The Story of the Rich Man and Lazarus: A Lesson in Compassion 📖
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Come, little ones, and listen to a tale I tell about a rich man and a poor man named Lazarus. This story, from the land of Israel, teaches us a simple, yet powerful lesson about kindness, love, and what truly matters to God. It’s a story about a rich man and a beggar, a beautiful lesson for all of us.
The Rich Man and Lazarus Bible Verses: Luke 16:19-31 - New King James Version.
19 “There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day.
20 But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid at his gate,
21 desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.
22 So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and was buried.
23 And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
24 “Then 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 tormented in this flame.’
25 But Abraham said, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented.
26 And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us.’
27 “Then he said, ‘I beg 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, lest they also come to this place of torment.’
29 Abraham said to him, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.’
30 And he said, ‘No, father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’
31 But he said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.’
The Rich Man And Lazarus: A Story From Our Land
My dear children, gather 'round me. I want to tell you a story about two men who lived in our land of Israel, not so very long ago. I know you all see the houses in the city of Jerusalem , some are small and simple, while others are beautiful and wealthy. These are the homes of the rich.
One of these beautiful homes belonged to a very rich man. Oh, he had more than enough! He wore clothes of purple and fine linen. 👕 Do you know what that means? Purple dye was so very expensive, it was made from little sea snails! Only kings and the wealthiest of people could afford such a color. His clothes were soft and beautiful, unlike the simple robes most people wore.
This rich man lived in a great stone house with big gates, and he ate a huge feast every single day. Think of your favorite meal, children. Now, imagine having a feast like that, with all kinds of good things to eat, not just once, but every single day! The rich man sat at a beautiful table, enjoying all the food and drink you can imagine.
The Beggar at the Gate
Now, just outside the rich man’s gate, there was a man named Lazarus. He was a beggar, which means he had no home, no money, and no family to care for him. He was very sick and covered in sores all over his body. Can you imagine how Lazarus felt, with his tummy rumbling, feeling so hungry and unwell?
He just wanted to eat the little bits of food that fell from the rich man's big, fancy table. He would sit there, hoping for just a crumb. Even the dogs would come and lick his sores because no one else was there to help him. 🐶
The hot sun beat down on Lazarus. In our land, the heat can be fierce. It was a common sight to see people like Lazarus, seeking shade and a bit of comfort wherever they could find it. He was always thirsty, always hungry, and always alone. The rich man could have helped him, couldn't he? He saw Lazarus every single day as he passed through his gate, but he walked right by. Why do you think he didn't help? Was he too busy? Did he not care?
A Great Change
One day, both men died. The beggar, Lazarus, was carried away by the angels to Paradise in Heaven. The angels were like loving family, taking him to be with Father Abraham. It was a place of comfort and joy, where he no longer felt pain or hunger.
The rich man also died and was buried in a grand tomb. But when he awoke, he was in a very different place. He was in torment and felt a great burning fire 🔥. He looked up and saw a great distance away, our Father Abraham, and right next to him was Lazarus, looking so peaceful and happy.
The rich man cried out, "Father Abraham, have mercy on me! Please send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in agony in this fire!"
But Abraham said, "My son, remember in your lifetime you had all the good things you wanted, and Lazarus had all the bad things. Now, he is comforted, and you are in torment. And besides all of this, there is a great gulf fixed between us." Can you picture a canyon so wide and deep that no one can ever cross it? That is how far apart they were.
The Lesson of the Story
Children, this story is not just about a rich man and a poor man. It’s about how we treat others. The rich man had so much, but he did not share. He had everything he needed, but he forgot to love his neighbor. He did not show kindness or compassion to Lazarus. He ignored him, and that was his mistake.
We have a chance every day to show kindness to others. We have a chance to help those who are hungry or lonely. Do you see someone who needs a friend? Do you have something you can share?
The rich man then asked Abraham to send Lazarus to his five brothers so they would not end up in the same place. But Abraham said, “They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.” He meant they have the teachings from God. We have these same teachings from the Word of God. We know what is right and what is wrong.
And the rich man said, “No, Father Abraham, but if someone comes back from the dead, they will believe!” But Abraham replied, “If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, they will not be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead.”
Abraham was talking about the scriptures written down by Moses and the prophets. They tell us how to treat others who are less fortunate.
Example from the Law of Moses
For example, in the Law of Moses, God gave a special instruction to the Israelites about how to care for people who were poor, like Lazarus. It was called "gleaning."
Moses said, if you are a farmer with a big field of wheat. When you harvest your wheat, you should not go all the way to the very edges of your field. You should leave a little bit of the grain there. Also, if you accidentally drop some of the wheat stalks on the ground, you shouldn't go back to pick them up.
This leftover grain was for the poor people, for foreigners, and for widows and orphans. This way, they could come to the fields and gather the food they needed for their families. God told the Israelites to do this so that everyone would have a chance to eat and so that they would remember when they were poor and had nothing while they were slaves in Egypt. It was a way of sharing with a kind and open heart.
The rich man should have obeyed the law of God which commanded Israelites and all humans everywhere to share their goods with those who did not have. He went to hell because he disobeyed the Word of God and was not kind, like God.
Conclusion
So, my dear children, remember this story of the rich man and Lazarus. Let us not be like the rich man, but let us share our material resources with those who are in need. To do so is to be kind and compassionate like God. If we refuse to obey His Word, we will go to hell when we die.
Notice that you might not be able to share your goods with everyone in the planet. At least do something to help those in your immediate location to the best of your ability as long as you have the means to do so.❤️
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What does "Abraham's bosom" mean?
It means a place of peace and honor with God, a place where Lazarus was comforted.
Why was the rich man in torment?
The story shows he was in torment because he did not obey the Word of God given by Moses and the prophets. he was not compassionate and did not care for Lazarus when he had the chance.
What is the main lesson of the story?
The main lesson is that we should obey the Word of God and care for those around us who are poor or in need.
References
Barclay, W. (2001). The Gospel of Luke. The New Daily Study Bible. Westminster John Knox Press.
Chance, J. B. (2002). Luke. The Smyth & Helwys Bible Commentary. Smyth & Helwys Publishing.
Green, J. B. (1997). The Gospel of Luke. The New International Commentary on the New Testament. Eerdmans Publishing.
Keener, C. S. (2009). The Gospel of Matthew: A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary. Eerdmans Publishing.
Levine, A.-J. (2005). The Misunderstood Jew: The Church and the Scandal of the Jewish Jesus. HarperOne.
Riches, J. (2000). The Gospel of Luke. Epworth Press.
Witherington, B. (1994). The Jesus Quest: The Danger of an Historically Detached Christ. InterVarsity Press.
