Jesus' Compassion for Lazarus in Luke 16
The parable of the rich man and Lazarus in Luke 16:19-31 presents a stark contrast between the earthly lives and eternal destinies of two individuals. The passage introduces "a certain beggar named Lazarus" who was "laid at his gate, full of sores" [1]. This Lazarus is distinct from Lazarus of Bethany, the brother of Mary and Martha, whom Jesus raised from the dead in John 11 [5, 8]. The name Lazarus is an abbreviation of Eleazar, meaning "whom God helps" or "assistance of God" [4, 5].
The broader context of Luke 16 involves Jesus' teachings on the use of worldly possessions. Matthew Henry notes that the chapter's scope is to encourage the proper use of wealth for piety and charity, ensuring it benefits one in the afterlife rather than hindering them [11]. Adam Clarke also identifies this parable as following the parable of the unjust steward, both addressing themes of wealth and stewardship [12]. Jesus' discourse in this chapter is directed, in part, at the Pharisees, who were lovers of money [6, 7, 12].
In the parable, Lazarus suffers greatly during his lifetime, while the rich man enjoys "good things" [3]. After death, their situations are reversed: Lazarus is comforted, and the rich man is in anguish [3]. The rich man, from his torment, cries out to "Father Abraham" to "have compassion on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am suffering in this flame" [2]. Abraham's response highlights the reversal of their fortunes, stating, "Son, remember that you, in your lifetime, received your good things, and Lazarus, in the same way, bad things. But now here he is comforted and you are in anguish" [3].
John Gill clarifies that the Lazarus in this parable is not a specific historical beggar, nor is it David, but rather a representative figure [9]. The "son" address from Abraham to the rich man is seen by Jamieson, Fausset & Brown as a "stinging acknowledgment of the claimed relationship," emphasizing that the rich man's earthly desires dictated his eternal state [10]. The parable underscores a divine law where those whose "good things" are confined to this life will find no comfort beyond it, while those who endure "evil things" in this life and seek consolation beyond the grave will find release and comfort in the afterlife [10].
Sources
- Luke “A certain beggar, named Lazarus, was laid at his gate, full of sores, -- Luke 16:20”
- Luke “Luke 16:24 (Darby) — And he crying out said, Father Abraham, have compassion on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am suffering in this flame.”
- Luke ““But Abraham said, ‘Son, remember that you, in your lifetime, received your good things, and Lazarus, in the same way, bad things. But now here he is comforted and you are in anguish. -- Luke 16:25”
- Hitchcock's Bible Names “Hitchcock's Bible Names: Lazarus — assistance of God”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Lazarus — An abbreviation of Eleazar, whom God helps. (1.) The brother of Mary and Martha of Bethany. He was raised from the dead after he had lain four days in the tomb (John 11:1-44). This miracle so excited the wrath of the Jews that they sought to put both Jesus and Lazarus to death. (2.) A beggar named in the parable recorded Luke 16:19-31.”
- OpenBible.info “Cross-reference: Luke.12.15 → Luke.16.14 (confidence: 16 votes)”
- OpenBible.info “Cross-reference: John.12.43 → Luke.16.15 (confidence: 14 votes)”
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Lazarus — (whom God helps), another form of the Hebrew name Eleazar. + Lazarus of Bethany, the brother of Martha and Mary. (John 11:1) All that we know of him is derived from the Gospel of St. John, and that records little more than the facts of his death and resurrection. The language of (John 11:1) implies that the sisters were the better known. Lazarus is "of Bethany, of the village of Mary and her sister Martha." From this and from the order of the three names in (John 11:5) we may reasonably infer that Lazarus was the youngest of the family. All the circumstances”
- Luke (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Luke 16:19: And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus,.... By whom is designed, not any particular beggar in the times of Christ, that went by this name; though there were such persons in Israel, and in the times of our Lord; as blind Bartimaeus, and others: nor David, in the times of Saul, who was poor and needy; and who sometimes wanted bread, and at a certain time went to Abimelech for some: nor the godly poor in common, though the heirs of the heavenly kingdom are, generally speaking, the poor of this world; these receive Christ and his Gospel, and have their evil things he”
- Luke (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Luke 16:25: Son--stinging acknowledgment of the claimed relationship. thou . . . Lazarus, &c.--As it is a great law of God's kingdom, that the nature of our present desires shall rule that of our future bliss, so by that law, he whose "good things," craved and enjoyed, were all bounded by time, could look for none after his connection with time had come to an end (Luk 6:24). But by this law, he whose "evil things," all crowded into the present life, drove him to seek, and find, consolation in a life beyond the grave, is by death released from all evil and ushered”
- Luke (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Luke 16 (introduction): The scope of Christ's discourse in this chapter is to awaken and quicken us all so to use this world as not to abuse it, so to manage all our possessions and enjoyments here as that they may make for us, and may not make against us in the other world; for they will do either the one or the other, according as we use them now. I. If we do good with them, and lay out what we have in works of piety and charity, we shall reap the benefit of it in the world to come; and this he shows in the parable of the unjust steward, who made so good a hand of his lord's”
- Luke (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Luke 16 (introduction): The parable of the unjust steward, Luk 16:1-8. Christ applies this to his hearers, Luk 16:9-13. The Pharisees take offense, Luk 16:14. Our Lord reproves them, and shows the immutability of the law, Luk 16:15-17. Counsels against divorce, Luk 16:18. The story of the rich man and the beggar, commonly called Dives and Lazarus, Luk 16:19-31.”