RICH MAN & LAZARUS

“Now there was a rich man,¹ and he habitually dressed in purple and fine linen, joyously living in splendor every day. And a poor man named Lazarus² was laid at his gate, covered with sores, and longing to be fed with the crumbs which were falling from the rich man’s table; besides, even the dogs were coming and licking his sores. Now the poor man died and was carried away by the angels to Abraham’s bosom; and the rich man also died and was buried. In Hades he lifted up his eyes, being in torment, and saw Abraham far away and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried out and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus so that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool off my tongue, for I am in agony in this flame.’ But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that during your life you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus bad things; but now he is being comforted here, and you are in agony.  And besides all this, between us and you there is a great chasm fixed, so that those who wish to come over from here to you will not be able, and that none may cross over from there to us.’⁴ And he said, ‘Then I beg you, father, that you send him to my father’s house— for I have five brothers—in order that he may warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’ But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets³; let them hear them.’ But he said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent!’ But he said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead.’” ⁵ Luke 16:19-31 NASB 1995

COMMENTS

¹Does not imply that rich go to Hell and poor go to heaven. Abraham and Job were very rich.

²Remarkable that the rich man is not named but the poor man is. Worthwhile noting that names of those heaven bound are recorded in Heaven. See Luke 10:20

³Moses & Prophets: Refers to existence of scripture. See below

• Then beginning with Moses and with all the Prophets, He explained to them the things written about Himself in all the Scriptures. Luke 24:27 NASB
• Holy Scriptures … are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 2 Tim 3:15 NKJV

⁴The finality of Hell. Watch 23 Minutes in Hell HERE

⁵No amount of miracles can save us – we are saved by/through the Word of God. Read about it HERE.