*Luke 16:19-31
Jesus describes a wealthy man who ignores a poor beggar named Lazarus, and their fates are reversed after death.
- The Rich Man’s Life:
- The rich man lives in luxury, wearing fine clothes and enjoying daily feasts.
- He remains oblivious to Lazarus, a beggar lying at his gate, who is covered in sores and longs for scraps from the rich man’s table.
- Lazarus’s Life:
- Lazarus endures extreme poverty and illness, receiving no help from the rich man.
- Dogs come to lick his sores, underscoring his helpless state.
- Afterlife Contrasts:
- Both the rich man and Lazarus die.
- Lazarus is carried by angels to Abraham’s side (often referred to as “Abraham’s bosom”), a place of comfort and honor.
- The rich man finds himself in torment in Hades, where he sees Lazarus with Abraham from a distance.
- Plea for Relief:
- The rich man begs Abraham to have Lazarus dip the tip of his finger in water to cool his tongue, as he suffers in agony.
- Abraham reminds him of his lifetime of comfort and Lazarus’s suffering, pointing out that a great chasm now separates them, preventing passage.
- Request for Warning:
- The rich man pleads with Abraham to send Lazarus to warn his five brothers about this place of torment.
- Abraham replies that the brothers have Moses and the prophets to guide them, meaning the Scriptures should be sufficient.
- Final Rejection:
- The rich man insists that a messenger from the dead would convince his brothers to repent.
- Abraham states that if they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, they will not be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead.
16:19 There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: 16:20 And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, 16:21 And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.
16:22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; 16:23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
16:24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.
16:25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.
16:26 And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.
16:27 Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father’s house: 16:28 For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.
16:29 Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.
16:30 And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.
16:31 And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.