![]() It also does not say the rich man, immediately upon death, was tossed into some eternal Hell. Now note what verse 22 does NOT say! It does NOT state that the beggar went to heaven. Lazarus is "helped by God" to Abraham while the well-off man is still buried and lies in his grave. In time both the beggar and the wealthy man die. ![]() And the rich man also died and was buried (verse 22). Now it came to pass that the poor man died, and he was carried away by the angels into Abraham's bosom. He, however, is so callused regarding the human condition that he won't even let the beggar eat his trash! In stark contrast we have a rich man (symbolic of the Pharisees) whose house Lazarus is placed in front of. Lazarus, because of the depth of his plight, was willing to eat food trash since the wealthy person of the parable would not help him AT ALL. Note that Lazarus was in so desperate a need that he desired to eat (but did NOT get) the food scraps that fell on the floor (Luke 16:21). ![]() He is portrayed as having no one that could or would help him - he was entirely on his own and had nothing. ![]() This beggar was what we today would call a street person who had become terminally ill. The irony here is that those who truly believed they served and represented God would not help someone "whom God helps." They disdained someone whom God accepted. They also despised others, especially sinners and tax collectors (see Luke 18:9 - 14). The Pharisees prided themselves on their righteousness through strict obedience to their interpretation of God's law. Why did Christ refer to this poor beggar as Lazarus? The meaning of his name is "assistance of God" or "whom God helps." ![]()
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