June 3, 2026 | Lesson 340 | THE RICH MAN AND LAZARUS (LUKE 16:19-31)

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Introduction

The story of The Rich Man and Lazarus is called by some a parable, yet others believe the story is taken from real life. Either way the lesson is the same. Only Luke records the story, and he places it in the same context with Christ's teaching to the Pharisees on the proper use of riches. This story tells the consequences of unbelief, which results in covetousness and the failure of the proper use of riches. "…Ye cannot serve God and mammon" (Luke 16:13).

The Rich Man and Lazarus is a story of contrasts. In the physical world there was a rich man and a poor beggar. The rich man had the finest clothes of purple and fine linen, while the poor man was clothed in sores. The rich man dined sumptuously every day, while the poor man desired to eat crumbs. The rich man had numerous servants to serve him, while the poor man had only the dogs to lick his sores. Then both men died. In the spiritual world the beggar was in Abraham's bosom, while the rich man was in torment. The two men did not dwell together on earth, and after death they were still separated.