Because of this, there’s a tendency to attach greater significance and meaning to this parable than to others. Interpreters often get caught up in the fact that this is the only parable in which Jesus names any of the central characters. Jesus begins by introducing us to two characters: an extremely wealthy man and a beggar named Lazarus. It’s this tense exchange that sets the stage for Jesus’ story about Lazarus and the rich man. When he spoke the last parable, which touches on how we use our money and resources, Luke tells us that the “The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all this and were sneering at Jesus” (16:14). Jesus responded by launching into a number of parables: the Lost Sheep, Lost Coin, Lost (or Prodigal) Son, and Shrewd Manager. They instantly criticize him over the fact that he was known to deliberately spend time with sinners. Luke 15 begins with some Pharisees and lawyers mingling in a crowd in which Jesus has been teaching. We’ll first set the stage for this teaching. The Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus A Parable of Judgment The safest way for Jesus to communicate with the Pharisees was by parable and allegory, as clearly shown in this summary's video clip. They dealt in deception and subterfuge, while Jesus dealt with them wisely and truthfully. We can be sure that of all the people whom Jesus taught, none were handled more guardedly than the wily Pharisees. 14) says, “The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all this and were sneering at Jesus.” They were a class of men who were notorious throughout the gospels for their refusal to deal honestly with him and the truths that he taught. With which category of people was he dealing? The last verse prior to Jesus’ recitation (v. 19–31).īefore we dig into the meaning and purpose of this parable, it’s appropriate to first consider to whom Jesus was speaking in his Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus. This fourth and final “judgment” parable condemns the Pharisees for their love of money and their neglect of showing compassion for the poor (vv. Jesus affirmed the validity of the Law, rightly interpreting it (16:16–18), which was important to the Pharisees. His audience included his disciples (16:1), as well as the “Pharisees who loved money” so he ridiculed their stand on money (16:14). Jesus has been teaching about materialism and money. Synonyms: allegory, moral story/tale, fable Jesus’ Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus Luke 16:19–31

ble a simple story used to illustrate the meaning of or a moral or spiritual lesson, as told by Jesus in the gospels.

Commentary on bible story of lazarus