September 21, 2025
Luke 16:19–31 ESV
“There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores. The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried, and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. 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.’ 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. 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.’ And he said, ‘Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father’s house— for I have five brothers—so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.’ But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.’ And he said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ 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.’ ”
Discussion Questions:
We will be discussion this parable during the next two studies.
- Explain the parable and its lesson.
Discussion Summary:
The parable of the rich man and Lazarus is complex and filled with many fantastical elements. Overall, it depicts a reversal of circumstances between the present and the future, between this life and a time of judgement. Those who are not satisfied with the present life and seek for relief in Jesus will be rewarded in the future life (Luke 6:20-26).
Contextually, Jesus has been contrasting the present religious leaders with the poor and sinful who were responding to his message. In this parable the rich man well represents these religious leaders who had just been called out for their love of money (Luke 16:14). Their “5 brothers” in the parable (verses 27-31) are of the same class as these leaders. They are demanding a sign from Jesus that he is the Messiah (Matthew 12:39-41). But as foretold, no matter what sign is given, they will not believe because their hearts are hardened through pride.
The torment that the rich man experiences describes the judgement that will come upon this class for their rejection of Jesus (Matthew 21:42-46; Luke 11:39-52).
The beggar in this parable represents the poor, the crippled, the lame and the blind of Luke 14:24. They also represent the same class as the prodigal son of Luke 15:11-32. The beggar is named Lazarus. This points to the man Lazarus from John 11 who was raised from the dead. Instead of this causing the religious leaders to believe in Jesus, he caused them to hate him. John 11:53, “From that day on they made plans to put him [Jesus] to death.
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