Single lesson
The Rich Man and Lazarus
Luke 16:19–31
Jesus tells a parable about a rich man and a beggar named Lazarus. This lesson traces the strong contrasts in the story and focuses on the ending, where Abraham answers the rich man’s request with a serious warning.
Before you teach
In Luke 16:19–31, a rich man lives in luxury while Lazarus lies at his gate in need. After both men die, their situations are reversed. The rich man asks for relief and then for a warning to be sent to his brothers, but Abraham points instead to Moses and the prophets.
Students will be able to identify the rich man’s requests in the parable and explain that its main teaching is to listen to God’s message now rather than wait for another sign.
Welcome: Spot the opening contrasts
6 minWrite two headings, ‘rich man’ and ‘Lazarus’. Ask students to list only what the passage says at the start. The rich man wears purple and fine linen and lives in luxury every day. Lazarus is a beggar at the gate, full of sores, longing for crumbs from the table. Explain that Jesus begins the parable with a sharp contrast.
Luke 16:19, Luke 16:20, Luke 16:21
Read and explain: Notice the great reversal
10 minRead Luke 16:19–26 aloud. Ask students to mark what changes after both men die. Lazarus is carried away by angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man dies and is buried, and in Hades he is in torment. Abraham says Lazarus is now comforted, and a great gulf is fixed between them.
Luke 16:22, Luke 16:23, Luke 16:24, Luke 16:25, Luke 16:26
Discuss: What does the rich man ask for?
8 minHelp students identify the two requests. First, the rich man asks Abraham to send Lazarus with water to cool his tongue. Then he asks Abraham to send Lazarus to his father’s house to warn his five brothers. Keep discussion close to the wording. In both requests, he asks for Lazarus to be sent.
Luke 16:24, Luke 16:27, Luke 16:28
Make and respond: Build the parable’s message
10 minStudents make a simple scene or object from the parable, such as a gate, a table, a drop of water, or a gulf line on folded paper. Then they explain which verse it connects to. Finish by comparing two responses named in the parable: asking for a dramatic sign, or listening to Moses and the prophets.
Luke 16:21, Luke 16:24, Luke 16:26, Luke 16:29, Luke 16:30, Luke 16:31
Closing: Hear the final warning
6 minRead verses 29 to 31 again. Invite each student to finish the sentence, ‘This parable warns that...’ using words from the text. Conclude by stressing Abraham’s answer: people already have Moses and the prophets to hear, and those who refuse that message will not be persuaded by a risen messenger.
Luke 16:29, Luke 16:30, Luke 16:31
Questions to explore
Which details at the beginning make the contrast between the rich man and Lazarus especially strong?
Use the wording about purple and fine linen, daily luxury, Lazarus at the gate, his sores, and his desire for crumbs.
Luke 16:19, Luke 16:20, Luke 16:21
How does Abraham describe the change in their situations after death?
Look for the words about good things and bad things during life, and the words ‘comforted’ and ‘in anguish’.
Luke 16:25
Why does Abraham say the brothers should already be able to respond?
Focus on the lines about ‘Moses and the prophets’ and the statement that some people would still not be persuaded even if one rises from the dead.
Luke 16:29, Luke 16:31
Make, think or respond
Make a Parable Object
What you’ll need
- paper
- pencils or pens
- scissors
- tape or glue
- optional coloured pencils
Try it together
- Choose one object or part of the parable, such as a gate, table, drop of water, or great gulf.
- Make a simple paper version and write the matching verse reference on it.
- On the back, write one sentence explaining what this object shows in the parable.
- Share your object with the group and compare two responses from the ending: waiting for a sign or listening to God’s message now.
The object keeps attention on the details of the parable and helps students connect the story’s images to Abraham’s warning in the final verses.
Adapt for your group
- For students who need more support, offer four object choices and let them copy a short phrase from the matching verse before explaining it aloud.
- For older or more confident students, ask them to add a brief written explanation of how Luke 16:29–31 shapes the meaning of the whole parable.
An optional closing prayer
‘God, help us listen carefully to what you have said and respond with honesty instead of waiting for some other sign. Please give us teachable hearts. Amen.’
Read the Bible passage World English Bible Classic
Luke 16
19 “Now there was a certain rich man, and he was clothed in purple and fine linen, living in luxury every day.
20 A certain beggar, named Lazarus, was taken to his gate, full of sores,
21 and desiring to be fed with the crumbs that fell from the rich man’s table. Yes, even the dogs came and licked his sores.
22 The beggar died, and he was carried away by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and was buried.
23 In Hades, he lifted up his eyes, being in torment, and saw Abraham far off, and Lazarus at his bosom.
24 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 in anguish in this flame.’
25 “But Abraham said, ‘Son, remember that you, in your lifetime, received your good things, and Lazarus, in the same way, bad things. But here he is now comforted and you are in anguish.
26 Besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, that those who want to pass from here to you are not able, and that no one may cross over from there to us.’
27 “He said, ‘I ask 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, so they won’t also come into this place of torment.’
29 “But Abraham said to him, ‘They have Moses and the prophets. Let them listen to them.’
30 “He said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’
31 “He said to him, ‘If they don’t listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if one rises from the dead.’ ”
World English Bible Classic. Public domain.