A Dead Man Praying for the Living

There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day. (Luke 16:19)

We do not know this man’s name. We do know that he was a wealthy man who dressed lavishly and enjoyed banquets in his private dining hall daily. We also know that this man had five brothers (Luke 16:27)

But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid at his gate, desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover, the dogs came and licked his sores. (Luke 16:20-21)

Then there was this beggar named Lazarus who sat at the gate of this rich man. Now, this is not the same Lazarus that Lord Jesus raised from the dead.

This man’s body was all covered with sores, and the only solace he had was that dogs would come and lick his sores. Neither the rich man nor his five brothers cared about the beggar.

So it was that the beggar died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and was buried. And being in torment in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off and Lazarus in his bosom. (Luke 16:22-23)

It appears that the rich man and the beggar died at about the same time. The rich man closed his eyes in death and woke up in a world of heat, flames, and torment. On the other hand, the beggar received a personal escort of angels to a place where he was comforted. There he personally met Abraham, the father of faith.

The rich man, however, found himself in a strange realm identified in scripture as ‘Sheol’ or ‘hades’.

“Then he 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 tormented in this flame.’ “Then he said, ‘I beg you, therefore, father, that you would send him to my father’s house, for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment. (Luke 16:24,27-28)

During his lifetime, this former aristocrat never had the time for God nor had any compassion for the poor. But in this world of departed souls, he began to pray. Interestingly, he never asked if he could get out of this underground prison of heat and flames. He probably knew that there was no escape from this place.

During his lifetime, he was too busy to pray for himself and his family members. It was too late. Even today, there are people like that in this world. Please don’t be like them.

Another interesting thing was although the rich man’s body was buried, his soul and spirit operated with all five senses. He experienced the following:

i) Utter darkness (blackness).
ii) Burning fire (agonizing pain).
iii) Weeping (regret).
iv) Gnashing of teeth (anger).
v) Smoke (utter thirst).
vi) Blazing furnace (torturous heat).
vii) Screaming (continuous noise of agony).
viii) Unbridgeable gap (eternal separation).
ix) Loss of human contact (family, friends – severe loneliness).
x) Mental anguish (memory of rejecting the gospel from friends, family, and acquaintances).

This story carries much weight because it is not found in the other Gospels - it is only recorded in the Gospel of Luke. Besides, in parables, Jesus never gave specific names, yet in this particular account, He names Lazarus, Abraham and Moses.

Scripture emphatically tells us, “it is appointed for [all] men once to die and after that the [certain] judgment” (Hebrews 9:27)

We who are presently living will pass from this life. When we depart from this shell of clay, there are only two locations where our eternal spirit and soul will remain until the resurrection and judgment day.

In one location, the dead are probably praying (like the rich man) that you never come there. In another location, there is a High Priest making intercession continually for us before the throne of God.

Heaven is for real, but so is hell. Please choose life – eternal life in Jesus Christ (John 3:16-17). Earnestly pray for the salvation of your family members.

A Dead Man Praying for the Living

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