What can we learn from the account of the rich man and Lazarus?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

In Luke 16:19-31, Jesus tells a story that teaches powerful truths about this life and the next. It begins with descriptions of two men: a rich man who lived a life characterized by gluttony and greed (Luke 16:19) and Lazarus, a poor man covered in sores who would stand at the gate of the rich man, desiring to eat his scraps (Luke 16:20-21). The story then quickly transitions to the afterlife. The story makes clear that heaven and hell are real, fixed realities, with a “great chasm” that cannot be crossed after death (Luke 16:26). It also confronts the danger of making wealth a god, echoing that we cannot serve both God and money (Matthew 6:24). Trusting in riches often blinds us to our need for God. At the same time, this story reminds us that suffering in this life does not mean God has abandoned us but can be part of a greater eternal hope (John 14:2–3). The rich man’s plea for warning highlights that God has already given sufficient truth through His Word, and hearts unwilling to listen will remain hardened (Luke 16:31). This account, whether a parable or true story calls us to live with eternity in view—trusting in Jesus for salvation (John 3:16–18), rejecting idols like wealth, and using our lives to love others in light of what truly lasts forever (Matthew 6:19–21).

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

• We should not mistake this account to suggest that all rich people go to Hell. In fact, some heroes of the faith were very wealthy. Ironically, Abraham was a rich man himself (Genesis 13:2), yet he is in the account of the rich man and Lazarus. Whether we are wealthy or not does not define our eternal destiny. Rather, it’s those who make wealth their god over receiving Jesus who will face in Hell as punishment for their decision to reject God's free gift of salvation.
• While believers can enjoy riches, money, and wealth must not take precedence over a relationship with Jesus. David was a very wealthy man (1 Chronicles 29:28), and yet he was a man after God’s own heart (see Acts 13:22).
• Like Lazarus, many men of God were impoverished and endured immense suffering. A good example is Elijah, who was so impoverished at one point that he had to depend on the generosity of a poor widow to survive (1 Kings 17:9-16). We, too, may face poverty and illness in this life, but that doesn’t mean we have been forsaken by God.
• Our life on this earth is short, and we should not waste it on making an idol of riches as the rich man did. The author of Ecclesiastes wisely stated: “He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth with his income; this also is vanity” (Ecclesiastes 5:10).

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

• Jesus said in Matthew 19:24: “Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God." Those who are wealthy may find it especially difficult to make God their master instead of their wealth (Matthew 6:24), but we all have a choice.
• An important reality we see in the account is that Hell is a place of permanent separation from God for those who reject Jesus (Matthew 25:41). If we have not believed in Jesus as our Savior, now is the time because we may not have tomorrow.
• An encouraging lesson from the account is that heaven is an eternal destination that followers of Jesus can look forward to. In John 14:2-3, Jesus tells His disciples: “In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.” No matter how much pain we suffer in this life (like Lazarus), we can look forward to the glorious reality of eternity with our Savior.
• Some teach that everyone goes to heaven upon death, but scriptural accounts such as the rich man and Lazarus contradict this teaching. Universalism is a false gospel (Galatians 1:8) and must be rejected. We must believe and speak the truth of God's word concerning the afterlife.
• The account of the rich man and Lazarus in Luke 16:19–31 may be either a parable or a true story, but Scripture does not state this explicitly. Some evidence suggests it could be a true account, since Jesus names a real person (Lazarus) (something He never does in other parables) and the story’s structure differs from typical parables. However, whether parable or history, it warns us to repent and trust in God before death, when our eternal state becomes permanent.

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

The account of the rich man and Lazarus presses in on us with urgency: eternity is not abstract. It is real, and what we live for now impacts us for eternity. Heaven and Hell are not symbolic ideas but fixed destinations, and the only way to eternal life is through faith in Jesus Christ, who made a way for us through His death and resurrection (John 3:16–18). We don't earn salvation; we receive it as a gift of grace (Ephesians 2:8–9).

This reality forces us to ask what truly has our heart because if it is temporal things like money, comfort, or success, it will move us away from God (Matthew 6:24). Instead, we are called to live wholeheartedly for God, living open-handed toward others and extending the love of Christ in tangible ways, especially to those in need, refusing to ignore the “Lazaruses” placed right in front of us.

Along with the sobering reminder of eternity, this account also reframes suffering. Like Lazarus, hardship does not mean God has abandoned us. It is a reminder, for the believer, that our hope is anchored beyond this life and that we can bring every burden to Jesus who cares for us (Matthew 11:28–30).

This passage confronts us about how we are spending our lives and what we are trusting in: are we investing in what fades or in what lasts forever? Jesus’ words call us to shift our focus from temporary gain to eternal treasure because what captures our hearts will determine the direction of our lives (Matthew 6:19–21).

UNDERSTAND

• The account of the rich man and Lazarus teaches us that Heaven and Hell are real, unchangeable destinations and that what we trust in this life has eternal consequences
• The account of the rich man and Lazarus teaches us that what we do on this earth will have an eternal impact in the next life.
• The account of the rich man and Lazarus challenges us that wealth is not the issue—worship is; what we treat as ultimate will direct our lives.

REFLECT

• What in your life are you treating as “ultimate,” and how is that shaping your priorities and decisions?
• How are you responding to the truth God has already revealed—are you listening and acting, or delaying and becoming hardened?
• Who is the “Lazarus” in your life that you may be overlooking, and what would it look like for you to love them in tangible ways?

ENGAGE

• What are some modern-day forms of “living like the rich man,” and how can we guard against drifting into that mindset?
• How should the reality of a fixed eternity (heaven and hell) shape the way we live, prioritize, and make decisions?
• In what practical ways can we help one another live with eternal perspective—investing in what lasts rather than what fades?