Author's Note: Readers can find all previous volumes of this series here. The first 56 volumes are compiled into the book "Bible Study For Those Who Don't Read The Bible." Part Two, featuring volumes 57-113, will be published later this year.
Thank you for joining our study about The Rich Man and Lazarus. There is much to learn from this short parable that Jesus told His disciples, found only in Luke’s gospel.
Before we review the passage, here are three nuggets of interest and clarification. First, “Lazarus” is not the similarly named friend whom Jesus famously raised from the dead. (See Vol. 52.)
Second, “The Rich Man and Lazarus” was the only parable where Jesus honored a character by name. Even more notable since Lazarus was a lowly beggar, “covered in sores,” contrasted with the unnamed “rich man” who “lived in luxury.”
Third, the phrase “licking his wounds” — meaning retreating or recovering from an embarrassing misstep or defeat — stems from this parable. (See Vol. 67 for more common sayings rooted in the Bible.)
After reading the brief passage, we discuss what Jesus wanted His disciples (and us) to learn from this story. It begins:
“There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores. (Or “wounds” in some translations.)
“The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side.
“So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’
“But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’
“He [rich man] answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my family, for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’
“Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’
‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’
“He [Abraham] said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead ’” (Luke 16: 19-31).
What stands out in this parable is a reversal of fortune. It starts when “angels carried” the lowly Lazarus to the coveted place, “Abraham’s side” — also known by tradition and in some translations as “Abraham’s bosom.” Abraham is the forefather of Israel, and his “side” is “the place of blessedness to which the righteous dead go to await future vindication,” according to the footnote in my NIV Study Bible.
Although not stated therein, the rich man ignored the hungry Lazarus outside his gate. Then he also died and was now “tormented” in “Hades.” (The “place where the deceased souls of the wicked are detained until the Last Judgement,” according to my Ignatius Study Bible footnote, similar to the NIV footnote.) All agree that Hades is not a preferred destination.
Thus, the rich man who neglected Lazarus suffered in death, while Lazarus, who suffered on earth, snuggled peacefully with Abraham. Remember that Jesus told this story as a warning.
From Hades, the rich man saw Abraham and called out, “‘Father Abraham, have pity on me '” — requesting Lazarus to deliver a drop of water to “‘cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’” Even while suffering, the rich man’s request shows that he had no remorse and continued his feeling of superiority over Lazarus.
Abraham summarized the turnaround telling the rich man that he received a lifetime of reward, whereas Lazarus had none. “‘But now he is comforted here and you are in agony.’”
Note: See Vol. 128 for a faith-based charitable action to help someone in need.
Abraham also told the rich man more bad news, “‘a great chasm has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’ ”
Nonetheless, the crafty rich man offered Abraham an alternative workaround. He begged Abraham to “send Lazarus” on a mission of mercy to his five brothers: “'Let him [Lazarus] warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’”
The story ends with a brilliant twist when Jesus foreshadows His death and resurrection:
Abraham told the rich man there was no reason for Lazarus to warn the rich man’s five brothers because “They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’" Translation: “Moses and the Prophets” means the Old Testament/Hebrew Bible, where God told His people to help the poor. (For starters, see Leviticus 23:22 and Deuteronomy 15:9.)
However, the passage implied that the rich man’s brothers also ignored God’s charitable requirements. So, the rich man suggested to Abraham that the only way they might change their selfish, sinful way was “'if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’”
The parable ends with Abraham making a “mic drop” statement that would have confounded Jesus’s disciples. Abraham informed the rich man:
“‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’”
Using the parable, Jesus told His people and Jewish leaders that they were not “listening” to the Messianic prophecies in the Hebrew Bible. (See Vols. 93 and 94.) They were not repenting from sin even though the Messiah dwelt among them and would soon rise from the dead.
It is no wonder the Jewish leaders wanted to be rid of Jesus. Even worse, Jesus evoked Abraham’s name to tell them their behavior mirrored that of the rich man’s five brothers.
This parable teaches us that we must help those in need, repent of our sins, and believe in the One who rose from the dead:
“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6).
Abraham’s bosom was a stopover for the righteous until Jesus opened the gates of heaven. Amen to that!
Myra Kahn Adams is a conservative political and religious writer with numerous national credits. Her book, "Bible Study For Those Who Don't Read The Bible,” reprints the first 56 volumes of this popular study. Myra is also Executive Director of SignFromGod.org, a ministry dedicated to education about the Shroud of Turin. Contact: MyraAdams01@gmail.com or Twitter @MyraKAdams.
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