Daily Devotional For Monday, October 19, 2026
Good morning Southside! I am following the One Year Chronological Bible reading suggestion and any Bible verses you see highlighted in bold (ex. John 3:16), means it is a link to that verse. All you have to do is click on the reference and it will take you to the verse online. Our daily devotional for today comes from the words of Jesus found in Luke 16:19-31. The parable Jesus tells here should put the fear of God in all of us.
Let’s do a comparison between two Scriptures: 1 John 3:17, “If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion—how can God’s love be in that person?” (NLT). Now look at James 2:15-16, “Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing, (16) and you say, “Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well”—but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do?” (NLT).
John does not see how it is possible to love God and not help one in material need. James questions the authenticity of the faith of one who does nothing to help another who has physical needs. Both make it clear that such uncaring, stingy people are lost despite their affirmations of faith in and love for God. And guess what? This is Jesus’ point in the Parable of Lazarus and the Rich Man.
This parable frightens me because Jesus illustrates the unthinkable reversals that come after death as well as the horrible torture in hell. Jesus is rebuking the callous uncaring attitude of those in the church and worshipping community in terms of their lack of helpful response to the poor. Jesus tells us how this rich man dressed while he was alive. The purple Jesus mentioned was extremely expensive. New Testament scholar Joseph Fitzmyer writes this:
“This was the color of royalty, he wore outer garments of imported Phoenician wool dyed by the purple of murex, a rare and expensive sea mussel. Next to his skin he wore byssus, an unusually fine linen from Egypt. And at the center of his daily existence was a brilliant table, haute cuisine every day. This was Roman chic to the nth degree, even though he was a Jew” (Source: Joseph A. Fitzmyer, The Gospel According to Luke, Vol. 2, pp. 1130-1131).
Outside his gate in verses 20-21 laid a poor, starving sick and malnourished man by the name of Lazarus. He was so sick, that he had open ulcers that oozed juices and all he could do was lay at this rich man’s gate in hopes he would at least receive some scraps from his table. The Greek Text gives us the impression that it was the rich man’s dogs that got the scraps then came to Lazrus to lick the juices that were oozing from his open sores. The picture here is of a man who is so destitute, that he gets more care from the rich man’s dogs than he does from the rich man.
The wealthy man knows who Lazarus was because he recognizes him in the afterlife. This rich man would walk out from his home dressed to the “nines” with his cologne on him that ran in competition to the stench of poor man Lazarus’ body odor. How could a descendant of Abraham be so cold and callous? We cannot please God without showing mercy to those less fortunate (Amos 5:21-26 & Micah 6:6-8). This rich Jewish man would have known Leviticus 19:18b, “Love your neighbor as you love yourself” (NASB). When Lazarus died, the angels carried his soul to the "bosom of Abraham” and when the rich man died, no angels came for him. His dead body was probably buried in some rich tomb he had purchased or in some cases, his body could have been thrown on the burning trash heap in the Valley of Hinnom. Most likely this is the point here. His body gets burned and so does his soul.
Lazarus, whose name means, “God has helped,” is rewarded for his faithfulness to God. The rich man got his reward also, though it was a reversal of what he had believed. Hades had two parts; paradise where Lazarus went and the fire, where the rich man went. Even in the afterlife, the rich man shows his arrogance and presumption. He thinks that he is still in good standing with Abraham, and that Lazarus is still his servant, he tells Abraham to send Lazarus to bring him at least a drop of cool water.
Notice in this parable that Lazarus never said a word. Not even when he was living did he blame God or curse God for his plight. In Paradise, he does not rebuke or speak out against the rich man for his arrogance and presumption. This showed his godly character. Abraham is actually tender with this rich man. He calls him “son,” a reference to this rich man being a descendant of Abraham. Abraham told the man that kinship, sonship with Abraham, is not a guarantee of Paradise and heaven. And then Abraham reminds the rich man there was a great chasm between them that is so big no one can cross it. The Greek New Testament word means “unbridgeable.” Abraham and Lazarus can’t come to the rich man and the rich man can’t come to them.
Abraham reminded this rich man that he rewarded himself from his own riches while he watched Lazarus receive nothing. The man pleads for the lives of his brothers, who it seems were living the same kind of life. “Just send someone from the dead and they believe and change.” Abraham told him they would not believe (this was a reference to the Resurrection of Jesus also). Abraham said anyone who has hardened their heart to God’s Word will not listen to someone who has come back from the dead.
Another thing I want you to notice here. Lazarus, who went unnoticed before the rich man is named, and the rich man, who wanted everyone to notice him, goes unnamed. Here is another thing I want you to notice: Lazarus resided by the rich man’s gate. The rich man resided in a mansion. Here is another thing I want you to notice: during his life, Lazarus longed for crumbs from the rich man’s table and now in Hades, the rich man longs for even one drop of water. While the rich man ignored Lazarus when they both were living, now God allowed this rich man to not be able to ignore Lazarus in Paradise. What a reversal that had to be tortuous to the rich man. If we choose to live without God in this life, then God allows us to live without Him in the afterlife.
Reflection Assignment: Who is it in your life you see regularly but you just ignore them? The rich man did not go to hell because of his wealth, but because of his hardened heart towards Lazarus. This man and his brothers are doomed to hell because they refused to listen to God’s Word. What in God’s Word are you refusing to listen to and obey? What is the Lord saying to you through this parable?
Scripture To Meditate On: Micah 6:6-8, “With what shall I come to the Lord, And bow myself before the God on high? Shall I come to Him with burnt offerings, With yearling calves? (7) Does the Lord take delight in thousands of rams, In ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I present my firstborn for my rebellious acts, The fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? (8) He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you But to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your God?” (NASB).
Prayer To Pray: “Lord, I do not want to have a hardened heart like this rich man. I want to care and I need you to put them right in front me to notice. You say in Acts 20:35, “It is more blessing to give than to receive.” I want to be like You – a giver. Please help me to do this. I love You Lord. In Jesus’ name, Amen!”
I love you Southside! – Pastor Kelly