PARABLE OF LAZARUS AND THE RICH MAN FULL

PARABLE OF LAZARUS AND THE RICH MAN FULL

By what kind of reasoning and by what principles of justice can it be maintained that simply because a man enjoyed the good things of this life to the full for threescore years and ten he must suffer the agonies of a burning hell for billions times billions of years, yes, for eternity? Even fallen, imperfect man appreciates that justice requires that вЂњthe punishment fit the crime,вЂќ and certainly God is more just than man. Neither is there a word about the rich manвЂ™s having been wicked. 2:14-26) When are mere wretchedness, poverty and disease a guarantee of salvation? Note here that not one word is said about LazarusвЂ™ having been a good man, about his having had faith and proving it by works both of which are indispensable to gaining everlasting life. Lazarus was taken by angels to recline upon AbrahamвЂ™s bosom whereas the rich man was buried, and in Hades suffered torment and from which place he saw Lazarus.- Luke 16:19-23, NW. 13:34, NW) The mere fact that names are given cannot be used as an argument against its being an illustration, in view of all the evidence that proves that to take it literally is to outrage reason and common sense and to contradict the rest of GodвЂ™s Word.Д«riefly, in this illustration we first read of a rich man clothed in purple and fine linen who lived in magnificence and of a beggar named Lazarus who sat at his gate, full of ulcers, and who craved the crumbs that fell from the rich manвЂ™s table. But is it necessary that Jesus do this every time, when we have the plain statement that вЂњwithout an illustration he would not speak to themвЂќ? ( Matt. Note his words: вЂњTo you it is granted to understand the sacred secrets of the kingdom of God, but for the rest it is in illustrations, in order that, though looking, they may look in vain and, though hearing, they may not get the meaning.вЂќ ( Luke 8:10, NW) Obviously, whatever meaning his listeners got from the illustration was bound to be the wrong one.Д«ut some further object because Jesus did not indicate in so many words that this was an illustration. How so? Because we are explicitly told that the reason Jesus spoke in parables or illustrations was-that people might understand?-no, but that they might NOT understand.

Granting, for the sake of argument, that his listeners did think it was an actual incident, that, far from proving that it was, proves just the opposite. A tract published by one who holds to this view asks: вЂњDo you not think all who heard the Lord Jesus relate the story of the rich man and Lazarus, would naturally suppose He meant to teach conscious existence after death in happiness or woe?вЂќ It is argued that these words tell of an incident, are a narration of what actually took place. The words of Jesus recorded at Luke 16:19-31 regarding the rich man and Lazarus are among the proofs offered in support of this teaching. THE great majority of the religious sects of Christendom hold that eternal torment in a burning hell is the destiny of the wicked.

The Rich Man and Lazarus-Parable or Narrative?

Parable of lazarus and the rich man