In this parable are they two separate individuals, or are they one in the same?
Separate individuals.
It's a lesson about about TWO men.
One man with MUCH in necessity of Food, to sustain his body.
One man with Nothing TO EAT to sustain his Body, begging for the OTHER'S "left overs".
Notice...it has nothing to do with Stealing, (by the "poor" man, or a government),
No Demanding the poor man be Given Anything of the Rich man's possessions, (or tending to the poor man's wounds and sores), but rather, Left over Scraps/crumbs of Food, the Rich man would throw-away.
It's a lesson...for a man, Who IS "poor" should limit his BEGGING FOR.
It is also a lesson...about the Righteous thing
FOR a rich man TO DO, when a poor man "asks" for the rich man's "left-overs".
This is the same principled lesson taught long ago:
Lev 23:
[
22] And when ye reap the harvest of your land, thou shalt not make clean riddance of the corners of thy field when thou reapest, neither shalt thou gather any gleaning of thy harvest: thou shalt leave them unto the poor, and to the stranger: I am the LORD your God.
Notice: it has nothing to do with the Rich man, "( being Forced by a LAW ) to GIVING" the Beggar... the rich man's, money, house, clothing, medical care, groceries, transportation, childcare, and ON and on.
It is a principle of Charity...for the well off to give their..."left overs"...to the poor....(rather than to simply throw away things).
And there are other Principled Lessons in Scripture ABOUT:
Lending A HAND (to the poor)....coupled with: Teaching the Word of God.
Lending a Hand...giving a poor man, a meal, a set of clothes, and work to do, to earn his own way to provide for himself and family...and Give God the Glory for THAT being made possible.
In Jesus Parable...the rich man...Kept "his gate" closed.
No left over scraps/crumbs given the beggar,
No charity.
No Offer of work or suggestion to find work.
No Teaching of God.
No Glory to God.
It a lesson, of the Rich man's demise, who "Has Riches of Things" yet himself "poor" in his own "spirit", unable "himself" to Glorify God.
Yet the "beggar", who was Poor in "Things", was Rich in "spirit", only hoping for a rich man's Crumbs.
Had the TWO, compromised...
The poor man, could have worked for the Rich man...(provided for his own) and taught the rich man about ... The Richness of the Glory of God.
^ But they didn't...and why there was NO Point for Anyone to be sent to the Rich man in hell, to go speak to his (rich in things) brothers.
(Luke 16: 28-31)
The rich man was Concerned about his brothers ending up in TORMENT...NOT concerned About Gods Glory.
Glory to God,
Taken