The rich man was buried, but there is no record that Lazarus was buried (Luke 16:22).
"Hell" in Luke 16:23 is not the Lake of Fire, Gehenna (γέεννα), but Hades (ᾃδης). It corresponds to Sheol (שְׁאוֹל) in Hebrew, the intermediate state of the dead.
Prior to Christ's victory over death, the saved and the lost were in Sheol, separated by a great gulf (Luke 16:26).
This parable is part of a larger context where the Lord Jesus teaches what "is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God" (Luke 16:15). It includes Jesus' ironical, sarcastic comment about the unrighteous steward being welcomed into hell along with his fellow cheats (Luke 16:1-9).
"Abraham's bosom" reflects the supreme honor of Lazarus: He who was unrecognized in this world is next to Abraham in the Paradise side of Sheol (Luke 16:19).
Salvation does not come by being poor, nor damnation by being rich (Luke 18:24-27). It is always a matter of yielding our hearts to God. When we do that, we acknowledge we own nothing; we are mere stewards of HIS property. Salvation is by grace alone, received through faith alone, in Christ alone, but by a faith that is never alone (Ephesians 2:8-10). Kindness to the poor and helpless is the focus of true faith (James 2:1-10).
The rich man finally cares about others (Luke 16:27-28). If our focus is our cemetery instead of the lost all around us, this church will die.
Jesus' resurrection is the proof of Luke 16:31. |
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