Danny Hickman

A parable is a story designed to teach a moral lesson.
It is very ironic that the parable of the rich man and Lazarus is so misunderstood by so many. Jesus says in Luke 16 that the world understands "the streets" (their place of business) better than the saints understand the kingdom (their place).

Jesus doesn't preach "how to get saved" messages. The parable isn't about how the two men got to where they were. It's a lesson about being faithful. Not being faithful won't make you lose your soul. Being faithful won't earn you eternal life. Then what?

To be faithful in a little = keeping the law. The Pharisees claimed that honor. But Jesus debunked that using the law of divorce and remarriage. That's why He inserted that part into His sermon.

Lazarus represents the lowly everyday person. The rich man represents the Pharisees. It's a lesson on how wrong you can be to believe that because you have "the good life" God is pleased with you. It isn't a revelation of what happens to us after we die.

Eye hasn't seen, ear hasn't heard, it hasn't entered into anyone's heart what God has prepared for us after we leave this life.

Jesus is teaching on faithfulness and the unfaithful. They can be hard to tell apart. He NEVER tried to teach on "who or how" to "get saved." That's a church interpretation.

Was Lazarus faithful? It ain't about WHO. It's about can you tell by how good your daily life is.

Read the story without the thought of trying to know who is and isn't saved.

November 03 2021 • Report