As it stands in the Gospel of Luke, the story of the Rich Man and Lazarus seems to continue Jesus' address to the lovers of money, the Pharisees, which begins in v. 15. However, it is difficult to see how the story is connected to the verses that immediately precede it. There are however some key words that connect the story albeit very superficially to the preceding verses (e.g. wealth and Law and the Prophets)
The inversion of the positions of Lazarus and the Rich Man in the after life is quite consistent with Luke's understanding of the God who "throws the mighty from their thrones and raises up the lowly." It is Luke who assigns "Woes" to the rich and blessings to the poor (cf. Luke 6:20-26).
It is to be noted that the heart of the story is to be found right after the death of both Lazarus and the Rich Man. In Luke 16:23-31 it is not Lazarus who does the talking (one assumes that he is simply enjoying himself in the bosom of Abraham), but the Rich Man. The dialogue is brief and to the point: there will be no relief for the suffering of the Rich Man and no help other than the Law and the Prophets will be given to the Rich Man's family.
Implicit in the responses of Abraham to the Rich Man is the conviction that not even the Resurrection of Christ will benefit those who, enjoying their wealth, close their eyes to the demands of the Law and the Prophets with regards to wealth and how this is to be used. A sample of prophetic teaching on wealth is to be found in the first reading, Amos 6:1.4-7. In this passage, the prophet condemns the uncaring attitude and inattention of the rich ("those who sprawl in imported divans") for the impending extinction of the tribes of Joseph, the tribes of northern Israel.
In Luke's Gospel, wealth that one cannot give up for the sake of the Lord is a hindrance to eternal life (cf. the Rich Young Man in Luke 18:18-23.
There are those who think -- like the Pharisees -- who equate wealth and the reward of righteous living. But the God who "fills up the poor and turns away the rich empty" will prove them wrong in His time (cf. Luke 16:15).
Read Luke 16:9 for a life application for this passage. Memorize it for better effect.
