The Story Of The Rich Man And Lazarus Summary
The story of the Rich Man and Lazarus is one of the most well-known parables in the Bible. It is the story of a rich man who lived in luxury and a poor beggar named Lazarus who was covered in sores and laid at the rich man's gate. The story teaches us about the consequences of a life lived for oneself and the importance of compassion and caring for those less fortunate than ourselves.
The Rich Man's Life
The rich man in the story lived a life of luxury. He wore fine clothing and ate sumptuous meals every day. He lived in a large house with gates that kept out the beggars and the poor. He had everything he needed and wanted, and he didn't care about anyone else. He was self-centered and lived only for himself.
Lazarus' Life
Lazarus, on the other hand, was a poor beggar who lived outside the rich man's gates. He was covered in sores and had nothing to eat. He begged for food and money, but the rich man ignored him. Even the dogs came and licked his sores, but the rich man didn't care. Lazarus had nothing in this life, but he had faith in God, and he knew that God would take care of him in the next life.
The Rich Man's Death
One day, the rich man died and was buried. He went to Hades, the place of the dead, and was in torment. He looked up and saw Abraham, far away, with Lazarus by his side. The rich man cried out, "Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame."
The Great Chasm
Abraham replied, "Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us."
The Rich Man's Plea
The rich man then said, "Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father's house—for I have five brothers—so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment." Abraham said to him, "They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them." But the rich man said, "No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent."
The Conclusion
The story concludes with Abraham saying, "If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead."
The story of the Rich Man and Lazarus teaches us that we should not live for ourselves and ignore those who are less fortunate than ourselves. We should have compassion and love for our fellow human beings and help them when we can. We should also have faith in God and trust in His provision for us both in this life and the next.