Lazarus and the Rich Man
The story of Lazarus and the rich man is often used as an example to show that the good go to heaven and the evil to hell. It is found in Luke chapter 16: 19-31. Those who claim this story is an actual event and not a parable must explain various elements in the narrative that are obviously symbolic; the bosom of Abraham, crumbs of the rich man's table, a drop of water, the great gulf. Further, it is obvious that both Lazarus and the rich man have been judged and have resurrected bodies. Both these events will happen when Christ returns, raises and judges the dead. So if it is an actual event then it is a prophesy of a future event.
However, it is a parable. And we shall discover exactly the meaning of the parable.
Mat 13:34 All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them:Mark 4:33-34 And with many such parables spake he the word unto them, as they were able to hear it. But without a parable spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples.
Some say that all Christ's parables are defined as such. In other words it is plainly stated they are parables. This is generally true but not always. For example the Good Samaritan of Luke 10. Actually beginning at Luke 15:3 we read Jesus began the parable of the man with 100 sheep. He continues with the Prodigal Son and in chapter 16 with the steward of the rich man. Then in verse 19 begins the narrative of Lazarus. To claim that because it is not specifically mentioned as a parable is fraudulent. Notice, too, that he is speaking to His disciples and to the Pharisees.
Actually, Lazarus and the rich man is more like an allegory than a parable. Both Abraham and Lazarus have specific names and the rich man has identifying characteristics that will reveal his identity. We will see the symbolism.
What and where is the Bosom of Abraham?
Both the rich man and Lazarus died, verse 22. Lazarus was taken to the “bosom of Abraham,” not specifically heaven. Many times Christ used the word "heaven," but not here. Lazarus was taken to a place and time where all the promises made to Abraham had been fulfilled, here called the bosom of Abraham. Galatians 3:29 tell us that if we are Christ’s then we are co-heirs to the promises made to Abraham.
Now let’s look at Mark 12:26-27. These are also verses often used to show that the dead are conscious in heaven. It says: “…have ye not read in the book of Moses, how in the bush God spake unto him, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? He is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living: ye therefore do greatly err."
Did you catch it? The three little dots of ellipsis, the omission of a word or phrase, that often hide the truth. Verse 26 begins, “And touching the dead…” Christ is speaking of the resurrection of the dead. This is confirmed by the preceding verse, Mark 12:25 "For when they shall rise from the dead, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage; but are as the angels which are in heaven." Luke chapter 20:27-38 also speaks of the resurrection of the dead. Also notice what Christ called these folks in Mark 12 . He called them dead.
Verse 56 says, “Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.” And what was it that Abraham saw and was glad? The crucifixion? Certainly not. Heb. 11:17-19 tells us. Abraham looked for the resurrection of the dead and the establishment of God’s Kingdom on earth.
Heb 11:17 By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,
Heb 11:18 Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called:
Heb 11:19 Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.
This is from Ignatius, Epistle to the Magnesians, Chapter IX, first century: "If, then, those who were conversant with the ancient Scriptures came to newness of hope, expecting the coming of Christ, as the Lord teaches us when He says, “If ye had believed Moses, ye would have believed Me, for he wrote of Me;” (John 5:46) and again, “Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it, and was glad; for before Abraham was, I am;” (John 8:56, John 8:58) how shall we be able to live without Him?
Ignatius confirms that by "the bosom of Abraham" we are to understand the return of Christ, the resurrection of the dead, the establishment of Christ's Kingdom on earth.
Abraham was promised great lands, an earthly inheritance (Gen.17:4-8) but he never received it while alive:
Heb 11:8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.
Heb 11:10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
Heb 11:13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
So the Bosom of Abraham is the future Kingdom when Christ returns and dead are raised. When the promises that Abraham saw "afar off" are realized.
Those that claim this is a not a parable point to the fact that one of the protagonists has a name, Lazarus. In no other parable does Christ give a name to his characters. But if it is a parable, and remembering Mat. 13:34 "...and without a parable spake he not unto them," then we should attempt to find a meaning to this name, "Lazarus," as Christ called special attention to it by using it in a parable.
Smith's Bible Dictionary gives this definition:
Laz’arus. (whom God helps). Another form of the Hebrew name, Eleazar.Yes, Eleazar, Abraham's Gentile servant from Damascus whose Hebrew name also means "whom God helps." Turning to the narration of Matthew 15:22–28 we find the expression "...yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table." The Gentile dogs, those that the Jews did not expect to be heir to the promises. Eleazar was to be the heir of all that was Abraham's until the birth of Isaac and the continuation of the promises through his son Jacob.
Gen 15:2 And Abram said, Lord GOD, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless, and the steward of my house is this Eliezer of Damascus?
After the birth of Isaac, Eleazar was denied these promises, he was no longer the heir. But now we see Lazarus (Eleazar, the gentile) the recipient of those promises in Abraham's bosom while the rich man has been lost.
Who is the rich man?
The rich man was related to Abraham. Three times he called Abraham "father," Luke 16: 24, 27 and 30, and Abraham called the rich man "son," verse 25. The rich man had robes of purple and fine linen. He was in an exalted position. Also he was one of six brothers, (Luke 18:28.)
Now consider:
Gen 30:20 And Leah said, God hath endued me with a good dowry; now will my husband dwell with me, because I have born him six sons...and
Gen 35:23 The sons of Leah; Reuben, Jacob's firstborn, and Simeon, and Levi, and Judah, and Issachar, and Zebulun.Judah was one of six brothers, those born of Jacob and Leah. It was unto Judah that the promise of the Messiah was to come. He received the blessing:
1Chron. 5:2 For Judah prevailed above his brethren, and of him came the chief ruler..."
And what of the clothes of purple and fine linen? The Tabernacle and the clothes of Aaron were to made of fine linen (Many verses in Exodus, especially Exo. 39:2.) Ezekiel chapter 16 and especially verse 13 shows how Israel and Judah were favored by God, arrayed in fine linen.
Rev 19:8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.
Even the request for a drop of water contains the symbolism of the living water available through belief in the Messiah. From the life-giving water from the Rock during the Exodus to Christ's conversation to the Samaritan woman at the well and finally the living waters of Revelation 22:17
And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.
Now the parable can be seen. Judah, the rich man, who had the promise of the Messiah made to father Abraham, has rejected it and Lazarus, the Gentile, through belief in the risen Christ has received the blessing.
Act 3:25
Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed.
Act 3:26 Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.Rom 4:13 For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.
Gal 3:7 Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.
Gal 3:8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.When the rich man begs that Lazarus be sent to warn his 5 brothers so they don’t suffer the same fate as he, notice the reply from Abraham (Luke 16:31) "And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead."
It is a parable for the Jews and Gentiles to this day. Through faith Abraham believed. He saw the coming Messiah, he knew God would raise the dead. If you believe Christ died for your sins and rose on the third day then you will be in Abraham's Bosom. The Jews have rejected Christ, refused the blessing.
But what of the great gulf fixed between Lazarus and the rich man?
The great rift valley of the Jordan river separated the holy land from the land of the gentiles. When Joshua crossed the Jordan we read: "Loose thy shoe from off thy foot; for the place whereon stand is holy. And Joshua did so" (Joshua 5:15). The great gulf is a division just as the Jordan valley divides the promised land from the unbeliever.
Judah, the Jews, had been promised the blessing of a Messiah. Christ's birth, death, resurrection and second coming are clearly stated in the scriptures. "If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead."
The narrative of Lazarus and the rich man is not a story of heaven and hell. It is description of the blessings that will fall on those that believe in Jesus the Messiah and the damnation that awaits those that refuse to believe; on those who reject the promises.
Perhaps the entire narrative of Lazarus and the rich man can best be summed up in the words of Christ as he was talking to the Pharisees in Matthew 8:11-12.
And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven. But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.