Why Is the Rich Man Sent to Hades?

The rich man in the Lucan Gospel 16:19-31 is cast down in Hades at the end of his life? One might ask what the man has done in order to receive such a severe punishment. According to the evangelist, the rich man holds for himself a magnificent feast and puts on his best clothes every day. But, in front of his house, there is Lazarus who is so poor that no one cares or wants to be his friend. Only dogs come, not to befriend him, but rather to lick the sores on his body. Note that the image of dogs in the Jewish culture is not equivalent to the image of dogs in the Australian culture. The image of dogs in the Jewish society in particular and the Middle-Eastern culture in general is reserved for the second class citizens in society. It is a big insult for a person if he or she is called a dog. The former president of the USA, Mr. Bush was once called a dog by an Iraqi journalist. In the cultural context, the journalist really meant what he shouted at Mr. Bush during the conference. According to the evangelist, Lazarus has only one desire, that is, to have the scraps falling from the table of the rich man. Unfortunately, this simple wish is never granted to the poor man, because the rich man continues to ignore his poor neighbor.

And at the end of his life, the rich man is given one way ticket to hell.

The rich man is not punished because of his wealth, but because of his selfish attitude. The rich man in the story actually has no heart. Having no heart, the rich man cares for no one but himself. Having no heart, though he has eyes, the rich man has become the blind man. Having no heart, though he has hands, his hands have been amputated. And this selfish attitude eventually costs him eternal life. No heart, no hand, no eternal life.