Immortality and Mortality
Question 3
In the parable recorded in Luke 16:19-31, Jesus gives details of a conversation between Abraham in heaven and a rich man in hell. Does this parable present an accurate picture of heaven and hell?
A summary of the parable is this.
There is a beggar named Lazarus who had so little. He died and went to heaven. There is also a rich man who had so much. He also died but went to hell. Now the tables are turned. The rich man is tormented in hell while the poor man is comforted in Abraham's bosom. The rich man in misery looks over and sees Lazarus with Abraham. The rich man and Abraham converse.
For the purpose of this study, we will analyse the passage in two ways.
A -- Is it a parable?
B -- Within the story of the parable, did Jesus give a further message wherein He presents an accurate picture of heaven and hell?
A -- Is it a parable?
The setting -- the Pharisees focus on worldly wealth
This is a parable.
A parable is a teaching method wherein a simple story is used to make a powerful point. Every parable has a purpose. Looking at the setting in which Jesus presented it; we note His purpose in verse 14. He was addressing the Pharisees who were covetous.
Luke 16:14
And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided him.
Continuing in verse 15, He says, "You justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. That which you highly esteem is an abomination in God's sight."
In verse 16 Jesus gives the foundation by which the Pharisees could know right and wrong. Prior to the teaching of John the Baptist they had the guidance of the law and the prophets. Now the kingdom of God was boldly preached by John the Baptist and Jesus. Every man was keen to enter.
In verse 17 Jesus emphasises the absolutely solid foundation of the Scriptures. The Scriptures won't fail. It would be easier for heaven and earth to pass, than it is for the least part of the Word of God to fail.
Based on the solid foundation of the Scriptures, and the preaching of both John and Jesus, the Jewish leaders had clear guidance in knowing the will of God.
But the Pharisees who were covetous derided Jesus (verse 14). They mocked His teaching. They were not living by the teachings they professed to uphold, and Jesus condemned them. The passage cites two of the commandments; do not covet (v 14), and do not commit adultery (v 18). The Pharisees had steadfastly determined their direction in life; and to continue in this direction would keep them out of the kingdom.
In verse 18 Jesus said, "Whoever puts away his wife and marries another; commits adultery; and whoever marries her commits adultery."
Covetousness and adultery are closely related.
10th Commandment -- ... do not covet your neighbour's wife...
7th Commandment -- do not commit adultery.
10th Commandment
You shall not covet your neighbour's house, you shall not covet your neighbour's wife, neither his manservant, his maidservant, his ox, his ass, neither anything else that is your neighbour's. (Exodus 20: 17)
7th Commandment
You shall not commit adultery. (Exodus 20: 14)
Covetousness is a step towards adultery. Jesus stated elsewhere. "Whoever looks on a woman to lust after her has already committed adultery with her in his heart." (Matthew 5:28)
While adultery is cited in verse 18, we need to note that coveting (v 14) is much more wide-ranging. You shall not covet your neighbour's house, your neighbour's wife, manservant, maidservant, ox, ass, or anything else that is your neighbour's. Covetousness may lead to numerous other sins such as fraud, theft and murder to name but a few.
But we need to remember that covetousness on its own is a sin. Covetousness causes a person to focus on things of a lesser nature in God's hierarchy of values. The God ordained values such as love, mercy, and justice cannot receive proper exercise in the life if the heart is focused elsewhere. In the parable the rich man was so focused on his own luxurious lifestyle that he barely noticed the plight of the pitiful beggar at his gate. (v 20, 21)
The covetous Pharisees were so focused on worldly treasure; they could not appreciate the true value of the things of God.
At a later date
Jesus spoke in parables. Later in His ministry, he would speak more plainly, and he would more directly chastise the spiritual leaders of Israel as is recorded in Matthew 23:13-15.
Matthew 23:13-15
13 But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you shut the kingdom of heaven in men's faces; you yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to.
14 ... for a pretence you make long prayers; consequently you will receive greater condemnation.
15 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you travel across land and sea to make one convert; and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as you are.
Whether it was by way of parable or by direct teaching, Jesus roundly condemned their falsehood and hypocrisy.
The setting for the parable
Luke 16:14-18
14 And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided him.
15 And Jesus said unto them, You justify yourselves before men; but God knows your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.
16 The law and the prophets bore witness long before the arrival of John the Baptist: and since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presses into it.
17 It is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail.
18 Whosoever puts away his wife, and marries another, commits adultery: and whosoever marries her that is put away from her husband also commits adultery.
The parable -- Jesus' message to the Pharisees
Luke 16:19-21
19 There was a certain rich man, who was clothed in purple and fine linen, and lived sumptuously every day:
20 And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, who was laid at his gate, full of sores,
21 His desire was to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.
The rich man was so focused on his own luxurious lifestyle that he barely noticed the plight of the pitiful beggar at his gate. In fact there is no record that he responded to Lazarus' need in even the slightest way. Lazarus desired such a small favour -- nothing more than mere crumbs which fell from the rich man's luxurious table. These he did not get. The rich man did nothing. Rather it was the dogs that ministered to Lazarus -- for they licked his sores. From dogs he received comfort.
Note the contrast. The rich man considered himself so exalted; he no doubt felt that God's favour rested upon him, and that God had placed him in his blessed position. But in the story he is upstaged by mere dogs.
Lazarus desired nothing more than crumbs. In keeping with the telling of the story, the rich man when tormented could only ask for a drop of water. Clearly his need was greater. Just as Lazarus did not receive the desired crumb, neither did the rich man receive a single drop. (v 21, 24-26)
Luke 16:22-31
22 And 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;
23 And in hell he lifted up his eyes, being in torment, and he sees Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
24 The rich man cried out, "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, 26 But Abraham said, "Son, remember that in your lifetime you received the good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and you are tormented. Moreover, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from here to you cannot; neither can you come to us from there."
27, 28 Then he said, "I pray thee therefore, father, that you would send Lazarus to my father's house: For I have five brothers; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come to this place of torment."
29 Abraham said to him, "They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them."
30 And he said, "Not so, father Abraham: but if one went to them from the dead, they will repent."
31 Abraham replied, "If they don't listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead."
The rich man in the parable represents the Pharisees. In the things of this world they were rich, but they were sadly impoverished in the things of God. The fact that the Pharisees were the spiritual leaders of God's people made this state of affairs all the more heartbreaking. On one occasion Jesus said, "Do everything they tell you; but do not follow their example for they do not practice what they preach." (Matthew 23:3)
The Pharisees had their agenda, and this agenda was leading them ever onwards towards worldly greatness.
Jesus had said elsewhere, "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." (Luke 12:34)
Jesus makes two points
In the parable, Jesus instructs the Pharisees as to how they may achieve spiritual riches -- how they may become rich before God. He presents to the Pharisees two major points. These are revealed in the conversation between the rich man and Abraham.
It is Abraham who speaks both knockout lines. These are the words that Jesus wants the Pharisees to act upon. It is very fitting that Abraham is the spokesman; for the Pharisees greatly honoured and respected Abraham.
POINT 1 -- Abraham said, "They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them." (29)
POINT 2 -- Abraham replied, "If they don't listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead." (31)
Jesus' two points are these
POINT 1 -- Believe the Scriptures
Luke 24:44, 45
44 ... Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.
45 Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures.
POINT 2 -- Accept the resurrection
The rich man in torment realises that his fate is irrevocably sealed. For him there is no turning back. He turns his attention to his brothers. Speaking on behalf of his brothers, he said that for them having Moses and the prophets simply wasn't enough. But if one were to rise from the dead, then they would repent. (Luke 16:30)
In verse 31 Jesus says that those who won't listen to Scripture -- will not be persuaded though one rose from the dead.
Luke 16:31
"If they don't listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead."
Jesus made the point that if the Pharisees for whatever reason, rejected the teaching of Scripture, they would also reject the resurrection. (Luke 16:31) So it is with us, if we too reject the teaching of Scripture, we will also reject the resurrection.
In the parable Jesus was laying before the Pharisees a foundation whereby they might accept His resurrection.
The Pharisees would have opportunity to accept Jesus following His raising of Lazarus at the village of Bethany, which was not far from Jerusalem? Indeed, they would have double opportunity to accept Jesus as the Messiah -- firstly, following the resurrection of Lazarus, and again following Jesus' own resurrection at Jerusalem.
What would be the Pharisees' response following the resurrections of Lazarus and Jesus? It would be according to the decision made by each individual. Acts 6:7 records that as the word of God increased... a large number of the priests became obedient to the faith.
The purpose and meaning of the parable is this. The Pharisees were blinded by their covetousness. Because of their sinful, selfish ways the Pharisees had rejected the true teachings of Scripture; they derided and ridiculed Jesus; and neither were they in a position to accept Him as the promised Messiah, nor acknowledge His resurrection. Jesus pointed them back to the Scriptures; and forward to His resurrection.
Luke 16:29, 31
29 ... "They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them."
31 ... "If they don't listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead."
B - Within the story of the parable,...
...
Did Jesus intend to accurately describe heaven and hell in the story?
Most Christians would be horrified to be taught that heaven and hell are like this.
Luke 16:23-26
23 And in hell he lifted up his eyes, being in torment, and he sees Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
24 The rich man cried out, "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, 26 But Abraham said, "Son, remember that in your lifetime you received the good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and you are tormented. Moreover, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from here to you cannot; neither can you come to us from there."
If taken literally as a description of life in heaven and hell, here are several of the key features.
- There is a great gulf fixed between heaven and hell. The gulf is wide enough so that those in heaven cannot cross into hell; and those in hell cannot cross into heaven. (v 26)
- The separation is narrow enough to allow the inhabitants to see from one side to the other. (v 23)
- Likewise, it is narrow enough to permit extended conversations between the inhabitants of heaven and the inhabitants of hell. (v 24-31)
The visual detail which the rich man could discern gives an indication of the distance across the gulf. He was able to clearly see, as well as recognize, Lazarus in Abraham's bosom. When we also note the ease of conversation from one side to the other, I would estimate the width of the gulf separating heaven and hell to be no more than 200 metres.
With an ill wind one could visualise the heat and smoke from hell wafting directly into heaven. One could imagine that at times the cries of torment coming from the other place would be more than the inhabitants of heaven would be willing to bear.
In this story did Jesus intend to accurately describe life in the hereafter?
I think not. This parable is not Jesus' description of how beautiful heaven is.
Rather the parable conveys Jesus' teaching to the Pharisees. The parable faithfully and accurately presents its message when understood within the context of Luke chapter 16.
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Question 4
Can mediums and spiritualists summon and raise the dead?
1 Samuel 28:13 reads, 'And the woman said unto Saul, I saw gods ascending out of the earth.'
