Luke 16:28 (WEB)
for I have five brothers—that he may testify to them, so they won’t also come into this place of torment.’
Catechism · 2
Sin
“Feigned ignorance and hardness of heart” — Catechism footnote: Cf. Mk 3:5-6; Lk 16:19-31.
The Seven Petitions
“This petition of the Lord's Prayer cannot be isolated from the parables of the poor man Lazarus and of the Last Judgment.” — Catechism footnote: Cf. Lk 16:19-31; Mt 25:31-46.
Fathers and councils · 32
Irenaeus of Lyons
“The rich man in hell declared that he had five brothers, to whom he desired that one rising from the dead should go.” — editor's note: Luke xvi. 28.
Read the whole comment
Augustine of Hippo
“…who were the memorial of his father and mother, without any succeeding offspring, as it is said above, were consumed in the short space of one generation.…” — editor's note: [Here he inquires whether Judas, in Hades, could know the condition of his family; and he replies, “It is indeed a great question, and not one to be discussed…
Read the whole comment“Some man may say: “If there be not in the dead any care for the living, how is it that the rich man, who was tormented in hell, asked father Abraham to send Lazarus to his five brothers not as yet dead, and to take course with them, that they should not come themselves also into the same place of torments?”” — editor's note: Luke xvi. 24–29
Read the whole comment“Unhappy man! when thou wert living, then was the time for working: now thou art already in the night, in which no man can work.” — editor's note: Luke xvi. 24–28.
Read the whole comment“Even after death that proud and ungodly rich man loved his five brethren; and is Christ to be thought of as loving us only till death?” — editor's note: Luke xvi. 27, 28.
Read the whole comment
John Chrysostom
“And as to the proof, that neither can the souls of sinners continue here; hear the rich man making much entreaty for this, and not obtaining it; since had it been at all possible, he would have come, and have told what had come to pass there.” — editor's note: Luke xvi. 27, 28.
Read the whole comment
Tertullian
“Nay, even in Hades the admonition has not ceased to speak; where we find in the person of the rich feaster, convivialities tortured; in that of the pauper, fasts refreshed; having—(as convivialities and fasts alike had)—as preceptors “Moses and the prophets.”” — editor's note: Luke xvi. 19–31.
Read the whole comment“Thus, too, Eleazar in Hades, (attaining refreshment in Abraham’s bosom) and the rich man, (on the other hand, set in the torment of fire) compensate, by an answerable retribution, their alternate vicissitudes of evil and good.” — editor's note: i.e., Lazarus, Luke xvi. 19–31.
Read the whole comment“The remarks I have advanced on this case will be also of use to me in illustrating the subsequent parable of the rich man tormented in hell, and the poor man resting in Abraham’s bosom.” — editor's note: Luke xvi. 19–31.
Read the whole comment
Gregory of Nyssa
- Gregory of Nyssa, On the Making of Man On the.28On the Making of Man
“For that some signs of our compound nature remain in the soul even after dissolution is shown by the dialogue in Hades, where the bodies had been conveyed to the tomb, but some bodily token still remained in the souls by which both Lazarus was recognized and the rich man was not unknown.” — editor's note: Cf. S. Luke xvi. 24–31.
Read the whole comment
Catena Aurea on Luke
- Gregory the GreatCatena Aurea on Luke
When the rich man in flames found that all hope was taken away from him, his mind turns to those relations whom he had left behind, as it is said, Then said he, I pray thee therefore, father Abraham, to send him to…
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on Luke
He asks that Lazarus should be sent, because he felt himself unworthy to offer testimony to the truth. And as he had not obtained even to be cooled for a little while, much less does he expect to be set free from…
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Luke
Now mark his perverseness; not even in the midst of his torments does he keep to truth. If Abraham is thy father, how sayest thou, Send him to thy father’s house? But thou hast not forgotten thy father, for he has…
Read the whole comment - Gregory the GreatCatena Aurea on Luke
The hearts of the wicked are sometimes by their own punishment taught the exercise of charity, but in vain; so that they indeed have an especial love to their own, who while attached to their sins did not love…
Read the whole comment - Ambrose of MilanCatena Aurea on Luke
But it is too late for the rich man to begin to be master, when he has no longer time for learning or teaching.
Read the whole comment - Gregory the GreatCatena Aurea on Luke
And here we must remark what fearful sufferings are heaped upon the rich man in flames. For in addition to his punishment, his knowledge and memory are preserved. He knew Lazarus whom he despised, he remembered his…
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Luke
As if he said, Thy brethren are not so much thy care as God’s, who created them, and appointed them teachers to admonish and urge them. But by Moses and the Prophets, he here means the Mosaic and prophetic writings.
Read the whole comment - Ambrose of MilanCatena Aurea on Luke
In this place our Lord most plainly declares the Old Testament to be the ground of faith, thwarting the treachery of the Jews, and precluding the iniquity of Heretics.
Read the whole comment - Gregory the GreatCatena Aurea on Luke
But he who had despised the words of God, supposed that his followers could not hear them. Hence it is added, And he said, Nay, father Abraham, but if one went to them from the dead they would repent. For when he…
Read the whole comment - Gregory of NyssaCatena Aurea on Luke
But we are also taught something besides, that the soul of Lazarus is neither anxious about present things, nor looks back to aught that it has left behind, but the rich man, (as it were caught by birdlime,) even…
Read the whole comment - Gregory the GreatCatena Aurea on Luke
But soon the rich man is answered in the words of truth; for it follows, And he said unto him, If they hear not, Moses and the prophets, neither will they believe though one rose from the dead. For they who despise…
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Luke
But that it is true that he who hears not the Scriptures, takes no heed to the dead who rise again, the Jews have testified, who at one time indeed wished to kill Lazarus, but at another laid hands upon the Apostles,…
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on Luke
But some one may say, If the dead have no care for the living, how did the rich man ask Abraham, that he should send Lazarus to his five brethren? But because he said this, did the rich man therefore know what his…
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on Luke
But these things may be so taken in allegory, that by the rich man we understand the proud Jews ignorant of the righteousness of God, and going about to establish their own. The purple and fine linen are the grandeur…
Read the whole comment - Gregory the GreatCatena Aurea on Luke
Lazarus then full of sores, figuratively represents the Gentile people, who when turned to God, were not ashamed to confess their sins. Their wound was in the skin. For what is confession of sins but a certain…
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on Luke
But the dogs which licked the poor man’s sores are those most wicked men who loved sin, who with a large tongue cease not to praise the evil works, which another loathes, groaning in himself, and confessing.
Read the whole comment - Gregory the GreatCatena Aurea on Luke
Sometimes also in the holy Word by dogs are understood preachers; according to that, That the tongue of thy dogs may be red by the very blood of thy enemies; (Ps. 68:23. Vulg.) for the tongue of dogs while it licks…
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on Luke
By the five brothers whom he says he has in his father’s house, he means the Jews who were called five, because they were bound under the Law, which was given by Moses who wrote five books.
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Luke
Or he had five brothers, that is, the five senses, to which he was before a slave, and therefore he could not love Lazarus because his brethren loved not poverty. Those brethren have sent thee into these torments,…
Read the whole comment - Gregory the GreatCatena Aurea on Luke
But the Jewish people, because they disdained to spiritually understand the words of Moses, did not come to Him of whom Moses had spoken.
Read the whole comment - Ambrose of MilanCatena Aurea on Luke
Or else, Lazarus is poor in this world, but rich to God; for not all poverty is holy, nor all riches vile, but as luxury disgraces riches, so holiness commends poverty. Or is there any Apostolical man, poor in…
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on Luke
Again also that story may be so understood, as that we should take Lazarus to mean our Lord; lying at the gate of the rich man, because he condescended to the proud ears of the Jews in the lowliness of His…
Read the whole comment
Cross-references · 8
Cited together in Augustine of Hippo on Luke 16:27–31 (3) (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in John Chrysostom on Luke 16:27–31 (4) (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in Gregory the Great on Luke 16:27–31 (7) (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in Augustine of Hippo on Luke 16:27–31 (2) (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in On Care to Be Had for the Dead Chapter 17.
Cited together in John Chrysostom on Luke 16:27–31 (4) (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in Catechism §1859.
Cited together in Catechism §1859.