Life After Death: Lazarus, The Rich Man, and Abraham's Bosom

Joshua Perez, William Turner

The story of Lazarus, the rich man, and Abraham's bosom is a text frequently cited by Christians who believe we are judged immediately after death (either going to heaven or the lake of fire), or that the dead are in a state of consciousness. The story is recorded in Luke chapter 16, where we read an interesting narrative about two men who lived very different lives. Lazarus lived a life of poverty and suffering, while the rich man lived a lavish life full of riches and plenty. After both died, the rich man was taken to "torment", while Lazarus was taken to "Abraham's Bosom".

“Now there was a rich man, and he habitually dressed in purple and fine linen, enjoying himself in splendor every day. And a poor man named Lazarus was laid at his gate, covered with sores, and longing to be fed from the scraps which fell from the rich man’s table; not only that, the dogs also were coming and licking his sores." (Luke 16:19-21)

"Now it happened that the poor man died and was carried away by the angels to Abraham’s arms; and the rich man also died and was buried. And in Hades he raised his eyes, being in torment, and saw Abraham far away and Lazarus in his arms." (Luke 16:22-23)

Many believe that this in an actual story that took place, and that Lazarus and the rich man truly existed. However, it is clear from the passage that this is a parable. Yeshua does not need to state "this is a parable" for it to be one, and to claim that he does would be an argument from silence.

"All these things Jesus spoke to the crowds in parables, and He did not speak anything to them without a parable. This was so that what was spoken through the prophet would be fulfilled: “I will open My mouth in parables; I will proclaim things hidden since the foundation of the world.” (Matthew 13:34-35)

Verses 19-21 set the context of this parable, Lazarus was a poor man, covered with sores (meaning he was close to death), and fed off of the scraps from the rich man's table. While the rich man was clothed in purple and fine linen, living a joyous plentiful life. After both had died, Lazarus was carried away to Abraham's arms (bosom), while the rich man was taken to Hades (in torment).

What does it mean to be "carried into Abraham's arms"? The intertestamental book 4 Maccabees explains that it speaks of being comforted by Abraham in Paradise after the righteous die.

"For if we so die, Abraham and Isaac and Jacob will welcome us, and all the fathers will praise us.” (4 Maccabees 13:17)

Furthermore, the Midrash Rabbah on Genesis as well as the Talmud explain the role Abraham plays in the death of the righteous, keeping them from torment.

"Rabbi Levi said, "ln the hereafter Abraham will sit at the entrance to Gehenna, and permit no circumcised Israelite to descend therein." (Genesis Rabbah 48:8)

"There are some who are sentenced to suffer in Gehenna, but our father Abraham comes, brings them up to himself, and receives them to himself." (b.Eruvin 19a)

The "torment" being spoken of in these texts, as well as in Luke 16 is Gehenna. The Greek word Gehenna is a transliteration of the Hebrew Gei Hinnom (Valley of Hinnom), a valley located outside of Jerusalem where human sacrifice was done (Jeremiah 7:31). In the Jewish context of life after death, it refers to the place of divine judgement where the wicked are taken, ultimately being destroyed.

"Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell (gehenna)" (Matthew 10:28 NASB)

"Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire (refering to gehenna). This is the second death, the lake of fire" (Revelation 20:14 NASB)

Hades in Greek mythology is the name of the God of the underworld, and the underworld itself, where all of the dead are taken regardless of moral standing. This Greek concept corresponds to the Hebrew word She'ol, which literally means "the grave". Where in the Bible, all of the dead are taken after death.

"For in death there is no mention of You; in Sheol, who will praise You?" (Psalm 6:5 NASB)

"The Lord kills and makes alive; He brings down to Sheol and brings up" (1 Samuel 2:6 NASB)

In the story told in Luke 16, the rich man was taken to Hades, but than afterward experienced "torment", indicating that he had been judged by Hashem and was taken to Gehenna. On the contrary, Lazarus was taken into Abrahams arms, indicating he had also been judged by Hashem, as righteous (presumably at the resurrection of the dead where he could physically meet Abraham).

"And he cried out and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me and send Lazarus, so that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool off my tongue, for I am in agony in this flame." (Luke 16:24)

The rich man being tormented by the flame asked father Abraham to send Lazarus over to him, so that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool his tongue to relieve his pain. However, Abraham says:

"But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that during your life you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus bad things; but now he is being comforted here, and you are in agony. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been set, so that those who want to go over from here to you will not be able, nor will any people cross over from there to us." (Luke 16:25-26)

Abraham teaches the rich man a lesson of the kingdom: those who are last will be first, and those who are first will be last. Those who are exalted will be brought low, and those who are low will be exalted. The rich man lived a lavish life, so now he will live in torment. Lazarus lived a life of suffering, so now he will be eternally comforted.

"So the last shall be first, and the first, last" (Matthew 20:16 NASB)

"Rabbi Yosef the son of Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi, became ill and fell into a trance. When he recovered, his father asked him, "What did you see?" "I saw an upside-down world," he replied, "where those on top are underneath and those underneath are on top." Rabbi Yehoshua said. "My son, you saw a true world."(Talmud Pesachim 50a)

“Whoever accepts delights of this world will be deprived of the delights of the world to come.” (Avot DeRabbi Natan 28)

“The Holy One, blessed is He, brings suffering upon the righteous in this world, in order that they may inherit the future world” (b. Kiddushin 40b)

Three types of men do not see the face of Gehenna: those who suffer oppressive poverty, those afflicted with painful diseases, and those who suffer under the [Roman] government. Some add,"Also he who has a bad marriage." (b.Eruvin 41b)

The dialogue continues:

"And he said, ‘Then I request of you, father, that you send him (Lazarus) to my father’s house— for I have five brothers—in order that he may warn them, so that they will not come to this place of torment as well.’ But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.’ But he said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent!’ But he said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead.’” (Luke 16:27-31)

Since Abraham says that Lazarus is unable to come to the rich man to relieve him from his pain, he asks Abraham to send Lazarus to his brothers on earth to warn them of the torment in Gehenna, and that they need to repent of their sins. Abraham tells him that they have Moses and the Prophets to warn them, to which the rich man says, if Lazarus were to rise from the dead and warn them, surely they would repent. But, Abraham tells him that if they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, they will not be moved to repentance even if someone were to rise from the dead.

The Midrash Rabbah does an excellent job relaying this same message:

"The angels said (to the man in Gehennah), "You fool ... you also had the opportunity of repenting and you did not take it." When he heard this, he said to them, "Permit me to go and repent now!" And they answered him and said, "You fool! Do you not know that this world is like the Sabbath and the world from which you have just come is like the eve of the Sabbath? If a man does not prepare his meal on the eve of the Sabbath, what shall he eat on the Sabbath?" (Ruth Rabbah 3:3)

The symbols of this parable are as follows: "The rich man" represents the rich, self-indulgent, greedy, and sinful. "Lazarus" represents the poor, afflicted, and righteous. "The torment" represents Gehenna (the lake of fire). "Abraham's bosom" represents paradise/the messianic age. "Moses and the prophets" represent the revelation and conviction of scripture. And "someone rising from the dead" represents the death, burial, and resurrection of Yeshua.

In conclusion, the parable's meaning is plain and simple: Life is short- we need to lead lives of service, repentance, and obedience. Tomorrow is not promised, we need to make sure our garments are washed today. We must heed to the warnings of the consequence of sin (death) provided by Moses (Torah) and the Prophets (Nevuim). And, if they are not sufficient to induce repentance, even the resurrection of Yeshua will not do so. Repent before it's too late.