“There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:”
My Notes
What Does Luke 16:19 Mean?
Jesus introduces one of his most vivid parables with a deliberate contrast: a certain rich man dressed in purple and fine linen and feasted sumptuously every day. The wealth is not just described. It is displayed — conspicuously, daily, extravagantly.
The parable continues with Lazarus, a beggar at the rich man's gate, covered in sores, desiring crumbs from the table. The contrast is physical and spatial: one man inside, feasting. One man outside, starving. At the same gate.
The parable is not about wealth being sinful. It is about wealth that ignores need at its own doorstep. The rich man's sin was not being rich. It was being rich while Lazarus lay at his gate — visible, accessible, and ignored.
The reversal after death (v.22-26) is total: Lazarus in Abraham's bosom, the rich man in torment. The chasm that was social becomes eternal. The gate that separated them in life becomes a gulf that cannot be crossed in death.
Reflection Questions
- 1.What is the rich man's actual sin — and why is indifference to visible need so serious?
- 2.Why does Jesus name the beggar but not the rich man?
- 3.Who is 'at your gate' — close enough to see and help?
- 4.How does the eternal reversal change how you view present inequality?
Devotional
A certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen. Purple — the most expensive fabric. Fine linen — daily luxury. Fared sumptuously every day — not occasionally. Every day. The wealth was not just possessed. It was consumed.
And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus. Named. Jesus names the beggar and leaves the rich man anonymous. The one the world noticed is unnamed. The one the world ignored has a name.
Laid at his gate, full of sores. At his gate. Not across the city. At the gate. The need was as close as the doorstep. The beggar was impossible to miss.
Desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table. Crumbs. Not the feast. Crumbs. Even crumbs would have been enough. Even the waste from the excess would have sustained the man at the gate.
The sin is not wealth. It is indifference — lavish self-indulgence while a starving man lies at your gate. The rich man did not assault Lazarus. He ignored him. And the ignoring was enough to reverse their positions for eternity.
Who is at your gate? Not across the world. At your gate. Close enough to see. Close enough to help. And are you feasting while they lie there?
Commentary
Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.
And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus,.... By whom is designed, not any particular beggar in the times of Christ,…
There was a certain rich man - Many have supposed that our Lord here refers to a “real history,” and gives an account of…
There was a certain rich man - In the Scholia of some MSS. the name of this person is said to be Ninive. This account of…
As the parable of the prodigal son set before us the grace of the gospel, which is encouraging to us all, so this sets…
There was a certain rich man He is left nameless, perhaps to imply that hisname was not "written in heaven" (Luk 10:20).…
Cross References
Related passages throughout Scripture