Luke 16: 19-–-25 by John Newton
A poetic retelling of a biblical parable contrasts two earthly lives and their eternal outcomes. The narrative presents a wealthy man who lavishes in his worldly splendor while a destitute believer suffers at his gate. Upon death, the destitute man is taken by angels to a place of comfort and everlasting joy, described as being in Abraham's bosom, where his soul rejoices eternally. In contrast, the rich man, who enjoyed opulence in life, finds himself cast into a realm of torment, suffering amidst the flames of hell. The rich man, now engulfed in agony, sees the blessed state of the beggar from afar and pleads with Abraham to send relief—a single drop of water—to ease his burning torment. However, Abraham rebuffs his request, reminding him that during their mortal lives he enjoyed luxury while the beggar languished without basic needs. The reversal of fortunes in the afterlife emphasizes that the comforts of this world do not secure eternal bliss and that the neglect of the impoverished has everlasting consequences. The poem concludes with a clear moral: the transient pleasures and riches of earthly existence pale in significance compared to the eternal rewards that come from aligning with divine values. It serves as a stark warning against complacency in wealth and power, urging individuals to choose humility and spiritual commitment over the ephemeral allure of material gain.
By John Newton · First published 1779 · Genre: Christian Poetry, Didactic Poetry, Allegorical Poetry · 375 words
First lines
I: A worlding spent each day / In luxury and state, / While a believer lay / A beggar at his gate.
Think not the Lord's appointment strange, / Death made a great and lasting change.
Genres
- Christian Poetry — The work employs poetic language deeply rooted in biblical themes and Christian theology.
- Didactic Poetry — It uses verse to instruct readers on moral and spiritual lessons about wealth, poverty, and eternal destiny.
- Allegorical Poetry — Characters and events symbolically represent broader spiritual truths and moral principles.
- Religious Allegory — The narrative mirrors biblical parables, offering a symbolic interpretation of divine justice and mercy.
Tags
parable · biblical narrative · judgment · afterlife · Christian teachings · moral lesson · redemption · repentance · divine justice · wealth inequality · poverty · spirituality
What this Textopian page supports
Luke 16: 19-–-25 is listed on Textopian as a fable by John Newton, dated 1779 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Fable
- Author: John Newton
- Date: 1779 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Christian Poetry, Didactic Poetry, Allegorical Poetry, Religious Allegory, Biblical Narrative
- Length: 375 words
- Structure: 1 section, 15 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
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- Work identity for Luke 16: 19-–-25 by John Newton
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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