Lazarus’ Death

Luke 16:22-23

²²And 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; ²³And in hell (hades) he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

Two deaths with two different destinations.  The beggar goes to Abraham’s bosom and the Rich Man goes to hell.  This is a parable, these are not literal deaths.  They are symbolic deaths.  What symbolic death does a gentile have that takes them into Abraham’s bosom?

Colossians 3:3

³For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Messiah in God.

This is referring to believers.  This is not a physical death.  When an individual becomes a believer, they are born again and carried into God.  To be carried into Abraham’s bosom,  refers to a relationship, Genesis 16:5.

⁵And Sarai said unto Abram, My wrong be upon thee: I have given my maid into thy bosom; and when she saw that she had conceived, I was despised in her eyes: Yehovah judge between me and thee.

Hagar came into Abram’s bosom, she came into a relationship with Abram.  The New Testament is consistent, Galatians 3:29.

⁹And if ye be Messiah’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

The beggar’s death was not a physical death.  It is a death in the sense, that one dies and comes alive in Abraham’s seed.  It does not mean literally the bosom.  Bosom position refers to a relationship as a child of Abraham through Messiah.  This is a consistent thought in the New Testament, Colossians 2:12.

¹²Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.

  And Ephesians 2:4-6

⁴But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, ⁵Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Messiah, (by grace ye are saved;)  ⁶And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Messiah Yeshua:

Born again into a new relationship to God.

Next Rich Man’s Death

Back to The Beggar

Return to Rich Man and Lazarus

Return to Parables