Does the story of the Rich Man and Lazarus prove that people go immediately to heaven or hell when they die?
First of all, we must establish that this is a fictional story. It is a parable Jesus used to teach a broader spiritual lesson. There are a few indications that this is a parable and that not all the details should be taken literally. For instance, Luke often uses the words “There was a certain…” when he introduces Christ’s parables. Consider the following examples.
The Parable of the Creditor and Debtors
“There was a certain creditor who had two debtors….” Luke 7:41
The Parable of the Lost Son
“Then He said: ‘A certain man had two sons.’” Luke 15:11
The Parable of the Unjust Steward
“…’There was a certain rich man who had a steward’….” Luke 16:1
The Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus
“There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen….” Luke 16:19
The Parable of the Wicked Vinedressers
“Then He began to tell the people this parable: ‘A certain man planted a vineyard….’” Luke 20:9
So the language of the story clearly communicates that Jesus is relating a parable. In fact, the name of Lazarus in the Greek brings us this definition: “probably of Hebrew origin (499); Lazarus (i.e. Elazar), the name of two Israelites (one imaginary).”
We know that Jesus had a good friend named Lazarus, so he was the real one (John 11:5; and since the only other Lazarus in the New Testament is in this story, he must be the “imaginary” one.
There are also highly symbolic phrases and words that are used throughout this story that clearly indicate that it mustn’t be taken literally. Consider the following examples:
In Luke 16:22, Lazarus is carried off to “Abraham’s bosom.” If this were to be taken literally, then we would have to believe that Lazarus—and all the other saints—will dwell in Abraham’s bosom. So of course, this is symbolic language Jesus used to relate to the Pharisees, who claimed Abraham as their father (John 8:39). Jesus knew that the Pharisees would be extra attentive if the poor beggared, Lazarus, ended up in Abraham’s favor.
Next, in Luke 16:23, the Rich Man, while in his fiery torment, sees Abraham “afar off” and Lazarus, in his bosom. Again, this must be symbolic, because the last thing on someone’s mind while they’re being tormented in flames would be who they can see afar off! And once again, Lazarus is seen in the bosom of Abraham.
In Luke 16:24, the Rich Man asks Abraham to send Lazarus to bring him relief from the torturous flames by dipping the tip of his finger into water to cool his tongue. This overwhelmingly indicates that this is a parable, because in no real scenario would a person engulfed in flames be able to hold an intelligent conversation, let alone receive relief by a drop of water on their tongue.
Finally, in Luke 16:27–28, the Rich Man asks Abraham to send Lazarus from the dead to warn his brothers about the place of fiery torment. This must be symbolic and used by Christ for a specific reason, because the rest of the Bible clearly says that the dead do not come back from the grave to communicate with the living, nor should the living try to communicate with the dead (Leviticus 20:27; Isaiah 8:19–20; Job 7:9–10). All this proves that this story is a parable, and not to be taken literally.
So if Jesus didn’t intend this story to be received literally, then why did He use the language He did? The answer is simple: He often used the popular stories and parables of His day, giving them an unexpected twist to reach the hearts of His listeners. This parable was actually well-known and used by many—including the Pharisees. However, when told by the Pharisees, the Poor Man always ended up in Hades and the Rich Man was always rewarded by Abraham.
Scholars agree that the Gospel of Luke was written for the Greeks. This being the case, we can understand why Jesus would use this parable. However, He was also addressing the Pharisees, because if He had been addressing the Sadducees, He would never have used this parable! You see, the Pharisees believed in the immortality of the soul and often used Greek/Hellenistic philosophies to express their doctrinal beliefs and teachings. And while Christ did not necessarily subscribe to those ideas, He used them to communicate certain realities of God’s Kingdom.
Flavius Josephus (a Pharisee and Jewish historian) wrote a work called Discourse to the Greeks Concerning Hades. In that work, he explains that Hades was a subterraneous region with two compartments. One contained a lake of unquenchable, everlasting fire, and the other was called the “Bosom of Abraham.” This explains why Jesus would have used such dichotomous language to reach the Pharisees. He simply used their own familiar story, but placed the men in reverse situations. The Rich Man would have represented the Pharisees and their judgmental religious bigotry; and Lazarus would have represented the oppressed, the poor, the downtrodden, and the Gentiles of their day. The purpose of His parable was not to communicate the truth about death, hell, or the afterlife; but to teach the Pharisees that their twisted religious dogma about the rich, the poor, and the oppressed was wrong.
Some people suggest this is not a parable because Lazarus’ name is used, and others are of the opinion that real names are not used in parables. However, there’s a reason Jesus inserted the name Lazarus into this parable. Notice the closing verses of the story:
“Then he said, ‘I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father’s house, for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.’ Abraham said to him, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.’ And he said, ‘No, father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ But he said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.’” Luke 16:27–31
The Bible clearly says that the dead do not come out of the grave in spiritual, ghost-like forms to communicate with the living. Neither are the living authorized to seek communication with the dead. So, why would Jesus insert this concept into this parable?
First, notice that Abraham represents God’s attitude toward the whole situation. Abraham tells the Rich Man that his brothers need to seek and receive the Word of the Lord over some message from a dead person. The response from the Rich Man is “No.” Ironically, this is representative of the Pharisee’s mentality toward Christ and the Word of God, as well as the world’s perspective of the Bible. Many would prefer some sign or wonder over the plain Word of the Lord! What is even more interesting is Abraham’s response in verse 31. He says that if they will not receive the Word of the Lord, then neither will they be persuaded of the truth if someone came back from the dead to declare it to them!
This brings us to the reason Jesus used the name Lazarus—of all names—in this story. This parable was somewhat prophetic in nature, because Jesus knew something at that time that the Pharisees didn’t know. Sometime after He told this parable, it just so happened that a man named Lazarus fell ill and died. John 11 records the famous resurrection of Lazarus—Mary and Martha’s brother. However, what’s even more interesting is what happens after Lazarus was resurrected. The Bible says:
“Then many of the Jews who had come to Mary, and had seen the things Jesus did, believed in Him. But some of them went away to the Pharisees and told them the things Jesus did. Then the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered a council and said, ‘What shall we do? For this Man works many signs. If we let Him alone like this, everyone will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and nation.’ And one of them, Caiaphas, being high priest that year, said to them, ‘You know nothing at all, nor do you consider that it is expedient for us that one man should die for the people, and not that the whole nation should perish.’” John 11:45–50.
Even after it had been confirmed that Jesus had resurrected Lazarus from the dead, the Pharisees did not believe in the word, works, and witness of Jesus as the Messiah. Instead, they began plotting His death. But not only Jesus…
“Now a great many of the Jews knew that He was there; and they came, not for Jesus’ sake only, but that they might also see Lazarus, whom He had raised from the dead. But the chief priests plotted to put Lazarus to death also, because on account of him many of the Jews went away and believed in Jesus.” John 12:9–11
Not only did the Pharisees plot to kill Jesus, but they also plotted to murder Lazarus. The entire parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus was a prophetic rebuke to the Pharisees, because not only did it teach a powerful moral lesson, it foretold events that would literally transpire and work as a witness against those evil men who denied Jesus and His words.