Rich Man & Lazarus No Parable

Luke 16:16 - The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it.

John the Baptist the last prophet of the Old Testament era. Compare John 1:17. Same note at Matthew 11:13.

Luke 16:19-31 - The rich man and Lazarus.

Reasons why this is a true account, not a parable:

1. Describes things outside human experience, like hell. Parables are used to relate human experience to spiritual things. This does not.


2. Names a character (Lazarus). No parable does.


3. Involves historical figure, Abraham. No parable does.


4. Mentions places of the dead and state of existence after death. No parable does.


5. Involves angels. No parable does.


6. If only a parable and there really is no Hades, then this the only parable where Jesus teaches error. God forbid!

Above paraphrased to fit in Bible margin, taken from article by Middletown Bible Church, Middletown, CT. Link to their article.

Luke 16:24-25 - "And he cried and said, Father Abraham.... But Abraham said, Son," to the unsaved rich man.

Compare Luke 3:8; Galatians 3:7.

Luke 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.

Still not persuaded though One did! Acts 4:2; Acts 4:15-18; etc. This verse and this account a strong argument against all these "back from heaven or hell" stories that are gaining popularity.

VM

Notes in Luke chapters 6 through 10

Luke 6:36 - Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.

Compare Ephesians 4:32.

Luke 7:3-5 - The centurion sending the Jewish elders, and their good report of him, is unique to Luke. Not mentioned in the Matthew 8 account. Luke very thorough in his research.

Luke 7:20-22 - When the men were come unto him, they said, John Baptist hath sent us unto thee, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for another? And in that same hour he cured many of their infirmities and plagues, and of evil spirits; and unto many that were blind he gave sight. Then Jesus answering said unto them, Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard....

Miracles are always confirmatory signs of the message and the messenger. Same note at Matthew 11:2-5; Mark 2:10-11; Luke 5:24.

Luke 8:31 - And they besought him that he would not command them to go out into the deep.

"The deep" is the abyss, the bottomless pit where the worst of demons are imprisoned. See Revelation 9; Revelation 20:1-3. Probably the same as Tartarus ("hell") in II Peter 2:4. See also Jude 6.

Luke 9:26 - For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father's, and of the holy angels.

"In his own glory, and in his Father's" - Jesus returns in the glory of God. But compare Isaiah 42:8, "My glory will I not give to another." So either Jesus is God, or God is a liar. And God is no liar!

Compare Luke 9:51 with Luke 9:62, below.

Luke 9:51 - And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem.

Luke 9:62 - And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.

Compare "looking back" vs. "stedfastly set His face." The Lord's faithfulness to His task is our example.

Note at Luke 9:54-56 - Our faithfulness to task does not demand our rudeness, harshness or violence against the opposition.

Luke 10:30-37 - The Parable of the Good Samaritan is unique to Luke.

VM

More Comments on Olivet Discourse

Sermon title / outline from Matthew 24:4-14: "Namers, Claimers, Framers, Blamers, Lamers, Gamers & Proclaimers."

Matthew 24:13 - Endurance is not for salvation but is proof of saving faith, Colossians 1:23.

Matthew 25:41 - "Everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels."  Not prepared for man, because it was not God's plan for man to go there; and truly no man has to end up there.

VM

Sixteenth Psalm's Prophecy of Christ

Psalm 16:10 - For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.

Christ is God's "Holy One", not David the psalmist.  This verse quoted in New Testament to prove Resurrection of Christ: Acts 2:27-31; Acts 13:35-38.  Since David's body saw corruption, apostles proved this verse a prophecy of Christ.

"Hell" - the unseen place of the dead, corresponding to the Greek "hades."  Jesus spent 3 days in the Paradise / Abraham's bosom side of hades.  His soul was not left there, neither did His body see corruption.

Additional study on hades - Luke 16:19-31.  On Christ's time there: Luke 23:42-43; I Peter 3:18-20.  Christ emptied the Paradise side ("led captivity captive") at His ascension: Ephesians 4:7-10.

VM