The Devotional – Search the Scriptures – 178
There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores. And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover, the dogs came and licked his sores. And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died and was buried; And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence. Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house: For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. Abraham saith unto him, they have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. And he said unto him, if they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.
Jesus, the Christ of God/Messiah
In case you miss it! There is life after physical death. The words of the LORD Jesus Christ describe in plain language that Lazarus died before the rich man. Lazarus was immediately carried away from physical life to a place called Abraham’s bosom (a place of comfort and peace). When the rich man died, Jesus explained that the rich man was not carried away but ‘BURIED’ and the rich man was immediately in torment, he had no comfort and no peace, Jesus explains plainly that the rich man was in hell. Hell, and Abraham’s Bosom at the time Jesus is speaking were two separate areas in eternity. The fixed great gulf between hell and Abraham’s side or bosom prevents these two places from merging.
Also, Abraham speaks for Lazarus and I take this to mean that Lazarus cannot see or know the place of torment, yet those in hell can see the comfort and peace in the place of Abraham’s bosom. Ever been in a place where the heat is oppressive and unbearable? If you were ever an Army tank driver, or in a Navy submarine when the ventilation has stopped working you know what heat is, but here, where the rich man IS, it is much worse. In Proverbs we are told that ‘fire’ never says ‘enough’ and as a former firefighter, I know this to be true too!
To argue or discuss whether this discourse is a parable or a true event is to take away from the LORD’s purpose in giving it. To ponder on the thought that the name ‘Lazarus’ is derived from the name ‘Eleazar’, Abraham’s gentile servant is likewise interesting but meaningless.
So, what is this parable teaching? The rich man I believe looks at the religious Pharisees, scribes, and Sadducees who gave little attention to their congregations, but great attention to money and position. The poor man Lazarus represents congregations of people who are not fed the sincere milk and meat of the Word of God. The parable explains the condition of the religious works of the top officials. Read Malachi to get the picture of what these religious leaders were like in those days. We ought to be careful, leadership in many churches today are no different.
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