“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
Jesus tells another parable about a destitute man named Lazarus. He had suffered greatly and longed to eat food that would drop from the table of a rich man. The rich man feasted, and Lazarus was left famished. Eventually, they both died. Lazarus went to heaven, and the rich man (notably left without a name) was sent to hell.
In this story, the rich man was able to look up to heaven and see Lazarus at Abraham’s side. He begged for something to relieve his suffering, but Abraham reminded him of his earthly status. He had received his pleasures on earth while Lazarus suffered—and now the roles were switched. As Jesus said before, the exalted will be humbled and the humbled exalted.
But what of the rich man’s relatives? Could Lazarus not warn them? Abraham noted that this role reversal was not a surprise. This was the testimony of Scripture from first to last. Thus, even if Lazarus went to them from the dead, they wouldn’t believe him. Those whose ears are deaf to God’s Word will be blind to a resurrected messenger as well.
In this story, the rich man was able to look up to heaven and see Lazarus at Abraham’s side. He begged for something to relieve his suffering, but Abraham reminded him of his earthly status. He had received his pleasures on earth while Lazarus suffered—and now the roles were switched. As Jesus said before, the exalted will be humbled and the humbled exalted.
But what of the rich man’s relatives? Could Lazarus not warn them? Abraham noted that this role reversal was not a surprise. This was the testimony of Scripture from first to last. Thus, even if Lazarus went to them from the dead, they wouldn’t believe him. Those whose ears are deaf to God’s Word will be blind to a resurrected messenger as well.
Scripture Focus
Luke 16:19-31
Insight
To enjoy the feast that truly matters, we must follow our resurrected Savior and trust in the inspired words of the Bible.
Bible In A Year
- Genesis 45-46
- Psalm 23
- Mark 3