19 There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: 20 And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, 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. 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; 23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
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. 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. 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.
27 Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father’s house: 28 For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. 29 Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. 30 And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. 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. (Luke 16:19-31 KJV)
The Rich Man and Lazarus
As the parable of the prodigal son illustrates the grace of the gospel, which encourages us all, this one sets before us the wrath to come and is meant to awaken us. Those who remain asleep in sin after hearing it are deeply hardened. The Pharisees mocked Christ’s sermon against worldliness; this parable was meant to sober those mockers. The gospel of Christ aims to reconcile us to poverty and affliction and arm us against temptations to worldliness and sensuality. This parable, by revealing the end of both in the next world, powerfully supports those goals.
Unlike Christ’s other parables, which use worldly illustrations to represent spiritual truths, this one presents the spiritual realities directly through a narrative of the contrasting conditions of the righteous and the wicked in this life and the next. It need not be viewed as a specific historical account, but rather as a truth played out repeatedly: poor godly people suffer and die, entering heavenly joy, while selfish, indulgent rich people die and go into torment. The vivid discourse between Abraham and the rich man is a narrative device to make the lesson more impactful, much like the dialogue between God and Satan in Job. Christ came to reveal the reality of the next world and how this life relates to it, and here he does so.
We first observe the different conditions of a wicked rich man and a godly poor man in this life. Many Jews believed prosperity marked God’s favor, making it hard for them to view a poor man favorably. Christ regularly corrected this misconception, doing so here in detail.
A wicked man, ultimately condemned, lives in luxury (Luke 16:19). He is unnamed, perhaps because Christ did not want to offend by naming a particular person, or to show that worldly fame does not endure. He wore purple and fine linen, the clothing of royalty, and feasted lavishly every day. None of this, in itself, is a sin—wealth, fine clothes, and good food are not condemned. We’re not told he was dishonest or drunken. But:
- A person can enjoy wealth, honor, and pleasure and yet be eternally lost.
- Worldly abundance often leads people into luxury, sensuality, and spiritual neglect.
- Pleasures of the body can become ruinous to the soul when they foster pride and self-indulgence.
- Feeding ourselves and our friends while ignoring the needs of the poor is especially offensive to God.
His sin was not his lifestyle alone, but his selfishness and disregard for the needy.
Then we have a godly man, destined for eternal happiness, in extreme adversity (Luke 16:20). A beggar named Lazarus, possibly known to the community, was deeply afflicted.
- His body was covered with sores—like Job’s—a painful and degrading condition.
- He was laid at the rich man’s gate, too weak to move himself, hoping for crumbs from the rich man’s table (Luke 16:21). He didn’t demand a full meal—just scraps. He didn’t complain loudly or draw attention to himself, but humbly wished to be fed with what fell from the table. This shows his distress and his meek disposition. He was poor, yet spiritually rich.
While the rich man was feasting inside, this child of God was starving outside. The rich man did not abuse or harm Lazarus directly, but showed no concern for him. A small act of kindness could have helped, but he offered none. To neglect those in need is to be an unfaithful steward, and Christ warns that those who refuse to feed the hungry will face judgment (Matthew 25:42-43).
Even the dogs were more compassionate than the rich man. They came and licked Lazarus’s sores. This may either highlight his misery—his sores attracted them—or suggest some comfort, as licking might have soothed his wounds. Either way, the dogs showed more sympathy than the man who had the means to help.
Now we see the different condition of these two men at and after death. Both died (Luke 16:22). Death is universal—rich and poor, godly and ungodly meet the same end. But what follows is very different.
The beggar died first. His miserable life ended swiftly, and he was carried by angels into Abraham’s bosom. His soul remained conscious and active, entering the world of spirits. Angels carried him—God’s messengers caring for his soul, guiding and guarding it to its eternal home. This is the honor God gives to his saints.
He was carried to Abraham’s bosom—a Jewish phrase for heaven. Abraham, the father of the faithful, receives the faithful to himself as honored guests. At feasts, guests leaned on one another, so this imagery reflects intimate fellowship. The rich man had denied Lazarus entry to his house, but now Lazarus is welcomed into God’s palace.
The rich man also died and was buried. His funeral was likely grand, with mourners and speeches praising his generosity and lifestyle. Meanwhile, Lazarus had no burial recorded—perhaps tossed into a pit. But the true contrast is not in their funerals, but in their eternal destinations.
In hell, the rich man lifted up his eyes in torment (Luke 16:23). He was in hades—the place of the dead—and in extreme anguish. Just as saints enter joy upon death, the wicked enter torment. He had lived for earthly pleasures and had no capacity for heavenly ones. Having rejected mercy and shown no mercy, he received judgment without mercy. He also suffered from knowing Lazarus’s joy: he saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. It was not just torment—it was torment magnified by the sight of what he had missed and who had received it.
The dialogue between the rich man and Abraham reflects the eternal separation between the righteous and the wicked. While it may not depict literal conversation, it expresses real spiritual truths. Scripture tells us that the righteous and the wicked are aware of each other’s fate (Revelation 14:10; Isaiah 66:23-24), and this story illustrates that vividly.
The rich man pleads with Abraham for relief (Luke 16:24). He cries out, calling him “Father Abraham.” Many in hell may claim Abraham as their ancestor, having belonged to his physical lineage, but that is no refuge. He had likely mocked Abraham during his life, but now seeks his mercy. This foreshadows how many will call Christ “Lord, Lord” when it is too late (Matthew 7:21).
He asks Abraham to send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool his tongue, for he is tormented in the flame. This shows the intensity of his suffering and his unchanged attitude—still seeing Lazarus as a servant beneath him. He does not repent or acknowledge his sin but seeks only relief from the pain.
Abraham replies, “Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented” (Luke 16:25). He reminds the rich man that he had his pleasures in life while ignoring others’ suffering. Now the roles are reversed. Abraham affirms the justice of the situation—each is receiving what is fitting.
Besides this, there is a great gulf fixed between them, preventing any passage from one place to the other (Luke 16:26). This shows the finality of eternal destinies. No prayers, no intercessions, no offerings can bridge that gulf after death. It is a solemn warning to make peace with God now, while there is still time.
The rich man then begs that Lazarus be sent to warn his five brothers so they don’t end up in this place of torment (Luke 16:27-28). He becomes concerned not for others in general, but for his own family. He recognizes too late the danger they’re in. He hopes a message from the dead will persuade them to repent.
But Abraham responds that they have Moses and the Prophets—God’s Word is sufficient. “Let them hear them,” he says (Luke 16:29). The Scriptures are the appointed means by which God speaks to sinners. If they reject the Word of God, even a miracle like someone rising from the dead will not convince them.
The rich man insists that if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent. But Abraham affirms, “If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead” (Luke 16:31). Christ here makes a profound point: those who are hardened against Scripture will not be converted by signs or wonders. This foreshadowed his own resurrection, which many would still not believe.
Thus ends this sobering parable—a powerful reminder of the eternal consequences of our choices in this life, the sufficiency of Scripture, and the mercy of God toward the humble and poor in spirit.