Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Home
Catholic
Understanding The Rich Man’s Fate

Understanding The Rich Man’s Fate

Last updated on: November 9, 2025 at 2:26 am by Henry Karlson

0 Comments

Understanding The Rich Man’s Fate 2025-11-09T02:26:35-05:00 Henry Karlson

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Cleveland Museum of Art: Jacopo Bassano – Lazarus And The Rich Man/ Wikimedia Commons

The rich who ignore the plight of the poor, the rich who make the lives of the poor worse while justifying their actions by demeaning the dignity of the poor, will eventually face the consequences of what they have done. Their indifference to the plight of others, or worse, the way they make the poor and vulnerable feel less than human, undermine the dignity of life. Their claims must be rejected, and their actions resisted. The rich must not be seen as superior to everyone else because of their wealth; if anything, when they possess a disproportionate amount of wealth in relation to their need, hoarding it up so as to prevent the just distribution of goods, they represent people of inferior character, indicating their own inferiority. Eventually, they will experience the consequences of their actions. Justice will prevail. In the final analysis, in the end, their wealth will do them no good. This is one of the many lessons we are to learn from the parable of Lazarus and the rich man. Dives, the rich man, consistently saw Lazarus outside of his home seeking help, but the rich man always ignored him. Eventually Lazarus died and was received by Abraham. Then the rich man died:

The rich man also died and was buried; and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes, and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus in his bosom. And he called out, `Father Abraham, have mercy upon me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am in anguish in this flame.’ But Abraham said, `Son, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner evil things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish’ (Lk. 16:23-25 RSV).

Due to the way Jesus gave used the name of Lazarus in the parable, a name which is also the the name of a close friend of his, some think this parable somehow reflects something of the way his friend lived, died, and came back to life. They want the parable to have some sort of historical basis. However, that is not likely because Lazarus has a tomb, indicating he was not a poor man like the Lazarus in the parable. In reality, it doesn’t matter if the parable has any historical basis to it. The parable presents a general truth, the truth that those who are rich must not neglect the welfare of the poor, because if they do, they will find their lack of charity creates within them a desolate spiritual condition, one which will bring them anguish, sometimes during their lives on earth (as seen in the way no amount of wealth brings them true satisfaction and happiness), but also after they die.

Often, it seems like there is no justice in the world. The rich not only live their lives in indifference to the poor around them, they get rich on the backs of the poor; they end up making more than anyone would ever need, not just in their own lifetime, but many lifetimes. The point of this parable is to tell us, however things might appear, no one will ever escape the justice of God. The rich might live a life of luxury. They might get power and privilege in the world. It might seem that they can even break the law and use their wealth and privilege to avoid going to court, which the poor cannot do, but their money, their status is only temporary. They will eventually have to come to terms with what they have done. Their lack of mercy, like the rich man in this parable, will prevent them from receiving mercy in return. They will experience the cruelty they embraced coming back at them, demonstrating the truth that sin creates its own punishment.

We are also meant to learn that some people become so attached to their own immoral activity, defending it so much, they will ignore even the most authoritative responses to it, such as if someone came back from the dead and warned them what they will experience if they do not change their ways.

While some read this parable as indicating that the rich man is lost for eternity, and as such, this parable presents to us the necessity that some will suffer eternal perdition, that is more than what the parable suggests. Indeed, there are hints that something more might be involved. The rich man, though dealing with the consequences of his life, especially the consequences of living a life without much compassion or charity, shows that he still has a sense of charity within him, one which seems to be growing due to his experience after death. It leads him to want to warn his kinsmen of what awaits them if they live their lives like him; he is not allowed to do so, and he is told it would do not good:

And he said, `Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father’s house, for I have five brothers, so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.’ But Abraham said, `They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.’ And he said, `No, father Abraham; but if some one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ He said to him, `If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced if some one should rise from the dead’ (Lk. 16:27-31 RSV).

The fact that the rich man finally shows a sense of compassion leads some to read this parable suggesting that God’s justice is not retributive but rather restorative. The rich man, dealing with the injustice he made for himself, is showing change; he is caring for someone other than himself, even if it is his kinsmen. It is a start, and suggests that he might undergo more transformation, more purification, so that in the end, he might possess the charity which he needs to have the original goodness and integrity of his humanity restored to him. Just as Lazarus did not suffer for eternity, so the rich man might not have to suffer for eternity. God’s justice will prevail. Those who are callous in life will have to deal with that callousness in death. But what that means, if some will be forever lost, that is, if some will face eternal perdition, we do not know. What we do know is God’s justice is not retributive but restorative, and with the parable Jesus gave us here, we can see that the rich man, despite himself, seems to be slowly transformed for the better, giving us the hope that anyone and everyone can be transformed in the same way.

Stay in touch! Like A Little Bit of Nothing on Facebook.
If you liked what you read, please consider sharing it with your friends and family!

N.B.: While I read comments to moderate them, I rarely respond to them. If I don’t respond to your comment directly, don’t assume I am unthankful for it. I appreciate it. But I want readers to feel free to ask questions, and hopefully, dialogue with each other. I have shared what I wanted to say, though some responses will get a brief reply by me, or, if I find it interesting and something I can engage fully, as the foundation for another post. I have had many posts inspired or improved upon thanks to my readers.

Previous Post

November 6, 2025

Being Kind vs. Being Mean: The Christian Approach To Justice

Next Post

November 10, 2025 Reassessing Marian Titles

Recent Comments

0 | Leave a Comment

"Gosh, did that hit the spot. I have been having great anxiety lately. And I ..."

Mark Wilson

Rejecting Doom: Christian Hope And Human ..."

"Justice and peace are two sides of the same coin. Where there is justice, there ..."

Dr.Cajetan Coelho

Justice First, Charity Beyond It: Serving ..."

"Thank you for your very, very powerful and very, very insightful analysis of the relationship ..."

alwayspuzzled

Justice First, Charity Beyond It: Serving ..."

"Given the amount of lethal malevolence that has prevailed in human history for the past ..."

alwayspuzzled

We Must Value Our Health

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Abortion Abraham abuse Aesthetics AI Aliens Ambrose Ancestors and Everything Andrew Angels Animals Anne Anthony Antisemitism apologetics Apophatic Apostle John Aquinas Artificial Intelligence Asanga Ascension Asceticism Assumption Atheism Attachment Augustine Authority Avarice Balthasar Baptism Beauty Biden birthright citizenship Bishops Black History Books Buddhism Bulgakov Byzantine Calendar C.S. Lewis Calcidius Catholic Catholicism Catholicism Celibacy Charity Chastity children Chrismation Christ Christmas Christology Church Climate Change Common Good Communion Confession Confirmation Conscience Constantine conventions conversion councils Covid Creation Cross Dead Death Death Penalty Debate Deception Demagogues Demons Desert Monks Desert Mothers Desire destruction development Dialogue Dignity Dionsyius Dionysius Discipline Diversity Division Doctor Who doctrine dogma Dormition Dualism Easter Easter Series Ecumenical Councils Ecumenism Education Election Empathy Environment Error Eschatology eschaton Eternity Ethics Eucharist Evangelism Eve Evil evolution Faeries Faith Fear femininity Ficino Florence Florensky Folktale Fools Forgiveness Freedom Future gender Gentile Gentiles Glory Gnostic God gods Good Samaritan Goodness Gospel Government Grace Great Fast Guns Hate healing Health Heaven Hell Hellenism Heresy Hierarchy Hildegard Hinduism History Holiness Holy Spirit Holy Week Hope Horror Human rights humanity Humility hypocrisy ICE icon icons Identification Identity Idol II Nicea Immigration incarnation Individualism Informal Reflections Inklings Intention Inter-Religious Interfaith Internet Interpretation Intrinsic evil Irenaeus Islam Israel Jacob Jerome Jesus Jews John Chrysostom John of Damascus John the Baptist Joseph Judaism justice Justification kenosis Kindnesss Kingdom of God Kingdom of Heaven Law Law of Moses Lazarus Leaf by Niggle Lent Lenten Reflection Liberation Theology Lies Life Listen Literature Liturgy locutions Logic Logos Love Marriage Martyrs Mary Mass Maximos The Confessor Meanness Meditation Mercy Middle Path Migrants Mind Miracles Miriam Morals Moses Movies Music Muslims Myths Names Nationalism Native Americans New Year Nicea Nicholas Nothing Novatian Obedience Occam's Razor Ordination Origen Original Sin Orthodox orthopraxis Pagans Palamas Palm Sunday Paradise Paschaltide Paul Peace Pentecost person Peter piety PKD Plato pluralism Plurality Poem Poetry Poiltics Politics Poor Pope Pope Francis Pope Leo XIV Post Office Prayer Pride Pro-life Prodigal Son propaganda Prophecy Prophets Providence Putin Racism Reading Reason Reflection Refugees Relationships Religion Religion Series Religious Liberty Repent Republicans Rest Resurrection Rich Rites Russia Sacraments Saints Salvation Salvian Santa Science Scripture Self-Giving Sexuality Sibyl Sick Silence Sin Singlehood Social Justice Society Sodom Solovyov Speculations Spiritual Reflection St. Cyril of Alexandria St. Justin Martyr Suffering Sunday of the Paralytic Man Sunday of the Samaritan Woman Superhero Supreme Court Teaching Technology Thanksgiving The Father the Universe Theological Reflection Theology Theosis Theotokos Thomas Timaeus Time Tolerenace Tolkien Tradition Transfiguration Trinity Trump Truth Uncategorized Unity Universities USCCB Value Vatican II Vegetarian Vices Violence Virtue Vocations War Water Welcome Wisdom Womanhood Women Work World View Worship Writing Zacchaeus

Select a Month October 2026 September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 June 2026 May 2026 April 2026 March 2026 February 2026 January 2026 December 2025 November 2025 October 2025 September 2025 August 2025 July 2025 June 2025 May 2025 April 2025 March 2025 February 2025 January 2025 December 2024 November 2024 October 2024 September 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz