Luke 16:24

Luke 16:24, in plain English

The rich man cries out: 'Father Abraham, send Lazarus to dip his finger in water for me!' Even now, he sees Lazarus as someone who should serve him.

Why it's here

Two things hit you here: he knew Lazarus's name all along (so his neglect was deliberate), and he still sees himself as superior — even in hell.

Who's speaking

The rich man speaks from torment, and his words reveal a heart that hasn't changed even in the afterlife.

Where it sits in the story

He knew Lazarus's name. He saw him every day. He just didn't care. And even now, he wants Lazarus to wait on him.

The scholarly reading

The rich man addresses Abraham as 'Father' (pater), claiming covenant relationship. He asks Lazarus to serve him (dip his finger in water) — still viewing Lazarus as inferior even in the afterlife.

Language and setting

The request reveals the rich man's unchanged heart: he recognizes Lazarus by name (meaning he knew of him in life) and still expects him to serve as an errand boy.

Voice

The rich man cries out to Abraham, revealing both his torment and his persistent attitude of superiority toward Lazarus.

Significance

Even in torment, the rich man treats Lazarus as a servant: 'Send Lazarus to bring me water.' He knew his name all along — he just never cared.

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

23In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham from afar, with Lazarus by his side.

24So he cried out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue. For I am in agony in this fire.’

25But Abraham answered, ‘Child, remember that during your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things. But now he is comforted here, while you are in agony.

26And besides all this, a great chasm has been fixed between us and you, so that even those who wish cannot cross from here to you, nor can anyone cross from there to us.’

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.