40. The Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus
Luke 16:19-31
Spoken by Yeshua as he teaches a great multitude who is following him at the end of 27 CE.
Luke 16:19 There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day. 20 There was also a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores 21 and desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. 22 It came to pass that the beggar died and was carried by the angels into Avraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and was buried, 23 and in hell he lifted up his eyes, being in torments, and saw Avraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 24 He cried out and said, ‘Father Avraham, have mercy on me! 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 Avraham 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 Besides all this, between us and you, there is a great gulf fixed; so that they which would pass from here to you cannot. Neither can those who would come from there, pass to us.’ 27 Then he said, ‘Father, I pray you, send him to my father’s house! 28 I have five brothers to whom he may testify, lest they also come into this place of torment.’ 29 Avraham said to him, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.’ 30 And he said, ‘No, father Avraham: but if one went to them from the dead, they will repent.’ 31 And he said to him, ‘If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rise from the dead.’ {1}
{Lk 16:31.1} This is a parable that must be interpreted very conservatively. Parables can be easily twisted into doctrines that were never implied. From a liberal interpretation of this parable, one could say that those in hell have a direct line of communication with Abraham and that he cannot get a moment of peace because of all the people who are crying out to him – day and night – forever. One could also hypothesize that at the moment of death, one is sent directly to hell or the pearly gates without the formality of a resurrection or the day of Judgment. The fact is, this is a parable, and parables are figures of speech in narrative form – they are not true to life but are meant to illustrate a spiritual reality in terms that we mortals can grasp. This is the point: Judgment Day is certain. If we do not listen to and obey Moses and the Prophets – especially The Prophet – we will find ourselves in very hot water at the resurrection. No amount of physical comfort in this life is worth hearing the words, “Depart from me – you did not do the will of my Father!” This life is very short. Eternity is forever.
Excerpt From: Michael John Rood. “The Chronological Gospels.” iBooks. https://itun.es/us/SWrxQ.l
Those that study to show themselves approved, let the journey begin in the fithteenth chapter of Genesis for the dogs have come to lick the sores of him. May you find the water hidden deep within, wave it like a banner for His ways are mysterious dear friend!
Listen, listen as the waves come crashing in! Smell the burning flesh as the ocean waves roll in. The abyss reveals many horrors like the great gulf set before tormented eyes. That torment of realizing the truth but not at the appointed time.
The world had bound him from helping those that were set outside. They shown forth The Door to all those having Spirit filled eyes. For their eyes saw the need, their ears heard the call. Their hearts responded at the appointed time for the few gave Lazarus compassion, love and charity.
Who are those that gave not as they passed through the narrow gate where Lazarus was set outside? Oh how many Lazarus’s have we stepped by trying to get inside? Did we give them a taste of the water, ease their suffering that they might be in Abrahams bosom for all time?
Let our hearts be tender, our mercy complete. Let us walk along The Way helping those who suffer in the streets. Let us go forth healing the sick, raising the dead, cleansing all those who filthy, driving out demons from suffering hearts - no family - most with only religion that has chained them to the sign posts outside.
Let us be as a golden leaf touching the water, flowing along a bubbling stream, listen - listen do you hear the sound of the waterfall, its not far from the great gulf fed by the stream?