Introduction
We may encounter needy individuals in our daily lives who face various circumstances of need. These might include living in impoverished communities, undeveloped countries, or having made poor life choices.
As Christians, whenever we meet people in need, we feel pity for them, and when we talk to them, we feel it is easier to share our faith with them. However, when we encounter someone of higher social status, we tend to hesitate to mention the Lord’s name in our discussions. In Matthew 19:16-26, we read about a rich man, referred to as a certain ruler, who approached the Lord and asked, “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?” Many of us are familiar with this story and know how it unfolds. The Lord Jesus instructed him to sell his possessions and follow Him, but the man left in grief. This Bible passage illustrates how some people believe they can perform a good deed that qualifies them for eternal life. However, it is important to understand that the perfect deed has already been done. The innocent Lamb of God has shed His blood to atone for the sins of the world. For us, there is only one thing that must be done: trust, believe, and accept the sacrifice that the Lord Jesus has made. We should then come to the foot of the cross, repent, be baptized, follow His teachings, and remain under the protection of the blood of the Lord Jesus always.
Comments on Matthew 19:21-27 and on Luke 16:22-31
In this section, we will highlight the importance of sharing the good news of the Lord Jesus and the salvation that comes through Him alone with everyone, including the wealthy. We believe that life after death holds far more significance than our earthly existence. To illustrate this point, we will examine two Bible passages: the story of the rich ruler in Matthew 19:21-27 and the account of the rich man and Lazarus in Luke 16:22-31. We encourage readers to explore these narratives in full and reflect on their meanings.
Matthew 19:21 Jesus said to him, If you desire to be perfect, go, sell what you possess, and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in the heavens; and come, follow Me.
This person, because of the riches of this world, has a hardened heart to follow the Lord completely. This verse is close to all of us because when we ourselves think we have things, our hearts do not completely rely on the Lord. If we cannot let go of the things of this world, the riches become a chain on our legs, and we can’t walk far in faith as that chain gets heavier and heavier. We must see with our inner eyes (the eyes of the soul) and heart that the riches of this world mean nothing in the world to come.
22 Now the young man having heard the word, he went away grieving; for he was one having many possessions.
This verse shows what this man is about; the earthly riches captured his heart. Great sorrow takes hold of a person when the person must give up the riches of this world. This young man is an example for all to see; to follow the Lord Jesus and leave the riches is not easy for anyone to do.
23 And Jesus said to His disciples, Truly I say to you, A rich person will enter into the kingdom of the heavens with difficulty.
24 And again I say to you, It is easier for a camel to go through a needle’s eye, than for a rich person to enter into the kingdom of God.
Note that the Lord says that it is difficult for a rich person to enter into the kingdom of heaven, but not impossible. The root of difficulty is shown in the previous verses, and it relates to obedience. Greed and obedience go in parallel; when a person is greedy, it is hard to be obedient and follow the Lord Jesus.
25 Now having heard, the disciples were amazed greatly, saying, Who then can be saved?
Q: Why were the disciples amazed? A: It is the same nowadays, when you see a rich person, you believe that they are blessed by God. So, if those that you believe are blessed by God cannot enter the kingdom of God, then who can enter; this is their amazement.
26 And Jesus looking on them said to them, With people this is impossible; however, with God all are possible.
27 Then answering Peter said to Him, Behold, we have left all, and followed Thee; what then will be to us?
All of the disciples had left everything and followed the Lord Jesus, and all had this question in them: by following the Lord Jesus now, what do they get in return? This is a common question then and now. Peter’s question comes from worry; for the disciples then, it was harder to understand what they would get in return by following the Lord Jesus. They did not know about the resurrection yet, but those who come after learn about it from the Bible. The resurrection, which is the reason to follow the Lord Jesus for people nowadays, is different from the disciples’ reason. We follow after the Lord Jesus because we expect life after death, but the disciples at that time followed by faith of teaching.
In Luke 16:19-31, the Lord Jesus shares the powerful story of the rich man and Lazarus, a story that invites deep reflection on our life after death. While we will not provide a full commentary on this challenging Scripture, we encourage all readers to meditate on the entire narrative and consider the insights we offer on the BCF website. The essence of the story highlights the earthly needs of Lazarus, a poor man who, in dire circumstances, lay at the gate of a rich man who showed him no compassion. The rich man lived solely for the pleasures of his earthly life, neglecting Lazarus and failing to contemplate the state of his own soul after death. Below, we comment on the verses related to life after death, encouraging everyone to reflect on their perspective regarding life after death.
Luke 16:22 And it came to pass, that the poor man died, and that he was carried away by the angels into the Abraham's bosom – and the rich man also died and was buried.
As the verse tells, the end of earthly life for this poor man came. He did not have a comfortable life on this earth, but he was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom as a beloved child; we should all think about this poor man’s name in our lives as well. He has a name that has been written down in the Holy Bible, and the beloved Son of God used him as a tool for teaching.
“Abraham’s bosom.” For the Lord’s people, Abraham is considered as the father figure for all. The Lord has let people know that for Lazarus to be in Abraham’s bosom, the father figure of nations, the Lord did not select someone to be in Abraham’s bosom because they are rich, but because of His mercy, this poor man has been chosen. Abraham is in the realm of Heaven: by Lazarus being sent into his bosom, the Lord has told all readers that the poor man is in Heaven as well.
23 And in Hades having lifted up his eyes, being in torment, he sees Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
The verse tells us what the end situation of this rich man of earth is and also lets us know what the situation of Lazarus, the poor man, is at the end of his earthly life.
“Being in torment.” Everyone knows the meaning of torment, but nobody knows the feeling of how tormenting it would be to see far off the people in Heaven; the torment is greater than words can say.
“He sees Abraham afar off.” This is the reason why the Lord tells this story here: you are in Hades, and you can see Heaven; you can see it, but you cannot go there; this is the part of the torment for the soul to receive.
In verses 20 and 21 versus verse 23, we see a contrast between the life of this poor man on earth, suffering hunger and sickness, and the life of the rich man after death, suffering torment in Hades.
24 And he cried out 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.
The verse shows the suffering of the soul by knowing where the water is but remaining thirsty and not being able to get it: the internal torment is greater than the outward appearance of suffering. This verse tells that the anguished soul is in the flame of fire: the outward appearance is suffering from the flame, and also, there is internal suffering from thirst. All readers should think about this torment; it is too great to carry.
“He may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue.” The way of the soul’s body in that time is not the same as we are now: the tongue is not the part of thirst for the body, the tongue of the soul is the heart of the living of the soul, the suffering of the heart itself. The water in this verse is not the water that we all drink; this water is the mercy of God that the soul needs, for the soul being in torture will need the mercy of God to help eliminate the feeling of thirst.
25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner evil things; but now here he is comforted and you are in anguish.
“Son, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things.” In this place, Abraham, the father, wants to remind him that he already had everything before, when Lazarus had nothing, and he did not use what he had to do good for others in order to build treasures in Heaven for his soul so his soul would not be in torment. The Lord always teaches us to do to others as we want them to do to us; if you do not do good to anyone, then do not expect anyone to do good to you in return.
The reason the Lord gives this story to us is for everyone to think about it. The Lord wants everyone to think about one person’s actions versus another person’s actions: what the rich man did and what Lazarus did; that is the main purpose of this story. Faith is in the heart of the person, and it is not only the actions that come out to show faith; however, if someone has faith and does not act, that counts as well (see James 2:14-26). The rich man had everything, so if he had faith, would he give Lazarus something to eat? He did not act on any of the Lord’s teachings, and that has already been shown to all, so does he have faith or not when there is no mercy in him? Lazarus was humbled and suffering; he did not have actions here in the story beyond showing humbleness and not wishing evil to the rich man even if the rich man did not give him any food (see verses 19 to 21).
“And Lazarus in like manner evil things.” As the verse says, Lazarus had sores all over his body; besides being poor, he suffered as well; so, what else would a man need to feel bad and wish bad to anyone who has everything? Life on this earth is short, but Lazarus has joy for eternity in Heaven, so even the rich man wants to trade places with him. Also, the point of the story is not that the blessings of this earth count towards going to Heaven or not, but also that the heart must follow the teachings of the Lord.
“But now here he is comforted and you are in anguish.” Abraham tells all that Lazarus is there in Heaven with him; there will be no further torture for Lazarus. Unlike the rich man, Lazarus, the poor man ended up in comfort after death. This story is a lesson for all to learn: what you did to others here on earth will be counted for you or against you at the end.
26 And besides all this, between us and you there is a great chasm fixed, that they desiring to pass from here to you are not able, nor from there to us can they pass.
“Between us and you there is a great chasm fixed …” The chasm is a big space (opening), which in this place is between Hades and Heaven. This chasm is a place that no one from Hades can cross to come to Heaven, and in the same way, no one from Heaven can go to Hades, but all this according to permission only. The way to cross between these two places is only by permission of the Lord Himself because the Word of the Lord will be a bridge to use it. Think about it this way as well: Heaven is on one side, Hades is on the other side, and the Lord has fixed the chasm (a blockage) in the middle of them all; that is why the verse has told us that there is “a great chasm fixed.”
Q: The Bible tells us that our chance to go to Heaven is by believing in the Lord Jesus while we are on this earth. Is there any other way to go to Heaven? A: There is only one way to Heaven, and that is only by faith in the Lord Jesus, as the Bible tells us. The crossing between these places in this comment refers to angels to which the Lord gives permission to cross between the two places.
27 And he said, I implore you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father’s house;
28 for I have five brothers; that he may testify to them, lest they also come into this place of torment.
Everyone who reads this verse should notice that this person still remembers the brothers he has on earth and is concerned for them. Something must be done to help them; otherwise, they all will end up in torment like him. The soul still has memory, and that memory is a part of the soul as well. He tries to ask help for them, but it is too late.
29 But Abraham says, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.
30 And he said, No, father Abraham, but if one may go to them from the dead, they will repent.
This person, within his heart, thinks there is only one way to make his siblings believe: they must meet the dead. He expects them to repent by seeing the dead, which he is wrong. If they did not believe the men of God telling them about God, the dead coming back would not help them. The men of God have told them the good news to be saved; they don’t need the word of the dead to tell them. They can only repent if they come to acknowledge God Almighty, repent and confess their sins, and beg for mercy.
Q: How was it possible for Abraham to be in Heaven and the rich man’s soul to be in Hades, and there being a chasm between them, to communicate with each other as given here in these verses? A: First, we must understand that this is a true story that the Lord gives to us. In the spiritual realm, conversation can be made, and distance is not a problem; the conversation will be as face-to-face, even if it is far away, a farther distance than any human can imagine.
Q: Why would souls from the Heaven side entertain communication with souls from the Hades side? A: Normally, they would not have any communication, but in this case, it is the will of the Lord; when Abraham has talked with this soul, he has done accordingly to the will of the Lord Himself, and the beloved Son of God has used this case as a teaching.
31 And he said to him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, if one should rise out from the dead.
The characters from this story, the rich man and Lazarus, lived on earth before the Lord Jesus was born on earth. The Lord has given this story to make all humans realize that the beloved Son of God has existed before time, nothing has happened before time that He did not know about, the people and their actions He has seen them all and knows them. What happens in Heaven and Hades, He knows them all.
Reflecting on the story of the young rich ruler in Matthew and the account of the rich man and Lazarus in Luke, we recognize how earthly riches can capture people’s hearts, diverting them from fully committing to the Lord. In the story of Lazarus, we see that he was poor during his life on earth and required physical food, but somehow, he had enough spiritual food to take him to heaven. In contrast, the rich man lived a life of abundance with plenty of physical food but lacked spiritual food and ended up in Hades.
So, as followers of the Lord Jesus, we should ask ourselves, whom should we pity more: a poor man we see in our town or a rich man driving fancy cars and having great riches? What is harder: to suffer for eternity or just a few pitiful years of this passing life on this earth? As followers of the Lord Jesus, what food do we need to give people?
We often focus so much on the life we live on this earth and give little thought to the life to come. As believers, we need to be mindful of the kingdom of heaven. Like the disciples, we sometimes look at wealthy individuals and assume that their earthly blessings indicate their salvation (Matthew 19:25). However, we cannot see into their hearts, and if they are lacking spiritual food, only God knows that. When we encounter rich people, we may not feel compassion for them; instead, we direct our resources and energy toward helping those who are poor, which is undoubtedly essential. But what about the rich? While they may not need assistance with worldly matters, they definitely require the Word of God. As believers, we have a responsibility to offer true spiritual food to everyone, regardless of their wealth or status. We must serve both the poor and the rich by sharing the spiritual food the Lord entrusted to us, which will nourish their souls as well.
Conclusion
As followers of the Lord Jesus, we must share the good news of the Gospel without any discrimination. The Trinity of God desires that all people come to salvation through His beloved Son, the Lord Jesus Christ (1 Timothy 2:4). In our walk with the Lord, we should remember that nothing is impossible with God, and there is hope for everyone, including the rich, the poor, and people of all races and languages (Matthew 19:26).
We should never be ashamed of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus, and we must be willing to share it with everyone, regardless of their social status!
Meditation Tasks
- Meditate on life in heaven and visit our blog article, “The Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.”