Is Tobias from the Book of Tobit in the Bible a saint who can intercede on our behalf ?
I’d like to extend this question to prophets of the Old Testament like Jonah, are they people who intercede for us ?
Hebrews 11:32-40 says the Old Testament prophets are saints and it indicates that they inherited heaven when Jesus came. That obviously covers Jonah, and it is my understanding that it would cover Tobias too. Some of the early Church Fathers considered him a prophet too (I think) because of Tobit 13:11-23 and Tobit 14:5-10:
Tobit 13:11-23“[11] Jerusalem, city of God, the Lord hath chastised thee for the works of thy hands. [12] Give glory to the Lord for thy good things, and bless the God eternal, that he may rebuild his tabernacle in thee, and may call back all the captives to thee, and thou mayst rejoice for ever and ever. [13] Thou shalt shine with a glorious light: and all the ends of the earth shall glory in thee. [14] Nations from afar shall come to thee: and shall bring gifts, and shall adore the Lord in thee, and shall esteem thy land as holy. [15] For they shall call upon the great name in thee. …
[21] The gates of Jerusalem shall be built of sapphire, and of emerald, and all the walls thereof round about of precious stones. [22] All its streets shall be paved with white and clean stones: and Alleluia shall be sung in its streets. [23] Blessed be the Lord, who hath exalted it, and may he reign over it for ever and ever, Amen.”Tobit 14:5-10 “[5] And at the hour of his death he called unto him his son Tobias and his children, seven young men, his grandsons, and said to them: [6] The destruction of Nineveh is at hand: for the word of the Lord must be fulfilled: and our brethren, that are scattered abroad from the land of Israel, shall return to it. [7] And all the land thereof that is desert shall be filled with people, and the house of God which is burnt in it, shall again be rebuilt: and all that fear God shall return thither. [8] And the Gentiles shall leave their idols, and shall come into Jerusalem, and shall dwell in it. [9] And all the kings of the earth shall rejoice in it, adoring the King of Israel.” So yes, they are both prophets, and according to Hebrews 11:32-40 that makes them saints, and therefore they can intercede for us.
