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THE PARABLES OF JESUS

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International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, Cal. · Nov 11, 1886

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 12, No. 43.

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THE PARABLES OF JESUS.

By John Nevins Andrews

Lesson IX.—The Rich Man and Lazarus.

(Sabbath, November 27.)
1. HOW DOES OUR SAVIOUR introduce the parable of the rich man and Lazarus? "There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day." Luke 16 : 19.
2. How does he bring in the second character of the parable? "And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores." Verse 20.
3. What did Lazarus desire in his destitute condition? "And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table; moreover the dogs came and licked his sores." Verse 21.
4. How did even the animals have compassion on him? Same verse.
5. What change came to both these men? "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." Verse 22.
6. What is the meaning of the word "hell" as found in verse 23?—It means the grave.
7. Repeat a passage of Scripture in which the same original word is translated "grave." "O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?" 1 Cor. 15 : 55.
8. Could it be true that a dead man could literally cry out in the grave?
9. What must we conclude, then, with reference to the language of this passage?—That it is a figure of personification, or prosopopœia.
10. What is Dr. Webster's definition of the last-named figure?—"A figure by which things are represented as persons, or by which things inanimate are spoken of as animated beings, or by which an absent person is introduced as speaking, or a deceased person is represented as alive and present. It includes personification but is more extensive in its signification."
11. What is the rich man represented by this figure as seeing? "And in hell he lifted up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom." Luke 16 : 23.
12. How is he represented as addressing Abraham? "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." Verse 24.
13. What favor did he ask? Same verse.
14. What did Abraham ask him to remember? "But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy life-time receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented." Verse 25.
15. What great change had taken place? Last part of same verse.
16. How did it show that it was impossible to grant the favor which the rich man desired? "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." Verse 26.
17. On what errand did the rich man want to have Lazarus sent? "Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house." Verse 27.
18. Why did he make this petition? "For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment." Verse 28.
19. How is Abraham represented as answering him?(Continued from page 628.) "Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them." Verse 29.
20. How did the rich man continue to urge his request? "And he said, Nay, father Abraham; but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent." Verse 30.
21. What did Abraham then say to him? "And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead." Verse 31.
22. What important truths are illustrated by this parable?
23. How may we be sure that those who are represented as conversing in this parable are not disembodied spirits, but personified dead men?—Because Lazarus could not return to warn the rich man's brethren without being first raised from the dead. See verses 30, 31.
24. How does God sometimes speak of things? "And calleth those things which be not as though they were." Rom. 4 : 17, last part.
25. How can it be said, as in Luke 20 : 38, of Abraham and other dead saints, that they all live unto God?—For the reason that in his purpose they are all to live again.

Note.

WHAT THE PARABLE TEACHES.—By this parable our Lord illustrates several great truths: 1. The folly and vanity of riches. 2. The worth of true piety, though attended by the deepest poverty. 3. The importance of that great lesson inculcated in the previous parable,—to make friends of the mammon of unrighteousness. Luke 16 : 9; 1 Tim. 6 : 17-19. The rich man had neglected this, wasting all on himself, although wretched, suffering Lazarus lay at his gate. The folly of this criminal neglect is shown in that part of the parable in which the rich man, in his distress, as if remembering the past, is represented as asking of Lazarus the water that could be brought on the tip of his finger, and even this is denied. 4. The certainty of future recompense, and the great contrast that it will make with the present state of things. 5. The sufficiency of the Scriptures to instruct and warn mankind.—John Nevins Andrews.