Luke 16:19-31 | At the Gate
Understanding Jesus' Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus: A Call to Compassionate Stewardship
Jesus often used parables to communicate profound spiritual truths, and the parable of the rich man and Lazarus in Luke 16 is one of His most challenging teachings. This story confronts our attitudes toward wealth, poverty, and how we use our resources as followers of Christ.
What is the context of the parable of the rich man and Lazarus?
To understand this parable, we must first examine its context. In Luke 16, Jesus turns from the crowd to address His disciples specifically about stewardship of possessions and resources. His key point comes in verse 13: "No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money."
The Pharisees, described as "lovers of money," were listening and ridiculed Jesus for this teaching. Their reaction reveals much about what Jesus was addressing. The Pharisees believed wealth indicated God's blessing and favor, while poverty signified divine punishment—essentially an ancient version of the prosperity gospel.
This context helps us understand Jesus' central message: Our earthly riches are not an indicator of our faith, but how we spend our earthly riches is.
What contrasts does Jesus highlight in this parable?
Jesus establishes several striking contrasts in this story:
The Rich vs. The Poor
The parable presents two characters representing opposite ends of the social spectrum—one with abundance and one with nothing.
Named vs. Unnamed
Interestingly, the poor man is given a name (Lazarus), while the rich man remains unnamed. The name Lazarus means "the one that God helps" in Hebrew, signifying that those in poverty are not cursed but are deeply valued by God.
Clothing and Appearance
The rich man wore purple (an expensive dye) and fine Egyptian linen daily—the ancient equivalent of designer clothing. Lazarus was covered in untreated sores that dogs would lick, showing his complete destitution and defeated state.
Food and Nourishment
While the rich man "feasted sumptuously," Lazarus merely hoped for scraps that fell from the table—the bread that wealthy people would use to wipe their hands before discarding.
Power and Vulnerability
The rich man held all the power, sitting at the gate where justice was administered in ancient culture. Lazarus was "laid" (literally "thrown down") at this gate daily, pleading not just for food but for restoration and justice that never came.
What are the consequences revealed in the parable?
The parable takes an unexpected turn when both men die. Contrary to the Pharisees' worldview:
Lazarus is carried by angels to "Abraham's side" (heaven)
The rich man goes to Hades where he is in torment
This reversal would have shocked the Pharisees, who believed wealth indicated God's favor. Even in Hades, the rich man still views Lazarus as a servant, asking Abraham to send him with water and later to warn his brothers.
Jesus isn't teaching that the afterlife allows communication between heaven and hell. Rather, He's using the Pharisees' own beliefs to communicate a deeper truth about stewardship and compassion.
What is Jesus calling us to through this parable?
This parable contains several important calls to action:
A Call Away from Idolatry
The rich man elevated his possessions and comfort above God's commands to care for the poor. When we claim to love God but give only a small percentage of our resources to help others, we must question who our true God is.
A Call to Serve Rather Than Be Served
Even in Hades, the rich man still viewed Lazarus as someone who should serve him. Jesus calls us to reverse this mindset and become servants to those in need.
A Call to Read and Obey God's Word
Abraham tells the rich man that his brothers "have Moses and the prophets" (Scripture) which already teaches care for the poor. The problem wasn't lack of information but lack of obedience. Similarly, we have clear biblical teaching about caring for the vulnerable—the question is whether we'll obey it.
How does this parable relate to Jesus himself?
Ultimately, this parable points us to Jesus—the truly rich man who, "though he was rich, yet for your sake became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich" (2 Corinthians 8:9).
Jesus is the one who:
Left His heavenly throne to come to earth's gate and show mercy
Came not to be served but to serve
Was clothed in purple by Roman soldiers before dying for justice
Rose from the dead, just as the rich man thought would convince his brothers
Jesus perfectly fulfilled the calling that the rich man failed to live out. And now He invites us to follow His example.
Life Application
This parable challenges us to examine our relationship with wealth and our response to those in need. Jesus cares more about our direction than our perfection. Here are some questions to consider this week:
In what ways might I be serving money rather than God? What possessions or comforts have I elevated above Christ and His kingdom?
Who are the "Lazaruses" at the gates of my life—the vulnerable people God has placed in my path that I might be overlooking?
How am I using my resources (time, money, influence) to show justice and mercy to those in need?
What specific step can I take this week to better steward what God has given me for the sake of others?
Remember: Our earthly riches are not an indicator of our faith, but how we spend our earthly riches is. Let's commit to using what God has given us to demonstrate His compassion to a world in need.