Parables in Luke

The rich man and the gate

19“Now there was a certain rich man, and he was clothed in purple and fine linen, living in luxury every day.

20A certain beggar, named Lazarus, was taken to his gate, full of sores,

21and desiring to be fed with the crumbs that fell from the rich man’s table. Yes, even the dogs came and licked his sores.

22The beggar died, and he was carried away by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and was buried.

23In Hades, he lifted up his eyes, being in torment, and saw Abraham far off, and Lazarus at his bosom.

24He cried and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue! For I am in anguish in this flame.’

25“But Abraham said, ‘Son, remember that you, in your lifetime, received your good things, and Lazarus, in the same way, bad things. But here he is now comforted and you are in anguish.

26Besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, that those who want to pass from here to you are not able, and that no one may cross over from there to us.’

27“He said, ‘I ask you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father’s house—

28for I have five brothers—that he may testify to them, so they won’t also come into this place of torment.’

29“But Abraham said to him, ‘They have Moses and the prophets. Let them listen to them.’

30“He said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’

31“He said to him, ‘If they don’t listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if one rises from the dead.’”

Luke 16:19–31World English Bible, Protestant Edition

Lazarus lies at a rich man’s gate, covered with sores and wanting the crumbs from his table. The rich man wears fine clothing and lives in luxury. After both die, the rich man asks Abraham to send Lazarus with water to cool his tongue.

Abraham describes a gulf that cannot be crossed. The rich man then asks that Lazarus warn his five brothers. Abraham directs them to Moses and the prophets, and says that if they do not hear Moses and the prophets, they will not be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead. What changes between the rich man’s first and second requests?

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