Luke 16:19 - Printer Friendly

ESV: “There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day.

NIV: There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day.

NASB: Now there was a rich man, and he habitually dressed in purple and fine linen, enjoying himself in splendor every day.

CSB: "There was a rich man who would dress in purple and fine linen, feasting lavishly every day.

NLT: Jesus said, 'There was a certain rich man who was splendidly clothed in purple and fine linen and who lived each day in luxury.

KJV: There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:

NKJV: “There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day.

In this story, a wealthy man dies and goes to eternal punishment while the beggar he refused to care for goes to "Abraham's bosom" or "Abraham's side": the place of paradise where God-following Jews wait for the resurrection. The two men's situations in death are the exact opposite from those in life. The rich man learns that he can do nothing to alter his state; all the decisions he made while living are irrevocable.

Luke 16 intertwines several themes. Like the parable of the dishonest manager (Luke 16:1–8), this story talks about the proper use of money. Then it touches on how a greedy attitude towards money is a strong sign that someone doesn't know God (Luke 16:9–13). Finally, it teaches the role of the Law and Prophets for the Jews in the church age (Luke 16:16–17).

Scholars debate as to whether this should be referred to as a "parable." In our view, it should not. However, that doesn't necessarily mean the story is based on a literal event. Here, unlike in His "parables," Jesus includes a character's name: Lazarus. It doesn't follow the format of using an earthly scene to present a metaphorical spiritual application. Most likely, it's just a story with literal applications. How the narrative is labeled is not especially important, but we must grasp the point: we should not be like the rich man; we should care for those in need and trust what the Scriptures say about our fallenness, salvation, and who Jesus is.

Presumably, the rich man's cloak was purple and his undergarment was fine linen; both are signs of great wealth and comfort. The food most often mentioned throughout Jesus' travels are bread and fish; to eat "sumptuously every day" is a luxury few could afford. The description shows that this man is blessed in worldly ways. His living condition strongly contrasts with both the beggar Lazarus and with his own later state in damnation (Luke 16:20–21, 24).

Luke 16:19–31 contains the story of the rich man and Lazarus. Lazarus, a poor beggar, dies and goes to "Abraham's bosom" while a rich man dies and goes to torment. The rich man begs Abraham first for some relief and then to warn his brothers; Abraham insists they have been warned enough. There are several applications: our feelings about money often reveal our devotion to God; once someone dies, their fate is sealed; and if the Pharisees cannot see Jesus in the Mosaic law and the Prophets, they'll never see the truth of who He is in miracles—even someone returning from the dead.

Teaching His disciples and confronting the Pharisees, Jesus offers several lessons about wealth and devotion to God. The first is a parable about a dishonest manager. This illustrates the value of being careful and clever with earthly resources. Jesus then uses remarks about the Law and marriage to introduce the story of the rich man and Lazarus. This not only highlights the dangers of greed, but it also debunks the common claim that a non-believer would submit to God if only they saw "a little more evidence" or a miracle.

The prior chapter included Jesus' teachings centered on lost things: the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the prodigal son. Luke 16 includes several of Jesus' lessons about living in the kingdom of God compared to the world system, beginning and ending with parables (Luke 16:1—17:10). Chapter 16 includes the parable of the dishonest manager, Jesus' teaching on how money reveals faith, and the story of the rich man and Lazarus. Luke 17:1–10 teaches about whether Christ-followers bear responsibility for others' sin, lessons about faith, and the parable of the unworthy servants.

Luke was a traveling companion of Paul (Acts 16:10) and a physician (Colossians 4:14). Unlike Matthew, Mark, and John, Luke writes his gospel as an historian, rather than as a first-hand eyewitness. His extensive writings also include the book of Acts (Acts 1:1–3). These are deliberately organized, carefully researched accounts of those events. The gospel of Luke focuses on the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ. Luke's Gentile perspective presents Christ as a Savior for all people, offering both forgiveness and direction to those who follow Him.