#Bible story abraham lazarus full#

So what isn't this story about? What's not the focus? When we look at this context we recognize this isn't about heaven and hell. He reprimanded them, because they were selfish, because they were greedy and corrupt, and they set a horrible example.Īnd so when we look at the context, the context is about the responsibility to use money properly, using wealth in the right way which also includes caring for the needs of people. Well why would they do that? Because they knew He was talking about them. They also heard these things and they derided him. And it tells us here they were lovers of money. And in Luke 16:14, it tells us, it says, 'Now, the Pharisees.' The Pharisees, those were the religious leaders of the day. Well what about these two stories? At who were they directed? Can we figure that out? Well if we check the context, we can look down to verse 14. And in Luke 16:1 it begins with the phrase, 'There was a certain rich man.' Now that sounds vaguely familiar, doesn't it? In fact, that's just what He said a moment ago. And it's about an unjust steward, a bad manager. Well if we go back just a little bit to the beginning of this chapter, there's another parable that Jesus told. I mean have you ever wondered why did Christ tell this story? What led up to this particular incident that He would tell about this rich man and Lazarus? You know the story doesn't actually begin here. Now it's interesting when you consider this story. Here's this horrible person who was so sick and hurt right there at his doorstep but the rich man would look the other way. This rich man, he wouldn't even lift a finger to help. And the other, sick, starving, destitute beggar. Moreover, the dogs came and licked his sores.' That's pretty disgusting, isn't it, when you think about it? So here's Christ beginning the story of very opposite people, two men, one who has everything, everything you could imagine, all he needed, all he ever wanted.

#Bible story abraham lazarus full#

It says, 'There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen, and he fared sumptuously every day.' It's quite a picture, isn't it? Then it goes on, 'But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid at his gate, desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table. So let's take a look at Luke 16 and the story of the rich man and Lazarus. So when we think about that, that will help us to be sure that we've got the proper perspective when it comes to what Jesus is trying to teach us. What's the background? And then when we do that we have to step back for a moment and then consider the broader context of the entire Bible and what it has to say as well. What are they? Well first we've got to look at the immediate context of this particular story. In fact when you consider that, when we think about this particular parable, we also have to keep in mind a couple of fundamental rules for good biblical understanding. It's supposed to convey a truth or a moral lesson, something that's given to help us gain spiritual understanding. It's designed to tell a story of like a myth or an allegory. What is that? Well when you consider the definition of a parable, it's really an imaginary story. What's the point? Because we'll recognize what the Bible says, what Christ really taught, in the parable of the rich man and Lazarus.Īs we begin we have to first think about what is a parable anyway. And we'll also discover what is the vital lesson that Jesus taught. In fact we'll look at some interesting concepts that actually don't really fit, they're inaccurate. And you know we'll find some shocking statements. Was that true? Well today I'd like to break down that teaching that Jesus gave in Luke 16. I know when I was young I was taught that the Bible parable that Jesus told, you remember that parable about the rich man and Lazarus? Wel, I was told that that proved that good people go to heaven when they die and bad people go to hell. The mystery of what happens after you die can be disturbing. It may be actually shocking what the Bible says because there are many passages of Scripture that actually contradict traditional religious teaching.

If you're willing to believe the Bible, you may be a little surprised.