Luke 16:19–31

Find a quiet place, alone and apart from distractions. Be comfortably alert, still, and at peace. Say the Lord’s Prayer. Pray for family, friends, neighbors, and yourself. Slowly and carefully read the passage of Scripture.

1.         Whether Jesus is stating an actual event or delivering another parable is unknown. We note that this is the only story of Jesus’ where a person is named, and here Lazarus, a name based on Hebrew meaning “God is his help.”

2.         A rich man (In the KJV is the word Dives), whether a Pharisee or a Sadducee is unknown, but he was very wealthy wearing a costly linen under garment and over it a highly costly purple robe. And he lived the high life.

3.         Lazarus, likely unable to walk, covered with nasty sores (not a leper), and perhaps near naked, was deposited every day by some unknowns, could barely keep himself alive. His only relief was death, and when he did die, this resulted in his arriving in heaven, here known as Abraham’s side, or bosom.

4.         Most commentators state our account is a parable what with someone in hades being able to speak to someone in heaven, but the rich man wants relief by means of Lazarus, but the “great chasm” prevents this.

5.         Again, the rich man wants Father Abraham to send Lazarus to warn his five brothers so they would not end up in eternal torment. Here he is, still wanting Lazarus to help him despite the fact that he never lifted a finger to relieve Lazarus misery when he easily could have.

6.         Jesus says that due to the fact the five brothers did not listen to Moses and the Prophets, even a resurrection would fail.