71 Rich Man and Lazarus

Jesus follows up his discourse including the parable of the ‘unrighteous steward’ with another example on the same theme, how the future should have an impact on our current approach to life ( see study on ‘Stewardship’).

This is an important message Jesus wants to emphasise. How, in reality not by pretence, we live in this life has an impact beyond the grave, in resurrection. The focus is on how we treat others.

There is a debate about whether or not this is a parable. In many ways it seems like a parable with a clear message that what we do now is important, and it will be too late once we have died.

However, parables do not give a name to one of the participants, that suggests that the story may relate to actual people. The rich man is not named which gives a hint that Lazarus is actually the more important character in Jesus’ eyes. Lazarus can mean ‘without help’ which fits the story.

Sadly, there are many today who fit the mould of the rich man and also the poor man. It still has relevance. Jesus does not see people the way we often do.

Life after death - Hades and Hell

This is one of very few passages in the bible that may give an insight into the period after death and before resurrection life. This is uncertain as Jesus may be using story-telling to describe it. The bottom-line is that we are unable to do anything effectively to impact on life as it exists, after we have died.

The bible refers to this period as being in ‘Hades’ (Hebrew Sheol). Life can be viewed as a combination of body, soul and spirit. When the body dies (Greek ‘soma’, from dust to dust), the Spirit returns to God (Greek ‘pneuma’, breath), which leaves the soul (Greek ‘psyche’). The soul includes aspects of personality, emotions and conscience. Hades is identified as the location where all souls are waiting for resurrection.

There is the promise of resurrection life by following Jesus. There is a new resurrection body. It is characterised by being heavenly but is still a body.

There is to be a first resurrection after Jesus’ return which only involves people called ‘over-comers’, otherwise described as martyrs and those with a testimony, a life expressing Jesus. These people express life as Jesus intends and rule with Him on earth, expressing the kingdom of God alongside those still around at the time, a demonstration in the world for all to see how life should be lived. This is without interference from Satan and demonic influences that are bound. Sadly, after this full expression of the kingdom of God, when Satan is released people are still deceived and oppose the potential future life. Then, all the souls of those people who lived are raised and judged, those who will live with resurrection bodies, as demonstrated by the over-comers, into a new age, and those who are rejected, or themselves reject the new life.

As with many other passages in the bible, the period between death and resurrection is often just viewed as being asleep. This can be applied to this passage, as there is nothing the rich man can effectively do. The passage suggests that there is torment being experienced by the rich man and comfort by Lazarus. This would suggest that there is some realisation of their circumstances.

There are a lot of passages that suggest comfort and protection, without fear, for those in relationship with Jesus.

Alternatively, there is a realisation by the rich man that his lifestyle choices were wrong, being self-centred. When resurrected he will be fearful, facing judgment and having to rely on God’s mercy if he wants to enter life in the next age.

The Greek word ‘Gehenna’ is more akin to Hell. It refers to a valley outside Jerusalem and means a place of punishment. The valley is the rubbish tip with an inglorious past known for such evil practices as child sacrifice. It also links to an ‘abyss’, an eternal fire that ultimately consumes Satan, demons and those opposed to God. This needs to be distinguished from Hades, which ultimately will itself be destroyed, following the two resurrections.

The bible does not indicate that some people go straight to hell when they die. They go to Hades and await resurrection and judgment on what happens next, whether they adopt a resurrection body and live in the next age, or not.

The idea of purgatory does not exist in the bible. This passage clearly indicates that the impact on future (resurrection) life depends on what we do now when alive, and there is nothing that can be done afterwards.

Background

Luke chapter 16 verses 19 to 31 - Now there was a rich man, and he habitually dressed in purple and fine linen, joyously living in splendour every day. And a poor man named Lazarus was laid at his gate, covered with sores, and longing to be fed with the crumbs which were falling from the rich man's table; besides, even the dogs were coming and licking his sores. Now the poor man died and was carried away by the angels to Abraham's bosom; and the rich man also died and was buried. In Hades he lifted up his eyes, being in torment, and saw Abraham far away and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried out and said, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus so that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool off my tongue, for I am in agony in this flame.' But Abraham said, 'Child, remember that during your life you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus bad things; but now he is being comforted here, and you are in agony. And besides all this, between us and you there is a great chasm fixed, so that those who wish to come over from here to you will not be able, and that none may cross over from there to us.' And he said, 'Then I beg you, father, that you send him to my father's house, for I have five brothers, in order that he may warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.' But Abraham said, 'They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.' But he said, 'No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent!' But he said to him, 'If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead.' "

The bible refers to this period as being in ‘Hades’ (Psalm 89 verse 48 - Hebrew Sheol). Life can be viewed as a combination of body, soul and spirit (1 Thessalonians chapter 5 verse 23). When the body dies (Greek ‘soma’, from dust to dust - Genesis chapter 2 verse 7 to chapter 3 verse 19), the Spirit returns to God (Greek ‘pneuma’, breath - Genesis chapter 2 verse 7; Luke chapter 23 verse 46), which leaves the soul (Greek ‘psyche’, Acts chapter 2 verse 27). The soul includes aspects of personality, emotions and conscience. Hades is identified as the location where all souls are waiting for resurrection.

There is the promise of resurrection life (e.g. 1 Corinthians chapter 15) by following Jesus (verse 4, 12, 20, 21). There is a new resurrection body (verses 42,43,49). It is characterised by being heavenly but is still a body.

There is to be a first resurrection after Jesus’ return which only involves people called ‘over-comers’ (e.g. Revelation chapter 2 verse 7), otherwise described as martyrs and those with a testimony, a life expressing Jesus (chapter 20 verses 4 to 5). These people express life as Jesus intends and rule with Him on earth, expressing the kingdom of God alongside those still around at the time, a demonstration in the world for all to see how life should be lived. This is without interference from Satan and demonic influences that are bound (chapter 20 verse 2). Sadly, after this full expression of the kingdom of God, when Satan is released people are still deceived and oppose the potential future life. Then, all the souls of those people who lived are raised and judged, those who will live with resurrection bodies, as demonstrated by the over-comers, into a new age, and those who are rejected, or themselves reject the new life (chapter 20 verses 11 to 15).

As with many other passages in the bible, the period between death and resurrection is often just viewed as being asleep (verse 20). In reality, this can be applied to this passage, as there is nothing the rich man can effectively do. The passage suggests that there is torment being experienced by the rich man and comfort by Lazarus. This would suggest that there is some realisation of their circumstances.

There are a lot of passages that suggest comfort and protection, without fear, for those in relationship with Jesus (2 Corinthians chapter 5 verse 8; Philippians chapter 1 verse 23).

The Greek word ‘Gehenna’ is more akin to Hell. It refers to a valley outside Jerusalem and means a place of punishment. The valley is the rubbish tip with an inglorious past known for such evil practices as child sacrifice (Joshua chapter 15 verse 8; Jeremiah chapter 19 verses 1 to 6; 2 Kings 16 verse 3; 21 verse 6). It also links to an ‘abyss’, an eternal fire that ultimately consumes Satan, demons and those opposed to God (Matthew chapter 8 verse 29; 25 verse 41; Revelation chapter 19 verse 20). This needs to be distinguished from Hades, which ultimately will itself be destroyed (Revelation chapter 20 verse 14), following the two resurrections.