The Parable of Lazarus and the rich man is a true story or not?

Question

Luke 16

19 “There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. 20 At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores 21 and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.22 “The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. 24 So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’25 “But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. 26 And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’

According to this story the rich man went to hell due to his conduct whilst he was still alive.

But is it a true story or not?

Is the Parable a made up story (to illustrate what WOULD happen to people who have failed the Judgment) because nobody has been to hell yet, until the Great day of Judgment?

Note: According to 1 Corinthians 15 Jesus descended to hell after his crucifixion, but was soon resurrected within a few days.

Answer 1

Yes, it's a true story.  Parables don't mention names.  When an actual person is mentioned - they existed and Jesus is relaying their experiences to teach others (in that case) or to help others not to fall into the same trap because even the rich man was begging Abraham to send Lazarus to get some cold water to cool off his tongue which was burning and he was begging for someone who had already died and was with Abraham in that place of waiting to return back to this world to WARN HIS BROTHERS not to go to that dreadful place where he was.



Whereas, when Christians try to warn atheists etc., they take offense.  That's why it was not permitted for anyone to come back to warn the rich man's brothers because before Jesus they had Moses and if they didn't believe Moses, why would they believe if someone went back from the dead?  In other words, you have to believe the LIVING who preach the gospel for your good.  Don't wait for the dead - they can't come back.  Moses wrote everything down for those who would follow him because he couldn't come back either, so those from the Old Testament have to believe Moses' teachings or they perish.  Christians have God's Word (the Bible).

Answer 2

It is a parable. An illustration.



Not of the condition of the dead, but of the so-called spiritual leaders of Israel, being spiritual dead and the change that was taking place in their midst.



The scribes and pharisees viewed the common mad, represented by 'Lazarus' as dirt, unworthy of spiritual knowledge and God's blessings.



With the coming of Christ, this was to change.



It was the common man, those viewed as beggars, eating the crumbs of those who claimed to be spiritually rich, who would now receive the blessings and a close relationship with God.



The truth is the Old Testament doesn't talk about the dead being alive in the spirit, Those in Sheol, the common grave of mankind are without knowledge and without love.



As such those in the grave in Jesus' parable couldn't be suffering any pain. they could not be 'talking among themselves'



The rich man's pain and suffering came from the words Jesus was speaking and would continue to speak.



After Jesus died, those who claimed to be rich spiritually would continue to suffer because of the message the 'poor', Jesus disciples, would be preaching.



(Acts 4:1, 2) 4 While the two were speaking to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees came up to them. 2 These were annoyed because the apostles were teaching the people and were openly declaring the resurrection of Jesus from the dead.



13 Now when they saw the outspokenness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and ordinary men, they were astonished. And they began to realize that they had been with Jesus.



17 let us threaten them and tell them not to speak to anyone anymore on the basis of this name.”

Answer 3

Whether it is a parable or a real situation does matter, as Jesus never taught the truth with an untruth.  But we believe it to be a real scenario, because of the specific names, places, conversations, etc.

Answer 4

It is a real account, not a parable.  Notice at the end of that section, that the rich man was condemned for his lack of faith, as he didn't believe the prophets about Jesus the Christ.  Here is the truth: The Lord Jesus Christ is God. Nobody can be good enough to avoid hell. The truth is that death leads to immediate heaven or hell, depending only on whether the person believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, or not. The truth is that the Lord Jesus Christ loves you and wants to bless your life freely :) Most of all, Jesus wants you with Him forever, and not in hell. It is too late to be saved, after death.

.

Believing on the Lord Jesus Christ means being forgiven all sins past and future and means going to heaven. The truth is that every belief except one will lead to eternal torment in the lake of fire for every person. Because nothing pays for our sins except the death and blood of Jesus, the sacrifice of Jesus that is already accomplished by Him . Jesus loves you! The truth is that the Lord Jesus Christ is God, and Jesus died on the cross to pay for all of our sins in full, and then Jesus was buried, and then Jesus resurrected from the dead. Nothing else pays for our sins, not works, not deeds, not religions. So the only way to heaven and to avoid hell, is by believing on Jesus for eternal life (John 6:47), without adding any of your own works (Romans 4:5). Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ to take you to heaven, and you will be in heaven, no matter what, guaranteed. That easy, thanks to Jesus! Tell Jesus that you thank Him that you will be with Him in heaven

Answer 5

You've called it a parable, so you don't believe it to be a true account. But my KJ Bible does NOT call it a parable. At the top of the page it says, "The rich man and Lazarus"; the fact that the beggar is given a name by Jesus distinguishes it from all His actual parables. Then you claimed "the rich man went to hell due to his conduct whilst he was still alive" yet the verse you quoted says "the rich man DIED"! As did Lazarus. They both died, then found themselves in two very different places beyond the grave.



Further, the rich man did not find himself in torments in hell due to what he had done. It was due to what he had NOT done, that he ought to have done! His love of money was such that he did not heed what Moses and the other prophets had said in the OT. That's the point of the conclusion Jesus gave in verse 31. Abraham said that if he (and his brothers) did not heed Moses, neither would they heed anyone returning from the dead to warn them (proving the rich man and Lazarus had truly died).



As for your other statements, let me just point out that the OT has many verses speaking about the departed spirits of the dead being aware and in that place beyond the grave, Sheol, to which the grave was the entrance. When Jesus gave that account, everything He said accorded with the current Rabbinic schools of Shammai and Hillel. They taught just what Jesus said and He never said they were wrong. He went right along with current views, that the spirit finds itself aware and in a 'holding place' awaiting the still future Day of Resurrection and Judgment.

Answer 6

Perhaps you should learn what parable means.

Answer 7

The parables are stories about morals, ethics, behaviour  told in a language that people can understand.

Answer 8

It is very interesting the parable of the rich man and Lazarus is sandwiched between the reading of the parable of the dishonest steward (Lk. 16:1-15) and Jesus denouncing the Pharisees—“who were lovers of money”. Jesus said “You cannot serve God and mammon” Jesus then said to them, “You justify yourselves in the sight of others, but God knows your hearts; for what is of human esteem is an abomination in the sight of God.



This sets up the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, a story sometimes interpreted solely as a renunciation of greed and a call to treat the poor with justice. 



But there is more to it, for Jesus took what was quite possibly a well-known motif—a rich man descending into Hades—and suddenly, as the saying goes, brought it home with an unexpected epilogue. The rich man begs Abraham to send Lazarus to warn his five brothers so they might escape eternal torment. Who are the five brothers? In the immediate context, they are the Pharisees, the ones who have and know the law of Moses and the prophets and yet fail to pursue the will of God and die to pride.“



https://www.catholicworldreport.com/2019/09/27/lazarus-the-rich-man-and-the-sin-of-pride/

Answer 9

No, it is not "true", it's an illustration to get a point across.

Answer 10

Thats a parable, not a literal event. It says "Parable of the Rich Man" at the top of the pages in my KJV Bible 





The rich man depicted Judah, father of the kingly tribe. So he was dressed as royalty in purple, fine linen, and wealth. He thought that wealth and power were signs of Gods favor, but he was mistaken. He met a fiery fate because he was lax in faith. But poor afflicted Lazarus went to be with Abraham for his faith in God.





2 Samuel 22:28 KJV — The afflicted people thou wilt save: but thine eyes are upon the haughty, that thou mayest bring them down.





Once there, Judah wanted to warn his five brothers who were still alive. Judah had five brothers.





Genesis 35:23 KJV — The sons of Leah; Reuben, Jacob's firstborn, and Simeon, and Levi, and Judah, and Issachar, and Zebulun:







It was the elite tribe of Judah who rejected and crucified Christ their Savior.





This is a dead giveaway.....





Luke 16:29-31 KJV — 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.<<<<<





NOTE: In NT Greek, hell is the grave. In Jesus' case, it was a tomb. Jesus never went to a fiery place. He was dead as a hammer for three days IN THE GRAVE (hell).

Answer 11

It's a parable, which typically conveys certain truths, through rhetoric and  dramatization.

Answer 12

IT LOOKS TO ME TO BE A REAL ACCOUNT AND NOT A PARABLE.

Answer 13

It is true....but we humans are hard-headed...so be it, whatever comes we have to accept...we are normally bad.



Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.

Answer 14

The PARABLE of Lazarus is just that, a parable. It is taught in the midst of parables, starts like a parable, sounds like a parable.



Leave it to this last days generation to try to use that PARABLE to fit into their own beliefs and opinions. Tell me, is Abraham the FATHER in Heaven? Anyone who teaches it is NOT a parable is devoid of the TRUTH, and does not know or understand the Scriptures. Do not listen to them. You have been warned.