The Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus

[David in NJ]

Dear face2face,
Yes, the story of the Rich Man and Lazarus is a parable and it's message is told told through "spiritual symbols" just like all parables do. To understand the parable, we must first identify the meaning of the symbols.

The Rich Man represents the Nation of Israel who is "rich" because they were given the treasure of God (the Old Testament scriptures). The Rich Man is not rich because of his material wealth as you suppose. His riches are a symbol for his being given God's Word.

Lazarus is a symbol for the Gentiles who are spiritually poor because they were not given the Old Testament scriptures.

But because the Rich Man (Nation of Israel) left out the "weightier matters of the law", they were rejected by Christ:

Mat 23:23 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.

In other words, the Rich Man (Nation of Israel) was found lacking and as a result, he needed to repent. For this reason, John the Baptist came and made the call of repentance to the Nation of Israel. For those who repented (the 120 Jewish Elect), the pathway for Christ to "come again" to them with the Latter Rain was made straight. However, the Nation of Israel, in large part, did not repent and as a result, they were cast into outer darkness where they dwell to this day.

The parable's overall teaching is that the Kingdom of Heaven will be taken from the Nation of Israel and given to the Gentiles. It has nothing to do with the false teachings of the apostate church on heaven and hell.

As for this verse you quoted:

Mat 6:24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

Mammon is referring to the riches of this world (man's works) which come from the lies and deceptions of Satan. Mammon is not referring to literal money.

Satan's teachings are based upon "works" (the crooked way from the crooked serpent). In contrast, Christ's riches are based upon faith alone. When a believer mixes "works" with "faith", they are trying to serve two masters (Satan and Christ). That is what Christ is teaching in the Mat 6:24.

Here is another scripture which teaches about "riches":

Mat 19:16-22 And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet? Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.

When Christ is speaking to the young rich man (represents the Nation of Israel) in Mat 19:16-22, Christ tells the man to sell all his riches and give the proceeds to the poor (the Gentiles). However, Christ is speaking about the man's spiritual riches of this world (mammon). These riches have taught the young man that salvation can come through his own works (following the Law of Moses). However, the man's riches cannot save him because no man has the ability to keep the Law perfectly.

The Law was given to the Nation of Israel to lead them to Christ. It was not given to them to save them. Therefore, Christ tells the man to give up his riches so that he can receive the true "treasure in heaven" (Christ and the New Covenant).

The Gentiles' pathway to salvation is the same. They will also go through the Law so that they will be lead to Christ. For that reason, Christ tells the man to give his riches to the poor (the Gentiles) so that they can start their journey to Christ and salvation.

Joe

Boy, you can stretch anything with these non-parable parables......

 

[face2face]

Do you think there is an actual "Abraham's bosom"? Sheol, in the heart of the earth, that had been divided into two sides by a great chasm?

Much love!

Marks, as I've said the Lord is using the Pharisees false beliefs in judgement against themselves. This is what makes this Parable so difficult to interpret as the Christian applies notions and hyper literal meaning to something which isn't real! It's a story! Beautifully constructed to show the foolishness and error in thier ways. This will all come out in time.

 

[marks]

Marks, as I've said the Lord is using the Pharisees false beliefs in judgement against themselves. This is what makes this Parable so difficult to interpret as the Christian applies notions and hyper literal meaning to something which isn't real! It's a story! Beautifully constructed to show the foolishness and error in thier ways. This will all come out in time.

Is that a yes? Or no? Just wondering.

Much love!

 

[face2face]

@marks there is no wisdom in simply coming into a thread, as others have done her,e to declare this is not a parable having absolutely no evidence at all. The only evidence which is no evidence at all is the statement Parables dont use real names - to which I respond where in the Bible does this rule apply? Where is it stated? Chapter and verse? If Christ wants to place a very meaningful name like Lazaruz to demonstrate the God is his only Help why cant he do that?

So in reality not one person in this thread has provided any evidence to suggest its not as stated the climax to all Christs parables in this section.

 

[face2face]

Do you think there is an actual "Abraham's bosom"?

Not if you want to cuddle up to a corpes - he is long gone awaiting the ressurection.

Sheol, in the heart of the earth, that had been divided into two sides by a great chasm?

Much love!

No, absolutely not! This is a parable where Jesus uses their own teachings against them! There is nothing like this in the entire Scripture - its stand alone designed for their ears and applies to their judgement.

 

[David in NJ]

@marks there is no wisdom in simply coming into a thread as others have done here to declare this is not a parable having absolutely no evidence at all. The only evidence which is no evidence at all is the statement Parables dont use real names - to which I respond where in the Bible does this rule apply? Where is it stated? Chapter and verse? If Christ wants to place a very meaningful name like Lazaruz to demonstrate the God is his only Help why cant he do that?

So in reality not one person in this thread has provided any evidence to suggest its not as stated the climax to all Christs parables in this section.

The evidence has been openly provided!
You have previously determined to reject such evidence.
As i said earlier = you are sidestepped by your own choosing, therefore you cannot see the evidence.

 

[face2face]

The evidence has been openly provided!
You have previously determined to reject such evidence.
As i said earlier = you are sidestepped by your own choosing, therefore you cannot see the evidence.

You have provided not one piece of evidence, not one!

 

[David in NJ]

You have provided not one piece of evidence, not one!

Second time now you just defeated your own argument.

lol - it just keeps getting better

 

[face2face]

@David in NJ

Answer this question.

Does this Parable start in the exact same way as the previous Parable in Luke 16:1?

Yes or no?

 

[face2face]

Second time now you just defeated your own argument.

lol - it just keeps getting better

Again you offer nothing you can plead all you like.

 

[David in NJ]

@David in NJ

Answer this question.

Does this Parable start in the exact same way as the previous Parable in Luke 16:1?

Yes or no?

And this is where(16:19) Jesus begins to unfold the parables beforehand and bring in REALITY = this is HIS Way = parable to REALITY

 

[David in NJ]

Again you offer nothing you can plead all you like.

Just when i thought it couldn't get any better............lolx100

 

[face2face]

And this is where(16:19) Jesus begins to unfold the parables beforehand and bring in REALITY = this is HIS Way = parable to REALITY

Yes or no, David?

Not hard!

 

[face2face]

And this is where(16:19) Jesus begins to unfold the parables beforehand and bring in REALITY = this is HIS Way = parable to REALITY

Out of interest where do you get this idea its REALITY?
Show me from the Parable ;) evidence David...evidence!~

 

[marks]

Not if you want to cuddle up to a corpes - he is long gone awaiting the ressurection.


No, absolutely not! This is a parable where Jesus uses their own teachings against them! There is nothing like this in the entire Scripture - its stand alone designed for their ears and applies to their judgement.

That's what I thought. You are mistaken that this is not supported elsewhere. No matter.

Thank you!

Much love!

 

[face2face]

@marks - answer this:

Why in verse 24 does Jesus allude to the tip of his finger and the cooling of his tongue???

How is Jesus using these symbols in their context?

Keeping in mind this is a parable designed to teach certain lessons

F2F

 

[face2face]

That's what I thought. You are mistaken that this is not supported elsewhere. No matter.

Thank you!

Much love!

If you can provide a Scripture to support I'd be keen to read it
Thanks

 

[face2face]

@marks #77

Why is Jesus alluding to the tip of his finger burning?
Why does he want to cool his tongue?

Remember this is not a literal event...these images are designed to prick the consciences of those to whom they apply.

F2F

 

[FaithWillDo]

Boy, you can stretch anything with these non-parable parables......

Dear David in NJ,

Christ ONLY taught in parables:

Mat 13:34 All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them: 35 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world.

Why won't you believe this truth?

Joe

 

[David in NJ]

Dear David in NJ,

Christ ONLY taught in parables:

Mat 13:34 All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them: 35 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world.

Why won't you believe this truth?

Joe

Quoting Mat 13:34 is a common error by those who seek to promote Luke 16:19-31 as a parable.

Example: "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."

John 3:16 is just a parable according to your interpretation of Matthew 13:34.

And this is just one of many examples of TRUTH that are not parables which JESUS spoke.