The Rich Man and Lazarus
In this parable told to the Pharisees Jesus reveals that earthly wealth and status carry no weight before God once death arrives and that no opportunity remains for repentance or mercy after the grave. A rich man enjoys every comfort while the sores-covered beggar Lazarus lies neglected at his gate yet their deaths bring an immediate reversal with Lazarus resting in comfort beside Abraham and the rich man suffering in torment separated by a fixed chasm that none can cross. The account thus highlights the urgency of responding to God's word in this life as part of the larger redemptive story where eternal destinies are settled by faith rather than riches.
Category: Judgment & Eternity
Meaning: Earthly wealth means nothing in eternity. There is no second chance after death.
Audience: Pharisees
Key Passages
The Parable
Luke 16:19-31
19here was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:
Did You Know?
This is the only parable where a character is given a proper name (Lazarus).
Some scholars believe this is not a parable but a real account. Because of the named character.
The rich man's sin was not wealth itself but ignoring the suffering at his own gate.