The Truth About The Rich Man and Lazarus

The Truth About the Rich Man and Lazarus

The tale of the rich man and the beggar Lazarus is one of Jesus’ most well-known parables, and also one of the most misunderstood. Learn the true message of this story and what it helps us to learn.

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Delve into the intriguing story of the rich man and Lazarus. Was Jesus really explaining heaven and hell and the afterlife? Or was He trying to teach us something about how to live godly, generous lives? 

This guide explores:

  • The purpose of the parable and Jesus’ audience
  • Other Scriptures that provide necessary context
  • Important lessons we can learn from the parable for our own lives

See how the parables Jesus taught help us examine ourselves and move forward in our Christian walk.

Table of Contents

A scenic lake.

Introduction

1 minute
Read this amazing story: One day a rich man and a poor man both die. Instantly, they both awaken—but to find themselves in very different...
Silhouette of a person helping another person climb a boulder.

The Truth About the Rich Man and Lazarus

4 minutes
The most common interpretation of Jesus' parable of Lazarus and the rich man is that we all have immortal souls that go to either heaven or hell...
Sunrays coming through the clouds.

No One Has Ascended to Heaven*

3 minutes
*That is, except Jesus Christ, who came down from Heaven (John 3:13). But when you read in Luke 16:22 that "the beggar died, and was carried by the...
Old weathered hands cupped.

Was the Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus a Real Story?

2 minutes
One of the most important questions to consider about the parable of the rich man and Lazarus is whether or not the story is based on actual events...
Cut view of grass and dirt.

The State of the Dead

5 minutes
Let's go back over the second part of Luke 16:22, which states, "The rich man also died and was buried." Let's pause once again to ask a fundamental...
An old man with his head resting on his hands as if he was praying.

The Rich Man in Mental Torment

4 minutes
What did the rich man do next? "Then he cried and said, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in...
Dried cracked ground.

The Wicked Will Be Completely Burned Up

2 minutes
It's essential to understand the truth about the lake of fire.
The face of an old man.

Live a Life of Righteousness Now

3 minutes
What have we learned about Jesus' parable about Lazarus and the rich man? We discovered the biblical truth about the resurrection of the dead and the...