Luke 16:19-31
The rich man ignored mercy at His gate and Scripture in His hands, and after death the reversal could not be undone.
19 “Now there was a certain rich man, and he was clothed in purple and fine linen, living in luxury every day.
20 A certain beggar, named Lazarus, was taken to his gate, full of sores,
21 and desiring to be fed with the crumbs that fell from the rich man’s table. Yes, even the dogs came and licked his sores.
22 The beggar died, and he was carried away by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died, and was buried.
23 In Hades, he lifted up his eyes, being in torment, and saw Abraham far off, and Lazarus at his bosom.
24 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 in anguish in this flame.’
25 “But Abraham said, ‘Son, remember that you, in your lifetime, received your good things, and Lazarus, in the same way, bad things. But here he is now comforted, and you are in anguish.
26 Besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, that those who want to pass from here to you are not able, and that no one may cross over from there to us.’
27 “He said, ‘I ask you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father’s house;
28 for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, so they won’t also come into this place of torment.’
29 “But Abraham said to him, ‘They have Moses and the prophets. Let them listen to them.’
30 “He said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’
31 “He said to him, ‘If they don’t listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if one rises from the dead.’ ”
The rich man ignored mercy at his gate and Scripture in his hands, and after death the reversal could not be undone.
Luke records Jesus telling of a rich man who lives in luxury while Lazarus suffers at his gate, then shows a postmortem reversal in which Lazarus is comforted with Abraham while the rich man is in torment, exposing the danger of wealth without mercy and the refusal to heed Moses and the Prophets.
Following rebuke of money-loving Pharisees (16:14–18), this narrative concretely illustrates the danger of wealth and the certainty of eternal reversal.
Immediately after Jesus exposes the money-loving Pharisees and affirms the enduring authority of the Law and Prophets, he tells of a rich man clothed in purple and fine linen who feasts lavishly every day. At his gate lies Lazarus, covered with sores, longing for crumbs from the rich man’s table while dogs lick his sores. Both die. Lazarus is carried by angels to Abraham’s side, while the rich man is buried and finds himself in Hades, in torment. Seeing Abraham far away with Lazarus, he asks for mercy and for Lazarus to cool his tongue. Abraham reminds him that he received good things in life while Lazarus received bad things, but now Lazarus is comforted and he is in anguish. A great chasm prevents passage. The rich man then asks that Lazarus be sent to warn his five brothers. Abraham says they have Moses and the Prophets. The rich man objects that if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent. Abraham answers that if they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.
Faithful Stewardship, the Danger of Wealth, and the Finality of Judgment
Kingdom disciples must steward wealth under God’s coming judgment, because money reveals allegiance, Scripture exposes the heart, and eternity reverses every merciless illusion of earthly security.