Lazarus and the Richman

Introduction and Arguments There is much confusion regarding the of Lazarus and the Richman, it is the intention of this polemic teaching to clarify what is actually going on in this story and what the true meaning actually represents.

I intend to prove the following:

1. The teachings from 14:1 to 16:31 are part and parcel of a successive teaching from our LORD against the and the teachers of the law that build up to the parable of Lazarus and the Rich Man. 2. The story is not about the doctrine of eternal torment. 3. The teaching is a parable and not to be taken literally. 4. What the main teaching of the parable is.

Below you will find all of the scriptures versus followed by:

1. An exegetical summary clarifying what is presented. 2. Chapter summaries. 3. Accusation summary. 4. Presentation of the most significant meaning of the parable of Lazarus and the Rich Man

Luke Chapter 14

Teaching Location, Audience & Initial Subject Matter

1One Sabbath, when went to eat in the house of a prominent Pharisee, he was being carefully watched.

There in front of him was a man suffering from abnormal swelling of his body. 3Jesus asked the Pharisees and experts in the law, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath or not?” 4But they remained silent. So taking hold of the man, he healed him and sent him on his way. 5Then he asked them, “If one of you has a child a or an ox that falls into a well on the Sabbath day, will you not immediately pull it out?” 6and they had nothing to say.

Exegetical Summary

1. Jesus is a house guest on the Sabbath. 2. Jesus was invited to have a meal. 3. Jesus is the house guest of a prominent Pharisee. Lazarus and the Richman

4. He is being scrutinized. 5. There is a sick man there suffering from swelling in the body, Jesus challenges the Pharisees and the experts of the law regarding healing on the Sabbath. 6. Jesus heals the man. 7. Jesus silences them by asking, if you could pull your child or ox out of ditch on the Sabbath would you do it. Of-course this rhetorical, he knows they would, so they are silenced by wisdom.

Parable 1- The Wedding Invitation

7When he noticed how the guests picked the places of honor at the table, he told them this parable: 8“When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, for a person more distinguished than you may have been invited. 9If so, the host who invited both of you will come and say to you, ‘Give this person your seat.’ Then, humiliated, you will have to take the least important place. 10But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, ‘Friend, move up to a better place.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all the other guests. 11For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” 12Then Jesus said to his host, “When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or sisters, your relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. 13But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, 14and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the of the righteous.” 15When one of those at the table with him heard this, he said to Jesus, “Blessed is the one who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God.”

Exegetical Summary

Key points:

1. Jesus notices the house guests are interested in the seat of honor which initiates a parable challenging their behavior. 2. Jesus says when invited to a wedding don’t take the seat of honor because it could result in embarrassment, should a more prominent person show up and you may have to move. You will be humiliated, and since most of the seats will already be filled, you will be left sitting in one of the worst seats. 3. Instead take a lowly spot then the opportunity to be exulted exists, in all likelihood the host will see you and move you to a more prominent place. 4. The spiritual teaching is “all those who exult themselves will be humble, and those who humble themselves will be exulted. 5. Jesus says to the host when you have a banquet do not invite family, friends and the rich instead invite the poor, crippled, lame and blind who cannot pay you back. This action will lead to the blessings of God. 6. God will repay such behavior at the resurrection of the righteous. 7. One person sitting with Jesus understood the message evidenced by “Blessed is the one who will eat at the feast in the Kingdom of God. Lazarus and the Richman

8. It is clear that Jesus is saying to the Pharisees and teachers of the law that they are going to lose their exulted position and be humbled because they are not living by Kingdom standards. 9. There is a good chance they won’t be at the resurrection of the righteous. If they do make it, they will be in a lowly seat. 10. Soon in chapter 16, we will be introduced to Lazarus a lame man sitting at the rich man’s gate who never gets invited to a banquet. 11. Human actions don’t make you righteous they prove that you are. This is a key understanding in . The righteous live by faith and their actions reflect their faith.

Parable # 2 - The Great Banquet

16Jesus replied: “A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests. 17At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’ 18“But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said, ‘I have just bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please excuse me.’ 19“Another said, ‘I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I’m on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.’ 20“Still another said, ‘I just got married, so I can’t come.’ 21“The servant came back and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and ordered his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.’ 22“ ‘Sir,’ the servant said, ‘what you ordered has been done, but there is still room.’ 23“Then the master told his servant, ‘Go out to the roads and country lanes and compel them to come in, so that my house will be full. 24I tell you, not one of those who were invited will get a taste of my banquet.’ ”

Exegetical Summary:

1. A great banquet is being planned and many have been invited. 2. The host sends out his servant to let the invitees know the party is ready to start. 3. The invitees reject attending they are not interested, they are buying property or oxen and taking care of personal affairs associated with just being married. 4. The servant gives the report to the master. 5. The owner of the house/host becomes very angry. 6. The decree is issued go out into the travel routes and compel the uninvited to come so my house will be full for the party. 7. None of the original invited guests will get a taste at my banquet. 8. Much speculation could be thrown into the story naming the characters in the story and this would be a fun exercise. 9. The key point is the Pharisees and teachers of the law love money, possessions and prominence. They do not appear to have much concern for the things of God, his banquet at the resurrection or the poor, lame, cripple and blind. 10. The Pharisees and the teachers of the law are rejecting God’s call to his banquet they are concerned with the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of wealth. Lazarus and the Richman

Teaching # 1- The Cost of Being a

25Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: 26“If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple. 27And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. 28“Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? 29For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, 30saying, ‘This person began to build and wasn’t able to finish.’ 31“Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Won’t he first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? 32If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace. 33In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples.34“Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? 35It is fit neither for the soil nor for the manure pile; it is thrown out. “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.”

Exegetical Summary:

1. The Holy Spirit right in the middle of these interjects a significant teaching. 2. The teaching shifts from just the Jewish elite to the crowds that were travelling with Jesus including the Jewish elite. 3. Here Jesus defines the cost of discipleship as the following: i. Hate family members and even own life. ii. You must carry your cross. iii. If you were to build a tower you must count the cost so that you can finish the project are you will be left humiliated. iv. A King is about to go to war are realizes he can’t win so he sends a delegation for peace. v. A person must give up everything to be my disciple. vi. Salt and soil that lose their purpose are thrown out. 4. Whoever has ears to hear let him hear. 5. Thoroughly going through each of these teaching is beyond the scope of my apologetic purpose. The key point of this teaching as related to our defined scope is that cost of following is very costly; actually it will cost you your very life. The Pharisees, teachers of the law, and the vast majority of the crowds following Jesus will not surrender their life God, make peace with the King and live for the purpose to which they were created.

Chapter 14 reveals that the Pharisees, do not have ears to hear. They are interested in money, possession, and prominence. They are not interested in the Kingdom of God, the resurrection of the righteous, or fulfilling their duty as leaders teaching people to love their God or fellow man. They have no Lazarus and the Richman

interested in becoming a disciple of Jesus and they most certainly will not pay the price that is required to follow him. They have another master.

Luke Chapter 15

Parable # 3-The Lost Sheep

1Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. 2But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” 3Then Jesus told them this parable: 4“Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? 5And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ 7I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.

Exegetical Summary

1. The tax collectors and sinners are listening to Jesus. 2. The assault on the Pharisees and teachers of the law continue. 3. The Pharisees are insulted that Jesus is with them, eating with and teaching them. 4. Jesus and God the Father view the tax collectors and sinners as lost sheep and want them to repent and be saved. 5. The Pharisees are self-righteous and have disdain for those who don’t adhere and follow them. 6. All of heaven rejoices over a repentant sinner, the Pharisees have no interest in them or their eternal state or leading anyone back to God. 7. The Pharisees and teachers of the law teach self-righteousness. They do not understand God in any fundamental way.

Parable # 4- The Lost Coin

8“Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins a and loses one. Doesn’t she light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? 9And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’ 10In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the of God over one sinner who repents.”

Exegetical Summary:

1. This is another example of the previous point evidenced by or suppose. 2. The lost coin is of great value to the woman. Lazarus and the Richman

3. Finding the coin gives her great joy to the point of where she calls her friends and neighbors to come and rejoice with her. 4. The lost coin being found is symbolic of great rejoicing that will happen in heaven when someone repents. 5. The lost coin is like the lost sheep are illustration of God’s desire for people to be restored to him in right relationship. 6. The Pharisees and teachers of the law do not share this concern.

Parable # 5-The Lost Son

11Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. 12The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.13“Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. 14After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything. 17“When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ 20So he got up and went to his father. “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. 21“The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’22“But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.25“Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 27‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’ 28“The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. 29But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’ 31“ ‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ ”

Exegetical Summary: 1. The prodigal son is the third parable dealing with repentance. 2. The prodigal wants to take all his blessings and go his own way. 3. The father complies and divides his possession and lets the son go. Lazarus and the Richman

4. The son walks away from his father, goes to a foreign land and squanders his wealth and life in wild and sinful living with prostitutes. He loses everything and is forced to hire himself out feeding pigs. He is so low he longs for the food even given to pigs. 5. His physical and spiritual poverty lead him back to his senses. 6. The prodigal son knew his father and went to him in humility. He confessed that he had sinned against heaven and him, and was not worthy to be called his son. 7. The father’s heart longed for the repentance and the return of his son. He rejoiced at his return and throws a great big party for him. 8. The obedient son was indignant and refused to come to the party. He had never had a party thrown for him even though he served obediently for years. The obedient son was also self-righteous condemning his sinful brother. He was not happy to see his brother repent. 9. The father attempts to explain to his self-righteous son that we had to rejoice, your brother was dead but is alive again. He was lost and now is found. 10. Undoubtedly this parable is another direct assault at the Pharisees and teachers of the law. They like the righteous brother should be rejoicing about someone who repents. 11. The prodigal son is the tax collectors and sinners and the righteous brother is the Pharisees, teachers of the law and the self-righteous. The father is clearly God.

Chapter 15 Summary 1. The lost sheep, lost coin and the lost son all show us God’s desire for sinful man to repent. 2. The Pharisees and teachers sneering at Jesus for being with the tax collectors and sinner prove they are self-righteous, unloving, uncaring and have no regard for the lost. They are not servants of God. Their desires do not align with his. 3. They do not know the heart of God.

Chapter 16

Parable # 6-The Shrewd Manager

1Jesus told his disciples: “There was a rich man whose manager was accused of wasting his possessions. 2So he called him in and asked him, ‘What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your management, because you cannot be manager any longer.’ 3“The manager said to himself, ‘What shall I do now? My master is taking away my job. I’m not strong enough to dig, and I’m ashamed to beg— 4I know what I’ll do so that, when I lose my job here, people will welcome me into their houses.’ 5“So he called in each one of his master’s debtors. He asked the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’ 6“ ‘Nine hundred gallons a of olive oil,’ he replied. “The manager told him, ‘Take your bill, sit down quickly, and make it four hundred and fifty.’ 7“Then he asked the Lazarus and the Richman second, ‘And how much do you owe?’ “ ‘A thousand bushels b of wheat,’ he replied. “He told him, ‘Take your bill and make it eight hundred.’ 8“The master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly. For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light. 9I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings. 10“Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. 11So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? 12And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else’s property, who will give you property of your own? 13“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” 14The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all this and were sneering at Jesus. 15He said to them, “You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of others, but God knows your hearts. What people value highly is detestable in God’s sight.

Exegetical Summary:

1. A rich man is made aware that his hired manager is mismanaging his affair so he calls him to account because you cannot manage my affair any longer. 2. The manager recognizes there are very few jobs like his and he will be forced to dig ditches or beg. This means a plan is required. 3. A brilliant plan unfolds. He will bring in each of the debtors and cut a deal with them. He will collects some of the money that he was not collecting from the debtors and gain some favor with his master and all the debtors will be grateful to the master and him. . 4. The master commends him for his shrewdness. The manager knew the master would not go to the debtors to collect the rest of the money. 5. Jesus says the people of this world are more shrewd dealing with the worldly that believers are dealing with each other. 6. Jesus then instructs them to use their worldly worth for better purposes that will result in friends and bring them into an eternal dwelling. 7. Those honest with little can be trusted with much and those dishonest with little will also be dishonest much. 8. The Pharisees have been proven untrustworthy with the responsibilities given to them from God. 9. You cannot serve two masters you will love one and hate the other. You cannot serve God and money. 10. The Pharisees, who loved money, heard this and were sneering at Jesus. 11. This is a direct attack on the Pharisees where he says “You are the ones who justify themselves in the sight of others, but God knows the heart. 12. What people value highly is detestable to God, so Jesus is telling them what they value is detestable to God. Lazarus and the Richman

So far every parable has attacked the Pharisees and the teachers of the law and so it continues. The Holy Spirit brings in another teaching to drive home the Pharisees rejection of God.

Teaching # 2

16“The Law and the Prophets were proclaimed until John. Since that time, the good news of the kingdom of God is being preached, and everyone is forcing their way into it. 17It is easier for heaven and earth to disappear than for the least stroke of a pen to drop out of the Law. 18“Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery, and the man who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

Exegetical Summary:

1. The law and the prophets were preached until . 2. Now the Kingdom of God is being preached and people by their own means are trying to enter by forcing themselves into it. 3. It is easier for heaven and earth to disappear than for the least stroke of a pen to drop out of the law is implying that if you did not accept John’s baptism and repent in recognition of your law violation you most certainly will not receive the Kingdom of God. The purpose of the law is to leads a person to the Kingdom. 4. It is clear that the Pharisees and teachers of the law had divorced themselves from the law and God and were committing adultery. 5. The indictments keep coming.

Accusations Summary (Pharisees & Teachers of the Law) 14:1- 16:18

1. Pharisees, do not have ears to hear. 2. They are interested in money, possession, and prominence. 3. They are not interested in the Kingdom of God, the resurrection of the righteous, or fulfilling their duty as leaders teaching people to love their God or fellow man. 4. They are not interested in becoming a disciple of Jesus and reject the price that is required to follow him. 5. They have no interest in the lost or leading anyone to repentance. 6. They are self-righteous, unloving, and uncaring. 7. Their interests do not align with God and they have been rejected as his servants. 8. They rejected John’s baptism of repentance. 9. They reject the Kingdom of God and the repentance necessary to receive it. 10. They have been proven to be unfaithful servants in little and unfaithful to their major obligations. 11. They do not regard the true intent of the law. 12. They are considered by God to be adulterers because they have divorced themselves from him. Lazarus and the Richman

13. They are directly told they love money not God. 14. They justify themselves in the eyes of others, but God sees their heart 15. What they value is detestable to God. 16. The indictments keep coming.

Parable # 7 The Rich Man and Lazarus

19“There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. 20At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores 21and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.22“The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to ’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. 23In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. 24So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, 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.’25“But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. 26And 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.’ 27“He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my family, 28for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’ 29“Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’ 30“ ‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’ 31“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.’ ”

Evidence proving it is a Parable

1. Can water on the tip of finger cool someone’s tongue or help with their agony of being in a fire? 2. Does the Christian faith teach that suffering for bad things in this life result in comfort in the next or that receiving good things in this life result in agony in the next? 3. There is no place in the that talks about Abraham’s bosom or a place of the dead with two compartments? 4. Is it really possible for the redeemed to communicate with the unredeemed in the ? 5. Is it possible for someone at Abrahams’ side to go back to earth to warn the unrepentant? 6. One argument is that the name Lazarus is used therefore it can’t be a parable. This is simply wrong, here are two parables with names. Ezekiel 23:1-4 and Matthew 13:14. Lazarus and the Richman

7. Nowhere in the parable does it say the rich man’s presence in hades is eternal. So there is no way a doctrine of eternal fire and damnation can be preached from this passage.

Beyond any doubt we have a parable and a very strong one at that.

Exegetical Summary: 1. The rich dresses in purple and fine linen, purple and fine line is symbolic of someone who is a representative to God. (King or Priest) 2. Lazarus is a beggar, broke, hungry, and sick. His only comfort comes from the dog that licks his wounds. He eats what the rich man drops on the floor. 3. The beggar dies and the angels carry him Abraham’s side. There is no mention of burial for the beggar. 4. The rich man is buried and there is no mention of angels carrying him away. 5. In Hades the rich man in torment calls out to Abraham. 6. Notice the rich man does not call out to God but Abraham. 7. First request- Abraham to send Lazarus with a tip of water on his finger to cool his tongue and help with his agony from the fire. 8. First response- Abraham says you received good, Lazarus received bad so he is comforted and you are in agony. Then Abraham says there is a chasm that cannot be crossed from either direction. 9. Second request-Send Lazarus to my family to warn them about this torment. 10. Second response- They have Moses and the Prophets let them listen to them. 11. Third request-They will repent if someone comes back from the dead. 12. Fourth response- If they did not listen to Moses and the Prophets they will not listen if someone comes back from the dead. 13. Notice at no time does the rich man repent; ask for forgiveness or even talk to Lazarus, he directs all his communication to Abraham.

The Real Meaning The real story is about repentance and the responses of the Pharisees and teachers of the law. The unrepentant receive the fiery indignation of the God. The Pharisees already have 15 indictments against them and so in the story of Lazarus and the Rich Man, the indictments continue. The point is even if someone rises from the dead they will still not repent.

Notice that the rich man blatantly ignored the law of God and let a poor beggar go hungry and uncared for. His actions proved he was not a man of God.

Abraham tells the rich man that his brothers have Moses and the prophets let them listen to them. The rich man said no, send Lazarus back from the dead and they will believe. Abraham is right when he tells them they won’t believe even if someone from Lazarus and the Richman the dead comes back. This is further elaborated in the where Lazarus was in fact raised from death. () Jesus was also not only raised from the dead but was resurrected to life everlasting.

Did the vast majority of Pharisees and teachers of the law repent after the resurrection? The main point of this parable is the Pharisees rejected the resulting in their rejection from God. They are self-righteous and lovers of things that are detestable to God.

It is highly possible the beggar was given the name Lazarus by Jesus knowing he would raise Lazarus from the dead and thereby further driving home the point.

Many more things could be said about this parable and all the parables I discussed.

I trust I have proven what I set out to prove:

1. That :1 to 16:31 is successive teaching against the Pharisees and the teachers of the law. 2. The parable is not about the doctrine of eternal torment. 3. The teaching is in fact a parable. 4. What the main teaching is really all about.