Matthew Henry Commentary Luke 16:19-31

"Now there was a certain rich man, and he was clothed in purple and fine linen, faring sumptuously every day: and a certain beggar named Lazarus was laid at his gate, full of sores, and desiring to be fed with the [crumbs] that fell from the rich man`s table; yea, even the dogs come and licked his sores. And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and that he was carried away by the angels into Abraham`s bosom: and the rich man also died, and was buried. And in Hades he lifted up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am in anguish in this flame. But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and Lazarus in like manner evil things: but now here he is comforted and thou art in anguish. And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, that they that would pass from hence to you may not be able, and that none may cross over from thence to us. And he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father`s house; for I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. But Abraham saith, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one go to them from the dead, they will repent. And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, if one rise from the dead." — Luke 16:19-31 (ASV)

Here spiritual things are represented in a description of the different states of the good and the bad, in this world and in the next. We are not told that the rich man obtained his estate by fraud or oppression; but Christ shows that a man may have a great deal of the wealth, pomp, and pleasure of this world, yet perish forever under God's wrath and curse. The sin of this rich man was his providing for himself only.

Here is a godly man, and one who will hereafter be happy forever, in the depth of adversity and distress. It is often the lot of some of the dearest of God's saints and servants to be greatly afflicted in this world. We are not told that the rich man did him any harm, but we do not find that he had any care for him. Here is the different condition of this godly poor man and this wicked rich man, at and after death.

The rich man in hell lifted up his eyes, being in torment. It is not probable that there are conversations between glorified saints and damned sinners, but this dialogue shows the hopeless misery and fruitless desires to which condemned spirits are brought. A day is coming when those who now hate and despise the people of God would gladly receive kindness from them. But the damned in hell will not have the least lessening of their torment.

Sinners are now called upon to remember; but they do not, they will not, they find ways to avoid it. As wicked people have good things only in this life, and at death are forever separated from all good, so godly people have evil things only in this life, and at death they are forever put away from them. In this world, blessed be God, there is no gulf between a state of nature and grace. We may pass from sin to God; but if we die in our sins, there is no coming out.

The rich man had five brothers and wished for them to be stopped in their sinful course; their coming to that place of torment would make his misery worse, as he had helped to show them the way there. How many would now desire to recall or to undo what they have written or done! Those who would use the rich man's praying to Abraham to justify praying to departed saints go far to seek for proofs, when the mistake of a damned sinner is all they can find for an example.

And surely there is no encouragement to follow the example, when all his prayers were made in vain. A messenger from the dead could say no more than what is said in the Scriptures. The same strength of corruption that breaks through the convictions of the written word would triumph over a witness from the dead. Let us seek to the law and to the testimony (Isaiah 8:19–20), for that is the sure word of prophecy, on which we may rest (2 Peter 1:19). Circumstances in every age show that no terrors or arguments can bring about true repentance without the special grace of God renewing the sinner's heart.