Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus

Jesus then told all the people a parable about ignoring teaching and repenting too late: “Now, there was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived each day in joyous splendor. And a beggar named Lazarus was laid at the rich man’s gate, covered with sores and longing to be fed with the scraps that fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.

“One day the beggar died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side. And the rich man also died and was buried. In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side.

“So, he cried out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue. For I am in agony in this fire.’

“But Abraham answered, ‘Child, remember that during your life you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things. But now he is comforted here, while you are in agony. And besides all this, a great chasm has been fixed between us and you, so that even those who wish cannot cross from here to you, nor can anyone cross from there to us.’

“‘Then I beg you, father,’ the rich man said, ‘send Lazarus to my father’s house, for I have five brothers. Let him warn them so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’

“But Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; let your brothers listen to them.’

“‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone is sent to them from the dead, they will repent.’

“Then Abraham said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, they will not be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead.’ ”

See Luke 16:19-31

Notes:

“Abraham’s side”: Also called the bosom of Abraham; paradise.

“Hades”: The unseen world of the dead.