“There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 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. 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. 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. Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father’s house: For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, through one rose from the dead.” Luke 16:19-31
My Summary & Reflection
Jesus tells this story of a rich man who lived an extravagant and easy life on earth and compared it with Lazarus, who was a beggar who lived off the crumbs left by the rich man. Both men died. Lazarus, the beggar, went to heaven, where he was pampered and provided for in luxury. The rich man went to hell, where he suffered in its flames. The rich man cries out to Abraham to send Lazarus to provide him with water to ease his suffering. But Abraham replies to the rich man that he had his comfort on earth, and now it was Lazarus’ turn to receive his blessings. Abraham further notes that there is a gulf between Lazarus and the rich man in death that cannot be crossed.
The rich man then makes a second request. This time he asks that Lazarus be sent to his father’s house, where his brothers still lived, in order to warn them to repent before they suffer the same fate as he. Abraham said that the brothers already have notice of what to do from the guidance provided by Moses and the prophets. The rich man replied that they would believe the guidance if it was provided by one that they knew had been dead. Abraham replied, that if Moses and the prophets could not persuade them, they would not change even if someone rose from the dead.
Luke describes this story as being told to the Pharisees, “And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.” Luke 16:15. In other parables, the kingdom of heaven is described. In this story, a rendering of life after death is described. There are a few pieces of this story that catch my attention. The first is that the rich man, even after death and even though he himself is suffering in hell, seems to still see Lazarus as a servant, or someone less than him. The entreaties to end his suffering are not directed to Lazarus, but to Abraham. Perhaps the rich man sees Abraham as a man like himself, who he can talk to and he still sees Lazarus as a beggar or a servant who can be ordered this way or that at his master’s bidding.
The rich man is never described in the story as being particularly cruel or evil. Neither is Lazarus described as being particularly kind or good. The only distinction drawn between their lives on earth were the rich man’s plenty and Lazarus’ lack.
In the story, Abraham also describes a gulf dividing heaven from hell that cannot be crossed. This implies that the separation that occurs between those chosen to move forward and those left behind in torment is a permanent one. It is only the actions on earth that determine a person’s destiny. Those who are condemned can’t have a change of heart after death, that will allow them into the kingdom. Nor, will those permitted entrance be judged again.
Lastly, the request that Lazarus be brought back to life to provide testimony to the rich man’s family, so that they would repent and avoid his negative consequences, was denied as well, but for different reasons. Abraham doesn’t mention any gulf between the kingdom of heaven and earth that cannot be crossed. This, perhaps, is a foreshadowing of the resurrection of Lazarus, the brother of Mary and Martha, or Jesus’ own resurrection. Abraham merely denies the request on the grounds that those who refused to follow the tenets of Moses and the prophets, will not follow even one who has resurrected from the dead. It implies that the rich man’s brothers’ hearts are already hardened and that even a great miracle will not move them toward a path that will lead them to repent.
Your Reflection
- Are your trying to “justify yourselves before men” or are your goals aligned with the teachings of Jesus?
- Does it make you feel comforted or afraid to know that God knows your heart?