You are a profound preacher. It is criminal that so few people hear these videos. But it might be a back handed badge of honor. You obviously don't 'tickle the ears'. Keep it up!
"BEHOLD I STAND AT THE DOOR, AND KNOCK: IF ANY MAN HEAR MY VOICE, AND OPEN THE DOOR, I WILL COME IN TO HIM, AND SUP WITH HIM, AND HE WITH ME" REVELATION 3:20
Before the parable of Lazarus and the rich, Jesus clearly warned us that we could not serve two masters, that we should never chase after wealth, or mammon, or money. And Jesus, giving this parable, clearly exemplifies who serves wealth of the world should face in the afterlife. "How can you live without money?" You may ask, but it's the very thought that without money, the suffering that comes in result, should be what we should think about what is true blessing of God, and the masked cursing of this world. Should the very statement from Jesus that those who enter the gate of Heaven are few should reinforce the belief that we should focus while we live. May the grace of God open our eyes and ears to believe that it's only through Jesus Christ that we gain salvation. And no worldly things ever control our lives, our desires, and face the consequence of what this rich man had.
I was taught that context is critical in the understanding of any passage of Scripture. Jesus is talking to the Pharisees. He has told them in Luke 16:16; "Until John the Baptist, the law of Moses and the messages of the prophets were your guides. But now the Good News of the Kingdom of God is preached, and everyone is eager to get in." Jesus is telling the Pharisees that a New Covenant is now in process. I have come. The Messiah has come. The law is not in effect anymore. Trust in the Lord Jesus Christ and eternal life will be yours. Listen to the Bible. I totally agree. Context is important. Part of the context is that the Pharisees understood who Abraham was, who the rich man was, who his five brothers, were and who Lazarus was. The rich man says that Abraham is his father and Abraham calls him son. Who in Abraham's family has six sons. Jacob and Leah had six sons and one of the them was Levi. He will be the one who was to receive no inheritance in the land. His inheritance would be the tithes and offerings of the tribes of Israel. Aaron, a Levite, would be the first high priest dressed in purple and fine linen and having status before God under the Old Covenant. They had access to God and were privileged in that sense. The poor man Lazarus (Eliezer, Abraham's servant) trusted in the same God as Abraham did when he was told by Abraham to look for a wife for his son Isaac. Who will be embraced in the bosom of Abraham. One who like Abraham trusted in God and not in the law. A drop of water could never quench a fire. The drop of water is a metaphor that Jesus himself provides. The Good News would have satisfied the rich man's torment. Later it was proved by the Sanhedrin that it made no difference whether they knew the resurrection was a reality. They paid the guards a bribe to tell a lie. The guards had testified to the resurrection. Study the Scriptures. This parable is all about law vs grace. Has nothing whatsoever to do with hell. If you want a definition of hell look up the word Gehenna in any Bible Dictionary and you will find that it is associated with the Hebrew word Hinnom. Hinnom is a garbage dump. A place of the dead. Blessings. Enjoy the word of God. It reveals the truth for those who sincerely seek it.
Jesus is speaking to only the Pharisees concerning this parable so I would like to know some interesting answers to these questions about this parable that many churches do not address: 1) Is the Rich Man a Jew from Israel or is he Gentile? 2) Is Lazarus from Israel or is he Gentile? 3) The Rich Man addresses Abraham as "Father", Abraham addresses the Rich Man as "Son". No relationship is mentioned about Lazarus like this. Are the Rich man and Abraham somehow related? 4) This parable does not say that neither the Rich Man nor Lazarus know anything of obedience to the Jewish Law or even know anything about God. Then why would Lazarus be saved if he knows nothing about salvation of the Jewish customs? 5) Why is it that the Rich Man has specifically 5 brothers? Why not 3, 6, 8 or any other number of brothers? 6) Why do the 5 brothers of the Rich Man have Moses and the Prophets to refer to, but Lazarus does not and seems to not know anything about Moses and the Prophets? 7) Why is the Rich Man begging Abraham to have Lazarus do favors for him when he should be asking Almighty God? 8) Why is it that Lazarus never speaks or says anything? 9) The Rich Man dies and is buried, but Lazarus is carried to Abraham's bosom by Angels. If this is literal, then as of this day shouldn't poor, diseased, sick and hungry persons be taken to Abrahams bosom body, soul and spirit by angels right at death? 10) Why is it that in many churches the Rich Man is in hell when Jesus tells them he is in Hades, equivalent to the Hebrew Sheol...either the same as the grave or a place reserved for the dead until the resurrection? 11) Why does Jesus speak of marriage and divorce which has nothing to do with this story just before going into this parable? I believe these questions should be addressed in order for the church, any church to teach us the truth of scripture
The story about the rich man and Lazarus is a KINGDOM PARABLE regarding the 2 Houses of Israel. The Rich Man is the southern kingdom of Judah, or the Jewish Nation after they return from Babylonian captivity. Judah had 5 brothers from Jacob-Israel and Leah (Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Issachar, and Zebulun). They had the royal line, they had the Levitical priesthood, they had the temple, they had all the gold vessels, they had the authority over the laity. They lived a sumptuous lifestyle. And Jesus blasted them for it, didn't he? "Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof." Matthew 21:43 Lazarus, the poor man, was sent away into Assyrian captivity and they never returned. GOD said He would sift Israel (Northern Nation of Israel) into all countries. They would grow into a numerous people, all the while they were a divorced cast out people. Then GOD said in the place they would inhabit, the rebetrothal of the Nation would take place and they would come back into the covenant relationship promised to Abraham - This is Abraham's Bosom. (Hosea 1:10; Amos 9:9) What is the great gulf fixed? JESUS! The Jews were and still in rejection of Messiah. Lazarus, all 13 Tribes, on the other hand, accepted the Gospel of Salvation. They are redeemed. Ponder that word redeem. It means to get back which was once owned. You wan to find the lost Tribes of Israel? Get a blank map of Europe and Asia Minor, and color in all the territories that accepted Christ as LORD and Saviour: Scandinavia, Germany, portions of France, Great Britain, etc. These are the people who preached the Gospel, printed Bibles in the native tongue, and evangelized The great gulf fixed continues to this very day. The Jews are still in rejection. 🙏
