![]() It is to these writings that the Jewish historian Josephus alludes in the following quote from his Discourse to the Greeks Concerning Hades. John Lightfoot, among others, has shown that a story to the same intent is found in the Jewish Mishneh, a commentary on the Torah. Though the majority of commentators concur that the story is a parable, it remains highly unusual for even a parable to center around an erroneous and fictitious legend. However, all textual evidence indicates that it is a part of the original record.This story is the only case in the New Testament where flames are found in "hell" (KJV). The parable is puzzling and is sufficiently at variance with the balance of the Scriptural record that some scholars consider it spurious. The "torture" of their experiences of nearly 2,000 years has been greatly reduced, especially after their return to their homeland and the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948. Truly they were divided from the Christian by "a great gulf fixed." Only in recent years has this "gulf" been partly bridged and a more tolerant attitude been established between the Christian and the Jew. It is thus that they have been "tormented" by their experiences, particularly because of the accusation that they are "Christ-killers."Īll requests for alleviation of their sufferings were denied. No people have been so hunted, so often falsely accused, so frequently maligned, as the Jew. Persecution has since followed them from land to land. ![]() 68, culminating in the fall of Masada, Israel entered the dark days of their " Diaspora." With the invasion of the Roman armies in A.D. This is the privilege that was lost by the leadership of Israel and offered to the outcasts, not only of Israel, but to "all nations." Shortly after Jesus gave this parable the experiences of Israel turned. Martin Luther explained, "By Abraham's bosom we understand to be meant the Abrahamic Covenant." This Covenant, recorded in Genesis 22:16-18, provided for a seed "to bless all the families of the earth." The use of the figures "dogs" and "crumbs" call to mind similar uses of these expressions regarding the Gentiles in Matthew 15:21-28. The "beggar" describes both the outcasts of Israel-the "publicans and sinners"-and the Gentiles. They "fared sumptuously" on the promises of the God who had said, "you only have I known of all the families of the earth." Like this rich man, Israel was "rich"-chiefly because to them was given "the oracles of God." Israel was clothed in the purple of prospective royalty (Exodus 19:6) and in the fine linen of justification through the sacrifices of the Law. ![]() We suggest that the "rich man" represents the leadership of Israel at the time the parable was spoken. But what does it all mean? Characters Identified The poor beggar is taken to "Abraham's bosom" but he sees the rich man "tormented in flames" in "hades." It is now the rich man's turn to beg-for a "cup of water to cool his tongue." He is denied, because between the two there is "a great gulf fixed." The story is simple. After their death, they go to different places. A simple beggar sits at a rich man's gate, begging for crumbs.
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