Two Question - (1) Is This A Parable Or Reality?

Question

(2) What Makes It A Parable / Reality?

In Luke 16:19-25 we read; 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. And 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. 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. But 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.

Answer 1

Usually when the Lord is referring to a parable he begins by stating that it is.
This amazing portion in Luke is actually NOT a parable and there is a reason...If it were then the Lord would not use real existing people in the Old testament in it. Abraham is mentioned in this portion.. also Abraham's bosom .. a Real place ...the pleasant part of hades is mentioned.

Lower down we see that Abraham said to the rich man when this man asked if Lazarus could be sent back to warn his brothers of this place.. and Abraham answered that his brothers have Moses and the prophets to persuade them of what is to happen if they reject God.

In Chapter 4 and earlier in Luke we have many parables, eg - The sower and the seed.. and the Lord introduced them as such.

Answer 2

A parable is "an earthly story with a heavenly meaning." Many parables have to be studied to figure out exactly what Jesus is saying. Then, when you study them again, they yield something different.

Reading on down in the chapter you notice that Jesus gives details about the "gulf" that is fixed between heaven and hell. He also uses names of Abraham and Moses--actual names of people we know went to heaven. Again, these things indicate that He is dealing in reality.

I think the reason Jesus told it this way is that He wanted this particular story to be self explanatory. There can be no excuse for not understanding it.

Parable? Reality? It doesn't matter as long as you understand the point of the story--which is if someone will not listen to the Bible (Moses and the prophets) and what it says, they will not be persuaded though someone rose from the dead. For example: Lazarus & Jesus who both did.
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Answer 3

A parable.Its self explanatory so there wasn`t any need to explain more to the disciples.Regardless of how much we have here it won`t do us a bit of good in the here after if we don`t use it in the right manner.Because someones poor doesn`t mean that they will go to be with God but I believe that it would probably be easier for you having less to lose or concentrate on.With lots of money you will be more apt to worry about how you are going to keep it or make it and have your mind on the things of this world.As poor as the beggar you would be more apt to seek God.

Answer 4

A parable. In the Greek Testament every other parable related by the author of Luke begins with the word "tis" (a certain man, woman, event...) The account of the rich man and Lazarus also begins with "tis." It can be countered that in every other parable related by the author of Luke that no characters had names, only in this account. True indeed. But Luke never seems to begin an account that he wants us to take as historical with the word "tis." Think of Luke's use of "tis" as something like a literary marker akin to English's "Once upon a time..." It marks that a made up story is about to begin. Why did Jesus give the poor man a name? Its His story, let Him tell it as He wants.

Answer 5

Despite not having an introduction as most parables do, this section is best seen as a parable. It is set in a series of encounters with the Pharisees (cf. 15:1-2; 16:14) and must be understood in that context. The Pharisees did not follow their own Scriptures, the "Law and the Prophets" (v. 16); so they were no better than the rich man's brothers who "have Moses and the Prophets" (v. 29). The Pharisees professed belief in a future life and in future judgment. They did not live in conformity with that belief, however, but in the pursuit of wealth (v. 14), just like the rich man of the parable.

Answer 6

Reality,This life is meant for spiritual development and not for keeping up with the Jones and raising doctors and lawyers. The rich man lives without spiritual hardships and trials therefore he is spiritually immature and unfit for the Kingdom of Heaven. God is super intelligent and wants Heaven to remain Heaven throughout all eternity. God does not want a bunch of sniveling, selfish, self-centered ape-men walking around His Holy Dwelling place making His Heaven a living hell like we have made this plane of existence.
Take care and may God bless you spiritually.

Answer 7

I believe it is a parable. The best reason I can give is that there are just to many texts in the bible that dispel the belief in anything other than complete and total destruction of the wicked. Our instructions for understanding biblical truths is text upon text and this does not add up as reality when fairly compared to the majority of what the bible teaches concerning the fate of the wicked.

Answer 8

Scholars believe Jesus was talking about reality. The parables He spoke were preceded by the phrase, "and he spoke a parable to them," but not this one. Parables generally had some hidden meaning. This one was unadorned truth, and the meaning was clear.

Answer 9

I believe it was a real event because:
1. Real names are used. In Jesus' parables, no names are used, just generalities.
2. Christ would explain His parables to the apostles, there was no explanation given after He said this.

Answer 10

I think Reality because he used real names of people, when it's a parable he used characters like The good Shepard , or vine yard keeper..etc.