Lazarus and the Rich Man

Listen to our friend Helen tell Jesus’s story about what happened to the poor man and the rich man.

Jesus told a story about a poor but righteous man who found justice in heaven. Jesus named the poor man Lazarus, the Greek version of the Hebrew name Eleazar, which means “God has helped.” But in the story, the rich man did not help Lazarus, who spent his days suffering just outside the rich man’s gate. When Lazarus, the poor man, died, he spent eternity in heaven. However, the rich man, who had lived in luxury, suffered for eternity because he did not seek a right relationship with God, the God who helped the poor man.

Jesus’s story portrays a reversal in fortune. But the rich man was not condemned because he was rich. He discovered too late that repentance was required (Luke 16:30). His wealth was worthless. And Lazarus was not righteous because he was poor. He had a relationship with God, and he experienced true prosperity for eternity.