Yeshua taught in parables, what is the moral or point of this one?
2007-09-13 13:30:22 · 15 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
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.' "
Luke 16
2007-09-13 13:59:23 · answer #1 · answered by Christian Sinner 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
19-25; You were rich and enjoyed earthly things(assuming he meant the rich man cared not about God) and now you are reaping what you sow. Lazarus was poor and had a bad life(must have loved God) and so he is rewarded. V 26; Once here there is no bridge between heaven and hell v27-31. Rich man wants Lazarus to be sent back to warn his 5 bros. and Abraham said they didn't listen before, they won't now even from one arose from the dead. Lesson to learn: Repent now before it's too late, casting aside the material riches on earth.
2007-09-13 13:51:22 · answer #2 · answered by dawnUSA 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I would guess that this passage pretty much sums it up.
1 John 2:15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world--the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions--is not from the Father but is from the world. 17 And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.
1 John 3:17 But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him?
At least that sums up the first half. The second half has to do with when Abraham told the rich man that the people had the law and Moses to lead them to repentance and if they were not moved by that then even if someone came back from the dead (like Jesus) they still were not going to repent because they loved the things of this world more than God and doing his will by loving their neighbor like them self.
2007-09-13 13:36:05 · answer #3 · answered by Martin S 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
For the love of money is the root of all evil, 1Tim. 6:10, the rich man thought he had everything, actually he had nothing because he put his trust in material things, Lazarus had nothing. Money or material things will not get you to heaven. Faith is what gets you to Heaven, before Jesus died, under the old covenant, you were saved by faith in Jehovah, now after John 3:16, For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life. Faith in Jesus Christ is the way to Heaven. Jesus came to be a perfect sacrifice for our sins, Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life thru Jesus Christ our Lord. Once Jesus died on the cross and arose the third day he washed away our sins forever. We now only have to accept him by faith into our hearts to be saved. There is a simple sinners Prayer that you can say that will take you to Jesus and a personal relationship with him if you believe, just say Dear Jesus, I know and confess that I am sinner in need of salvation. I believe you died on a cross at calvery and arose from the grave to wash away my sins, I ask you right now to come into my heart and save me, I pray this Prayer believing in the name of Jesus Amen. If you prayed this prayer with a sincere heart you are now a child of God, rejoice that your name is written in the Lambs book of Life. If you have any questions just send me an email, God Bless YOU!!
2007-09-13 13:51:17 · answer #4 · answered by victor 7707 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
When we look at this account in light of other scriptures and in its historical context, it becomes apparent that this is an allegory, a familiar story of the age that Jesus used to point out a spiritual lesson to those who knew the law but did not keep it. It was never intended to be understood literally.
The Victor Bible Background Commentary, New Testament, in discussing this passage, explains that Jesus used contemporary Jewish thought about the afterlife to point out a spiritual lesson:..
"Not only was Hades thought to be divided into two compartments, popular belief held that conversations could be held between persons in Gan Eden [the abode of the righteous] and Gehinnom [the abode of the unrighteous]. Jewish writings also picture the first as a verdant land with sweet waters welling up from numerous springs, while Gehinnom is not only a parched land, but the waters of the river that separated it from Gan Eden recede whenever the desperately thirsty wicked kneel and try to drink.
"... In Christ's story God was the beggar's only source of help, for the rich man was certainly not going to do a single thing for him! ... It is important to see this parable of Jesus as a continuation of His conflict with the Pharisees over riches. Christ had said, 'You cannot serve God and Money' (16:13). When the Pharisees sneered, Jesus responded, 'What is highly valued among men is detestable in God's sight' (16:15).
"There's no doubt that the Pharisees remained unconvinced ... And so Christ told a story intended to underline the importance of what He had just said.
"During this life the wealthy man would surely have been featured on the 1980s TV program, 'Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous.' The cameras would have focused on his marble mansion with its decorative wrought iron gates ... and the fabulous feasts he held for his important friends.
"As the TV equipment was taken into the rich man's home, a cameraman might have stumbled over the dying beggar, destitute and abandoned just outside the rich man's house ... Surely he was beneath the notice of the homeowner, who never gave a thought to the starving man just outside, though all Lazarus yearned for was just a crumb from the overladen tables ...
"But then, Jesus says, both men died. And suddenly their situations are reversed! Lazarus is by 'Abraham's side,' a phrase which pictures him reclining in the place of honor at a banquet that symbolizes eternal blessedness. But the rich man finds himself in torment, separated from the place of blessing by a 'great chasm' (16:26). Even though he begs for just one drop of water, Abraham sadly shakes his head. No relief is possible-or appropriate!
"... The rich man had received his good things, and had used them selfishly for his benefit alone ... This rich man's indifference to Lazarus showed how far his heart was from God and how far his path had strayed from God's ways. They were his riches, and he would use them only for himself ...
"And so Jesus' first point is driven home. You Pharisees simply cannot love God and Money. Love for Money is detestable to God, for you will surely be driven to make choices in life which are hateful to Him ...
"But Jesus does not stop here. He portrays the rich man as appealing to Abraham to send Lazarus to warn his brothers, who live as selfishly as he did. Again Abraham refuses. They have 'Moses and the Prophets' (16:31), that is, the Scriptures. If they do not heed the Scriptures they will not respond should one come back from the dead ...
"In essence then Christ makes a stunning charge: the hardness and unwillingness of the Pharisees and teachers of the Law to Jesus' words reflect a hardness to the Word of God itself, which these men pretend to honor ...
"This entire chapter calls us to realize that if we take this reality seriously, it will affect the way we view and use money, and the way we respond to the poor and the oppressed" (Lawrence Richards, QuickVerse software, 1992-1998).
2007-09-13 13:48:41 · answer #5 · answered by TIAT 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
That riches and material wealth will not gain you life, but death, and when you turn your back on the lowly one in spirit and in health, you will be judge negatively and not inherit life, but death.
The poor man will gain much more in the end, and this too was a parable by Jesus, an illustration to those he preached to in order that they do not treat the lowly one with despise but lift him up.
2007-09-13 13:40:41 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
In the famous parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus we are exposed to two different conditions in the postmortal world: “Abraham’s bosom” and “hell.” The former is depicted as a place of rest, the latter a place of torment. Between the two “is a great gulf fixed” which prevents social interchange between the two. Such was the condition prior to Christ’s visit to the spirit world between the time of his death and his resurrection.
The Savior’s visit to the spirit world bridged the gulf between paradise (Abraham’s bosom) and hell, making it possible for the spirits in prison to receive the message of the gospel by authorized ministers.
“There was no intermingling by the spirits in paradise and hell until after Christ bridged the ‘great gulf’ between these two spirit abodes. This he did while his body lay in the tomb of Joseph of Arimathaea and his own disembodied spirit continued to minister to men in their spirit prison. (1 Pet. 3:18–21; 4:6; ‘Until that day’ the prisoners remained bound and the gospel was not preached to them. The hope of salvation for the dead was yet future.” (McConkie, DNTC, 1:521.)
2007-09-13 13:38:49 · answer #7 · answered by Arthurpod 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Material wealth and riches doesn't earn you everlasting life nor in good favor with God.
Don't throw your nose up to those truly in need.
2007-09-13 14:15:37 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
I believe this was a true story as it was not taught as a parable.
2007-09-13 13:37:29 · answer #9 · answered by ? 6 · 1⤊ 2⤋
that there is a Heaven and Hell, and those who are mean and selfish to those who are poor and starving will not go to Heaven
2007-09-13 13:35:38 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋