There Was a Certain Rich Man: The Historicity of Christ’s Telling of the Rich Man and Lazarus

“There was a certain rich man…” (Luke 16:19). These words from Christ introduce one of the most sobering and vivid accounts in all the Gospels—the story of the Rich Man and Lazarus. While many modern interpreters reduce this passage to a parable, I wish to offer strong exegetical and theological reasons to affirm this account as historical in nature. This is not mere allegory, but a real event disclosed by the divine Son of God, who speaks with omniscient authority about eternal realities.

I. A Departure from Parabolic Form: The Clues of Language and Structure

Unlike other parables, which begin with formulaic introductions such as “The kingdom of heaven is like…” or “A certain man had two sons…” (Matt. 13:24; Luke 15:11), the story of the Rich Man and Lazarus begins plainly: “There was a certain rich man”. This phrase closely resembles historical narratives and signals a departure from the symbolic conventions of Jesus’ other illustrative stories.

Notably, theologian Matthew Poole comments on this textual detail:

“It is not called a parable; and it is most probable it is not a parable, but a real story, and matter of fact; for we never read in any parable the name of any proper person is mentioned.”

Poole underscores a unique feature of this account: Lazarus is named, whereas characters in parables remain anonymous. This naming suggests a concrete identity and may indicate Christ is recounting a real case. Poole is joined by other commentators like John Gill and Matthew Henry, who likewise acknowledge the likelihood of this being an actual event.

II. Theological Weight and Divine Omniscience

Consistent Christian theology maintains that Christ, as the God-man, possesses divine omniscience. The story He shares is not a hypothetical morality tale; it is a divine disclosure. Jesus, as the eternal Word (John 1:1), is revealing a reality He knows firsthand. The divine Son knows what lies beyond the veil of death and does not speak in vague speculations. Should Christ have spoken in such a vague way would leave Our Lord open to the charge of misleading His own people!

Poole believes, as do I, that Christ, in recounting the deaths of the rich man and Lazarus, pulls back the curtain of temporal existence to reveal the eternal destinies of two men whose lives could not have contrasted more starkly—one rich in this world and poor toward God, the other destitute in life but rich in faith, rich in the grace of God in Christ.

III. The Sufficiency of Scripture and the Doctrine of Revelation

Luke 16:31 is a crucial climax: “If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.” This profound statement reinforces Sola Scriptura, a bedrock doctrine affirming the sufficiency and final authority of Scripture in matters of salvation. The rich man pleads for a miraculous sign, but Abraham insists the written Word is sufficient.

Matthew Poole comments:

“Men who will not be brought to repentance and faith by the word of God, would not be wrought upon though one from the dead should come and preach to them.”

This echoes the consistent Christian understanding that miracles may confirm revelation but do not replace it. The account of the Rich Man and Lazarus is therefore not only a revelation of the afterlife but a theological exposition on the sufficiency of divine Scripture to call sinners to repentance.

IV. Redemptive-Historical Implications

From a redemptive-historical standpoint, Lazarus represents the elect faithful—poor in the eyes of the world, but rich in grace. He is comforted in “Abraham’s bosom,” a clear reference to God’s blessing and eschatological hope. The rich man, despite his ethnic heritage and material wealth, is alienated from God, illustrating that external privilege without true faith is eternally fatal.

In this, the narrative serves not merely as a moral lesson but as a historical example of Christ’s frequent warnings to the religious elite of His day (cf. Matt. 23:27–28). The Rich Man and Lazarus account is not theoretical; it is a real demonstration of God’s just dealings with men.

Conclusion: A True and Terrifying Account

To reduce the account of the Rich Man and Lazarus to a mere parable is to risk dulling the sharp edge of Christ’s warning. We see strong exegetical and theological grounds to affirm its historicity. The naming of Lazarus, the narrative structure, and the theological precision all support this conclusion. But more than this, it is Christ’s omniscient authority and purpose that compel us to receive this story as truth revealed, not fiction invented.

Let the reader understand: Christ is not imagining what could happen. He is revealing what has happened, and what will happen to all who reject the Word of God. In a world dulled by distractions and self-confidence, the reality of eternity must awaken the soul. Let us hear Moses and the Prophets—and believe the One who rose from the dead.

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Jason K. Boothe serves as a pastor at Redeemer Church of Piketon, Ohio. He preaches the Gospel of God’s Free and Sovereign Grace each Sunday.