What lesson are we suppose to learn from the Parable of the Rich Man & Lazarus?

Question

Luke 16:19-31

Answer 1

Mark 8:36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? 37Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

Roll reversal:

The rich man was worldly rich, but spiritually poor…was left with no reward only punishment

Lazarus who was worldly poor, but spiritually rich… received a reward

The rich man wasn’t in hell because he was rich…it was the way he chose to use his wealth.

It’s not money but the love of money…

1 Timothy 6:10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

Even in the after life he treats Lazarus like a servants...send Lazarus …I can’t help but think of the “living water” that he so desperately needed and was available to him for free!

24And 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.

Abraham goes on to say…There is no bridge between us.

26And 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.

Again…send Lazarus to my brothers…

29Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. 30And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.

Abraham: they have Moses and the prophets let them hear…NEY…he seems to know they haven’t followed Moses and the prophets…Well…if they don not hear ….then they won’t believe the resurrection.

Wow! Better decide to listen now because once we die…there is no more mercy.

God loves you,
Faith

Answer 2

If the rich man had offered comfort to Lazarus in life then he (the rich man) would have received comfort in death. We reap what we sow. We cannot turn our backs on our fellow man because Jesus also said " Whatsoever you do for these the least of mine, so also you do for me." The rich man therefore left Jesus hungry and cold in the street at his own doorstep. And as Abraham told him, we are all given the law and are expected to follow it without great signs and wonders. These have already been given to us and the memory of them passed down to us. If we were to tell our grand children of the great storm in '79 (or whenever) but they didn't see it or were even alive at the time doesn't mean it didn't happen!

Answer 3

Wealth doesn't automatically mean God is blessing us:
Poverty doesn't necessarily mean God is cursing us (back to the Bible, you believers in the 'Prosperity Gospel'):
There is consciousness after death:
There is the reality of judgment to come:
We should not believe every spirit, as God doesn't let them return:

Lastly, this is no parable, but an event: I say this because Jesus never used a name in a parable, whereas here he names Lazarus. It is therefore a solemn warning of the fate of those who reject Jesus.

Answer 4

Most today look at part of the bible as merely a parable. Yet, there was not just parable, which is for the unbelievers, there was also truth in that hell does exist and it consisted of two places.

One was the lower part of hell where the souls of those who died in their sins, those who were unrighteous, are reserved until the day of judgment.

Then there was the upper part of hell, which was known as the bosom of Abraham, where the righteous dead were held prisoners in death.


An interesting point I would like to make is that the bosom of Abraham where the righteous were held in no more. For Jesus himself went and preached to those being held captive in this place and he led captivity captive. He took those who were held in this place and set them free, taking them to heaven.

Mankind could not enter the kingdom of God until after Jesus defeated death and was resurrected.

So now, when a righteous man, a born again believer dies in the flesh, his soul is not held in the place known as hell and death, but goes to be with the Lord Jesus.

That is why when he says, he who believes in me, though he be dead, yet shall he live. This refers to those who die in the flesh, but their soul continues to live.

Jesus said those who believe in me will never die. We all must suffer physical death, but when a man is born again, his spirit is made alive and when it leaves his mortal body, it goes to the place of the living, not the dead. Jesus is the resurrection and the life. He who believes in him will never die.

Answer 5

Most of it is self explanatory; but the main topic is verse 31;

Luk 16:31 And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.

Jesus's whole point was to keep Gods commandments; only those who do this will be in His kingdom.

Mat 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
Mat 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
Mat 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

very powerful statement, for these even had so much power to actually cast out demons in the name of Christ, and yet He never new them.

Mat 5:18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
and yet people do away with this statement from Christ, and say that just love God with all your heart and love your neighbor as yourself, little do they know that this is the ten commandments, this is how it has been from the beginning.

Lev 19:18 Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself: I am the LORD.
Deu 6:5 And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.

see it is the same message, exactly the same, what did change was the sacrifices, now we don't need to sacrifice an animal to ask forgiveness because Jesus was the ultimate sacrificed lamb of God.

This was the point of Moses and the Phrophets, to keep Gods law, and Jesus didn't change that at all, He said so many times.

Rev 12:17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

Rev 14:12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

Rev 22:14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
Rev 22:15 For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.

Answer 6

This passage is not confirmed as a parable. Many believe that it was a true story. It shows that the first will be last and the last will be first. It also shows that heaven and hell are real.

Answer 7

There was no communication between the living and the dead. The decision to serve God is made in this life, not in the next. God Bless!

Answer 8

Woe to the man who gains riches for himself but is not rich towards God.

By being rich towards God, you bless those less fortunate around you in His name. Expecting nothing in return giving all that you are and all that you have to your neighbors in order to win them for God and his kingdom.

Answer 9

It's about helping the ones who are in need when they really need it, and when we actually have a chance to lend a helping hand. Because one day it might be too late to try to help them, hence we should suffer the consequences of our unkind acts.

Answer 10

To love our neighbor as ourselves,and never turn anyone away who needs help,and we are no better than anyone else..

The least you do unto these you do also unto me,what we do for God is what will count.