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The Spiritual Meaning of the Rich Man and Lazarus Parable

A False Interpretation had Confused Millions!




Nab B.  April 9, 2022



"There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. 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; 


"And in hell [Hades] he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried and said, 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. 


"But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence. Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house: For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. 


"Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead." (Luke 16:19-31)




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A Parable is not a Literal Story! 

The Rich Man and Lazarus' Parable Contains Deep Spiritual Meaning.


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Cultures often reflected their traits on the gods they worshipped. If a culture was cruel, their gods were cruel. If overindulgent, their gods were the overindulgent. It's true that “Those who make them [gods] become like them; so do all who trust in them.” (Psa 115:8)


So, some cruel Christians make God cruel. Other softer Christians make God soft and mushy. The truth is in neither. A tormenting God is a prevailing belief in Christianity; it makes one wonder if perhaps it is a reflection of a cruel Christian culture at heart. I hope I’m wrong!



Let's set a few guidelines to help us see the spiritual depth of Jesus’ parable and dispel the false idea of hellfire after death:







Who Are The Rich Man and Lazarus?


First, this is a parable; a story to present spiritual truths. The fictitious characters represent certain groups of people.



The Rich Man 

represents the disobedient Pharisees and Scribes (apostate Israel) who considered themselves to be the children of Abraham. Here's a description of the Pharisees found a few verses before: 


“Now the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, also heard all these things, and they derided Him.” (Luke 16:14)



The Pharisees group possessed spiritual riches (the Law and the scriptures) and always looked down on the unlearned poor.



Lazarus 

represents the "poor in spirit". Jesus mentions Lazarus by name for a good reason. His name means ‘God will help’. He typifies all those who are “Poor in spirit” and “Hunger and thirst for righteousness.” (Matt 5:3,5)



Lazarus desired to be fed (spiritually), even if it was crumbs (very little) from the rich man’s table (who were entrusted with the oracles of God, (see verse 31 and Romans 3:2).



Jesus was aware of the spiritual poverty of the people:


“He had compassion on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And he began to TEACH them many things.” (Mark 6:34) 




The Meaning of Their Death!


Their death is metaphorical! The rich man was considered spiritually dead in the eyes of God and Christ because of his pride, self-righteousness, and love of money. 



The poor man also died spiritually because of the spiritual deprivation imposed on him by the rich man. Note the declining spiritual health of the poor man in the parable: 




This painted a clear picture of the condition of all humans when Jesus came to bring them God's light.




Where Did Both Go After Death?


After the poor man’s spiritual death, he was rewarded with spiritual comforts by God. This is not a future heavenly blessing, but it happens in this life—in the here and now. Note Jesus promises to those in his group in this life (not heaven): 


“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Mat 5:3)

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” (Matt 5:4)

“Blessed who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.” (Matt 5:6)


After the rich man’s spiritual death, he lacked God's comfort and rest causing him severe spiritual agony and torment as a judgment to him in this life as well.





How was He the Rich Man Tormented?


All forms of the word “torment” carry the meaning of mental anguish, deep sorrow, and mourning. Nowhere do we find any type of PHYSICAL torment or suffering associated with the word torment.



Word Study of Torment: 

(Gk word # 3600, odunaó), translated as torment, means to GRIEVE, SUFFER, be ANXIOUS, or to be in AGONY.



If the rich man suffered from literal fire, the word "flame of fire" ('phloga pyros' in Greek) could have been used. But it is not. Why is that? Because there’s NO literal FIRE meant in the parable. He only suffered severe mental and emotional anguish due to the abandonment he felt.




What About the Great Gulf or Chasm?


God's light came into the world through Jesus Christ, the Bread of Life. Through him, the poor and the hungry in the spirit are and will continually be fed.



This new light of Christ created a sharp contrast, a great gulf, between the kingdom of darkness and the kingdom of light. Such chasm is fixed between the two spiritual conditions portrayed by the two men. 



When the tables are turned, the rich man’s group can recognize their spiritual poverty when compared with the spiritual abundance of the poor man. But pride and self-righteousness prevent them from crossing over and being healed.



This spiritual chasm or gulf is expressed here:


“Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? What communion has light with darkness?” (2 Cor 6:14)



“No one can serve two masters...You cannot serve God and mammon.” (Matt 6:24)





The Meaning of Cooling His Tongue!


The problem with the Pharisaic rich-man group is in their tongue. There was no other body member that needed cooling off than the tongue. This also proves the story to be allegorical. Instead of pleading to wash off his whole body with water (purification) from his corruption, he's convinced that only a few drops of water to cool his TONGUE is all he needs! No sign of repentance!



The tongue represents man's outer expression of his inner thoughts and desires. The “tongue” is man's inner heart, the old nature, that which prevents him from seeing the light of Christ.


“The tongue also is a fire, the world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, defiling all the body, and setting on fire the course of nature, and itself being set on fire by Gehenna.” (James 3:6)


“What comes out of a man, that defiles a man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, deeds of greed, wickedness, deceit, indecent behaviour, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness. All these evil things come from within and defile a man.” (Matt 7:20-23) 





Send Him to My Father’s House!


The rich man has no regard for the other poor! He cares only for his brothers (ecclesiastical class) lest they end up like him. He demands a miracle to convince them of his condition (the Jews ask for a sign instead of having faith. See 1 Cor 1:22). Note that his plead to warn his brothers is not a sign of repentance, but rather a sign of unbelief. (See Matt 12:38-42)



Abraham knew that and told him: 


“If they do not hear Moses and the prophets (OT), neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.” (v. 29-30). 


 



What About Torture? 


There is no torture in eternal flames. God is loving, kind, merciful, and just. God is a consuming fire (pure and holy) who cleanses and purifies all unrighteousness and wickedness. He is not a tormentor of people in flames of fire for all eternity as is taught in Christendom.



God desires all to repent, not torture: 


“God’s kindness leads to repentance. Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and long-suffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart, you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, who “will render to each one according to his deeds”.” (Rom 2:4-6)





The Lesson of the Parable


Most readers stop at verse 31. But if you read the next verse in Luke 17:1, you will readily see the meaning of the parable summed up by Jesus:


"And He said to His disciples, "It is impossible for the stumbling blocks not to come, but woe to him by whom they come!" (Berean Literal Bible)



Of course, Jesus was referring to the heavy judgment against all the ecclesiastical ruling powers, deceivers, false christs, and false teachers who mislead others.




In Summary


The parable of the rich man and Lazarus shows vividly God's salvation through Jesus Christ for all who desire to satisfy their spiritual hunger and thirst for righteousness. 



Christ equally condemns the ruling ecclesiastical powers that keep people spiritually poor causing spiritual death!



The parable reveals the human condition. We are either in the poor man’s group or the rich man’s group. It has nothing to do with physical torment in literal fire or an abode called hell that burns forever! 



Let's not distort Jesus’ words to mean something other than what He really meant. The parable teaches us that our only hope out of spiritual poverty and sickness, is to go to Christ who alone can give us "comfort" and "rest".





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