Luke 16:25
But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Abraham points out that the rich man's "good things" were entirely received in his lifetime, implying they were his complete portion. The Greek word for "received" suggests a final settlement or receipt, highlighting that his earthly pleasures were all he would ever get.
In the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, the rich man finds himself in agony after death, separated from Lazarus by a great chasm. He pleads with Abraham to send Lazarus to cool his tongue, but Abraham gently reminds him that their earthly lives dictated their current eternal states. Abraham explains that the rich man had already received his portion of comfort and pleasure in his lifetime, while Lazarus endured suffering, and now their roles are reversed.
Understand the original words
parakaleō · Greek Verb/Participle
A state of being strengthened, encouraged, or relieved from distress; in a spiritual sense, it refers to the peace and restoration provided by God's presence in the afterlife.
This parable reflects the stark social and economic disparities prevalent in 1st-century Judea, where extreme wealth often coexisted with abject poverty, and connects these earthly conditions to eternal outcomes.
c. 1500 BC - 500 BC
Period of the Judges and Early Monarchy
This era in Israel's history was marked by cycles of sin, oppression, deliverance, and relative peace. Poverty and suffering were common experiences for many, while a few individuals or families might have experienced significant wealth.
c. 500 BC - 1 BC
Second Temple Period
Judea was under various foreign dominations (Persian, Greek, Roman). The gap between the wealthy elite and the impoverished masses widened, with religious and social tensions simmering.
c. 25 BC - 5 BC
Herod the Great's Reign
Herod the Great, a wealthy and powerful client king of Rome, lived lavishly and undertook massive building projects. His reign exemplified extreme wealth and luxury for the ruling class, often at the expense of the common people.
c. AD 25 - 35— this verse
Jesus' Public Ministry
Jesus taught extensively in Galilee and Judea, addressing issues of wealth, poverty, justice, and the afterlife. This parable is spoken during this period, reflecting the socio-economic realities of the time.
This passage speaks to the idea that worldly possessions are temporary and should not be our ultimate treasure, directly paralleling the rich man's misplaced focus on his 'good things' in Luke 16:25.
Luke 6:24-25These verses offer a direct contrast between the woes of the rich and the blessings of the poor, mirroring the ultimate reversal of fortunes described by Abraham to the rich man.
James 5:1-6James condemns those who have hoarded wealth and lived in luxury while ignoring the suffering of others, a theme that resonates strongly with the rich man's situation and condemnation in Luke 16:25.
Matthew 25:31-46The parable of the sheep and the goats highlights how acts of compassion or neglect towards the needy (like Lazarus) have eternal consequences, underscoring the rich man's failure to use his 'good things' rightly.
pulpitLuke 16:25: "But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented."
Verse 25. - But Abraham said, Son; remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. Abraham here simply bids the tortured man to call to his memory the circumstances of the life he had lived on earth, telling him that i…
meyerLuke 16:25: "But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented."
Luke 16:25 . Τέκνον ] an address of sympathizing patriarchal love. The emphasis of the refusal lies on ἀπέλαβες , which is hence placed first: that thou hast received thy good things; there is nothing more in arrear for thee as thy due acquittance (see on Luke 18:30 ), hence to thy lot cannot fall the refreshing cr…
Abraham points out that the rich man's "good things" were entirely received in his lifetime, implying they were his complete portion. The Greek word for "received" suggests a final settlement or receipt, highlighting that his earthly pleasures were all he would ever get.
In the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, the rich man finds himself in agony after death, separated from Lazarus by a great chasm. He pleads with Abraham to send Lazarus to cool his tongue, but Abraham gently reminds him that their earthly lives dictated their current eternal states. Abraham explains that the rich man had already received his portion of comfort and pleasure in his lifetime, while Lazarus endured suffering, and now their roles are reversed.
In the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, the rich man finds himself in agony after death, separated from Lazarus by a great chasm. He pleads with Abraham to send Lazarus to cool his tongue, but Abraham gently reminds him that their earthly lives dictated their current eternal states. Abraham explains that the rich man had already received his portion of comfort and pleasure in his lifetime, while Lazarus endured suffering, and now their roles are reversed.
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c. AD 30 - 60
Early Church and Apostolic Age
The message of Jesus spread through the apostles. Early Christians were often urged to share their possessions and care for the poor, with a strong emphasis on a future reward in the kingdom of God.
"But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish." — Abraham points out that the rich man's "good things" were entirely received in his lifetime, implying they were his complete portion. The Greek word for "received" suggests a final settlement or re…
