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Luke 16:19-31
In the Parable of Lazarus and the Rich Man (Luke 16:19-31), Jesus illustrates death—total unconsciousness—as being followed by a resurrection from the dead and a restoration to consciousness. Secondly, Jesus describes the second death, eternal death, in the Lake of Fire that will totally destroy the wicked. The wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23), not endless torment.
Jesus shows that the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear the voice of God and come forth—those who have lived righteously to the resurrection of life, and those who have lived wickedly (including the rich man) to the resurrection of condemnation (John 5:28-29). We need to understand how vital it is to hear and submit to God's voice now.
Martin G. Collins
Parable of Lazarus and the Rich Man (Part Two)Related Topics: Death | Death as Permanent Cessation of Life | Death as Wages of Sin | Death Penalty | Death, Second | Eternal Death | Eternal Torment | Fate of the Wicked | Gehenna | Hell | Hell, Eternally Burning | Hellfire | Lake of Fire | Lake of Fire and Brimstone | Parable of Lazarus and the Rich Man | Resurrection | Resurrection, Third | Second Death | Wages of Sin | Wicked, Fate of the
Luke 16:19-22
Jesus describes Lazarus as being taken to Abraham's bosom, which is simply the human breast, with the arms as an enclosure. His words depict a loving embrace, suggesting an intimate relationship. Lazarus, therefore, comes into an intimate relationship with Abraham and receives salvation (Galatians 3:29). Since Lazarus had given himself to Christ, he became one of Abraham's spiritual children and an heir to the promises of God (Galatians 3:7).
The "bosom" metaphor occurs frequently in Scripture. God will care for His people as a shepherd for his sheep, carrying them "in his bosom" (Isaiah 40:11). Jesus was "in the bosom" of the Father (John 1:18), enjoying His blessings and close relationship. Moses carried the children of Israel in his bosom (Numbers 11:12). Lazarus had gained such intimacy with Abraham, while the Pharisees, who considered themselves to be the recipients of God's promises to Abraham, had not.
Martin G. Collins
Parable of Lazarus and the Rich Man (Part One)Related Topics: Abraham's Bosom | Abraham's Children | Abraham's Offspring | Abraham's Seed | Abraham's Spiritual Children | Heirs According to the Promise | Lazarus | Lazarus and the Rich Man | Parable of Lazarus and the Rich Man | Pharisees
Luke 16:19
Could He be referring once again to the Pharisees, using a typical Pharisee—a rich man, dressed in nice clothing, with plenty to eat? The preceding parable, the Parable of the Unjust Steward, the Pharisees rightly understood had something to do with covetousness about money. Jesus He tied the two parables together with His warning, "Look, the law is not done away. You will be judged by that law that covers covetousness."
John W. Ritenbaugh
The Covenants, Grace, and Law (Part Sixteen)Related Topics: Covetousness | Law "Done Away" | Parable of Lazarus and the Rich Man | Parable of the Unjust Steward | Pharisees
Luke 16:19-31
In the Parable of Lazarus and the Rich Man, the latter, a heartless person, speaks to Lazarus while being "tormented in this flame." This alludes to the wicked being cremated when God burns up the earth, turning it into the final Gehenna, called elsewhere "the Lake of Fire." The rich man is raised out of his grave at the end of God's plan for humanity on earth. Because the dead know nothing, he does not realize the passage of time, but he certainly realizes that he has failed to receive salvation. He sees "a great gulf fixed" between him and those who are with Abraham in the Kingdom of God. At this point, it is impossible for anyone to change his fate.
Martin G. Collins
Basic Doctrines: The Third ResurrectionRelated Topics: Death | Death and Hades | Death as Permanent Cessation of Life | Death as Wages of Sin | Death Penalty | Death, Second | Eternal Death | Eternal Torment | Fate of the Wicked | Gehenna | Hell | Hell, Eternally Burning | Hellfire | Lake of Fire | Lake of Fire | Lake of Fire and Brimstone | Lazarus and the Rich Man | Parable of Lazarus and the Rich Man | Resurrection, Third | Wicked, Fate of the
Luke 16:19-31
In Luke 16:19-31 appears the Parable of Lazarus and the Rich Man, which Jesus spoke to those who would not repent. Jesus uses it to help them understand His earlier words: "Depart from Me, all you workers of iniquity. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and yourselves thrust out" (Luke 13:27-28). In the parable, the rich man—representing all workers of iniquity, all sinners—illustrates what is to befall the unrepentant.
The wicked will be raised to physical life in their resurrection, and then, immediately knowing that they are doomed, they will be cast into the Lake of Fire designed by God to consume them. The Lake of Fire will burn them up completely and finally. Jesus pictures the rich man crying out for help because of his mental and physical anguish at this time, but he is not burning eternally in hell fire. He is soon consumed while Lazarus the beggar dwells safely in immortality.
Martin G. Collins
Parable of Lazarus and the Rich Man (Part One)Related Topics: Fate of the Wicked | Gehenna | Hell | Hell, Eternally Burning | Hellfire | Lake of Fire | Lake of Fire and Brimstone | Lazarus | Lazarus and the Rich Man | Parable of Lazarus and the Rich Man | Resurrection of Christ | Resurrection to Immortal Life | Resurrection, Second | Resurrection, Third | Reward of the Saved | Reward of the Wicked | Unquenchable Fire | Unrepentant | Wicked, Fate of theOther Forerunner Commentary entries containing Luke 16:19:
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What Does Luke 16:19 Mean?
In Luke 16:19, the rich man, clothed in purple and fine linen, living luxuriously every day, represents the unrepentant and workers of iniquity in the Parable of Lazarus and the Rich Man. His fate illustrates the consequence of wickedness, as he is raised to physical life only to face immediate torment and destruction in the Lake of Fire, symbolizing the second, eternal death. This contrasts with Lazarus, who gains intimacy with Abraham and salvation. The rich man, separated by a great gulf from the saved, cries out in anguish, unable to change his doomed fate, emphasizing the urgency of submitting to God's voice now before judgment.