The Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus Explained

Luke 16:19-31

19 There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:

20 And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,

21 And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.

22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;

23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and sees Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

24 And 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 tormented in this flame.

25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and you are tormented.

26 And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from there.

27 Then he said, I pray 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, lest they also come into this place of torment.

29 Abraham says to him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.

30 And he said, No, father Abraham: but if one went to them from the dead, they will repent.

31 And he said to him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.

The parable of the rich man and Lazarus is a symbolic illustration used by Jesus to teach that our eternal destiny is decided in this life and that the scriptures provide all the evidence necessary for salvation Luke 16:19-31COL 260.1. While many mistakenly view this as a literal description of the state of the dead, it is a parable designed to rebuke covetousness and show the importance of being faithful stewards of God’s giftsHHMLD 177.1+2.

The Nature of the Narrative

• A Symbolic Parable: This story is an allegory where characters and scenes are not to be taken literally, as doctrines concerning the soul's immortality cannot be built upon metaphorical languageMOSP 57.1+1.

• Literal Inconsistencies: If taken literally, one must conclude that the saved and the lost are within speaking distance and can watch each other's misery, which contradicts the peace of heavenHHMLD 181.6+1.

• Physical Descriptions in Hades: The mention of a "tongue," "finger," and "eyes" suggests bodily organs, yet the narrative describes a period when the bodies of the dead are still in the grave awaiting resurrection Luke 16:24ARSH December 19, 1854, page 142.6+2.

• Hades as the Grave: The term "hell" used here is translated from the Greek word hades, which corresponds to the Hebrew sheol, meaning the silent, unconscious place of the deadMND 138.3+2.

Key Lessons of the Parable

• Decision in This Life: This life is the only probationary time granted to humanity; once it ends, an impassable gulf is fixed, and no further opportunity for salvation is givenCOL 260.1+2.

• Stewardship and Covetousness: Christ spoke this specifically to the Pharisees, who were covetous, to show that riches are not a sign of divine favor if they are used selfishly while neglecting the poor Luke 16:14HHMLD 177.1+2.

• Sufficiency of Scripture: The primary message is that "Moses and the prophets"—the written Word of God—provide sufficient testimony to lead one to repentance Luke 16:29-316Red 27.2+1.

• The Power of Resurrection: The parable concludes by stating that if people reject the scriptures, they will not be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead, a truth later demonstrated when many Jews rejected Jesus even after He raised the literal Lazarus of Bethany John 11:43-486Red 27.2+2.

The State of the Dead

• Death is a Sleep: The Bible consistently teaches that the dead are in an unconscious state, sleeping in the dust until the resurrection Job 14:10+1RMLA 1.1+1.

• Future Recompense: The reward of the righteous and the punishment of the wicked do not occur at the moment of death, but at the second coming of Christ and the subsequent judgment Matthew 24:30-31+1RMLA 14.2+2.

• The Resurrection Required: For Lazarus to literally go to his reward or warn his brothers, a resurrection from the dead would be necessary, as there is no mention of a "disembodied spirit" in the account Luke 16:31MND 151.2+1.

Contrasting Destiny

The rich man's fate was not due to his wealth itself, but his unfaithful stewardship and neglect of his obligation to God and his fellow manCOL 266.1+2. Conversely, Lazarus represents those who, despite earthly suffering, maintain piety and will eventually be comforted in the kingdom of GodWM 172.1+2. We are encouraged to transfer our treasure to heaven now by using our means to help others and advance God's work Matthew 19:212T 197.1+2.