The Pharisees and Sadducees, on Resurrection:
"6Then Paul, knowing that some of them were Sadducees and the others Pharisees, called out in the Sanhedrin, ‘My brothers, I am a Pharisee, descended from Pharisees. I stand on trial because of the hope of the resurrection of the dead.’ 7When he said this, a dispute broke out between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. 8(The Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, and that there are neither angels nor spirits, but the Pharisees believe all these things.)"
— Acts 23:6-8
"24Martha answered, ‘I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.’"
— John 11:24
The Sadducees deny that there is a resurrection from the dead and that there are angels and spirits, but the Pharisees accept both these things.
The Kingdom of God:
"14The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all this and were sneering at Jesus."
— Luke 16:14
"15He [Jesus] said to them, “You are the ones who justify yourselves in the sight of others, but God knows your hearts. What people value highly is detestable in God’s sight.16“The Law and the Prophets were proclaimed until John. Since that time, the good news of the kingdom of God is being preached, and everyone is forcing their way into it.”"
— Luke 16:15-16
"20Once, on being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, “The coming of the kingdom of God is not something that can be observed,21nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is in your midst.”"
— Luke 17:20-21
The Pharisees sneered at Jesus, and in so doing rejected His authority. The Pharisees therefore rejected the kingdom of God.
Parables and Context of the Listeners
During Jesus’ public ministry He often spoke to His listeners through parables. Each parable was used to convey a specific message. The Pharisees believed in the life after death. So Jesus again used a parable to answer with a message to the Pharisees with whom He was in conversation.
The Rich Man and the Beggar:
"19“There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day.”"
— Luke 16:19
Jesus describes a rich man with whom the Pharisees could identify with.
"20and at his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores21and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores."
— Luke 16:20-21
Then a poor man, who was seen every day by the Pharisees, on whom they looked down upon is named. The name Lazarus means “God has helped”, like the man whom Jesus later raises from the dead.
"22“The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side.”"
— Luke 16:22
Thus, this poor man was a believer, and Jesus emphasises the place of honour that the believer takes after his death.
"22The rich man also died and was buried."
— Luke 16:22
The rich man’s death occurs (same event), but with no indication that the rich man is a believer. Thus, the rich man is an unbeliever.
"23In Hades, where he was in torment,"
— Luke 16:23
This is the result of being an unbeliever, and the Pharisees could immediately realise this because nobody likes pain and torment.
"23he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side."
— Luke 16:23
Jesus indicates that the father of the believers and this poor believer are together, and both are far from the rich man.
"24So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me"
— Luke 16:24
The rich man now suddenly acknowledges Abraham as "father", and now requests that Abraham have mercy on him.
"24and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’"
— Luke 16:24
Jesus describes the terrible suffering that the unbeliever endures. He experiences God's judgment of consuming fire on sin and godlessness.
"25“But Abraham replied, ‘My child, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things. Now he is comforted here and you are in agony.’"
— Luke 16:25
The contrast here is that the believing poor man, who suffered greatly during his life on earth, is better off after his death, while the unbelieving rich man received everything he wanted during his life here on earth, but after his death is worse off.
"26And besides, there is a great chasm set between us and you, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot do so, nor can anyone cross from there to us.’"
— Luke 16:26
Separation between believers and unbelievers is too great for anyone to cross.
"27“He said, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my family,28for I have five brothers. Let him warn them so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’29“Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’"
— Luke 16:27-29
When alive, listen to the teachings, laws, and writings God gave to His people.
"30“‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’31“He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’”"
— Luke 16:30-31
Jesus emphasises the attitude of the unbelievers; that if they do not accept the Word of God, they will also not accept Jesus who rises from the dead.
Notes:
- ♦️ Angels protect and serve God’s chosen ones.
"20“See, I am sending an angel ahead of you to guard you along the way and to bring you to the place I have prepared.”"
— Exodus 23:20
"14Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?"
— Hebrews 1:14
- ♦️ Abraham is the father of all believers.
"7Understand, then, that those who have faith are children of Abraham."
— Galatians 3:7
- ♦️ Follow the will of God (revealed through the teachings, laws, and writings Moses gave to the Israelites) and the Prophets (messages inspired by God to make God’s will known to the people, to correct or warn contemporaries), as contained in the Old Testament.
"17‘Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfil them.’"
— Matthew 5:17
- ♦️ Separation between believers and unbelievers after death is too great for anyone to cross.
- ♦️ Believers inherit the kingdom of God, and unbelievers end in hell.
"34‘Then the King will say to those on his right, “Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world."
— Matthew 25:34
"3Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”"
— John 3:3
"8But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practise magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulphur. This is the second death."
— Revelation 21:8
- ♦️ No matter how nicely you beg, and how urgent your request is, it helps nothing after death.
"27Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment,"
— Hebrews 9:27
Conclusions:
- ♦️ A parable is a story used to convey a deeper spiritual truth.
- ♦️ Jesus used the parable of the rich man and Lazarus to explain God’s kingdom, with a hidden message of what happens to unbelievers.