Knowing The Word in Luke 16:19-31

The Rich Man and Lazarus

16:19 “There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. 20 And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, 21 who desired to be fed with what fell from the

rich man's table. Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores. 22 The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried, 23 and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. 24 And he called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.’25 But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish. 26 And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.’ 27 And he said, ‘Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father's house— 28 for I have five brothers—so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.’ 29 But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.’ 30 And he said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ 31 He said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.’”

Comments

This parable is unique to Luke. It may be that Jesus is returning to a theme from the Parable of the Prodigal Son and the attitude of the older brother when he tells us of the rich man. The purple color and fine linen speak of the ultimate in luxury, and the sumptuous food means he led an easy, happy life. There is no grave sin mentioned in this parable except that the rich man lived for himself and did not notice or look out for others.

Lazarus was the only character Jesus named in a parable. The name Lazarus means “God has helped,” because no person helped him, only the dogs who licked his wounds. Jesus presented contrasting conditions: one man had all he needed; the other had nothing while alive. After their deaths, Jesus revealed another contrast: Lazarus is seated next to Abraham, signifying he is faithful and implying he is at a festive table next to the patriarch. The rich man, however, is in Hades. Hades was the abode of all the faithful departed in the Old Testament, but in the New Testament it is never used for the place of the saved. Hades now seems to be the same as the Old Testament Gehenna, the place of eternal fire and punishment for the dead.

One wonders if seeing Lazarus next to Abraham made it even worse for the rich man. The man who showed no mercy while alive, asked Abraham for mercy. There was arrogance in his request, asking the poor man to serve him. Earth’s standards and values, however, no longer applied. The poor man was not going to serve the rich man. While alive, the rich man chose what he wanted, not delighting in the word of God and serving the poor, but by serving himself. By asking Abraham to send a warning to his brothers, he appeared interested in others for the first time. The man’s arrogance came out again in assuming Lazarus can be dispatched to give the message. He implied that if he had had more information, he would have made different choices and would be with Abraham now.

Jesus ended the parable with a warning to the Pharisees and those like the rich man: God has already given his people all the information they need. For those who do not heed and believe in Scripture, not even a resurrected person would change their hearts. The Old Testament clearly spells out how to love a neighbor. All of Jesus’ teaching on loving one’s neighbor as oneself is already in the Hebrew Scriptures.

Application

Consider why the rich man did not notice Lazarus. What people do you not notice in life? Are there people you see regularly, but you do not know their name or anything about their life? Do you care about their condition?

This is one of the few times Jesus gives us insight into the afterlife. What have you learned from this parable? He does not give us much information, but he does give us enough to consider it a warning.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, you reveal heavenly things to us that our hearts may be fixed on the heart and will of God in our earthly lives. Help us to live daily that we may reflect your awesome, sacrificial love for others.