfelt obedience.

When Jesus refers to “Moses and the Prophets,” He is affirming the authority of the Old Testament—what we now understand as both the Old and New Testament that make up the Bible. This principle extends to the whole of God’s Word. Scripture possesses ultimate authority because it proceeds from God Himself; it stands above all human opinions, traditions, and philosophies as the final standard for truth and morality. When Scripture speaks, God speaks. It reveals who He is, who we are, and how we may be saved. It confronts sin, corrects error, and calls for obedience. God’s Word is not merely theological in abstraction; it is personal and demands response. Just as Noah obeyed God’s command to build the ark in faith, so every hearer is called to trust and obey. The hell-bound, however, resist this authority through deliberate lawlessness—an inward rebellion that eventually manifests outwardly.

Jesus further emphasizes that the Word of God is sufficient to save. No miraculous sign, not even a resurrection, can persuade a hardened heart apart from Scripture. The doctrine of the sufficiency of Scripture teaches that the Bible contains all that is necessary for salvation and for a life of faithful obedience. It clearly reveals God’s plan to reconcile sinners to Himself through His Son, Jesus Christ. No additional spectacle or human innovation is required to accomplish what God has already provided in His Word.

Scripture is sufficient because it is effective. As Isaiah declares, God’s Word accomplishes His purposes and does not return void. The Holy Spirit, who inspired the Scriptures, works powerfully through them to convict and regenerate. If the Spirit does not move upon the sinner’s heart, that person remains governed by self-will and spiritual blindness. The fundamental problem, therefore, is not lack of evidence but resistance of the heart.

True hearing of God’s Word produces faith, understanding, submission, and trust. Many may listen outwardly, but few receive the gospel with humility and openness. Without divine revelation, sinners cannot rightly grasp God’s holiness or the depth of their own sin. The rich man’s tragedy was not ignorance but indifference. A heart filled with pride and love of sin grows increasingly hardened over time. Salvation ultimately hinges not on the extent of knowledge but on the posture of one’s heart before God.

The hell-bound is natural and earthly.

Another defining characteristic of the hell-bound is a natural, earthly mindset. The rich man’s request that Abraham send someone to appear before his brothers reveals his belief that visible proof would be more persuasive than Scripture. For him, seeing would produce believing. Yet Scripture teaches that the natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are spiritually discerned. Human reasoning, pragmatism, and sensory evidence often take precedence over divine revelation in the natural mind.

The rich man’s proposed solution is centered on spectacle rather than Scripture. In doing so, he reflected a worldview grounded in human creativity and showmanship. If his brothers relied on such methods, they too would follow him into judgment. Signs and dramatic experiences cannot create genuine repentance. Even Judas Iscariot witnessed countless miracles performed by Jesus, yet his heart remained unconverted. Abraham’s response makes clear that salvation does not come through visible wonders but through the faithful proclamation of God’s Word.

The hell-bound does not live by faith.

Finally, the hell-bound are marked by an absence of true faith. Hearing the Word of God is essential, for it is the ordained means by which saving faith is granted. Through Scripture, the spiritually dead are made alive. Genuine repentance produces outward change because it flows from inward transformation. No one is brought to saving faith apart from God’s revealed Word, and those who reject it will not be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead. The raising of Lazarus demonstrated this sobering reality, as many still refused to believe despite witnessing extraordinary power.

How, then, can we know whether we are heaven-bound rather than hell-bound? Jesus teaches that true disciples abide in His Word, know the truth, and are set free by it. Authentic conversion bears fruit in a life of ongoing sanctification. Christians are not sinless, but they are marked by a growing hatred of sin, a continual struggle against the flesh, and an increasing love for and conformity to the Lord Jesus Christ.

The reality of hell carries eternal weight. If hell exists—and Scripture affirms that it does—it should profoundly shape our priorities and our concern for others. This parable calls us to sober self-examination and earnest compassion for every soul we encounter. After death, the opportunity for repentance is gone. As R.C. Sproul solemnly warned, a true understanding of hell’s reality should drive us urgently and humbly to the cross—the only refuge for sinners and the only path to eternal life.