Jesus tells this dramatic parable to put across several points. The first and most obvious is the need of another. Linked with this is the necessity for justice. Secondly, the torment of the rich man is not just about the punishment he is receiving, but also about the rewards he is missing out on: he is able to glimpse the comforting of Lazarus. The reversal of states here echoes prophecies from both the Old and the New Testament that the mighty will be cast from their thrones and the humble will be raised up. Jesus here is making a point about how attitudes harden, how actions reinforce attitudes, and how who we are is the result of a thousand small decisions we make. Each of the rich man’s selfish actions set him further in his selfish ways and cut him off from God’s saving help.
Finally Jesus explains how the prophecies of the Old Testament anticipate His resurrection, and how believing in one will open the mind to the other. Jesus is preparing the disciples for a time when the truth of His resurrection is not believed: if they are not open to prophecy and the Law, they will not be open to resurrection either.