Luke 16:20

Luke 16:20, in plain English

And right at his gate lies a poor man named Lazarus, covered in sores. It's striking that Jesus gives the poor man a name but not the rich one.

Why it's here

Lazarus means 'God helps.' Even though it doesn't look like it right now, God sees this man and knows his name.

Who's speaking

Jesus introduces the poor man with a name and a story, giving him the dignity the rich man withheld.

Where it sits in the story

A sick, suffering man lies at the gate of a palace. He has nothing — except a name that means 'God helps.' And God does.

The scholarly reading

The beggar Lazarus (Lazaros, from Hebrew Eleazar, 'God helps') is the only named character in any of Jesus's parables. He lies at the rich man's 'gate' (pylōna), covered in 'sores' (heilkōmenos).

Language and setting

The name Lazarus ('God helps') is theologically significant — despite appearances, this poor man is the one whom God helps. The gate symbolizes the boundary the rich man never crosses.

Voice

Jesus introduces the contrasting character by name — an unprecedented detail that lends the beggar dignity and identity the rich man never acknowledged.

Significance

Just outside the rich man's gate lies Lazarus — sick, covered in sores, and named by Jesus when the rich man isn't. God knows his name even if the wealthy man doesn't.

18Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery, and he who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

19Now there was a rich man dressed in purple and fine linen, who lived each day in joyous splendor.

20And a beggar named Lazarus lay at his gate, covered with sores

21and longing to be fed with the crumbs that fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.

22One day the beggar died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side. And the rich man also died and was buried.

Read all of Luke 16 — A shrewd manager, a rich man in torment, and Lazarus at his gate. Jesus draws a straight line between how you handle money and where you end up.