The passage describes the story of a rich man who lives in luxury and a poor man named Lazarus who is sick and hungry. When they die, Lazarus is comforted in heaven while the rich man is in torment. The rich man begs Abraham to help him, but Abraham says that in life they received their fortunes, and there is now an uncrossable divide between them. The rich man asks that Lazarus warn his brothers, but Abraham says they have God's word already and will not be convinced even by someone rising from the dead. The story teaches about treating the poor, the consequences of ignoring God, and not waiting for signs before believing.

1. Luke 16: 19-31
The Rich Man and Lazarus
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.

2. 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.‟”

3. Literary Techniques:
• Hyperbole
– deliberate exaggeration for effect
• Foreshadowing – hint of the future plot is revealed to engage interest and make
you think

4. What were some of the causes of becoming poor in the Bible?
• Becoming a Widow
• Being an Orphan
• Being a Stranger in the land (Deut. 24:21; Psalm 146:9)
• Becoming sick or disabled

5. 19 “There
was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in
luxury every day.
Let‟s look at “Dives” – the Rich man:
1. Clothed in Purple
1. Purple was made in an time consuming process in the city of Tyre by
gathering a special sea snail and gathering the dye.
2. Fine Linen
1. Obviously if they had the most expensive color dye they would use it on the
most expensive linen or material they had available to them.
3. Fared sumptuously every day
1. Hyperbole ? Maybe but either way he was “eating out” much more than we
would expect a person to do.

6. 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.
And now Lazarus – the poor man:
1. Lazarus means He whom God helps
2. He has sores all over (see Job 2:7)
3. Did people bring him to the gate? Was he abandoned there?
4. Even the dogs seem to have sympathy on him where the rich man doesn‟t.

8. Although their lives on Earth were very different their end was the same! Both Died!!
Why is it important to do missions? This is why:
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.
Hebrews 9:27
27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

9. 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.

10. 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.‟

11. 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.‟”
• Do we also seek signs and
miracles in order to believe?
• Are we waiting for
something “BIG” to happen?
• Maybe we think that if we
have a visitation from God
then we will be “Completely
Sold out for Christ”?!?
•  v.31 Foreshadowing!

12.  Don‟t be these people!
 God called us to have compassion
on the poor and to understand their
plight.
 Will you let the dogs show more
mercy than you do?