LUKE 16:22 "So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham's bosom. The rich man also died and was buried."
Did they say these things just to make the poor feel good about themselves and not revolt?
2007-12-29 06:56:16 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
No.
It does not say whether the poor man was righteous and the rich man wicked or vice-versa.
The emphasis of the parable is the change in circumstances, the rich man loses his privileged position and the poor man gets elevated.
The rich man symbolized the religious leaders of Jesus' day who thought too highly of their status and looked down upon the common men.
Lazarus symbolized the common people who would listen to Jesus and come into an approved condition with God.
2007-12-29 08:03:19 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Jesus said nothing about the rich man’s living a degraded life worthy of fiery punishment; the man’s failing was that he did not feed the poor. Further, Jesus said nothing about Lazarus’ doing good things, things that clearly would merit his going to heaven, which is what some churches claim is the meaning of his being taken to Abraham’s bosom. Furthermore, Abraham, like David, was dead and in his grave, so angels literally could not carry Lazarus to his bosom. And if the rich man were in a literal fire, surely Lazarus could not benefit him with just a drop of water!
Who, then, was pictured by the rich man and who by Lazarus? What was represented by their deaths? The rich man pictured the self-important religious leaders who failed to feed the people spiritually, and Lazarus pictured the common people who accepted Jesus Christ. Their deaths represented a change in their condition.
2007-12-29 07:32:47 · answer #2 · answered by conundrum 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Jesus taught this story to challenge the, then popular belief, "if I am a descendant of Abram; I have a free pass into heaven".
This is the penultimate description of sheol. Dry, hot, no rest, thirsty, in torments....regretting that he was there and begging that 'someone from the dead' would go and warn the living; as it was horrible.
The great chasm affixed is also a vivid picture of "you can't go back, when it's too late".
The poor have been and always will be with us and about 30 years after Jesus taught this; the rich, merchants and poor did revolt; with disastrous results. They revolted, because they hated the roman rule and had convinced themselves that God would perform some kind of wondrous rescue mission - and they were wrong.
Maranantha
2007-12-29 07:24:07 · answer #3 · answered by Bill S 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Its a good question for sure.
Somewhere in the Bible it states that the rich man and the tax man will never be allowed to enter Heaven.
At least, the Bible and Christianity is doing the right thing for once!
2007-12-29 07:34:52 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
The 'rich' man was not Godly, the beggar was--that's the point,not pacifying anyone.
2007-12-29 07:02:06 · answer #5 · answered by Thomas E 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes.
Also, the fear of heck may motivate the rich man to give money to non-profit churches.
Either way, the churches win.
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There are other explanations also.
2007-12-29 07:01:37 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
No, it was a warning to those who neglect their brothers and sisters who are in need.
2007-12-29 07:18:35 · answer #7 · answered by deanr610 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
you obviously don't get it...
2007-12-29 06:59:21 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
No.
2007-12-29 06:59:14 · answer #9 · answered by ~MJ~ 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋