Luke 16 (NKJV)

“So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and was buried. And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off and Lazarus in his bosom.”

VERSE 24 “Then he cried and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.’”

Fundamentalists use this verse to prove hellfire, but Luke 16:19–31 is a parable showing the condition of the Jew down through the Gospel Age. “Fire” indicates persecution, trouble, and affliction and in their extreme experiences the Jews have wanted a figurative drop of water to cool their tongues. The valley of dry bones (picturing the Jewish nation whilst in figurative Hades) received nothing but heat and scorching under the sun.

Just as the rich man in the parable petitioned Abraham to send Lazarus with a drop of water to cool his tongue — to ease his suffering — so more than once down through the age the Jews as a people have implored God to send a measure of relief through Christian sources! But the hardships and persecutions have continued.

VERSE 25 “But Abraham said, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented.”

Note here that God still recognizes the relationship established in his covenant with them and addresses them as children of the Covenant.

During the rich man’s lifetime (that is during the Jewish age) they as a nation were given all the “good things” all the promises and blessings. “You only have I known of all the families of the earth.” (Amos 3:2) Whilst at the same time the Gentiles, pictured by Lazarus received nothing but “evil things” that is to say all others outside of Israel were “aliens and strangers, having no hope and without God in the world.” (Eph. 2:12)

But then a change took place and the Jewish nation was cast off (died) and suffered torments, troubles and afflictions (suffered the penalties attached to the violation of their covenant, as specified in Leviticus 26) while the Gentiles were now comforted.

The Lord wished to show that great sufferings or “torments” would be added to the Jews as a nation after their national dissolution and burial amongst the other peoples dead in trespasses and sins; and that they would plead in vain for release and comfort at the hand of the formerly despised Lazarus class.

The termination of the condition of things then existing was well illustrated by the figure, death –the dissolution of the Jewish polity and the withdrawal of the favors which Israel had so long enjoyed. There they were cast off and have since been shown “no favor,” while the poor Gentiles, who before had been “aliens from the commonwealth [the polity] of Israel and strangers from the covenant of promise [up to this time given to Israel only] having no hope and without God in the world,” were then “made nigh by the blood of Christ” and reconciled to God.–Eph. 2:12, 13

The middle wall of partition or separation has been Christ. Blindness has happened in part to the nation of Israel “until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in,” that is, until the Church is complete (Rom 11:25).

The end of the rich man’s course is not mentioned in the parable, but in Romans 11, we have the Apostle Paul very fully describing the casting off of Israel, in order to permit the election of the Gentiles who should complete the church of Christ, and after this has been accomplished a return of great favor to the Jewish nation-a release of the rich man from his condition of torment, and his admission into the blessings which God has promised, humbled and helped by the severe experiences of the past nineteen plus centuries.

“As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes (the church’s sake), but as touching the election (the original promises of earthly favor to Israel) they are beloved for the father’s sake… As in times past ye have obtained mercy through their unbelief, through your mercy they may obtain mercy.” (Rom 11:28-31)

When shall the church exercise mercy toward Israel?

In the future time of glory, when all power shall be in the hands of the glorified church to accomplish all of God’s will.

We will continue with Verse 26 in our next post.