|
19There was a certain rich man who was
customarily clothed in purple and fine linen and making merry in luxury every day.
20And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, who was
laid at his gate, full of sores
21and desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from
the rich man's table. But even the dogs came and licked his sores.
22And it happened that the beggar died and was carried by
the angels into Abraham's bosom. The rich one also died and was buried.
23And in hell he lifted up his eyes, being in torments,
and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
24And he cried 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 my tongue,
for I am tormented in this flame.
25But Abraham said, Son, remember that you in your lifetime
received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things. But now he is comforted
and you are tormented.
26 And besides all this, there is a great chasm fixed between
you and us; so that they desiring to pass from here to you cannot, nor can they pass
over to us from there.
27 And he said, I beg you therefore, father, that you would
send him to my father's house,
28 for I have five brothers, so that he may testify to them,
lest they also come into this place of torment.
29Abraham said to him, They have Moses and the Prophets,
let them hear them.
30And he said, No, father Abraham, but if one should go to
them from the dead, they would repent.
31 And he said to him, If they do not hear Moses and the
Prophets, they will not be persuaded, even though one rose from the dead..
MKJV |
- When the rich man was living, he indulged himself in merriment and luxury daily,
being a very self-indulgent man devoid of charity. When He died, he found himself
in hell and made two requests:
- To cool his tongue, (to lessen his torment). Note that he did not say;
"I was wrongly judged and should not be here". He was accepting of his
fait and was told that there was a great divide and no one could cross over.
- He asked for Lazarus to forewarn his five brothers of this place of torment,
that they might escape it. Abraham replied unless they believe the prophets,
today we must believe the written scriptures by faith.
- One must believe by faith, in the scriptures and the
resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Even though they may have witnessed a miracle of God, (personal healing or a
prophetic word). The carnal mind led by the five senses, (hearing, taste, smell,
touch, sight), cannot understand the supernatural.
For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit
against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot
do the things that ye would, Galatians 5:17.
|
