The parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus is interesting for lots of reasons. One of them is the various ways that translations relate the story. The details are the same, just the word choice was changed. The real differences between translations is found in the 10 verses of chapter 17. Be sure to use different translations, I really think it will open up new avenues of understanding; and it's easy to do.
Read through these passages making notes and jotting down questions that occur to you. The two passages aren't easy to connect, and don't need to be. They can be, but doing so is an interpretation, not a necessity. It might be a good exercise though. See if you can summarize the 10 verses of chapter 17 into a single sentence. It will be tough, and probably a complex sentence, but give it a try.
Read through some commentaries on the Blue Letter Bible site. See how they change your comments and questions. Then go back through the passage with the questions below:
- The parable of the "Rich Man & Lazarus" begins with the setting of the two characters in verses 19 through 21. What are your first impressions? Why do you think Jesus made them so incredibly opposite?
- The rich guy ends up in hell, and Lazarus in "heaven". Why? What clues do you have for why one went one place and the other to the other?
- The description of the "after-life" is pretty spooky, one side can see the other but neither can get to the other. What do you think of that?
- Hell (Hades) is "torment" in verse 23, or "agony" due to "flame" in verse 24. What do you think of this description, in agonizing torment by fire yet able to see the other side where they aren't?
- Notice Lazarus never speaks in this parable. Why do you think might be important to Jesus' point?
- Abraham has several comments on the rich man's situation (verses 25, 26, and 29), they get progressively more depressing (from irreconcilable agony to it being his own fault). What do you think of this assessment of the description of this afterlife?
- The rich man constantly wants Lazarus to do this or that, come here, go there. What does this tell you about the rich man's understanding of himself and Lazarus? How different do you think this is from when they were both alive?
- Obviously Abraham's final statement relates to Jesus' resurrection and people's persistent unbelief. Why do you think Jesus would include that to people following Him closely? What does that tell you about people, even those who follow Him closely?
- Jesus turns again to His disciples, but remember that this group seems to include some Pharisees. So, why do you think the topic of "stumbling blocks" is suddenly important, or even in anyway related to the previous parable?
- Jesus refers to "little ones", but who do you think He means? (hint: look in parallel verses in Mark and Matthew)
- How do you think verses 3 and 4 apply to our modern approach to "boundaries"? Is such a person "safe", and how would you relate to such a person having "forgiven" him/her?
- Compare these two verses with Matthew 18:15-17. What do you make of the differences?
- Compare these two verses with John 20:23. What do you make of the differences here?
- The disciples ask for Jesus to "increase their faith". How does a mustard seed-sized faith "increase" their faith?
- Why do you think Luke uses a "mulberry tree" instead of a mountain, like Matthew?
- Consider verses 7 through 10 very carefully. Slavery is such a foreign concept to us, this probably sounds very harsh. Keeping in mind that it didn't sound harsh at all to them, what do you think is Jesus' point?
- How do you see yourself in verses 7 through 10? We talk so much about Jesus being our "brother" or "friend", we tend to forget His is our Lord first. What sorts of things do you need to do differently considering these verses?
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