Luke 16:19-31

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Luke 16:19-31

As the parable of the prodigal son set before us the grace of the gospel, which is encouraging to us all, so this sets before us the wrath to come, and is designed for our awakening; and very fast asleep those are in sin that will not be awakened by it. The Pharisees made a jest of Christ's sermon against worldliness; now this parable was intended to make those mockers serious. The tendency of the gospel of Christ is both to reconcile us to poverty and affliction and to arm us against... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Luke 16:19-31

16:19-31 There was a rich man who dressed habitually in purple and fine linen, and who feasted in luxury every day. A poor man, called Lazarus, was laid at his gate. He was full of ulcerated sores, and he desired to satisfy his hunger from the things which fell from the rich man's table; more, the dogs used to come and lick his sores. The poor man died, and he was carried by the angels to the bosom of Abraham. The rich man died and was buried. And in hell, being in torture, he lifted up his... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 16:19

There was a certain rich man ,.... In Beza's most ancient copy, and in another manuscript of his it is read by way of preface, "he said also another parable": which shows, that this is not a history of matter of fact, or an historical account of two such persons, as the "rich" man and the beggar, who had lately lived at Jerusalem; though the Papists pretend, to this day, to point out the very spot of ground in Jerusalem, where this rich man's house stood: nor is it to be understood... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 16:20

And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus ,.... By whom is designed, not any particular beggar in the times of Christ, that went by this name; though there were such persons in Israel, and in the times of our Lord; as blind Bartimaeus, and others: nor David, in the times of Saul, who was poor and needy; and who sometimes wanted bread, and at a certain time went to Abimelech for some: nor the godly poor in common, though the heirs of the heavenly kingdom are, generally speaking, the poor... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 16:21

And desiring to be fed with the crumbs ,.... The offal food, broken bread, fragments of meat: that food which falls from the knife, or plate, in eating, and from thence on the ground; and literally understood, may express the low condition Christ was in, in his human nature: he assumed a true body, like to ours, and partook of the same flesh and blood with us, and was liable to the same infirmities as ours, which are sinless; and among the rest, was subject to hunger and thirst, and was... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 16:22

And it came to pass that the beggar died ,.... The death of Christ was not a casual thing, a fortuitous event; it was agreed unto, and settled in the covenant of grace; it was spoken of by the prophets of the Old Testament; it was typified by the sacrifices of the law, and other things; it was foretold by Christ himself, and was the end of his coming into this world, wherein the great love, both of him and of his Father, is expressed; and is the main article of the Christian faith; so that... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 16:23

And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments ,.... Which may design the place of torment, and the miserable state the Scribes and Pharisees, as all wicked men, enter immediately into upon death, Psalm 9:17 who in their lifetime were blind, and are called blind guides, blind watchmen, blind leaders of the blind, and who were given up to judicial blindness and hardness of heart; but in hell their eyes are opened, and they see their mistakes about the Messiah, and find themselves in... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 16:24

And he cried and said, father Abraham ,.... The Jews used to call Abraham their father, and were proud of their descent from him, Matthew 3:9 and so persons are after death represented by them, as speaking to, and discoursing with him; as in the passage cited in the note See Gill on Luke 16:22 to which the following may be added F3 T. Bab. Beracot, fol. 18. 2. ; "says R. Jonathan, from whence does it appear that the dead discourse with each other? it is said, Deuteronomy 34:4 ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 16:25

But Abraham said, son ,.... He calls him "son", not in a spiritual sense; he was not one of Abraham's spiritual seed, that trod in the steps of his faith; but because he was so according to the flesh; and in return to his calling him father: good men have not always good children, nor is any trust to be put in birth and parentage: remember, that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things ; temporal good things; a land flowing with milk and honey; all the outward blessings of life... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 16:26

And besides all this ,.... The different circumstances of each, both past and present, which should be observed and considered: between us and you there is a great gulf fixed ; as this may regard the state of the Pharisees after death, it intends not the natural distance between heaven and hell; though there may be an allusion to the notions of the Jews concerning that, who on those words in Ecclesiastes 7:14 . "God hath set the one over against the other", say F6 Midrash Kohelet,... read more

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