The rich man and lazarus series#

Secondly, this parable, if we can properly call it a parable, is the only one in which real people - Abraham, Lazarus - are named.The parables of Jesus normally concern nature, everyday life, customs and society, not startling visions of the underworld, complete with fire and chasms.

The rich man and lazarus series#

Firstly, it is unique because, although its style resembles a parable, and also it comes immediately after a series of four other parables (parables of the lost sheep, lost coin, prodigal son, dishonest manager), it certainly is not a usual parable.

The story of the Rich Man and Lazarus is one of the best known in the Bible because it is unique in several ways. It is easy to smile at these mistakes by the people of JesusвЂ™ day, and forget that we are reading the account including the explanation! Without the explanation we would probably be just as confused as those to whom Jesus first spoke the words.

Then he explained to them that he was talking figuratively the yeast was the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees (Matthew 16:6-7,11-12). For example on another occasion he told his disciples to 'be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and the Sadducees' and they misunderstood, thinking that he was reproaching them for having forgotten to buy bread. In other words he was talking figuratively, in a kind of parable.Д®ven JesusвЂ™ own disciples were often confused by his figurative speech and parables. Yet the Gospel writer notes 'But the temple he had spoken of was his body' (John 2:20). Those listening all thought he was speaking literally about the real temple and objected 'It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and you are going to raise it in three days?'. For example, Jesus once said, when visiting the temple in Jerusalem, 'Destroy this temple and I will raise it again in three days'. Many times when Jesus spoke in parables people misunderstood and took him literally. Sometimes the reader can easily distinguish between things to be taken literally and things to be taken figuratively.Д«ut this is not always so simple. Sometimes in the Bible it is obvious when a parable is a parable, and when real events are real events. He said to him, вЂIf they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the deadвЂ™ (NIV).вЂNo, father Abraham,вЂ™ he said, вЂbut if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.вЂ™.Abraham replied, вЂThey have Moses and the Prophets let them listen to them.вЂ™.Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment. He answered, вЂThen I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my fatherвЂ™s house,.And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone else cross over from there to us.вЂ™.But Abraham replied, вЂSon 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.So he called to him, вЂFather 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 fireвЂ™.In Hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side.The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to AbrahamвЂ™s side.and longing to eat what fell from the Rich ManвЂ™s table.At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores,.There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day.Why Did Jesus Use the PhariseeвЂ™s Doctrine?