The Parable of Lazarus and the rich Man
Luke 16:19-31
The “Parable of Lazarus and the Rich Man” is one of Jesus’ most well-known parables. It has been used by those who would show that Jesus taught about hell. Jesus taught that hell and eternal punishment were real. There are those who try to soften this by saying the rich man was not in hell but Hades. They would say that Jesus called hell “Gehenna” which was a place outside Jerusalem which served as a garbage dump. As so, it continuously burned day and night. Bodies of dead criminals or the poor who had no next of kin were often thrown into this garbage dump. their flesh would be consumed, but that was it. This is especially popular in circles which deny that eternal punishment in hell exists. But this parable shows that the rich man was being tormented in (Hades/hell by the flames. This, of course, is not the only place where Jesus and the Scriptures talk of everlasting punishment.
Then there are those who see the parables of Jesus as using fictional characters. This view sees Jesus as simply teaching a story. They would say that neither the rich man in the story nor Lazarus were real people. Parables are introduced with the formula “a certain person.” This is the only parable where someone is named. does the generic “a certain person” mean that they could not be literal historical persons as well? What if the hearers knew of this certain rich man? Perhaps some knew Lazarus s the man they dumped at the rich person’s gate? Whereas, it the historicity of the characters such as the Prodigal Son or Lazarus here cannot be proved, it seems the fact that Lazarus is named gives credence that he was a real person. It also seems best to take all the characters of Jesus’ parables literally in the absence of evidence to the contrary.
Having dealt with these issues up front, let us look at the parable itself. a parable is n illustration of a truth. So the interpretation of the parable is incomplete without discovering the link. We are also helped by identifying the people whom Jesus told the parable.
The parable is about a certain rich man. He is unnamed. As we will see, the fact that he isn’t named and Lazarus is is important. We do know some things about him. We know that he was rich and was used to living the good life. He had a good home, rich friends, and plenty to eat. We also know that he had brothers. Because he addresses Abraham directly, we can surmise that his is Jewish. The fact that Jesus tells him that his brothers have Moses and the prophets to warn them is further proof that he was Jewish. It is also a good possibility that he was a Pharisee as well as many of Jesus’ other parables in this part of Luke are addressed to the Pharisees.
We know some things about Lazarus. He has a name which means “He whom God helps.” This is ironic as he receives no earthly help. We know he was a beggar who was laid at the gate of the rich man. He is also like the rich man, a Jew, and therefore a Jewish brother who should have been cared for. Unfortunately, there is no indication that the rich man fulfilled his covenantal obligation to help the man, even though he was more than capable. The most that could be surmised was that he got to eat from the crumbs from the rich man’s table. However, this is not directly stated. We know that stale bread was used to clean the hands of guests at a banquet after dinner. this served the use of napkins in those days upon which the greasy fingers of the diners were wiped. This bread was then usually thrown to the dogs. Lazarus desired that he might eat of the dog food, but all he got from the dogs was getting his sores licked. He was just as wretched as the Prodigal Son who in his hunger desired pig food.
But Lazarus is not portrayed as a prodigal. He did not leave the home of a rich man, his father, to go into the world and waste his substance. The Pharisees, though, saw beggars as being sinners cursed of God. they would have seen that it was God’s punishment on Lazarus for his sin as much as the rich man must have been blessed by God for his goodness. Lazarus gets dumped at the gate of the rich man, but this time there was none to welcome him but the dogs. the hearers of the Pharisees would have understood the parable this way until Jesus turned the tables.
Jesus then relates that both men died. there is no controversy here as well. Everyone born in this world dies. but what happens next. This is where Jesus’ parable takes a most shocking turn.
what would have been expected by the hearers is that the cursed body of Lazarus would have ended up being burned in Gehenna outside of Jerusalem, as compared to the proper burial of the rich man, followed by eternal punishment in hell/Hades. They would have expected the rich man to be taken by the angels to Abraham’s bosom, But, instead of this Jesus says that it was Lazarus was in heaven at the side of Father Abraham instead of the rich man who was being tormented in hellfire. They would have said something to the effect of “God forbid!” “God would certainly not do such a wicked thing!”
If the hearers were shocked, just think how shocked the rich man was! Perhaps in his dying moments, his thoughts were that he was about to go to Abraham’s side in heaven. He was a good Jew. The fact he had a blessed life in this world was proof. He attended synagogue. He had heard Moses. But when he took his last breath, he immediately knew something had gone wrong. Instead of heaven, he was being tormented in hell. He probably screamed out something like: “Why am I here!” “Surely this is a mistake!” He was able to look up toward heaven, and to his shock, he saw the once wretched Lazarus in what he thought was his place. I think the Lord let him see this because it was his lack and care of Lazarus in this life which condemned him. After all, the Law commands the care of the poor. especially those under the covenant.
It is at this time, he cries out to Abraham for mercy. Abraham, like the other saints will assist the Lord in the judgment of men and angels, answers him. It was too late for mercy. The rich man had good things in his earthly life without considering what came next. Lazarus had evil things in this life. He was being comforted. One should not necessarily come to the conclusion that having riches is a condemning curse in heaven. Nor should one conclude that poverty os a free ticket to heaven. The rich man was in Hades because he failed to keep his covenant obligations, Had he shown mercy, such as to Lazarus, things would have come out better for him. After all, Abraham had riches in this life and was now enjoying eternal bliss. We don’t know directly about Lazarus’ faith other than the fact that one one attains to heaven apart from God’s grace through faith.
The rich man knows that it is too late for him to receive mercy. How awful is his predicament. But he does care for his natural earthly brothers. He did not care for Lazarus. But now he wanted Lazarus to come with just a sip of water to comfort him. But Abraham answers that this cannot happen as there was a great gulf fixed between them. But he now pleads for mercy for his presumably rich brothers. He tries to order Abraham to send Lazarus to warn them. So, his brothers must have known Lazarus also. Perhaps they passed him at the gate to their brother’s house on the way to feast sumptuously. It sounds like they ignored Lazarus’ need as well. BUT Abraham tells the rich man that he cannot do this. They have Moses and the prophets to warn them. If they neither believed Moses and the Prophets, neither would they believe if one rose from the dead.
Now we need to link the parable to the main point Jesus is making. there are other applications which we have discussed. But the main point is centered around the death and resurrection of Jesus Himself. Parables are not allegories. We need not make Jesus a beggar at the rich man’s gate, It is rightly said that Jesus was born both into obscurity and poverty. But Jesus was also called a “glutton” and a “winebibber” as well. This is because Jesus went to feast with tax-collectors and sinners. This does not imply that he acted in any way improperly with them. He went to the feast to seek the lost. We also know that Jesus was buried in the tomb of a rich man, Joseph of Arimethea and not burned in Gehena. But, he was like Lazarus considered to be cursed by God. He was hung upon a tree which was seen as the curse of God upon Him. He ascended back to his place at the bosom of the Father which is even higher than Abraham’s bosom. And those who did not sow the proper regard to the person of Jesus will suffer the punishment of the rich man.
We also learn how important the testimony of what we call the “Old Testament” is. We must also believe Moses and the Prophets before we can believe in Jesus’s resurrection. The Scripture is the primary foundational witness to the person of Jesus. Jesus Himself tells us this. He opened up the Scripture to the disciples on the Emmaus Road to show that it was necessary for Christ to suffer and then enter into His glory. (Luke 24:26-27). He later opened up the Scripture to the eleven that night that all that had happened to Jesus was foretold in Scripture (Luke 24:44-48). If Jesus thought this important, so should we. We must warn and instruct the people from Moses and the Prophets (The Old Testament) before we can present Jesus as risen from the dead. there is no gulf too great for Him. But they must be reached in this life. After they did and end up in hell, it is too late.
So, there you have it, The rich man has no name. the poor beggar has one. The one has a proper burial but ends up in hell. the beggar doesn’t but ends up in heaven. The rich man now has nothing, but Lazarus everything. Everything is turned upside down. The one’s that trust in their works are lost and the impoverished with faith inherit the riches of heaven. Many of us are nobodies in this world. We have to depend upon God to be our helper. Jesus cares for us. We have e new name in heaven. We are somebodies with God. This is what matters. What else matters is our obligation to help our brethren both bodily and spiritually impoverished. Let us be especially careful to show hospitality to all. Who knows if that beggar is actually an angel? (Hebrews 13:1-2)
