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Parables · 31 of 45

The Rich Man and Lazarus

On the road to Jerusalem

Luke 16:19–31

Luke 16:19–31

19"There was a rich man who dressed in purple robes and the finest linen, living in luxury every single day. 20At his gate lay a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores. 21Lazarus longed to eat the crumbs that fell from the rich man's table. Additionally, dogs came and licked his sores. 22Eventually the beggar died, and angels carried him to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried. 23And in hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus beside him. 24He cried out, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me! Send Lazarus to dip just the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.' 25But Abraham replied, 'Son, remember that during your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things. Now he is comforted here, and you are in torment.' 26Beyond all that, a massive chasm has been set between us and you. No one who wants to cross from here to you can do it, and no one can cross from there to us.' 27"The rich man said, 'Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my father's house. 28I have 5 brothers. Let him warn them so they don't end up in this place of torment too.' 29"But Abraham replied, 'They have Moses and the prophets. Let them listen to them.' 30"'No, father Abraham,' he said, 'but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.' 31"Abraham told him, 'If they won't listen to Moses and the prophets, they won't be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.'"

Read Luke 16

About this passage

What the parable says

A rich man lived in luxury while a poor man named Lazarus lay at his gate, hungry and covered with sores. Both men died. Angels carried Lazarus to Abraham's side, and the rich man was in torment. Abraham said that if the rich man's brothers would not listen to Moses and the prophets, they would not be convinced even if someone rose from the dead.

Where this fits

One of 45 passages in Jesus' Parables, in the group “On the road to Jerusalem.”

Good to know

This is not Lazarus of Bethany, whom Jesus raised from the dead. Christians differ on whether this passage is a parable or an account of real people.

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