Saying 8 of 10
The rich man and Lazarus
Jesus told of a rich man who ignored a beggar at his gate. After death the rich man was in torment in Hades and asked for someone to warn his brothers. The answer: they have the Scriptures.
The story
A rich man lived in luxury while a poor man named Lazarus lay at his gate, hungry and covered with sores. Both died. Lazarus was carried by the angels to Abraham's side. The rich man was in torment in Hades.
19“Now there was a certain rich man, and he was clothed in purple and fine linen, living in luxury every day. 20A certain beggar, named Lazarus, was taken to his gate, full of sores, 21and desiring to be fed with the crumbs that fell from the rich man’s table. Yes, even the dogs came and licked his sores. 22The beggar died, and he was carried away by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and was buried. 23In Hades, he lifted up his eyes, being in torment, and saw Abraham far off, and Lazarus at his bosom. 24He 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. 26Besides 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.’
Luke 16:19-26 (WEB) · context
The warning
The rich man begged Abraham to send Lazarus to warn his five brothers. Abraham answered that they have Moses and the Prophets: if they will not listen to them, they will not be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead.
Jesus Himself rose from the dead. The warning, and the way of escape, are in the Scriptures for anyone to read.
27“He said, ‘I ask you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father’s house— 28for 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.’”
Luke 16:27-31 (WEB) · context
3For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,
1 Corinthians 15:3-4 (WEB) · context
Where Christians disagree
- Christians discuss whether this is a parable or an account of real people, and how far its details describe the state of the dead before the final judgment. All agree on its warnings: our choices in this life matter, there is no second chance after death, and God has given us His word.
The good news
Jesus came to save you from this
God loves you and gave His Son so that whoever believes in Him should not perish.