The rich man and Lazarus

Being humble helps us to have compassion for others, regardless the social status and economic position. But something that we must take into account is that we must be good people and not be haughty with what we have, and that’s why we will talk about the story of Lazarus and the rich man.

“There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day.

Luke 16:19

The Bible tells us about a rich man, who wore the best clothes. This man always held banquets and his money allowed him to give himself all the luxuries he wanted.

But in contrast he also tells us about another man named Lazarus, who had nothing to eat, much less a place to dwell:

20 At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores

21 and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.

Luke 16:20,21

Lazarus was always laid against the door of that place, but he was also full of sores and this man was despised by all the people who passed by there.

The Bible says that this rich man always went by where Lazarus was, but every time he passed by, Lazarus wanted him to feed him because he was hungry. Then something inevitable happened, which happens to any person, from the richest to the poorest:

“The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried.

Luke 16:22

Unfortunately, money can not save us from death, much less be prosecuted for our bad deeds:

In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side.

Luke 16:23

And the papers were flipped. While in life the rich had their delights and Lazarus went through hardship, after death Lazarus enjoyed and the rich suffered:

So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’

Luke 16:24

And nothing can be done:

“But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony.

Luke 16:25

The things of this world remain here. When you die, you can not take anything. After death, you only have to pay for your deeds or enjoy if you were straight before God. And we see in this story that Lazarus received his reward, while the rich man was tormented, with no hope of improving his situation.

As the rich could not do anything to get out of that sad state, he made a request so that his family members would not fall into the same:

27 “He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my family,

28 for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’

Luke 16:27-28

And the end of this story is more than clear, it is not necessary to explain it:

29 “Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’

30 “‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’

31 “He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’”

Luke 16:29-31

After death there is no turning back, there is no one to testify of what there is. We have the Word of God and it is the one that gives testimony of what awaits us if we follow or not the precepts of God, so we must follow the path that it shows us, to be saved from that punishment.

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9 comments on “The rich man and Lazarus

  1. We have to stay get ready and stay ready no man know the day or hour. I day to myself help me lord to treat everybody thr way I want to be treated. I am living to live again

  2. Amen thank you God for always being by our side no matter what we do or not do you never abandon us my Lord withwithout you we’re nothing thank you God for everything amen

  3. The rich man and Lazarus
    =====================
    Many people who have attended biblical classes know, and now we could explain, that there was a rich man that used to hold banquets and enjoyed all the pleasures of this life; while a poor man, Lazarus, was in misery kept at a rich man’s door waiting to receive the scrubs which fell down from the rich’s table.

    Besides, Lazarus suffered sores in his skin which were licked by dogs.
    After his death he was brought by angels to heaven and the rich man was brought to hell.
    When the rich man was there claimed in vain to be helped in his sufferings and he wanted his family were advised to be repented so that they were not brought to that terrible place.
    “Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’
    “‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’
    “He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’”
    Luke 16:29-31

    What’s the lesson we can learn from this passage?
    In general people are not converted to God and don’t believe in Jesus but by the power of the Spirit of God: only He gives life to the spiritual dead. That is because people are hard of heart, and even if they see a dead man be alive, they do not believe in the power of God. And it is a true thing that father Abraham says:
    ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’” Luke 16:31

    May the Lord God increase our faith so that we can exalt Him and the name of Jesus Christ be glorified for us by the power of the Holy Spirit.

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