Exploring The Afterlife (A Bible Study On The Rich Man and Lazarus)
- John Nolan
- Jun 22
- 18 min read
Updated: Jun 26
The story of the Rich man and Lazarus offers one of the greatest insights that Jesus Christ taught us about the afterlife. Jesus came from heaven and was returning to heaven, and He told this story to reveal aspects of its reality to us. In the following Bible study, I offer 10 biblical thoughts on this amazing story for your consideration.
Content Warning: Sometimes the Bible doesn't pull any punches, but tells it like it is; you may find some hard truths in this study. Please be prepared both emotionally and mentally.
Principal Scripture
“There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day. But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid at his gate, desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover, the dogs came and licked his sores. 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. And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
“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.’ 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. 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.’
“Then he said, ‘I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father’s house, for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.’ Abraham said to him, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.’ And he said, ‘No, father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ 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.’ ” (Luke 16:19-31)
10 Points from this Story for your consideration
Exploring The Afterlife ( A Bible Study On The Rich Man and Lazarus)
The Rich Man and Lazarus-
Point Number 1) A Parable Or A Real Event?
“There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day"
In the Gospels, it's essential to distinguish between when Jesus spoke in parables and when He recounted real-life stories. To do this, we need to examine the context, or the preceding words that introduce the story.
Understanding what a parable is:
Parable (Greek 'Parabole' - means to cast something beside)
Usage: A parable is often a short illustration used as a comparison
signifying a moral story or spiritual truth.
When Jesus started speaking parables, He would often say things like:
The kingdom of God is like...
Or The Kingdom of Heaven is like...
Different Versions of the Bible stating the same verse about parables
(Mark 4:30)
1) Then He said, “To what shall we liken the kingdom of God? Or with what parable shall we picture it? --- NKJ
2) Jesus said, ‘I will tell you another story about the kingdom of God. This story shows what the kingdom of God is like. --- EASY
3) And He was saying, “How should we liken the kingdom of God, or with what parable may we present it? --- DLNT
4) Yeshua also said, “With what can we compare the Kingdom of God? What illustration should we use to describe it? --- CJB
Now that we have a better understanding of what a parable is and how to identify it, let's look at the story of the Rich Man and Lazarus. Jesus did not introduce the story of the Rich Man and Lazarus as a parable, but as a story from real life. It is because it is understood this way that we can gain literal insights from it.
"There was a certain rich man"
From this beginning, we can understand that it is not a parable but a real-life event.
*It is also important to realize that this story is not representative of every rich person, nor indeed of every beggar, but refers to a specific rich person and a specific beggar.
The Rich Man and Lazarus-
Point Number 2) Understanding A Beggars Life
"But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid at his gate, desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table."Moreover, the dogs came and licked his sores."
The rich man's life seemed to be going smoothly; he wore nice clothes every day, he ate great food every day, BUT, there was this beggar, and they kept putting him outside his gate every day.
*The word BUT is a conjunction used to introduce a phrase or a clause contrasting with what has already been mentioned. The contrast that arrived in the rich man's perfect life was a beggar who was full of sores. Everything was going great in the rich man's life, ... until this beggar turned up on his doorstep!
Beggar (Greek: ptóchos - poor, destitute, beggar)
From ptosso meaning "to crouch"
A beggar (as cringing), a pauper
Figuratively: distressed
Literally: absolute or public dependency on charity"
Full Of Sores (Greek: helkoó - To wound, to ulcerate)
to cause sores
to be full of sores or ulcers
Laid (Greek: balló - To throw, cast, put, place)
arise, cast (out), X dung, lay, lie, pour, put (up)
to send, strike, throw (down), thrust
Those of us who live in the Western world may have grown up without actually seeing a beggar. However, those who live in or have traveled to less affluent countries have probably seen many. Beggars in New Testament times were often placed in strategic positions around the city to maximize the opportunity of finding support or relief from passersby.
Mankind's Need Is Our Opportunity To Care
Others laid Lazarus at the Rich man's gate, showing he couldn't walk independently, hoping that he would be seen and evoke pity and mercy.
What is Our Response to Seeing Someone In Need?
*Pity is merely a feeling, whereas mercy is an action.
Question:
Do we stop at pity?
Or do we proceed to mercy?
The feeling of pity should lead to the action of mercy (or Doing Something About It)
God's Love (Greek 'Agape' - refers to a love that is unconditional, sacrificial, and selfless)
is best described as an act of the will
or an action, which may or may not have feelings attached to it.
(Acts 3:1-3)
Now Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms from those who entered the temple; who, seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked for alms
(Matthew 15:27)
And she said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.
God may have sent Lazarus to the rich man as an opportunity for him to learn to share, to develop compassion, and to love people who are made in the image of God, rather than things. We don't know whether or not he did this, but the outcomes of the story seem to point in the direction of him continuing his life of selfishness.
Moreover, the dogs came and licked his sores."
Sometimes it seems that God may well send loving kindness into people's lives in the form of animals; it may be all the love they experience in life.
Pets are loved and, in return, show affection to their owners, regardless of the social standing that person may have in life. They are non-judgmental about how their masters look or smell, nor do they consider whether they are worthy of their affection.
Question:
Who is God laying at your gate?
And how will you respond?
Pity only, or an act of mercy?
(Luke 12: 48b)
For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more.
The Rich Man and Lazarus-
Point Number 3) Abraham's Bosom (The Afterlife)
"So it was that the beggar died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom."
Lazarus's life on earth was over, but his spiritual existence continued in a different form and a different place. He received the treatment of one who was precious in the sight of God, who sent His angels to bring Lazarus to a place of comfort and rest in the afterlife.
Abraham's Bosom is identified as a place of rest for those who die in faith and await the resurrection of the dead, as opposed to those who die without God's mercy and occupy a place of torment.
Not many people would have looked at Lazarus and thought he would be greatly exalted in the afterlife; he was probably dirty and smelly, as was the life of a beggar. However, while he lived, Lazarus's heart had cried out to God for His mercy and help, and through his faith, he was accepted by God and welcomed into heaven.
(John 11:23-26)
Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”
Martha said to Him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”
(Matthew 18:10)
“Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven.
(Matthew 19:29-30)
And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name’s sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first
The Rich Man and Lazarus-
Point Number 4) Hades (The Afterlife)
Continued Existence After Death and Burial
"The rich man also died and was buried. And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom." “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.’
The rich man's life on earth had also ended, and his spiritual existence continued in a different part of the afterlife, one specifically prepared for those who reject God's mercy and forgiveness.
God gives us all opportunities to humble ourselves and to seek His mercy and grace
in life, but do we take them?
Personal Testimony
I remember waking up on the day that I finally repented before God and was baptized, and hearing these words clearly in my head, "If you don't get saved now, you will be lost." Let me tell you that from that moment, I was highly motivated to find the Christian who had been witnessing to me, and telling him that I wanted to get saved NOW!
That day was the beginning of a beautiful relationship with my Savior, which has now lasted more than 40 years and which I have never regretted. I'm not saying that it's always been easy, but I am saying that it has truly been worth it!
Hades (Greek Hades - the "unseen place")
referring to the (invisible) realm in which all the dead reside
The present dwelling place of all the departed (deceased)
“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.’
Here we see the rich man is still expecting everyone to drop everything and wait upon him as his servants did. His circumstances had changed, but the reality of it had not struck home yet.
Question:
Why did the rich man request only that Lazarus would cool his tongue?
Surely his whole body was within the flame?
(Jude 14-15)
Now Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these men also, saying, “Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of His saints, to execute judgment on all, to convict all who are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have committed in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him.”
(James 3:6)
And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell.
(Matthew 12:33-37)
“Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or else make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for a tree is known by its fruit. Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things. But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
The Rich Man and Lazarus-
Point Number 5) Man's Response To Life's Circumstances
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.
Abraham, the Patriarch of the nation of Israel, knew much of both the life of Lazarus and the life of the Rich Man. As the father of the Jewish people and a friend of God, Abraham watched as his ancestors navigated life on earth, choosing a life of faith or continuing to live in unbelief.
Experiencing good or bad things in life doesn't always show whether a person is righteous or wicked before God. It is, however, their response amid their life circumstances that either compels them to seek God's mercy and forgiveness or hardens their heart toward God through independence and rebellion.
(Hebrews 12:1)
Therefore, we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us
The Rich Man and Lazarus-
Point Number 6) A Great Gulf Fixed
"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."
When I was younger, I travelled through several Asian countries and remember visiting a town on the border between Thailand and Laos. The Mekong River serves as the international border between the two countries, and citizens of each can see each other clearly across the river.
However, amidst politically turbulent times, they are unable to travel across. The gulf between these countries was only a river, a hundred or so meters wide, yet due to the enmity between the nations, it felt like a far greater distance.
A Great Gulf (Greek Chasma - Chasm, gulf, gap)
a "chasm" or vacancy (impassable interval)
from a form of an obsolete primary chao "to gape or yawn"
I imagine that the great gulf described by Abraham would be more like the distance between the Earth and the Moon. The Rich Man was able to see Abraham's Bosom in the distance, but was unable to go there.
Biblical evidence supports the concept that whatever state you are in before God, at the moment of your death, will be your eternal home.
There is no way to alter your position or condition after you have died, even if your love for others might evoke a desire to be with them in theirs. A simpler way to explain it would be a sign saying 'No Exit, No Entry.'
The finality of our placement in eternity should be a sobering thought that motivates us to choose wisely in life.
The Rich Man and Lazarus
Point Number 7) Concern For Loved Ones
“Then he said, ‘I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father’s house, for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.’
What began as the Rich Man's concern for himself developed into an apprehension for his family. Once he realized that his situation could not be changed, his attention turned to stopping his brothers from making the same mistake that he had made in life. As a role model to his brothers, he realized now how badly he had failed them.
Regret or Remorse?
Regret is a painful emotion that is tied irrevocably to the failures of your past. It focuses on personal feelings and the negative consequences of wrong decisions. With regret comes feelings of sadness, disappointment, and a wish that things had been different. Regret is often focused on a missed opportunity.
Remorse is an experience of a deep sense of guilt and responsibility for causing harm to others, sometimes through not being the best example for them to follow. It brings feelings of profound sadness and a desire to make amends.
We have all made mistakes in life and done things we regret; however, we can still choose to change and, in doing so, change our future and influence others to change as well.
(Romans 3:21-24)
But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus
(Ecclesiastes 12:6-7)
Remember your Creator before the silver cord is loosed, Or the golden bowl is broken, Or the pitcher shattered at the fountain, Or the wheel broken at the well. Then the dust will return to the earth as it was, and the spirit will return to God who gave it
(Jeremiah 8:20)
“The harvest is past,
The summer is ended,
And we are not saved!”
(2 Corinthians 6:2)
For He says:
“In an acceptable time I have heard you,
And in the day of salvation I have helped you.”
Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation
The Rich Man and Lazarus
Point Number 8) Someone Has Risen From the Dead
And he said, ‘No, father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’
For 2000 years, the church has proclaimed the resurrection of Jesus Christ, and in every generation, this message of salvation is heralded near and far. The answer to man's greatest need requires a simple act of faith in obedience to God, and yet many still reject this opportunity.
The bondage of sin hardens men's hearts and blinds their eyes from seeing the goodness and love of God revealed in the life of His Son, Jesus Christ. Men exercise their God - given right of free will, and condemn themselves.
(John 3:16)
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
(Mark 16:15-16)
And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved, but he who does not believe will be condemned
"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
Point Number 9) Some People Choose Not To Believe and Be Saved
When God made Adam in the Garden of Eden, He made him in His own image and likeness, that they might enjoy a wonderful Father/Son relationship together. Adam shared many traits with God, such as reason, creativity, and free will. Adam named all the animals and was given the responsibility to care for the garden by God, for he was being trained and prepared for greater things.
(Genesis 2:15)
Then the Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to tend and keep it
(Genesis 2:20)
So Adam gave names to all cattle, to the birds of the air, and every beast of the field. But for Adam, there was not found a helper comparable to him
The Tree Of The Knowledge Of Good and Evil
(Genesis 2:16-17)
And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.
The knowledge of good and evil, without the wisdom and godly character to know how to choose right from wrong, was far too dangerous for Adam at this point in his training; therefore, God forbade Adam from eating it.
It would be like putting a loaded gun (the knowledge of good and evil) in the hands of a toddler (Adam); it was an accident looking for a place to happen. However, a fully grown man trained and responsible (Jesus) could be entrusted with holding and using the same gun.
In the future, there may well have come a day when God the Father would have chosen to allow Adam to eat from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil; however, in the Garden of Eden, Adam still had his Learner Plates on.
Only God knows all things, and what responsibility each of us is truly ready for in life; that's why He sometimes says No to our misguided prayers. Jesus is our example to follow in life. We, as God's children, are all maturing at different rates, but share the same ultimate goal, which is to be like Christ our Saviour.
(Romans 8:29)
For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren
(Philippians 1:21)
For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain
The Entrance Of Satan Into The Garden
However, God had an enemy, whom He had banished from heaven, a wicked creature called Satan, and Satan's plan of revenge was to first deceive and then rule over God's highest creation, Mankind.
(Genesis 3:1-5)
Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?”
And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden; but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.’ ”
Then the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
Knowing good and evil, without the training required to develop the wisdom and character of God, was a death sentence for man. It would end in mankind's exile from the Garden of Eden and their spiritual domination by the fallen Satanic nature of their deceiver.
Now, each of us, as descendants of Adam, suffers death and shares in the same sinful, fallen nature of rebellion against God. This is the main reason why many still choose not to believe in, or bow the knee to, the Lordship of God's Son Jesus Christ, our Savior.
God did not want heaven to be filled with beings that were only made to obey Him, as the Angels were. He wanted a family of children who would see His goodness and kindness and who would choose to love Him and be with Him eternally. Our Father in Heaven searched throughout time for those who would choose to believe in Him by faith, that He might then also select them to inherit the Kingdom of God and eternal life.
(Isaiah 46:10)
Declaring the end from the beginning,
And from ancient times things that are not yet done,
Saying, ‘My counsel shall stand,
And I will do all My pleasure,
(Romans 1:18-21)
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened
The Rich Man and Lazarus
Point Number 10) - 5 Points Of Encouragement For Us All
The only person who doesn't want you to go to heaven is the devil. If your loved ones repented before God, even on their deathbed, they will meet you there. If they didn't seek and find God's mercy, then they, like the rich man, still want to see you in heaven.
This sobering statement is difficult for many people to understand and accept because of the tragic situation of the unsaved. I was also shocked at the realisation that some of my loved ones may end up in that terrible place forever, and it has taken time to come to terms with.
However, I have found 5 biblical truths that have helped me deal with the loss of one, whose state before God I was unsure of.
1) The exercise of free will-choice: God is a gentleman and will not force anyone to be saved. God respects their choice, and so must we.
2) God is both just and merciful. - Because God is just, sin must be punished, and the unredeemed must be excluded from heaven; otherwise, heaven would no longer be heaven. Because God is merciful, He made a way for the unredeemed to be forgiven by simply believing in His Son.
3) Jesus made the way available for everyone to come; even the thief on the cross was welcomed into paradise, and only God knows their standing before Him in their final moments.
4) God is trying to get people into heaven; He is not trying to keep them out.
5) We should never take away the unredeemed's last eternal hope, the hope that their loved ones would not come to that place of torment.
(Luke 23:39-43)
Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, “If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us.”
But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, “Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.”
And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.
(Romans 5:8-9)
But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.
I hope you find this helpful
God Bless
John Nolan
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