The Rich Man and Lazarus

Jesus told about a rich man who wore costly clothes and lived in luxury every day. At the rich man’s gate lay a beggar named Lazarus. He was covered with sores and longed for crumbs from the rich man’s table. Even dogs came and licked his sores.

Both men died. Lazarus was carried by angels to Abraham’s side, but the rich man died and was buried. In Hades, the rich man was in torment. He looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus at his side.

The rich man called out to Abraham, asking for mercy. He wanted Lazarus to bring a little water to cool his tongue because he was in anguish. But Abraham reminded him that during life the rich man had received good things, while Lazarus had received bad things. Now Lazarus was comforted, and the rich man was in anguish.

Abraham also said that a great gulf stood between them. No one could cross from one side to the other. Then the rich man asked Abraham to send Lazarus to his father’s house to warn his five brothers, so that they would not come to that place of torment too.

Abraham answered that the brothers already had Moses and the prophets, and they should listen to them. The rich man insisted that if someone went to them from the dead, they would repent. But Abraham said that if they would not listen to Moses and the prophets, they would not be persuaded even if someone rose from the dead. What does this warning teach us about hearing God’s word today?