19 “There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. 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. 22 “The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. 24 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.’ 25 “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. 26 And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’ 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.’ 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 16:19-31)
In this passage, the Lord Jesus tells the parable of the rich man and Lazarus. The rich man lived in luxury, feasting sumptuously every day. Despite his great wealth, he remained indifferent to Lazarus, a beggar who lay at his gate, suffering and hungry, showing neither compassion nor love. In life, Lazarus was poor and covered in sores, longing only for the scraps that fell from the rich man’s table. Though ignored by the world, he was specially remembered by God. After death, Lazarus was carried by angels to Abraham’s side to be comforted, while the rich man found himself in torment in Hades. Abraham pointed out that an impassable chasm exists between the rich man and Lazarus. In the midst of his suffering, the rich man begged for Lazarus to be sent to warn his five brothers, but Abraham replied, “They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.” When the rich man argued that his brothers would repent if someone were to “rise from the dead,” Abraham explained that if they would not heed the words of Moses and the Prophets, they would not be persuaded even if someone were to return from the dead. This parable serves as a reminder that wealth is temporary; we are called to be faithful stewards of our resources, reaching out to help the poor and those in need around us.
May God bless you and your family!
