Luke 16:25

Son. Gr. teknon (see on ch. 15:31).

Receivedst. He had received all the good things that anyone could wish in his lifetime, and had made no preparations for the future life. He had applied the principle of Matt. 6:33 in reverse — he had sought “all these things” first and hoped that God would find some way of adding heaven later on. Compare the experience of the Rich Fool (see on Luke 12:16-21) and Jesus’ instruction about laying up riches in heaven (see on Matt. 6:19-21). The rich man had all the reward he was going to get (see on Matt. 6:2). His account in heaven showed him to be a moral bankrupt. It should be pointed out that he was not punished for possessing wealth (see on v. 19), but for misusing it. He squandered it on himself rather than putting it to use in the service of God and his fellow man (cf. Matt. 19:21, 22; 25:25-30). It is no sin to be rich, for Abraham was very rich (see Gen. 13:2). The rich man of the parable simply chose to forget that he was accountable for the way in which he used his riches.

Lazarus evil things. In the same way that the rich man was not punished because he was rich, Lazarus was not rewarded in heaven simply because he had been poor while on earth. It is moral character, not material possessions, that determines destiny.