The Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus

Text: Luke 16:19-31

The parable of the rich man and Lazarus, in Luke 16:19-31, stands alone in the Bible. It is the only passage of Scripture which describes the feelings of the unconverted after death. Since there is no greater exploit that anyone can do than to bring an unsaved soul to faith in God, the parable deserves especial attention. There are a few lessons to be learnt from it.

The first is that a man’s worldly condition is not a reflection of his state in the sight of God. One very common but wrong idea that men have is that men are to be valued according to their wealth, health, education, position and power, and that the man who has the most of these is the one who ought to be the most highly esteemed. There is no authority for this notion in the Bible. The general teaching of Scripture is flatly opposed to it.

“26 Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28 He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things–and the things that are not–to nullify the things that are, 29 so that no one may boast before him” (1 Cor. 1:26-29).

“23 This is what the LORD says: ‘Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches, 24 but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,’ declares the LORD” (Jer. 9:23-24).

Wealth is no mark of God’s favour, and poverty is no mark of God’s displeasure. In the parable, the Lord Jesus describes to us two men, of whom one was very rich, and the other very poor. The rich man “was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day.” The clothes he wore were not his best that he wore only on special occasions, but rather were his typical garb. We are also told that he “lived in luxury every day.” Every day was like a party for this man, because he could afford to celebrate extravagantly every day.

The other man was a poor “beggar,” who had nothing that he could call his own. However, the poor beggar was more acceptable and pleasing to God than the rich man; not because he was poor but because he had a heart for God while the rich man did not feel that he had any need for God. Those whom God justifies and glorifies are seldom the rich of this world. If we would measure men as God measures them, we must value them according to the grace of God upon them to please God with their lives (James 2:5- “5 Listen, my dear brothers: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him?”).

Secondly, death is the common end to which all classes of mankind must come (Heb. 9:27- “27 Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment;” Psalm 49). The trials of the “beggar,” and the luxurious living of the “rich man,” alike ceased at last. There came a time when both of them died. Death is a great fact that all acknowledge, but very few seem to realize. Most men eat, and drink, and talk, and plan, as if they were going to live upon the earth forever. The true Christian must be on his guard against this spirit. “He that would live well,” said a great divine, “should often think of his last day, and make it his companion.” There are few better antidotes than the remembrance of death against murmuring, and discontent, and envy that is common among the poor or against pride, self-sufficiency, and arrogance, often found among those in possession of great wealth. “The beggar died,” and his bodily wants came to an end. “The rich man died,” and his feasting and luxurious living was stopped for evermore.

Thirdly, the souls of believers are specially cared for by God in the hour of death. The Lord Jesus tells us that when the beggar died, he “was carried by angels to Abraham’s bosom.” There is something very comforting in this expression. We know little or nothing of the state and feelings of the dead. When our own last hour comes, and we lie down to die, we shall be like those who journey into an unknown country. But it is very satisfying to know that all who fall asleep in Jesus are in good keeping. They are not houseless, homeless wanderers between the hour of death and the day of resurrection. They are at rest in the midst of friends, with all who have had like faith with Abraham. They have no lack of anything. And, best of all, Paul tells us they are “with Christ” (Phil. 1:23).

The fourth thing we learn from this parable is the reality and eternity of hell. The Lord Jesus tells us plainly, that after death the rich man was “in hell–tormented with fire.” He gives us a fearful picture of his longing for a drop of “water to cool his tongue,” and of “the gulf” between him and Abraham, which could not be passed. There are few more dreadful passages perhaps in the whole Bible than this. And He from whose lips it came, be it remembered, was one who delighted in mercy! The certainty and endlessness of the future punishment of the wicked, are truths which we must hold fast and never let go. From the day when Satan said to Eve, “You shall not surely die,” there never have been lacking men who have denied them. Let us not be deceived. There is a hell for the impenitent, as well as a heaven for believers. There is a wrath to come for all who “obey not the Gospel of Christ.” (2 Thess. 1:8.) From that wrath let us flee immediately to the great hiding-place, Jesus Christ the Lord. If men find themselves “in torment” at last, it will not be because there was no way to escape.

In the fifth place, we learn that unconverted men find out the value of a soul, after death, when it is too late. We read that the rich man desired Lazarus might be sent to his five brethren who were yet alive, “lest they also should come to the place of torment.” While he lived, he never did anything for their spiritual good. They had probably been his companions in worldliness, and, like him, had neglected their souls entirely. Now that he is dead, he finds out too late the folly of which they had all been guilty, and desires that, if possible, they might be called to repentance. The change that will come over the minds of unconverted men after death is one of the most fearful points in their future condition. They will see, and know, and understand a hundred things to which they were obstinately blind while they were alive. They will discover that, like Esau, they have bartered away eternal happiness for a mere mess of pottage. There is no infidelity, or skepticism, or unbelief after death. It is a wise saying of an old divine, that “hell is nothing more than truth known too late.”

We learn, lastly, from this parable, that the greatest miracles would have no effect on men’s hearts, if they will not believe God’s Word. The rich man thought that “if one went to his brethren from the dead they would repent.” He argued that the sight of one who came from another world must surely make them feel, though the old familiar words of Moses and the prophets had been heard in vain. The reply of Abraham in Luke 16:31 is solemn and instructive–“31He 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.'”

The principle laid down in these words is of deep importance. The Scriptures contain all that we need to know in order to be saved, and a messenger from the world beyond the grave could add nothing to them. It is not ‘more evidence’ that is needed in order to make men repent, but more heart and will to make use of what they already know. The ‘dead’ could tell us nothing more than the Bible contains, if they rose from their graves to instruct us. After the first novelty of their testimony has worn away, we would care no more for their words than the words of any other. This wretched waiting for something which we have not, and neglect of what we already have, is the ruin of thousands of souls. Faith, simple faith in the Scriptures which we already possess, is the first thing needed for salvation. The man who has the Bible, and can read it, and yet waits for more evidence before he decides to be a Christian, is deceiving himself. Except he awakens from his delusion he will die in his sins.