April 12, 2026 - No Way Out
The Rich Man and Lazarus: A Story That Still Speaks Today
Scripture Reading: Luke 16:19–31
Watch the Message
The Passage (Luke 16:19–31, World English Bible)
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 laid at 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 now here he is 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 none 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 that 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.'"
A Brief Reflection
In this striking parable, Jesus contrasts the earthly lives and eternal destinies of two very different men. One is nameless, wrapped in purple and fine linen, feasting each day behind the safety of his gate. The other is Lazarus — named, known by God — who sits hungry and hurting just steps from the rich man's table, ignored.
When death comes, as it does to both, their positions are reversed. Lazarus is carried by angels to Abraham's side. The rich man awakens in torment, pleading for even a drop of water. The story's most sobering detail is not the flame but the fixed gulf — the reminder that what we do with this life matters beyond this life.
Then the parable turns. The rich man begs for a messenger to be sent back to warn his brothers. Abraham's answer cuts to the heart of the matter: "If they don't listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if one rises from the dead." God has already spoken. The question is whether we will listen.
Three invitations from this passage:
See the Lazarus at your gate. Who has God placed within reach of your compassion this week — a neighbor, a coworker, a stranger?
Hold your blessings loosely. Wealth, comfort, and status are not condemned here, but indifference is. How are we using what we've been given?
Listen to the Word you already have. The rich man wanted a miracle; Abraham pointed him back to Scripture. The Bible in our hands is a greater gift than we often realize.
May we have ears to hear, eyes to see the Lazarus beside us, and hearts ready to live today in the light of eternity.
Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain.
Join us this Sunday as we continue walking through the teachings of Jesus in the Gospel of Luke.