The parable of Lazarus and the rich man

The parable of Lazarus and the rich man

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The story of the rich man and Lazarus has long been used to support the doctrine of eternal conscious punishment, or more correctly phrased eternal conscious torture in a place called hell.

Let’s have a look at the passage that appears only in the book of Luke.

Luke 16- 19 There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: 20And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, 21 And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. 22And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; 23And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 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. 25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivest thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. 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. 27 Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father’s house: 28For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. 29 Abraham 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. 31And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.

At face value there is at least some support for this understanding. However when examined this passage not only does not support the doctrine it actually has a much deeper and much more powerful message that is totally missed by those that use it as support for the Doctrine of eternal conscious punishment. (I will abbreviate to E.C.P)

Before we look at the true meaning to this parable (It shall also be shown that this is a parable not a literal story) I will first show why this cannot be used as support for the doctrine of E.C.P
without even touching on the implications this has for the God that is being portrayed (which I will do in another writing) .

The rich man is never stated as being unrighteous a sinner living without God. The poor man never stated as being righteous who believed in God. Nowhere is it stated one believed on Jesus and the other did not. Based on this the only information we have is one is rich and one is poor. Therefore if this is literal we must conclude being rich will send you to hell and being poor will send you to .Abraham’s bosom. However Abraham himself was a wealthy man. As was Isaac and Jacob. Job and King David were also wealthy but were Godly men. If being poor is what takes you to Abraham’s bosom then why were they not told to give up all that they had. 
There is a story in the Bible where Jesus does however tell a rich man to give up all that he has.

Matthew 19- 16 And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? 17And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. 18He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, 19 Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 20The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?

However this actually has nothing to do with the man having to give up all he has. It was about putting what he had above all else, including Jesus. The man told Jesus that he had kept the law but asked what was he lacking. Jesus replied to give up all that he had but also stated the most important part, to follow him.

Matthew 19- 21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.

It was following Jesus that Jesus was highlighting. Using the man’s wealth was to show that in order to follow Jesus he had to be the most important thing and that the man was more interested in his wealth than being righteous.

What we have are simply 2 men that have died. One is stated as being buried and the other simply taken to Abraham’s bosom (no mention of a burial) Notice that while one is stated as being in hell and so is used to support the doctrine of hell, the 2nd man has not been taken to heaven which would be the location of the saved if the doctrine of heaven and hell was correct. The Greek word translated as hell where the “unsaved” rich man went is (hades) hadē ᾅδῃ*. This is not hell in the “christian” understanding. This was simply the place of the unseen, the dead. The greek equivalent of the Hebrew sheol which was a place all the dead went to. (explained more in my writing on hell) The “saved” man has actually been taken to Abraham’s bosom. Abraham’s bosom is not a place inside sheol or in heaven, neither of these are biblical. We have nothing in scripture other than this parable to support this interpretation and understanding. There is also no scriptural support for angels taking the righteous anywhere after death. 
This is more from dante’s inferno and not the bible. (looked at in more detail in my writing regarding hell) The saved man and the man in hell are able to communicate. Not only is there no other scriptural support for this to be a literal interpretation, clearly this raises issues regarding the state of the saved and the unsaved. It simply defies logic to understand that the saved will be in peaceful bliss, having had all tears wiped away and living with God for eternity in perfection in heaven while being able to communicate with the unsaved who are being tortured beyond comprehension seemingly within earshot. Many saved people will have mothers, fathers, sons, daughters, cousins, nieces and nephews, aunties, uncles and friends who will be partaking in this endless torture. How blissful could it possibly be while these are suffering untold agonies forever. Notice also that the rich man asks Abraham to send Lazarus to his father’s house unto his brothers to make sure they did not also go to hell. Not only would this mean that Lazarus would arise from the dead but this would mean that the man’s brothers still lived and could be saved. This means that the judgement had not yet happened. If the judgement had not yet happened then nobody could be in heaven or hell as you cannot have punishment without judgement. So all we have are two men that have died.

So let’s look at what this parable really means. The very deep message that Jesus was giving to the pharisees and the Gentiles. The message that Jesus was sharing with humanity. A message of hope, a message of reconciliation but also a message with a very strong warning. We shall take every verse and dissect it and reveal the true of this parable meaning that so many have completely missed.

Why did Jesus speak in parables. Many people wrongly believe that Jesus spoke in parables so as to make it easier for the unlearned to hear his message. However the Bible says that Jesus spoke in parables so that those who would not hear his message could not hear.

Matthew 13-13 Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.

Firstly it’s important to note who Jesus was talking to as this becomes vital to the point of the parable. In order to do this we have to put the parable back into its proper context. What we will see is this is actually parable number 5 of 5 that Jesus makes during a preaching that starts all the way back in Luke 15.

Jesus starts with the parable of the lost sheep in Luke 15-1 through 7

Then comes the parable of the lost coin luke 15-8 through 10

And the parable of the prodigal son in Luke 15- 11 through 32

Then we get the The Parable of the Unrighteous Steward in Luke 16-1 through 13

Before we get to the fifth parable the rich man and Lazarus.

At the start of Luke 15 we are told that Jesus was preaching to publicans and sinners but the pharisees were also there and they complained about it.

Luke 15-1 Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him. 2And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.

The publicans and sinners referred to were the gentiles. The Jews, God’s chosen people, believed themselves righteous based merely on the fact they were Jews and they considered the gentiles to be “dogs”, unworthy of God and so they did not associate themselves with them. The pharisees had issues with Jesus mingling with and eating with them. This was frowned upon by the religious leaders of the time.

We are told again in Luke 16 that the pharisees were listening to the parables that Jesus was telling.

Luke 16- 14 And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided him. 15And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.

So Jesus was addressing the gentiles but he was also addressing the pharisees that were listening to his preachings.

This also supports this being a parable as Jesus stated. 
Mark 4-11 And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables:

Jesus ONLY spoke to the crowds in parables

Matthew 13-34 All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them:

This verse alone proves it was a parable. If the rich man and lazarus wasn’t a parable then this verse is a lie.

Another of the main arguments against this being a parable is the fact that in this parable Jesus uses a name, Lazarus, something that Jesus had not done in any other parable. It is inferred that because Jesus didn’t use a name in any other parable that a name cannot be used in a parable. Although Jesus did not use names in his other parables there is no rule that states a name cannot be used in a parable and the use of a name means a story has to be viewed as literal. However there is a specific reason that Jesus uses a name in this parable. The name Lazarus actually has a 2 fold importance in this parable which we will see later in this writing.

This isn’t the only parable that Jesus starts with a certain rich man. Jesus begins many of his parables with a certain man or a certain rich man.

The Parable of the Barren Fig Tree

Luke 13-6 He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none.

The Parable of the Banquet

Luke 14- 16 Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many:

Parable of the prodigal son

Luke 15-11 And he said, A certain man had two sons

Parable of the unrighteous steward
Luke 16-1 And he said also unto his disciples, There was a certain rich man, which had a steward; and the same was accused unto him that he had wasted his goods.

Parable of the rich man and Lazarus
Luke 16-19 There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: 20And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,

What we need to do is ascertain who these 2 men in the parable of the rich man and Lazarus are and the reason why they were used. We are given information about both in order for us to correctly reveal their identity. Let’s start with the rich man. Notice that the rich man is dressed in purple. This is the colour associated with royalty and kingship.

Judges 8-26 And the weight of the golden earrings that he requested was a thousand and seven hundred shekels of gold; beside ornaments, and collars, and purple raiment that was on the kings of Midian, and beside the chains that were about their camels’ necks.

Esther 8-15 15And Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in royal apparel of blue and white, and with a great crown of gold, and with a garment of fine linen and purple: and the city of Shushan rejoiced and was glad.

Mocking Jesus as the “king of the Jews” they put a robe of purple upon him

Mark 15- 17 And they clothed him with purple, and platted a crown of thorns, and put it about his head,18 And began to salute him, Hail, King of the Jews!

This showed that the man belonged to the kingdom of David.

Fine linen was used to show the man had the righteousness of the saints

Revelation 19- 8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.

He called Abraham his father in verse 24 showing that the man was a child of Abraham.

Luke 16-24 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.

And Abraham confirms that he is indeed a child of Abraham by calling him his son.

Luke 16-25 25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.

In verse 27 and 28 the rich man asks Abraham to send Lazarus to his 5 brothers. But WHY the mention of 5 brothers.

Luke 16-27 Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father’s house: 28For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.

Information given in the bible is often overlooked as unimportant or simply there as part of the story but ALL scripture is profitable and good for teaching and correcting.

2 Timothy 3-16 All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness,

So why 5 brothers? This is an important fact. Judah had 5 brothers from his mother Leah Genesis 35 – 23The sons of Leah; Reuben, Jacob’s firstborn, and Simeon, and Levi, and Judah, and Issachar, and Zebulun:

Abraham tells him that his brothers have Moses and the prophets to listen to.

Luke 16- 29 Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.

This man was a Jew from the tribe of Judah. He represented God’s chosen people. He represented them. AND THEY KNEW IT.

We are told that the pharisees knew exactly who Jesus spoke of in his parables.

Matthew 21-45 And when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard his parables, they perceived that he spake of them

So now we have established that the rich man represented the Jews we need to find out who the beggar is.

Jesus’s use of the name Lazarus in no way detracts from the fact that this was a parable but in fact as I stated earlier the name Lazarus actually has a 2 fold part to play in the parable.

We are told that Lazarus went straight to abraham’s bosom taken by the angels. There is no mention of him being buried. Why would this be? It was done to show that he had some relationship with Abraham. However this was a different kind of relationship than the rich man who we saw was a “child” of Abraham.

The Greek name Lazarus can be used for the Hebrew name Eliezer.

Eliezer just happened to be a faithful steward of Abraham, the one who Abraham sent to chose a wife for his son Isaac. Eliezer was a gentile.

Before Abraham had a son, Eliezer was the heir of Abraham. However God had promised Abraham would be the father of many nations.

Genesis 17-4 As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations.

Abraham had questioned God regarding his heir as he had no son or heir at the time and so had stated that Eliezer would be his physical and spiritual heir.

Genesis 15- 2And Abram said, Lord GOD, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless, and the steward of my house is this Eliezer of Damascus? 3And Abram said, Behold, to me thou hast given no seed: and, lo, one born in my house is mine heir.

However God told Abraham that Eliezer would not be his heir but that he would have physical children.

Genesis 15- 4And, behold, the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, This shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir.

When Abraham did have a physical heir. He gave Eliezer a command regarding seeking a wife for that heir, Isaac. 
Genesis 24- 2And Abraham said unto his eldest servant of his house, that ruled over all that he had, Put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh: 3And I will make thee swear by the LORD, the God of heaven, and the God of the earth, that thou shalt not take a wife unto my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell:

This would have basically sealed the deal and meant Isaac and his future offspring would inherit everything that was Abrahams .
Even though Eliezer had lost his claim to be Abraham’s heir and everything that went along with that he still remained faithful and stood by Abraham and promised to do just as commanded.

Genesis 24- 9 And the servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master, and sware to him concerning that matter.

Isaac was now the heir to Abraham. Eliezer had nothing, he returned back to being a”gentile” with no inheritance. This is why Lazrus in the parable is a beggar, poor with no inheritance.

Lazarus was a gentile, he was longing to eat what had fallen from the rich man’s table

Luke 16- 21 And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.

This language is used when the woman of Canaan, a gentile, asks Jesus to heal her daughter.

Matthew 15- 21 Then Jesus went thence, and departed into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon. 22And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil. 23 But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us.24 But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 25 Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me. 26 But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to cast it to dogs. 27And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table. 28 Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.

The gentiles were considered dogs and not worthy of any recognition. This is why the dogs came to lick his sores. The beggar would only be helped by other gentiles, the dogs, and not by the Jews.

What did this mean to be fed with the crumbs.

This meant a desire to be fed with the truth about God. To receive and accept the truth, to “eat” the truth.

Jesus is the bread of life

John 6-35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.

He is the word of God.

We eat the bread by hearing the words

Matthew 4-4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

Jeremiah 15-16 Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts.

Psalm 119-103 How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!

Jesus by talking to the gentiles was feeding them. With the word of God.

Whoever “ate” the bread (the words of God ) would not die

John 6-50 This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die.

The words of Jesus were the words of God

John 12-49 For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.

The Jews were the chosen people of God. They had the food (the truth, the bread) . The gentiles wanted to share that food willing to feast on the scraps but the Jews were unwilling to share. The Jews believed that only they could have God. Only they were worthy and only they would be saved. The Jewish God was not for the gentiles.

But with the parable of the lost sheep 
Luke 15- 1 Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him. 2And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.
3And he spake this parable unto them, saying, 4 What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? 5And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost. 7I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.

and the parable of the lost coin

Luke 15-8 Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it? 9And when she hath found it, she calleth herfriends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost. 10 Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.

Jesus is saying that heaven will rejoice when one of the sinners, the gentiles turns to God. They were lost but they could be “found”. The gentiles could indeed be accepted by the Jewish God and that heaven would rejoice when one repented and turned to God.

Then we have the parable of the prodigal son.

Luke 15- 11 And he said, A certain man had two sons: 12 And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. 13And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. 14And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. 15And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. 16And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him. 17And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! 18I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, 19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. 20And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. 21And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. 22 But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: 23And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: 24For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.
25 Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing. 26And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant. 27And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound. 28And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him. 29And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends: 30 But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf. 31And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine. 32It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.

Here the gentiles are depicted as the prodigal son and the Jewish nation the jealous brother.

Jesus was telling the gentiles that they were welcome “back” into the family of God. That they may have gone off and committed sins but that they would be accepted back by the father if they would only come home. The Jews who believed that only they were righteous and worthy of God being Jealous of their return.

Jesus then tells the parable of the unrighteous steward.

Luke 16-1 And he said also unto his disciples, There was a certain rich man, which had a steward; and the same was accused unto him that he had wasted his goods. 2And he called him, and said unto him, How is it that I hear this of thee? give an account of thy stewardship; for thou mayest be no longer steward. 3 Then the steward said within himself, What shall I do? for my lord taketh away from me the stewardship: I cannot dig; to beg I am ashamed. 4I am resolved what to do, that, when I am put out of the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses. 5So he called every one of his lord’s debtors unto him, and said unto the first, How much owest thou unto my lord? 6And he said, An hundred measures of oil. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and sit down quickly, and write fifty.7 Then said he to another, And how much owest thou? And he said, An hundred measures of wheat. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and write fourscore. 8And the lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely: for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light. 9And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations.
10He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much. 11If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? 12And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man’s, who shall give you that which is your own? 13No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

In this parable we find out that the steward is accused of wasting his managers money.

Jesus was stating The Jews had been given the blessings of God but had not been good stewards of the blessings that God had given them. They were meant to be a light unto the gentiles

Isaiah 42-6 I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles;

The steward is given a warning regarding his continued stewardship

Luke 16- 2And he called him, and said unto him, How is it that I hear this of thee? give an account of thy stewardship; for thou mayest be no longer steward.

Unlike what the Jews would eventually choose, in this parable the steward changes and does what is wise and is commended by the manager.

Then again Jesus makes a warning.

Luke 16- 13No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

The pharisees were lovers of Money

Luke 16-14 And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided him.

The Greek word translated as covetous is philargyroi φιλάργυροι and literally means to love money.

The Pharisees derided Jesus. The greek word is exemyktērizon ἐξεμυκτήριζον and means to ridicule, scoff at, mock greatly.

This is why the rich mans tongue needed to be cooled in the parable. Jesus was using this in the parable which comes immediately after the pharisees had derided him to highlight that the tongue (what a person says) can lead to being where you thought you might not be.

As he stated in Matthew 
Matthew 10-33 But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.

By mocking Jesus before men they were indeed denying him before men

In the parable, the rich man and the poor man had changed places. The rich man (the Jewish nation) had expected to be with Abraham and the poor man should have been the one in “hell”.

But Abraham tells the rich man that he has had his good things and that Lazarus the gentiles had been subject to evil things in their lives. Now the poor man is being comforted while the rich man is in torment.

Luke 16- 25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivest thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.

Receiving your “reward” now is something that Jesus warned against many many times during his preachings.

Matthew 6-5 And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

Matthew 6-16 Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

Matthew 6- 1Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.
Jesus calls the pharisees Hypocrites

Matthew 23- . 5But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments, 6 And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues, 7And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi.8But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren. 9And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven. 10 Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ. 11 But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. 12And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.

And he tells them that they won’t enter into the kingdom of heaven even though they believed that they were righteous and would enter.

Matthew 23- 13 But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.

Jesus told a parable regarding the pharisee and the tax collector

Luke 18 – 9 And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: 10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. 11The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. 12I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. 13And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. 14I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

The pharisees boasted about how righteous they were and how Abraham was their father.

John the baptist warned them about this

Matthew 3-9 And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.

And Jesus also said that they were not in fact Abraham’s children according to the promise.

John 8-39 They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham’s children, ye would do the works of Abraham.

Jesus states to the pharisees that they like to appear righteous but God knew what they really were by their hearts, after the parable of the unrighteous steward

Luke 16-15 And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.

The poor man had been gathered to his father, according to the promise not the physical seed. It was never the physical seed that was to inherit the kingdom of heaven but those of faith. Eliezer/Lazarus eventually did receive the inheritance of Abraham. Not a physical one but a spiritual one.

Galatians 3-16 Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.

Galatians 3- 29 And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

Romans 9-8 That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.

Romans 4-13 For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.

Paul tells us that the real children of Abraham are the ones who have “faith” in God…not a physical seed.

Galatians 3-6 6 Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. 7 Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. 8And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed. 9So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.

Jesus ordered his disciples to preach the gospel to ALL nations

Matthew 28-19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

God was going to now lift up the gentiles.
1 samuel 2-8 He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set themamong princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth are the LORD’S, and he hath set the world upon them.

There was now going to be a time where the gentiles were going to be preached to that they could receive the promise of Abraham through faith not physical descendancy. Something the Jews had failed to do due to their belief of supremacy.

We are told that the the gentiles would be taken in and sit down with Abraham in the KINGDOM of heaven not heaven, and that the children of the kingdom would be cast out.

Matthew 8-11 And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 8-12 But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Those who are weeping and gnashing their teeth are the children of the kingdom not the unsaved.

The weeping and gnashing of teeth is not the torture of the unsaved but the anger of the Jewish nation as they are cast out from God. Which is exactly what has happened since.

God even stated why he had done this….to make the Jews jealous, to bring them to righteousness and that through their fall the gentiles would be saved.

Romans 11- 11I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy.

Israel would be cut off and replaced by those that would by faith rather than by right accept and follow God.

And it is this “cutting off” that is being referred to when Jesus says the rich man was in torment in verses 23 and 28 of the parable of the rich man and Lazarus.
This is often used as another proof that the rich man was in physical torture in hell and therefore is evidence for E.C.T in hell. But this isn’t what the torture is referring to.

If we look at the dictionary definition of torment. We see that although it can mean physical pain it is also used for mental suffering.

torment
noun
ˈtɔːmɛnt/
1.
severe physical or mental suffering.
“their deaths have left both families in torment”
synonyms:

agony, suffering, torture, pain, anguish, misery, distress, affliction, trauma, wretchedness, woe; More

verb
tɔːˈmɛnt/
1.
cause to experience severe mental or physical suffering.
“he was tormented by jealousy”
synonyms:

torture, afflict, harrow, plague, distress, agonize, cause agony to, cause suffering to, cause pain to, inflict anguish on

The 1611 definition states

TOR’MENT, n. L. tormentum.; torqueo, torno; Eng. tour; that is, from twisting, straining.
1. Extreme pain; anguish; the utmost degree of misery, either of body or mind.

We see the torment can refer to the mind.

The Greek word translated as torment is βασάνοις basanois it means torture/torment or examination by torture.

If we look at what torture is defined as we will see that although it can mean physical inflicted pain, again it also means to be in mental suffering

torture
ˈtɔːtʃə/
noun
noun: torture
1.
the action or practice of inflicting severe pain on someone as a punishment or in order to force them to do or say something.
“the torture of political prisoners”
synonyms:

infliction of pain, abuse, torment; More
great physical or mental suffering.
“the torture I’ve gone through because of loving you so”
synonyms:

torment, agony, suffering, pain; More

antonyms:

pleasure
a cause of great physical or mental suffering.
plural noun: tortures
“dances were absolute torture because I was so small”

βασάνοις basanois also referred to a black stone used as a touchstone to test the purity of metals such as silver and gold.

The word is used just 3 times in the bible the other time is

Matthew 4 -23 23And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.

This is a different word than the Greek βασανίζω basanizó which means I torment, torture, buffet

Used in places such as Matthew 8- 6 And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented.

This is a physical pain due to a physical sickness.

And Matthew 8-29 And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time?

And βασανιστής basanistés one who tortures, a tormentor, jailor

As used in

Matthew 18-34 And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.

The torment the rich man was in was a test for his quality,to see his genuineness, his purity, his truth. The torment is the examination of Israel to see if it is real. To see if Israel had faith in God or simply relied on its inheritance. This testing is still happening today.

1 Peter 1- 6Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: 7That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

What is the flame that the rich man was being tormented in. Well fire is used to purify Gold. It removes the blemishes and any imperfections.

God is the fire that is used to purify, remove any blemishes. (read my writing on hell)

Deuteronomy 4-24 For the LORD thy God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God.

Hebrews 12-29 For our God is a consuming fire.

God is purifying Israel. Those that are purified are the ones that accept Jesus as the Messiah.

The flame the man is being tormented in is God purifying his people.

What is the gulf that separates the 2 men.

It is unbelief.
The Jewish nation had rejected their Messiah. We are told that the only way to God is through his son.

John 14-6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Therefore by rejecting Jesus they had rejected God.

Luke 10-16 He that heareth you heareth me; and he that despiseth you despiseth me; and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me.

Matthew 10-40 He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.

John 12-44 Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me.

John 5-24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

They had put a gulf between them and God.

In order to enter into the promised land in the OT the Israelites had to cross the gulf, the valley of Jordan

They could not do it without God’s help.

The valley separated them from the gentile nations. Now this gulf was again separating them but this time it was them that was on the “wrong” side of the gulf.

Israel how now become desolate and abandoned

Matthew 23- 37O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! 38 Behold, your house is left unto you desolate. 39 For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.

Jesus predicting the end of the Jewish nation as it was known and the time of the gentiles. As we see in

Luke 21- 24 And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled

This came to pass in 70 Ad when the temple was destroyed by the Romans and the Jewish nation scattered among the nations.

Then in the last 2 verses we have Abraham saying that even if someone rose from the dead the “pharisees will not be persuaded by this.

Luke 16- 30 And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. 31And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.

This in itself is a 2 fold meaning. Firstly it acts as the 2nd part of the use of Lazarus. Not long after this very statement Jesus raises “Lazarus” from the dead.

John 11- 38 Jesus therefore again groaning in himself cometh to the grave. It was a cave, and a stone lay upon it. 39 Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days. 40 Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God? 41 Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. 42And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me. 43And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. 44And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.

So as Jesus stated in his parable they would not believe even if Lazarus was raised from the dead and went to the brothers. Which is exactly what came to pass. The pharisees did not accept Lazarus. Rather than accepting Lazarus they wanted to have him killed again.

John 12-10 But the chief priests consulted that they might put Lazarus also to death;

We are told exactly why in the very next verse.

John 12- 11 Because that by reason of him many of the Jews went away, and believed on Jesus.

They wanted to kill Lazarus because people were believing on Jesus because of Lazarus.

Back after Jesus raised Lazarus we are told the council was worried that many would believe on Jesus and that the Romans would take away their place.

John 11- 47 Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said, What do we? for this man doeth many miracles. 48 If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him: and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation.

They were not interested in what Jesus had done or listening to the miracle. They were in fear for themselves and the position that they held.

The second part of the one raised from the dead is an obvious reference to himself. The Messiah who they have rejected.

They had Moses and the prophets however they did not hear them. They did not understand their words.

Jesus explained to them.

John 5-39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.

The rich man and Lazarus was a parable used by Jesus to portray a message. However that message is completely different than what most understand it to be. It is not one of a place of eternal torturing but one used as hope for the gentiles and a warning to Israel.

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