The Rich Man and Lazarus

“There was a rich man who would dress in purple and fine linen, feasting lavishly every day. But a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, was lying at his gate. He longed to be filled with what fell from the rich man’s table, but instead the dogs would come and lick his sores. One day the poor man died and was carried away by the angels to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. And being in torment in Hades, he looked up and saw Abraham a long way off, with Lazarus at his side. ‘Father Abraham!’ he called out, ‘Have mercy 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 flame!’

“‘Son,’ Abraham said, ‘remember that during your life you received your good things, just as Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here, while you are in agony. Besides all his, a great chasm has been fixed between us and you, so that those who want to pass over from here to you cannot; neither can those from there cross over to us.’

“‘Father,’ he said, ‘then I beg you to send him to my father’s house—because I have five brothers —to warn them, so they won’t also come to this place of torment.’

“But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; they should listen to them.’

“‘No, father Abraham,’ he said. ‘But if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’

“But he told him, ‘If they don’t listen to Moses and the prophets, they will not be persuaded if someone rises from the dead’”

(Luke 16:19-31, CSB).

Open:

• How do you feel when you have to “dress up” for an occasion? Do you prefer to dress casually or more formally?

Dig:

• How do the lives of the rich man and Lazarus compare on earth?
  • After death?
• What determines who enters heaven?
  • Why is the rich man kept out?
• What does this story teach you about human nature?
  • Why is it so difficult for people to be convinced of God’s ways?
• Based on this passage, what ought we do with our lives on earth?

Reflect:

• Ona a scale of one (the rich man and his brothers) to ten (Lazarus), where do you stand?
  • Why there?
  • How can you move closer to a ten?
• Since lack of knowledge is not the brothers’ problem, what is?
  • How do you see that tendency in yourself?
• How do you feel about discussing “the Judgement” with friends?
• How can we pray for you?