The Rich Man and Lazarus

The audience (16:13-14). Jesus had just said, “You cannot serve God and mammon.” Mammon means wealth, money trusted and served like a master. “Now the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, also heard all these things, and they derided Him.” Derided means they mocked Him. This story is part of Jesus' answer. Purple and fine linen (16:19). The rich man “was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day.” He had the finest clothes and a feast every day. Nothing in his life seemed to be missing. At his gate (16:20-21). Lazarus was “full of sores” and “was laid at his gate, desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table.” Laid means someone put him there. The dogs came and licked his sores. A name (16:20). Jesus called the beggar by his name. Lazarus is the Greek form of the Hebrew name Eleazar (say: el-ee-AY-zar), which means God has helped. He is a different man from Lazarus of Bethany in John 11. Wealth is not the sin. Paul told Timothy to command the rich “not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy” (1 Timothy 6:17). He did not tell them to stop being rich. He warned that “the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil” (6:10). The trouble begins when money becomes the master. Blind at his own gate. Later the rich man asks for Lazarus by name (16:24), so he knew exactly who was outside his gate. It seems he passed him day after day and kept his good things for himself (16:25). Application. “For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?” (Matthew 16:26). Ask what you are tempted to serve: money, things, being liked. Then ask who is at your gate: the new kid, the lonely neighbor, the family member who needs help. Serving God includes seeing them.

The beggar died (16:22). “So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham's bosom.” The rich man was buried. Lazarus was carried by angels. Abraham's bosom. To be in someone's bosom is to be held close at his side. Lazarus was received by Abraham, the father of all who believe (Romans 4:11). The beggar from the gate was welcomed like family. Hades (16:23). “And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.” Hades (say: HAY-deez) is the Greek word for the place of the dead. Jesus speaks of it plainly: torment, a flame, thirst, and a clear memory of the life that was over (16:23-25). Son (16:25). “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.” Abraham still calls him son. Being born into Abraham's family was not enough. What he needed was Abraham's faith. Not money, but faith. Lazarus was not comforted for being poor, and riches did not shut the rich man out. Abraham was very rich (Genesis 13:2), and “he believed in the Lord, and He accounted it to him for righteousness” (Genesis 15:6). Rich or poor, people are made right with God by faith. Why Jesus warned. Jesus spoke about Hades because He came to rescue people from it. God says, “I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live” (Ezekiel 33:11). Application. Hades is real, and so is God's comfort. A believer does not need to fear death: “he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life” (John 5:24). If you have not trusted Jesus, do not wait. If you have, thank Him and pray for the people you love.

Have mercy (16:24). “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.” The man who feasted every day now begs for a drop on the tongue. Still asking for Lazarus. Even in torment he speaks of Lazarus as someone to be sent (16:24, 27). It seems his heart had not changed: he still saw the beggar as a servant. Good things (16:25). “In your lifetime you received your good things.” He had received good gifts and kept them for himself. A great gulf (16:26). “Between us and you there is a great gulf fixed.” The Greek word is chasma (say: KAZ-mah), a wide, deep gap; our word chasm comes from it. Fixed means set firmly in place. No crossing (16:26). “So that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us.” Jesus teaches that after death there is no road from one side to the other. Hebrews says it is appointed for people to die once, and after this the judgment (Hebrews 9:27). Today matters. This is why the Bible speaks with urgency. “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:2). The God who fixed the gulf is patient now, so that people can turn to Him: “Let him return to the Lord, And He will have mercy on him; And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon” (Isaiah 55:7). Application. Do not treat God's patience as a reason to wait. If you know you need to turn to Jesus, do it today. If you belong to Him already, pray by name for friends and family who do not know Him yet.

The brothers (16:27-28). “I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father's house, for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.” Now he cares about his family. He wants them to have a warning he never listened to himself. Moses and the prophets (16:29). “They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.” This is a name for the Scriptures of Israel: the Law given through Moses and the writings of the prophets. Today we call them the Old Testament. Repent (16:30). “No, father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.” The Greek word is metanoeo (say: meh-tah-noh-EH-oh), to change your mind and turn around. The rich man knew what his brothers needed. He thought a miracle would get them there. Not persuaded (16:31). “If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.” God's Word was already enough. A heart that refuses God's Word will find a way to refuse a miracle too. One rose. Jesus later died and rose again “according to the Scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:4). His rising is the greatest sign God has given, and still many did not believe. Wise for salvation. Paul reminded Timothy that from childhood he had known the Holy Scriptures, “which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 3:15). The Word does more than give facts. It leads to faith in Jesus. Application. Do not wait for a sign before you take God seriously. You have Moses, the prophets and the whole New Testament. “Today, if you will hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts” (Hebrews 3:15). Read a passage this week, ask God to speak, and do what it says.