Post by foxjj on Dec 6, 2021 8:40:21 GMT
The Rich Man and Lazarus
Jesus was known for His use of parables as a mode of teaching. These parables were stories with themes that His listeners would understand. In Luke 16:19-31 we can read the parable of the rich man and Lazarus in which Jesus addressed the Jewish understanding of what happens after death:
“19 “There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day. 20 But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid at his gate, 21 desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. 22 So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.”
By stating that the poor man is carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom, Jesus is implying that he was righteous. He would abode there awaiting the resurrection onto eternal life. In John 11:23-27 we see how Martha the sister of Jesus’s friend Lazarus (not the same Lazarus) also believed this, and that Jesus declared to her that He was the resurrection and the life, meaning eternal life:
“23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” 24 Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” 25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; 26 and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” 27 “Yes, Lord,” she replied, “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.”
In Matthew 27:52-53 we read of a remarkable occurrence after the Crucifixion of Jesus which brings credence to belief in the resurrection of the righteous: “52 The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, 53 and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many.”
On the other hand, the rich man is in Hades which is sometimes called Sheol or Gehenna, the abode of the dead who are without hope of resurrection.
“24 “Then 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.’ 25 But Abraham said, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented. 26 And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us.’”
It is from passages like this that we get our description of Hell with its fires of torment. Gehenna refers to the valley which was used as a place where the refuse from Jerusalem was burned. It’s fires would continue to smolder day after day, thereby giving the picture of unending fire.
“27 “Then he said, ‘I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father’s house, 28 for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.’ 29 Abraham said to him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.’ 30 And he said, ‘No, father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ 31 But he said to him, If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.’ ”
Sadly, even though Jesus arose from death and was seen by many, the majority in Israel refused to believe that He was their Messiah, just as He had foretold in Matthew 8:11-12: “11 And I say to you that many will come from east and west, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. 12 But the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Came Pentecost and the outpouring of The Spirit, resulting in the preaching to all the world The Gospel of Redemption through the Sacrificial Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Today, let us give thanks for Jesus’s assurance of eternal life.
John Joseph Fox.
Jesus was known for His use of parables as a mode of teaching. These parables were stories with themes that His listeners would understand. In Luke 16:19-31 we can read the parable of the rich man and Lazarus in which Jesus addressed the Jewish understanding of what happens after death:
“19 “There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day. 20 But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid at his gate, 21 desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. 22 So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.”
By stating that the poor man is carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom, Jesus is implying that he was righteous. He would abode there awaiting the resurrection onto eternal life. In John 11:23-27 we see how Martha the sister of Jesus’s friend Lazarus (not the same Lazarus) also believed this, and that Jesus declared to her that He was the resurrection and the life, meaning eternal life:
“23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” 24 Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” 25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; 26 and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” 27 “Yes, Lord,” she replied, “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.”
In Matthew 27:52-53 we read of a remarkable occurrence after the Crucifixion of Jesus which brings credence to belief in the resurrection of the righteous: “52 The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, 53 and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many.”
On the other hand, the rich man is in Hades which is sometimes called Sheol or Gehenna, the abode of the dead who are without hope of resurrection.
“24 “Then 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.’ 25 But Abraham said, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented. 26 And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us.’”
It is from passages like this that we get our description of Hell with its fires of torment. Gehenna refers to the valley which was used as a place where the refuse from Jerusalem was burned. It’s fires would continue to smolder day after day, thereby giving the picture of unending fire.
“27 “Then he said, ‘I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father’s house, 28 for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.’ 29 Abraham said to him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.’ 30 And he said, ‘No, father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ 31 But he said to him, If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.’ ”
Sadly, even though Jesus arose from death and was seen by many, the majority in Israel refused to believe that He was their Messiah, just as He had foretold in Matthew 8:11-12: “11 And I say to you that many will come from east and west, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. 12 But the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Came Pentecost and the outpouring of The Spirit, resulting in the preaching to all the world The Gospel of Redemption through the Sacrificial Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Today, let us give thanks for Jesus’s assurance of eternal life.
John Joseph Fox.