#Bible who told the story of lazarus full

The Bible says is not just the mantra of Evangelical Christianity, but also Liberal Christianity, Catholicism, Islam, and Judaism. As Luke 16 makes clear, the Abrahamic religions have always been text-based religions. We are told by Evangelicals that we must believe what the Bible says about the living, dead, now living Jesus, the son of God. Instead, Jesus has been dead-as-a-doornail silent for 2,000 years. Isn’t the linchpin of the Christian religion – the resurrection of a man named Jesus from the dead? What better way to authenticate the Christian religion than Jesus physically revealing himself to the world? Think how much better it would be for Christians if every 20 or so years Jesus could make a brief appearance to remind people that he is still alive and kicking and is still busy building them Trump mansions in the New Jerusalem. I also find it interesting that Abraham told the rich man that his brothers would not be persuaded even if a resurrected dead man, Lazarus, came to warn them about Hell. I find it interesting that Abraham says the living brothers should heed Moses and the Prophets, yet the Old Testament says little to nothing about Hell or Heaven. The rich man begged Abraham to send Lazarus to warn them, but Abraham told the rich man that if his brothers wouldn’t heed the Word of God they would not heed someone who rose from the dead. If they wouldn’t heed the Word of God they would perish. Abraham refused, and told the rich man his brothers had the Word of God (Moses and the Prophets). He begged Abraham to send someone to warn his brothers about Hell. He wanted to make sure that they didn’t end up in Hell.

This story details the concern the rich man had for his five brothers who were still alive. The rich man was able to look across the great gulf and see Abraham. This gulf is not so great though that a person in one part cannot see the people on the other side of the gulf. In this passage of scripture, Hell is a place separated from Abraham’s bosom by a fixed, impassable, great gulf.

Generally, Evangelical Christians believe Hell is in the bowels of the earth - a scientific absurdity, in and of itself.

Lazarus was carried by angels to Abraham’s bosom and was comforted.

The rich man went to Hell and was tormented in the flames of Hell without a drop of water to drink.

Fed with crumbs that fell from the rich man’s table.

Afflicted with sores that the dogs licked.

In this parable, the three main characters are: In all the other parables uttered by Jesus, he never mentions anyone by name. However, it is clear from the text itself that Jesus did not mean for this to be taken as a parable. Many Christians, increasingly uncomfortable with the notion of Hell and sinners being tortured by their God for eternity, say that this story is a parable. The first question this passage raises is whether it is meant to be taken literally. Over the course of 25 years in the ministry, I preached from this passage many times.

( Luke 16:19-31 )Īnyone raised in the Independent Fundamentalist Baptist (IFB) church movement has heard numerous sermons from Luke 16:19-31. And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead. Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets let them hear them.Īnd he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father’s house: For I have five brethren that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence. And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue for I am tormented in this flame.īut Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.

#Bible who told the story of lazarus full

There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.Īnd it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.