Knowing The Word in Luke 16:19-31, The Rich Man and Lazarus

In this section, Jesus may be returning to a theme from the Parable of the Prodigal Son and the attitude of the older brother when he tells us of a rich man. This is one of the few teachings by Jesus on the afterlife. The fine purple linen the rich man wears speaks of the ultimate in luxury, and the sumptuous food means he led a happy life. There is no grave sin mentioned in this parable except that the man lived for himself and did not notice or look out for others. Lazarus, meaning “God has helped”—because no one else has—is the only character Jesus names in a parable. The rich man had all he needed; Lazarus had nothing. When Lazarus dies, he is carried to the bosom of Abraham, signifying he is faithful and implying he is at a festive table next to the patriarch. When the rich man dies, he finds himself in Hades, the abode of all the departed in the Old Testament. However, in the New Testament it is never used for the place of the saved, such as Lazarus, but for the unsaved. From Hades in torment, the rich man, who showed no mercy, asks for mercy, but it is too late. In the afterlife there is no passing from one state to the other. There is arrogance in his request of asking the poor man to serve him with a cool drink. He had chosen what he wanted in life, not delighting in the word of God and serving the poor. He only served himself. The man’s arrogance comes out again in assuming Lazarus can be dispatched to give a message of warning to his brothers. He implies that if he had had more information, he would have made different choices and would be with Abraham now, but God, as Jesus teaches, 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 (Jesus) would change their hearts. The Old Testament clearly spells out how to love a neighbor. God has not left his people without warning.

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.’”

Prayer: O Savior, pour upon me your spirit of meekness and love, annihilate the selfhood in me, be in all my life. Guide my hand which trembles exceedingly upon the rock of ages.

William Blake, 1757-1827