11/19/2022 0 Comments The rich man and lazarus![]() This is consistent with how other biblical writers described the fate of the wicked (Malachi 4:3 Romans 6:23). Jesus described hell as a place of complete destruction rather than a place with conscious and tormented dead individuals. When something is destroyed, it ceases to exist. In Matthew 10:28, Jesus said: “But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” Jesus associated hell with destruction. So it would be strange and inconsistent for Jesus to say in one situation that no one has gone to heaven and then later say that Lazarus the beggar went to heaven. The New English Translation is even clearer: “No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven-the Son of Man.” Jesus made a clear statement about going to heaven: “No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven” (John 3:13). What did Jesus teach about going to heaven? So it would be contradictory for Jesus to teach that the rich man and the beggar Lazarus were very much awake after they died. Jesus’ words harmonize with other scriptures that show the dead have no conscious thoughts (Ecclesiastes 9:5). Jesus likened death to sleep-a state of unconsciousness. When the disciples were confused about what He meant, Jesus clarified that He meant Lazarus was dead (verses 13-14). Before doing so, He told His disciples: “Our friend Lazarus sleeps, but I go that I may wake him up” (verse 11). In John 11, Jesus resurrected His friend Lazarus (the brother of Mary and Martha, not the character in the parable). Jesus made clear statements throughout His ministry about what does and doesn’t happen after a person dies. How should we understand this parable? Is it really about what happens to people right at the time they die? Or did Jesus intend for us to learn a completely different lesson? What did Jesus say about death? After all, a surface-level reading seems to show the beggar Lazarus dying and going to heaven while the selfish rich man dies and descends to hell.īut a problem with this explanation of the parable is that there are several scriptures-many of them from the mouth of Jesus Himself-that contradict the idea that people go to heaven or hell immediately after death. This parable is often interpreted as being about the immediate fate of the dead. Let him warn them, ( H) so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’Ģ9 “Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses ( I) and the Prophets ( J) let them listen to them.’ģ0 “‘No, father Abraham,’ ( K) he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’ģ1 “He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.The parable of Lazarus and the rich man is one of Jesus’ most misunderstood parables. ( G) 26 And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’Ģ7 “He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my family, 28 for I have five brothers. 24 So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, ( D) have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’ ( E)Ģ5 “But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, ( F) but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. 23 In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. ( C) Even the dogs came and licked his sores.Ģ2 “The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. ( A) 20 At his gate was laid a beggar ( B) named Lazarus, covered with sores 21 and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. 19 “There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. ![]()
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