Rich Man and Lazarus Bible Study

Bible Study – Luke 16.19-31

Background

Q1 What can you remember about the reasons for the growing tension between Jesus and the Pharisees in Luke chapters 13-15?

The tension continues to build in chapter 16. After Jesus’s warning about the dangers of loving money (16.13, cf 1Tim 6.10), Luke comments that the Pharisees ridiculed Jesus because they were lovers of money.

One more piece of background. Most scholars now agree that the parable is based on a well-known folk tale, popular amongst the poor, which was circulating at the time.

As Jesus tells the parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus, he is probably still addressing a mixed audience made up of ‘tax-collectors and sinners’ on the one hand and an increasingly angry group of ‘self-righteous Pharisees’ on the other.

Q2 How does the parable fit into the context of Jesus’s conflict with the Pharisees? How did His ideas of goodness and perfection compare with theirs (compare Matt 5.46-48 with Luke 15.2)?

Q3 Looking at verses 19 to 21. Who do you think the rich man and Lazarus represent, in Jesus’s version of the story? What about the dogs… (see Mark 7.26-28)?

For the next few questions we focus on verses 22 to 26.

Q4 In the story, on what basis is the fate after death of the rich man and that of Lazarus decided? (a) their faith, (b) their deeds, (c) something else, (d) don’t know?

Q5 What is the tone of the description of Heaven and Hades and of the conversation which takes place? Do you think that reality is being described? How does the story relate to Pharisee expectations about resurrection and the afterlife?

Q6 What conclusions can we draw from this parable about the geography and mechanics of Heaven and Hell and about Jesus’s own beliefs concerning the afterlife?

Q7 Is it possible to be rich and to live a life which is pleasing to God? What does the parable tell us on this subject (compare also 1Timothy 6.17-19).

Q8 Is there a Lazarus outside your gate? What are you doing about it? WWJD?

Finally we look at verses 27 to 31.

Q9 What had the Pharisees missed in the books of Moses and the Prophets? In what ways was their use of the Bible wrong?

Q10 Is verse 31 intended as a prophecy? How do you think Jesus said these words and what result was he looking for?