Jesus’ Parable About Hell
“If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.” Luke 16:31
One of the poignant parables of Jesus is the Rich Man and Lazarus, found in Luke 16. A certain rich man had many luxuries. At his gate was a very poor man who had nothing. When they died, their situations were reversed. The poor man went to heaven, and the rich man was tormented in hell.
Why did the rich man go to hell? The parable does not say. We might imagine that the rich man felt as if he did not need God. He had many luxuries and plenty of food to eat. With all these securities, he was able to get along without God. That a poor man at his gate suffered hunger indicates that the rich man was self-interested and self-absorbed. It would have been simple for him to make Lazarus’ life easier. Apparently, he did not do so.
Why did the poor man go to heaven? We might imagine that his great physical needs made him more open to faith in God. One poignant aspect of the parable is that, in the afterlife, their situations were reversed. The poor man was comforted, and the rich man suffered.
The parable recounts a conversation between the rich man in hell and Abraham, at whose side was Lazarus. We learn something about heaven and hell from the conversation. The rich man asked Abraham to send Lazarus with some water to cool him in the heat. Abraham responded that such was not possible because a great gulf separated heaven and hell, and no one could pass between the two. We can imagine that Jesus told the parable this way on purpose. Once in hell, one cannot get out to go to heaven. While that is bad for those in hell, it would certainly keep heaven safe from those who would want to reach heaven in order to do harm there, such as the demons. We should perhaps not read too much into this–such as that people in heaven can see those in hell–except to note the two very different outcomes in the afterlife, one very good and one very bad.
When the rich man realized that Lazarus could not come to him, he asked that Lazarus be sent to the man’s family to warn them. Abraham replied that they have the warnings found in the Law and Prophets. The rich man objected that they would listen if someone rose from the dead. Abraham replied that the rich man was wrong. Those who do not believe the scriptures will not be convinced even by someone rising from the dead.
This parable clearly points to Jesus’ own death and resurrection. One would think that his resurrection would be the final convincing proof to his critics. It would not, however. The religious leaders, though knowing about the resurrection, would continue in their unbelief. Because they did not believe the scriptures, no other proof would convince them either.
The parable reminds us to know the scriptures in order to believe them. Every Christian should read the scriptures, trust them as inspired by God, and order life according to them. Reading scripture increases our faith, makes us aware of both the promises and warnings of God, and guides us in life. The scriptures comfort the poor, remind the rich to be poor in spirit and rich in good works, and point us all to the way of salvation in Jesus Christ.