The Rich Man and Lazarus, and Matthew 25:41-46

newton3005

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The Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus, told by Jesus in Luke 16:19-31 is just that, a parable.

What is a parable? According to Lexico Dictionary, it is “A simple story used to illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson, as told by Jesus in the Gospels.” First thing that should be realized is that it is a story which does not tell of true events. So, because The Rich Man and Lazarus is a parable, which by definition is not a source of true events, we cannot assert that a rich man in Hades, or hell if you will, truly communicated with Abraham in Heaven.

But Jesus tells this parable to make a point...two, actually. The first is that whoever doesn’t help a needy person will go to hell, and the second is that if a person does not accept what was said by Moses and the prophets, they won’t accept a person warning them not to do the things that would send them to hell.

(As an aside, to throw in some secularness, doesn’t that remind you of a Charles Dickens’ ‘A
Christmas Carol,’ in which the ghost of Scrooge’s late partner comes to him in chains and warns him not to be as selfish as he was? But of course, this is a mere story too, and the Bible infers that the only ghost that exists is the holy ghost of Lord Jesus. And God in Leviticus 20:6 says, “If a person turns to mediums and necromancers, whoring after them, I will set my face against that person and will cut him off from among his people.”)

The subject of the first point in the parable is also told by Jesus in Matthew 25: 41-46 in which he says the Son of man “will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink...’ Then they also will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty...?’ Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ And these will go away into eternal punishment...” So, in the parable, the rich man, who did not feed Lazarus but instead left Lazarus to eat the crumbs the rich man left behind, meets the same fate that Jesus describes in Matthew 25: 41-46.

And as to the second point in the parable, how many have you heard of, that, by their actions and despite their proclaiming that they are God-fearing, have not taken to heart the lessons of Moses and the prophets, and even of Jesus? How many leaders have you heard of, who in their capacity in government, ignore the poor and needy, and persecute those who truly believe in God? Where do you think they will end up? You would be wise not to give your ear to them to learn to do what is right under God.
 
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mark kennedy

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Exppsitions are not arbitrary, in order to conclude a parable, you need figurative language. Jesus invariably started off his parables with, 'like' or 'has'. In fact most figurative language has a clear indicator like that.

Jesus was the only one who taught anything about hell, right down to a conversation between a man in heaven and one in hell. You will not get a figurative interpretation from that context. You can get what Peter called a private interpretation, which is not an interpretation at all.
 
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redleghunter

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Exppsitions are not arbitrary, in order to conclude a parable, you need figurative language. Jesus invariably started off his parables with, 'like' or 'has'. In fact most figurative language has a clear indicator like that.

Jesus was the only one who taught anything about hell, right down to a conversation between a man in heaven and one in hell. You will not get a figurative interpretation from that context. You can get what Peter called a private interpretation, which is not an interpretation at all.
I’ll add that even with the parables of Jesus, nothing He alluded to was fantasy. They were always things the audience knew were tangible.
 
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mark kennedy

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I’ll add that even with the parables of Jesus, nothing He alluded to was fantasy. They were always things the audience knew were tangible.
I've often wondered about the Good Samaratian and the Prodigal Son. I'm sure they happened, but did Jesus' disciple approve, would they have done the same? It was believed misfortunes in this life were the result sin. Remember Job, the man born blind?

Anyway, there's our lesson, chanting it's not literal is ill informed opinion.
 
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redleghunter

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I've often wondered about the Good Samaratian and the Prodigal Son. I'm sure they happened, but did Jesus' disciple approve, would they have done the same? It was believed misfortunes in this life were the result sin. Remember Job, the man born blind?

Anyway, there's our lesson, chanting it's not literal is ill informed opinion.
Agree. Our Master never taught fantasy. There were always real human beings discussed in situations known to the audience.
 
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mark kennedy

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Agree. Our Master never taught fantasy. There were always real human beings discussed in situations known to the audience.
He did, the idea he would just make it up is silly. Not only did Jesus speak of things the audience knew, he taught things no one ever heard of. We are used to the idea of heaven and hell, were they? I think people would like to dismiss the reality of hell. It's the worst kind of wishful thinking.
 
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redleghunter

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LittleLambofJesus

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Good site.
I have numerous threads on the parable story if interested:

Rich-man and Lazarus True story or Parable
Nov 6, 2008

Rich-man and Lazarus True story or Parable (2)
Rich-man and Lazarus True story or Parable (2) GT Jan 22, 2013

LittleLambofJesus said:
Greetings. How do others view that story Jesus told to the Jews in Luke 16 concerning the rich-man and lazarus. A parable or true story? This is one of the largest studies I have of the NT/NC.

I myself humbly view it as a "Covenantle" parable, but would like to here views from other fellow Christians of it. Thanks.......:wave:

Why is the Rich-Man in Luke 16:24 calling out to Abraham?

Matthew 3:9
"And no ye should be thinking to say in yourselves 'a Father we are having, the Abraham'. For I am saying unto ye, that is able the God out of the Stones, these, to raise-up offsprings/children to the Abraham. [Luke 3:8/16:24]

Luke 16:24
And he sounding said: "Father Abraham! be thou merciful to-me! and send Lazarus!, that he should be dipping the tip of the finger of him of water, and should be cooling down the tongue of me,--that I am being pained in this Flame."
=====================================
An interesting vid:
 
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