The Rich Man and Lazarus

The lives of the rich and poor often represent two realities that do not intersect in any way; each lives in his own world.

Jesus Christ: His Life and Teaching, Vol.4 - The Parables of Jesus, Metropolitan Hilarion Alfeyev

In this parable, the beggar, Lazarus, lays at the gate of a rich man. Every day the rich man would pass him on his way to or from the gate. The rich man, dressed in the finest clothes, would not even spare crumbs from his table for Lazarus.

Luke 16: 22 So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and was buried.

From here, we are told that the rich man was in Hades, and could see – far off – the poor man with Abraham.

24 “Then he cried and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.’ 25 But Abraham said, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented.

In any case, there was a great gulf between them, and none could pass either way.

27 “Then he said, ‘I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father’s house, 28 for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.’ 29 Abraham said to him, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.’ 30 And he said, ‘No, father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ 31 But he said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.’ ”

This parable might be the most important one that addresses the issue of greed. The rich man wears the most expensive clothing (silks or linens, the color purple), making clear his luxurious life. Yet, in the parable, he is not given a name, while the poor beggar is named Lazarus, as if the poor man is the more whole human being of the two. Contrast this with how the world saw them – few likely knew the poor man’s name, while the rich man’s name would have been well known to all.

In contrast with the rich man’s fine linens, Lazarus is full of sores, with the dogs licking his wounds. The rich man would see Lazarus in this condition daily – not merely once in a while, but each time he passed his gate, day after day after day.

Nothing is mentioned about the poor man’s burial after death; all that is mentioned is that he is carried to the bosom of Abraham by the angels.

The poor man’s funeral was likely attended by no one, and was likely nothing more than a trip to a common grave. The rich man’s funeral is mentioned, but without detail; it is easy to imagine that he did enjoy, in death, a very fine and well-attended funeral.

The next scene begins in hell, and the two main characters have switched roles. Here, the rich man is begging from poor Lazarus. The rich man received his good things in his earthly life.

Only death opens his eyes to the true nature of things. It turns out that his house was built not even on sand. It stood at the edge of an abyss, into which it falls with all it contains.

With this large chasm between them, there is nothing to be done. Here, the rich man begs that the poor beggar is sent to his father’s house, to warn the others in his family. Jesus warns that even if someone were to come back after death, none would believe him – clearly a statement about what was to come shortly in the life of Jesus, of the Jews in His day, and of the world.

John Chrysostom gave a series of seven homilies focused on this one parable. He points out that the most important sin of the rich man was cruelty and inhumanity. It is likely he did not give alms to anyone; after all, as he easily ignored this poor beggar whom he passed countless times, why would he have felt compassion or pity toward anyone else?

“He lies at your entrance, the pearl in the mud, and do you not see him?”

The poor man is compared to the pearl thrown before swine. It is an interesting comparison.

Matthew 7: 6 Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.

From my post on this verse from my Sermon on the Mount Study (found here), Lloyd-Jones writes:

There is not a single statement in Scripture that gives a more awful picture of the devastating effect of sin upon man as this verse.

And Metropolitan Hilarion offers:

Swine are considered an unclean animal in the Jewish tradition.

So, John Chrysostom is suggesting that the poor man is the holy thing, and the rich man is the swine – the unclean animal.

Returning to Chrysostom:

“The physician is at your gate, and do you not accept the treatment?”

This question is thought-provoking. Chrysostom is suggesting that a treatment for our sinful life is to have charity and pity – and here, poor Lazarus was the physician!

Further, the rich man feasted daily while passing this poor man regularly. He was bound by this drunkenness and gluttony. In death, he was able to take nothing with him; in this condition, the true rich man was to be found in Lazarus, while the formerly rich man in earthly life was poor beyond measure.

“Let the poor hear and not be suffocated by discouragement. Let the rich hear and change from their wickedness.”

Conclusion

Chrysostom continues: death reveals the true face of every human being:

“Both men departed to that place where everything is true.”

The masks are cast off in death. Metropolitan Hilarion concludes:

Jesus constantly reminded them of this reality through his parables.