Lazarus and the Rich ManPage 1
Christian Churches of God
No. 228
Lazarus and the Rich Man
(Edition 1.0 19971120-19971120)
The parable of Lazarus and the Rich Man has been used by traditional Christianity for a number of incorrect purposes. It has been used to support the doctrines of the Soul and also to support the doctrines of Heaven and Hell as abodes of the dead. What does the parable mean? To whom was it addressed?
Christian Churches of God
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(Copyright 1997 Wade Cox)
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Lazarus and the Rich Man
Lazarus and the Rich ManPage 1
To understand the parable of Lazarus and the Rich Man and also the reasons behind why Christ gave this parable and to whom it was addressed, we should look first at the story of Lazarus. Here we find a number of messages and lessons that are central to the doctrines of the Church and also to the message of Christ to the Jews.
This story does not and cannot support the doctrines of the immortal soul and the existence of heaven and hell as abodes of the dead as we will see.
The story of Lazarus
We find this well known story in John chapters 11 and 12.
This miracle was the fundamental miracle that caused the Jews to seek Christ’s death. We see in this story a deliberate activity and plan of Messiah.
John 11:1-4 Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha. 2 (It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.) 3 Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick. 4 When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby. (KJV)
Here we see that Messiah took action according to a deliberate plan for the glory of God and the identification of himself as the son of God. Indeed, it was this miracle which identified him as Messiah and from which the high priest Caiaphas based his prophecy.
Mary, in this text, makes direct appeal to Messiah for their brother based on his love for him. The text makes it plain that Messiah held the entire family in great affection. Yet we see that when he heard Lazarus was sick he dallied for two days before he moved to Bethany in Judaea. He was in danger there because they had sought to stone him already and the disciples knew this as we see from verse 8.
John 11:5-8 Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus. 6 When he had heard therefore that he was sick, he abode two days still in the same place where he was. 7 Then after that saith he to his disciples, Let us go into Judaea again. 8 His disciples say unto him, Master, the Jews of late sought to stone thee; and goest thou thither again? (KJV)
Jesus was not afraid and that was not the reason he went. He spoke of the light of the world. He also spoke here of the length of the day. He made reference to the day and the night and to the spiritual conditions of light and darkness.
John 11:9-11 Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world. 10 But if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because there is no light in him. 11 These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep. (KJV)
He spoke of sleep here but he meant death. He was showing that Lazarus was a type of the Church. To the Church death was simply sleep, waiting for the resurrection. By this act he was to point to the resurrection of the Church at the coming of the Messiah. The disciples did not understand this message as yet. Nor did they suspect what he would do. They considered that if Lazarus was able to get a decent sleep he was blessed.
John 11:12-13 Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well. 13 Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep. (KJV)
He was not, however, asleep. He was dead and Christ then made it plain to them.
John 11:14-16 Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead. 15 And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe; nevertheless let us go unto him. 16 Then said Thomas, which is called Didymus, unto his fellowdisciples, Let us also go, that we may die with him. (KJV)
Messiah makes it plain here that he was glad that he was not there, as it would have limited the demonstration of his power in the resurrection of the dead.
It is not clear from the comment of Thomas whether Thomas was being sarcastic or not. The absence of any indicator of irony in the Greek would more likely mean that Thomas the twin saw at once the potential of the resurrection and the intent of Messiah to perform a significant miracle.
They left after allowing enough time for Lazarus to have lain for four days in the grave. He was thus legally dead – being in excess of the three-day period. Bethany was also some three kilometres from Jerusalem on the other side of the Mount of Olives and, thus, here was a major opportunity to witness to the Jews of Jerusalem and the Temple.
John 11:17-19 Then when Jesus came, he found that he had lain in the grave four days already. 18 Now Bethany was nigh unto Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs off: 19 And many of the Jews came to Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother. (KJV)
They were with Mary and Martha. Yet it was Martha only that came to Christ with the expression of faith in his power over the resurrection. The addition of the word still in the KJV and RSV is not in the Greek and makes an implication against Mary that may not be warranted. It is more likely that she had to deal with her other guests and mourners.
John 11:20-28 Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary sat still in the house. 21 Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. 22 But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee. 23 Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again. 24 Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day. 25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: 26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? 27 She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world. 28 And when she had so said, she went her way, and called Mary her sister secretly, saying, The Master is come, and calleth for thee. (KJV)
Here we see the real intent behind Mary remaining. Martha secretly called her and informed her. The matter is then clear. They did not wish to give any indication that Christ was there as it may have resulted in another incident of stoning which is what seems to be perhaps intimated by Thomas. Mary reacted immediately. The faith of both of these women in the power of the Messiah as the Son of God over death in the resurrection is the central issue. Mary was obviously also very distressed and the reaction of the guests confirms this point.
John 11:29-32 As soon as she heard that, she arose quickly, and came unto him. 30 Now Jesus was not yet come into the town, but was in that place where Martha met him. 31 The Jews then which were with her in the house, and comforted her, when they saw Mary, that she rose up hastily and went out, followed her, saying, She goeth unto the grave to weep there. 32 Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. (KJV)
We have here the reproach of grief and belief in the power of Christ but not yet over the power of death. Messiah groaned in the spirit at this problem because of the effect it had on Mary.
John 11:33-36When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled, 34 And said, Where have ye laid him? They said unto him, Lord, come and see. 35 Jesus wept. 36 Then said the Jews, Behold how he loved him! (KJV)
The word embrimaomi here was not to groan but to snort as a horse does and, hence, express strong emotion, indignation, fear or anger. This strong emotion was to the point of tears.
The expression which follows is probably the result of the thoughts and emotions that Christ picked up and which caused his emotion. The voicing of the sentiment again caused him concern.
John 11:37-38And some of them said, Could not this man, which opened the eyes of the blind, have caused that even this man should not have died? 38 Jesus therefore again groaning in himself cometh to the grave. It was a cave, and a stone lay upon it. (KJV)
This whole process pointed towards the death by persecution and martyrdom of the elect over the entire period until the advent. Lazarus was a type of the Church. His followers, like the entire world, were subject to death through the failure of Adam.
They would come to live through him and the later advent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.
Through Messiah, the second Adam, they would experience the resurrection. However, as his followers, the world would seek to put them to death as they would put him to death. This process was to continue more or less unchecked until he came again to save those who eagerly awaited him. This first time he came to deal with sin. He saw forward through the Jubilees until his return and that was what was causing Messiah the distress. He could raise Lazarus but the death of the elect was a matter for God as was his own death.
We now proceed to the description of the miracle itself. Martha was given instruction and even though she had expressed the belief in his power and asked him to perform the miracle, when it was about to happen she did not understand what he was about to do. This in its own way reflects the spiritual condition of the Church in the last days prior to the return of Messiah and the first resurrection of the elect.
John 11:39-40 Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days. 40 Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?
Here Messiah rebuked her for not remembering the promise he had made to her. This also is the problem of the Church in the last days. Martha is the type of the Church at work troubled by the cares of the world losing sight of the promise of God and the soon coming advent of the king in glory and exerting power.
John 11:41-42 Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. 42 And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me. (KJV)
We see here the discussion recorded not for God’s education but for ours. The message is to demonstrate the power of Messiah as the son of God and also to record the function of prayer and our relationship with God who always hears.
John 11:43-44And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. 44 And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go. (KJV)
This must have been a very moving sight. The temptation, of course, was that those who had no axe to grind took it on face value and those in the pocket of the priesthood found fault with it.
John 11:45-46 Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on him. 46 But some of them went their ways to the Pharisees, and told them what things Jesus had done. (KJV)
This then led to the actions at the Passover. They saw that they had to act. If men believed Christ then the priesthood had no further place because his message challenged their position. That is still the problem with Judah today, even down to the laity, because salvation has come of the Gentiles.
John 11:47-48 Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said, What do we? for this man doeth many miracles. 48 If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him: and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation. (KJV)
Here we see the dismay of the high priest at the appalling ignorance of his own people. He did not understand the Scriptures which demanded that Messiah had to die as the priest Messiah first, before he could come as the king Messiah. He spoke to them in the Holy Spirit moved by God.
John 11:49-52And one of them, named Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said unto them, Ye know nothing at all, 50 Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not. 51 And this spake he not of himself: but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation; 52 And not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad. (KJV)
Here we see that it was not simply for the nation of Judah but for the children of God that were scattered abroad. Thus, it was implicitly understood that the tribes were scattered and that salvation was also extended beyond Judah and the Levitical priesthood. Because of that, they did what they have always done to the prophets and what they later tried to do to the Church. They sought to kill him.
John 11:53-54 Then from that day forth they took counsel together for to put him to death. 54 Jesus therefore walked no more openly among the Jews; but went thence unto a country near to the wilderness, into a city called Ephraim, and there continued with his disciples. (KJV)
It is not accidental that Messiah then went from here to the city of Ephraim.
He symbolised that the power of the Spirit was going to be taken and given to a nation showing the fruits of the Kingdom of God and the Holy Spirit.
John 11:55-56 And the Jews' passover was nigh at hand: and many went out of the country up to Jerusalem before the passover, to purify themselves. 56 Then sought they for Jesus, and spake among themselves, as they stood in the temple, What think ye, that he will not come to the feast? (KJV)
This purification process took place in accordance with the law. The sanctification of the simple and the erroneous took place on the seventh day of the first month. The setting aside of Messiah as the lamb took place on the tenth day.
John 11:57 Now both the chief priests and the Pharisees had given a commandment, that, if any man knew where he were, he should shew it, that they might take him. (KJV)
We take up the story six days before Passover at Bethany. This was at Lazarus’ house with his sisters. Thus we see that Mary was the one who anointed him with ointment following on from the miracle of the resurrection of her brother. She also understood he was to die because of that miracle.