Prodigal son parable

Trigger Warning: Some people will find this offensive, heretical and blasphemous. This post will challenge the unbiblical traditions of Christian orthodoxy.

Here is my synopsis of the story of the beggar and the rich man found in Luke 16:19–31.

First of all, this is a parable and not literal. This parable, like all parables that are found in the New Testament, is only about Israel.

The rich man symbolically represents the Jewish authority (Sanhedrin) during the first century. The Sanhedrin consisted of the upper echelon of Judean society. The Sadducees and Pharisees were the two wealthiest factions who occupied the highest positions in Judea. As a whole, the rich man represents the House of Judah.

The poor man Lazarus symbolically represents the outcasts from the Jewish society. Lazarus is the Greek name for Eleazar and this name is chosen purposefully by Jesus in his parable. The meaning behind the name is "God has helped". Not only that, his association with Abraham was deliberate. In Genesis, we know that the head of Abraham's household was a servant named Lazarus. Therefore, this parable is best understood when referencing back to the parables about the good and faithful servant/son vs the wicked servant/son found in Mathew 21. As a whole, the poor man represents the House of Israel.

In the parable both men die and go to the grave (Hades). Their deaths are symbolic of the state all of Israel was in under the Old Covenant. However, it is only the good and faithful servant that finds refuge in Abraham's embrace, which is a symbolic representation of God adopting the faithful servants as sons. The rich man however, meets a fate of judgement and torment and is not embraced as a son of Abraham. This represents the great tribulation during the first century. The saints were sparred of the annihilation during the slaughter at Jerusalem in AD 70. The saints saw the signs and fled the city instead of participating in the Passover festivities. The rich man's desire to return back and warn the living is testament to the regret the Jews would have from not believing the gospel message of Jesus Christ, to repent and believe in their Messiah by faithfully watching for the signs of the coming destruction.

Let's take a look at an exchange that Jesus had on the topic of being a son of Abraham/God.

“I know that you are Abraham’s descendants, but you seek to kill Me, because My word has no place in you. I speak what I have seen with My Father, and you do what you have seen with your father.”They answered and said to Him, “Abraham is our father.” Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would do the works of Abraham. But now you seek to kill Me, a Man who has told you the truth which I heard from God. Abraham did not do this. You do the deeds of your father.” Then they said to Him, “We were not born of fornication; we have one Father—God.” Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and came from God; nor have I come of Myself, but He sent Me. Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word. You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it. But because I tell the truth, you do not believe Me. Which of you convicts Me of sin? And if I tell the truth, why do you not believe Me? He who is of God hears God’s words; therefore you do not hear, because you are not of God.” John 8:37-‬47 NKJV

In this exchange, Jesus is referring to Cain as being their father instead of Abraham. Cain murdered his own brother Abel in cold blood. Abel's works were acceptable to God, but Cain's works were rejected. Like Cain, the Sanhedrin set out to murder their own brethren, who followed after the teachings of Christ. The Christians were adopted as sons of God, but the wicked Judaizers were rejected and destroyed.

Hope this helps. Shalom 😊