Lazarus and the Rich Man, Luke 16: 19-3119 "There was a rich man who dressed in purple garments and fine linen and dined sumptuously each day.
20 And lying at his door was a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores,
21 who would gladly have eaten his fill of the scraps that fell from the rich man's table. Dogs even used to come and lick his sores.
22 When the poor man died, he was carried away by angels to the bosom of Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried,
23 and from the netherworld, where he was in torment, he raised his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side.
24 And he cried out, 'Father Abraham, have pity on me. Send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am suffering torment in these flames.'
25 Abraham replied, 'My child, remember that you received what was good during your lifetime while Lazarus likewise received what was bad; but now he is comforted here, whereas you are tormented.
26 Moreover, between us and you a great chasm is established to prevent anyone from crossing who might wish to go from our side to yours or from your side to ours.'
27 He said, 'Then I beg you, father, send him to my father's house,
28 for I have five brothers, so that he may warn them, lest they too come to this place of torment.'
29 But Abraham replied, 'They have Moses and the prophets. Let them listen to them.'
30 He said, 'Oh no, father Abraham, but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.'
31 Then Abraham said, 'If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if someone should rise from the dead.'"
Without a doubt this is one of Christ's most intriguing parables. It is not the first time he warns the wealthy, nor makes a statement on behalf of the poor. Indeed, it is fitting that this parable is found only in Luke, who is the most adamant of the Gospel authors to plead on behalf of the poor in both the Gospel and the Acts of the Apostles.
Yet, there is more to this parable than the special case of the poor. For the first and only time in any parable a character is given a name, Lazarus. Also, this is the most illustrated example of the afterlife ever spoken by Christ. Then there is the allusion to the Resurrection in the very last verse (31) when Abraham speaks, "neither will they be persuaded if someone should rise from the dead."
Unusually, for a parable, the story of Lazarus and the rich man is complex. It has raised many questions amongst theologians. What is the "chasm?" Was Jesus being literal in his descriptions, or figurative as in most parables? Given the warning earlier in the chapter (Luke 16:13) is it even possible for the rich man to have heavenly reward? How does the rich man communicate to Abraham? Why can't he be persuaded by a resurrected Christ?
