You keep misquoting Jesus as He addressed the Pharisees about their made up traditions they had that deviated from true Scripture. But Jesus was not saying not to follow the Apostolic Tradition. You fail to make that distinction which is crucial to this discussion.
Exactly.
I have heard some imply that the Rich Man in Luke 16 as the Pope, and the Great City in Revelation as Rome/Vatican City, mainly because of the use of "
fine linen and purple", which are colors some Christian denominational Priests wear during church service.
I wonder how the OP views this...........
Reve 18:16 "woe! woe! the great City arrayed with fine linen, purple
Luk 16:19
“There was a certain
rich man who was clothed in
purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day.
Rev 18:12
“merchandise of gold and silver, precious stones and pearls,
fine linen and purple, silk and scarlet, every kind of citron wood, every kind of object of ivory, every kind of object of most precious wood, bronze, iron, and marble;
Rev 18:16
“and saying, ‘woe woe! that
great City that was clothed in
fine linen, purple, and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls!
==================================
This commentator of the covenantle parable/story identifies the Rich Man "
JUDAH", hich would make that great City in Revelation 1st century Jerusalem [there are no longer Jewish High Priests, Sadducees or Pharisees around today]
Lazarus and the Rich Man - Here a little, there a little - Commentary
The self-righteous Pharisees and scribes, acknowledged by Yeshua as the legitimate religious teachers of the Jews (Matt. 23:1-3), should have been the ones telling these people of God's love for them. They should have been the ones teaching these sinners, exhorting them to return to God and receive His love and forgiveness. However, because of their faith in their own righteousness and their contempt for these tax collectors and sinners who didn't measure up to their standards, the Pharisees and scribes excluded them and considered them accursed (John 7:49).
Afterward, speaking primarily to his disciples but with the Pharisees (and probably the crowd) still listening in, Yeshua related the parable of the unjust steward (Luke 16:1-13). The Pharisees, who were "lovers of money" (Luke 16:14), realized that the Messiah was alluding to them with this parable and took offense. They scoffed at Yeshua.
The final part of his response to the derision of the Pharisees and scribes was the parable of Lazarus and the rich man.
Luke 16:19
A certain Man was rich and clothed<1737> in purple and fine linen making-merry down to a-day, shiningly<2988> [Matt 22:11]
We begin by scrutinizing the description Yeshua gives us of the rich man. First, he tells us that this man was clothed in purple and fine linen. This type of clothing would not have been out of the ordinary for one of considerable wealth during this time period. However, this attire also has symbolic meaning.
The Eerdmans Bible Dictionary says: "The wearing of purple was associated particularly with royalty . . ." (p. 863, "Purple"). In addition, the
New Bible Dictionary tells us: "The use of linen in OT times was prescribed for priests (Ex. 28:39). The coat, turban and girdle must be of fine linen." (p. 702, "Linen").
So we see that the garments worn by this rich man were symbolic of
royalty and the priesthood. With that in mind, let's see what God told Moses just before giving the Israelites the Law on Mount Sinai:
EXODUS 19:6 And ye shall be to me a royal priesthood and a holy nation: these words shalt thou speak to the children of Israel. (
Brenton's LXX)
The clothing of the rich man identifies him symbolically with the people of Israel, chosen by God to be His special people. They were called to be a witness to the nations surrounding them, confirming the blessings available to those who would obey God and keep His laws. Unfortunately, they frequently did not live up to the high calling given to them by God. Eventually He sent them into captivity for their refusal to honor their part of the covenant ratified at Mount Sinai. At the time of Yeshua, only the House of Judah continued to have a covenant relationship with God. The rich man in this parable represents the religious Jews of Yeshua's day, exemplified by their teachers, the Pharisees and scribes.
Verse 19 also tells us that the rich man "fared sumptuously every day." Figuratively, this represents the magnificent spiritual feast available only to the Jews, who were the sole remaining part of God's called people, Israel. In
the 1st century CE, they were the only people on earth who had the true religion. Indeed, Paul recounts the glorious station of the House of Judah in
Romans 9:
