There was once a rich man who wore expensive clothes and every day ate the best food. But a poor beggar named Lazarus was brought to the gate of the rich man’s house. He was happy just to eat the scraps that fell from the rich man’s table. His body was covered with sores, and dogs kept coming up to lick them. The poor man died, and angels took him to the place of honor next to Abraham.

The rich man also died and was buried. He went to hell and was suffering terribly. When he looked up and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side, he said to Abraham, “Have pity on me! Send Lazarus to dip his finger in water and touch my tongue. I’m suffering terribly in this fire.”

Abraham answered, “My friend, remember that while you lived, you had everything good, and Lazarus had everything bad. Now he is happy, and you are in pain. And besides, there is a deep ditch between us, and no one from either side can cross over.”

But the rich man said, “Abraham, then please send Lazarus to my father’s home. Let him warn my five brothers, so they won’t come to this horrible place.”

Abraham answered, “Your brothers can read what Moses and the prophets wrote. They should pay attention to that.”

Then the rich man said, “No, that’s not enough! If only someone from the dead would go to them, they would listen and turn to God.”

So Abraham said, “If they won’t pay attention to Moses and the prophets, they won’t listen even to someone who comes back from the dead.” (Luke 16:19-31)

Although the story of Lazarus and the rich man may give us some information about the nature of Hell, it was not the primary point of the story. Jesus was trying to teach the Pharisees and Sadducees a lesson. They believed that because they were rich and powerful, they were blessed by God. They believed the poor and weak were that way because God was punishing them for their sins.

Jesus wanted the Pharisees and Sadducees to understand that external circumstances revealed nothing about how sinful a person might be. Abraham’s warning, that even a resurrection wouldn’t convince those who wouldn’t listen to scripture, were directed at the Pharisees and Sadducees. Jesus had already raised several people from the dead. Soon Jesus himself would rise from the dead. But all the miracles that Jesus ever did were not enough to convince the Pharisees and Sadducees who rejected him. God has given us his words and the words of his Son Jesus Christ. Today we must choose to believe based on those words alone.

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