Luke 16 25

Luke 16:25 kjv

But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.

Luke 16:25 nkjv

But Abraham said, 'Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented.

Luke 16:25 niv

"But Abraham replied, 'Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony.

Luke 16:25 esv

But Abraham said, 'Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish.

Luke 16:25 nlt

"But Abraham said to him, 'Son, remember that during your lifetime you had everything you wanted, and Lazarus had nothing. So now he is here being comforted, and you are in anguish.

Luke 16 verses

Luke 16 25 Meaning

This verse serves as a declaration of divine justice and the fixed, irreversible nature of eternal destinies after earthly life. Abraham clarifies that the rich man's past life of earthly pleasure, unmindful of God and his fellow man, determined his present suffering. Conversely, Lazarus's earthly suffering, likely endured with faith and patience, is now rewarded with continuous comfort. It highlights a profound reversal of fortunes between this life and the next, underscoring that our choices regarding earthly provisions and our relationship with God and others carry eternal consequences.

Luke 16 25 Context

Luke 16 presents a series of teachings by Jesus that critically address the misuse of wealth and the importance of stewardship. The chapter begins with the Parable of the Shrewd Manager, which despite its complex ethics, teaches wisdom in preparing for the future and valuing eternal riches over fleeting earthly ones. This is followed by Jesus' explicit declaration, "You cannot serve God and money" (Lk 16:13), and the Pharisees' scoffing, for "they were lovers of money" (Lk 16:14). Immediately after condemning their hypocrisy and covetousness, Jesus launches into the Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus (Lk 16:19-31). Our verse, Luke 16:25, is pivotal within this parable, directly stating the reason for the rich man's suffering and Lazarus's comfort, emphasizing the profound and permanent reversal of fortunes in the afterlife. The entire narrative functions as a strong admonition against materialism, self-indulgence, neglect of the poor, and indifference to God's warnings through Scripture. Culturally, the Jewish understanding of Sheol/Hades as a divided realm, one for the righteous and one for the wicked, provides a backdrop, though Jesus uses the imagery to make a spiritual point rather than precisely define topography.

Luke 16 25 Word analysis

• But Abraham said, ‘Son: (Greek: Ἀβραὰμ δὲ εἶπεν, Τέκνον) "But Abraham said" signifies Abraham's authoritative role as the patriarch and the judge in this parable's context. "Son" (Τέκνον, Teknon) is a term of address that suggests a familial connection (as the rich man was a Jew, a descendant of Abraham) but also carries an implied tenderness or even lament. Yet, it highlights the rich man's spiritual disinheritance, having forfeited the true blessing of being Abraham's son through his life choices.
• remember: (Greek: μνήσθητι, mnēsthēti) This is an imperative, a direct command. It implies that the rich man knew the Law and Prophets but chose to ignore their precepts in life. Now, in torment, he is commanded to recall the reality of his earthly life and its consequences, suggesting an inescapable reckoning.
• that in your lifetime you received your good things, (Greek: ὅτι ἀπέλαβες τὰ ἀγαθά σου ἐν τῇ ζωῇ σου) "In your lifetime" (ἐν τῇ ζωῇ σου, en tē zōē sou) emphasizes that earthly life is the sole period for moral choice and determines one's eternal fate. "You received" (ἀπέλαβες, apelabes) is a significant aorist verb. It denotes a completed action, implying "you fully received," or "you received what was due to you." It suggests that the rich man's enjoyment of his wealth was total, complete, and devoid of eternal investment or spiritual benefit. "Your good things" (τὰ ἀγαθά σου, ta agatha sou) refers to his worldly prosperity and pleasures, emphasizing they were his possessions, focused on himself, and limited to his earthly existence.
• and likewise Lazarus bad things; (Greek: καὶ Λάζαρος ὁμοίως τὰ κακά) "Likewise" (ὁμοίως, homoiōs) establishes a parallel and symmetrical contrast. Lazarus similarly "received" (though the verb is not repeated, it's implied from the rich man's portion) his share of "bad things" (τὰ κακά, ta kaka) – suffering, poverty, illness, and neglect. This suggests an earthly distribution of comfort and hardship.
• but now he is comforted here and you are in agony.' (Greek: νῦν δὲ οὗτος παρακαλεῖται ὧδε σὺ δὲ ὀδυνᾶσαι) "But now" (νῦν δὲ, nyn de) signals an abrupt and irreversible reversal. The present tense verbs are crucial: "he is comforted" (παρακαλεῖται, parakaleitai) and "you are in agony" (ὀδυνᾶσαι, odynasai) signify a continuous, ongoing state. "Comforted" implies consolation, encouragement, and peace, directly contrasting his former distress. "Here" (ὧδε, hōde) points to the specific place of rest in Abraham's bosom. "Agony" means intense suffering and torment, showing a direct consequence for a life lived opposite to God's will and compassion. This immediate and final state underlines the unchangeable chasm between them.

Luke 16 25 Bonus section

This verse strongly reinforces the idea that what happens after death is a direct consequence of how one lives this life. There is no second chance, no purgatory, and no crossing the great chasm. Abraham's role in the parable is significant as the revered patriarch. By placing the judgment dialogue in his mouth, Jesus leverages Abraham's authority within Jewish thought to underscore the absolute nature of the verdict. The rich man's request for Lazarus to return and warn his brothers (Lk 16:27-28) reveals a superficial understanding of true repentance; he presumes a miraculous sign would lead to belief, rather than understanding that the existing Law and Prophets are sufficient. This highlights the parable's broader teaching that even if someone rises from the dead (a foreshadowing of Christ's resurrection), those who reject God's word (Moses and the Prophets) would remain unconvinced, thus connecting the parable to the ongoing rejection of Jesus' own message by the wealthy and religious elite.

Luke 16 25 Commentary

Luke 16:25 encapsulates the profound truth of divine justice and the unalterable nature of eternal destinies. Abraham's words to the rich man underscore that earthly life is a testing ground where one's use of temporal blessings determines eternal state. The rich man "received his good things" in full during his lifetime, implying a complete enjoyment of earthly pleasures without investing in spiritual wealth or showing compassion to the suffering like Lazarus. This suggests a total self-fulfillment and neglect of the needs of others, as well as an indifference to the teachings of Moses and the Prophets. In stark contrast, Lazarus's experience of "bad things" on earth is met with "comfort" in the afterlife. This is not to say that poverty earns salvation, but that Lazarus's suffering, endured presumably with faith and humility (as implied by his presence in Abraham's bosom), finds its just reward. The immediate "now" of the afterlife highlights that this reversal is decisive and permanent, sealed at death. The fixed states of "comfort" and "agony" convey the irrevocability of judgment, warning against lives centered on self-indulgence and materialism, especially when others are in dire need, and emphasizing the eternal consequences of neglecting divine and human responsibility.