The Beggar and the Rich Man Die - Luke 16:22

The beloved physician Luke wrote how Jesus said, “There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day. And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, and desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores”, and in chapter sixteen and verse twenty-two of his book Luke wrote how Jesus said, “the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom … the rich man also died” where we read:

And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom:

the rich man also died, and was buried;

The verse reads, “And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom:” Luke began with the words, “and it came to pass” or “and it happened and appeared in history”, “that the beggar died” which means “that Lazarus, who was asking alms, lowly, afflicted and destitute, breathed his last, perished and became inanimate”, “and was carried” or “and was borne off and away” “by the angels” which means “under the power of the messengers and envoys of Heaven” “into Abraham's bosom” or “to the of front of the body and between the arms of Abraham whose name means father of a multitude and was the son of Terah and the founder of the Jewish nation”. Luke shared how Jesus said “Lazarus” the “beggar” “died”,

The verse continues, “the rich man also died, and was buried;” Luke added the words, “the rich man” or “the man who was wealthy, abounding in material resources and abundantly supplied” “also died” which means “even so and indeed perished, breathed his last and became inanimate”, “and was buried” or “and was interred and celebrated with funeral rites”. Luke shared how Jesus said the “wealthy man” also “perished” and was “interred”.

When we meditate upon Luke's words in this verse, we learn how Jesus said both the “beggar” and the “rich man” “died”. This is the inevitable fate for every person because ten out of ten people die. The question becomes, “what then”? We shall see what Jesus says about this in our next verse, but for now let it suffice us to ask, “what is our relationship with God should we “perish” today”? God desires to provide “everlasting life” through belief and trust in His Son Jesus, and when a person yields to Him as their “Savior and Lord”, He assures them that their future shall be to live forever with Him.

Next time Luke shares how Jesus said the rich man, “in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments” so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".