Luke 16:26

And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that [would come] from thence.

And {G2532} beside {G1909} all {G3956} this {G5125}, between {G3342} us {G2257} and {G2532} you {G5216} there is {G4741} a great {G3173} gulf {G5490} fixed {G4741}: so that {G3704} they which would {G2309} pass {G1224} from hence {G1782} to {G4314} you {G5209} cannot {G3361}{G1410}; neither {G3366} can they pass {G1276} to {G4314} us {G2248}, that would come from thence {G1564}.

Yet that isn’t all: between you and us a deep rift has been established, so that those who would like to pass from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’

And besides all this, a great chasm has been fixed between us and you, so that even those who wish cannot cross from here to you, nor can anyone cross from there to us.’

And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, that they that would pass from hence to you may not be able, and that none may cross over from thence to us.

Commentary

Luke 16:26 KJV is a pivotal verse within the Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus, spoken by Abraham to the rich man who is suffering in torment. It describes an irreversible separation between the righteous in comfort (represented by Lazarus in Abraham’s bosom) and the unrighteous in agony, emphasizing the permanent nature of destinies after death.

Context

This verse is found in the latter part of Jesus's poignant Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31). The rich man, having lived a life of self-indulgence and neglect towards the poor, finds himself in Hades after death, while Lazarus, the poor beggar, is carried by angels to "Abraham's bosom" (a metaphor for paradise or a place of comfort for the righteous dead). The rich man pleads for relief and for Lazarus to warn his brothers, but Abraham's response in this verse highlights the insurmountable barrier between their post-mortem states. The parable serves as a stark warning about the dangers of earthly materialism, spiritual blindness, and the finality of judgment.

Key Themes

  • Finality of Eternal Destiny: The "great gulf fixed" underscores that one's eternal state, once entered, is unchangeable. There is no crossing over, no second chances, and no possibility of altering one's destiny after death. This aligns with the broader biblical teaching on the finality of death and subsequent judgment.
  • Impassable Separation: The chasm represents an absolute, divinely established division between the realms of the blessed and the tormented. It signifies a complete and irreversible separation between those who have embraced God's ways and those who have rejected them.
  • Divine Justice: The fixed gulf also speaks to the just consequences of one's choices made during earthly life. The rich man's suffering is a direct result of his neglect and unrepentant heart, while Lazarus's comfort is a testament to God's care for the humble and suffering.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "a great gulf fixed" in the Greek is chasma mega esteriktai (χάσμα μέγα ἐστήρικται). The word chasma means a "chasm," "gulf," or "abyss," denoting a wide, impassable opening. The verb esteriktai is a perfect passive indicative of sterizō, meaning "to fix," "to establish," or "to make firm." The perfect tense emphasizes that this gulf has been fixed and remains fixed, indicating a permanent, divinely established barrier that cannot be traversed by human will or desire. It signifies an unchanging, established decree.

Practical Application

Luke 16:26 offers profound implications for our lives today:

  • Urgency of Decision: It emphasizes the critical importance of making a decision for Christ and living according to God's will during this life. Our eternal destiny is determined by our response to God's revelation and grace before death.
  • Reality of the Afterlife: The parable vividly portrays the reality of an afterlife with distinct and unalterable states of existence – comfort for the righteous and torment for the unrighteous. This calls us to consider our spiritual condition seriously.
  • Responsibility to God's Word: Abraham's later statement in the parable (Luke 16:31) reveals that if people will not listen to Moses and the Prophets (God's Word), they will not be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead. This highlights the sufficiency and authority of Scripture for guiding us to salvation and righteous living. Therefore, we must heed God's warnings and promises now.
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Cross-References

  • John 3:36 (4 votes)

    He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

  • Psalms 49:14 (4 votes)

    Like sheep they are laid in the grave; death shall feed on them; and the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning; and their beauty shall consume in the grave from their dwelling.

  • Psalms 50:22 (3 votes)

    Now consider this, ye that forget God, lest I tear [you] in pieces, and [there be] none to deliver.

  • James 1:11 (2 votes)

    For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withereth the grass, and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways.

  • James 1:12 (2 votes)

    Blessed [is] the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

  • Malachi 3:18 (1 votes)

    Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not.

  • Revelation 20:10 (1 votes)

    And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet [are], and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.