Luke 16:19-31

Is this a parable or a real scenario? If this is a real thing then this would show us how the afterlife really works. This would be the only parable where Jesus gives someone a proper name, however, in parables there is one main point and every detail serves to point to that lesson. Also, usually Jesus starts parables with “then he told this parable” or Jesus says, “to what should I liken the Kingdom…” 

The parable right before this are also told without indication that they are parables and the name Lazarus is important to the lesson. The purpose isn’t to form doctrine about the afterlife. What is the point of the parable? It isn’t about the afterlife. It is about the decisions we are making now and how they affect the life to come. If the grace and forgiveness of God has touched my life then my life will reflect that. 

There is a definite, unavoidable link, but it only flows one direction. Because of Jesus you are part of the family when you put your faith in Him and that will necessarily cause a change in how we live not the other way around. It is observable in both directions. If nothing about your life shows change then there is no evidence that real saving faith has happened. 

Purple was associated with royalty because purple dye was so hard and expensive to get. Feasting daily- same word as the fattened calf in the parable of the prodigal son. He had a block part everyday. Lazarus was being licked by dogs (considered street rats). They were scavengers and they smelled blood and he was too weak to shoo them away. Laid at the rich man’s gates. Ballō- to throw-used to fling dung. Why at rich man’s gates and not on a highly trafficked road? The hearer would realize that the rich man was SO wealthy that if anyone can help it would be him. Even how they were buried or not buried would indicate honor or shame. The assumption is that Lazarus was being punished by God and the rich man’s was blessed by God. 

Hades was the Greek understanding of the waiting place for judgement after death and it has two compartments; one of torture and one of comfort. Jesus isn’t laying out a blue print of the afterlife. He is using common language and understanding of the afterlife to paint a picture. 

In Jewish story telling the named characters are the ones that matter. Usually it’s the rich and powerful that are named. 

Eliezer- Lazarus- means God has helped me. This is a brilliant way to state that this man depended on God in his poverty. 

Was the rich man punished because he was rich or Lazarus honored because he was poor? God doesn’t operate on cosmic Karma. We don’t need to know why the rich man was punished from making up a back story. We can leave it at the fact the man didn’t care for his neighbor. You cannot love God and despise or ignore our neighbor. 

1 John 4:20

James 2:15-16

The rich man knows he needs repentance because he has brothers living the same way. He was cold and there was no evidence of him hoping in God. 

We aren’t meant for us to start empathizing with the rich man’s suffering. The fact that he knew Lazarus’ name tells us that he knew of the suffering he had ignored. He doesn’t repent to Lazarus and he still assumes his own “better than” status by not addressing Lazarus directly and referring to him as a runner or servant. 

Vs 31 Jesus foreshadows his own resurrection and the fact that people still wouldn’t be convinced.