Luke 16:19-31
The Rich Man and Lazarus
19 “There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. 20 At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores 21 and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.
22 “The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. 24 So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’
25 “But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. 26 And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’
27 “He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my family, 28 for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’
29 “Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’
30 “‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’
31 “He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’”
Hebrews 1:1-4
God's Final Word: His Son
1 In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. 3 The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. 4 So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs.
When Jesus, God's Son, tells us about the Parable of the rich man and Lazarus, we learn that there truly is a heaven and a hell...And a rich man who is sent to hell is upset...So he wants Lazarus to return to earth to tell his family that it is true that there really a heaven and a place of hell...The rich man has found this out, because he is in hell...Now the rich man wants to save the rest of his family to know that there is a eternity and a heaven and a hell...So he wants Lazarus to go back to earth...Lazarus, who has made it to heaven...But Jesus says to the rich man, if we do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, we will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead -such as sending Lazarus back to earth...And we know that this is true because Jesus Himself will later be resurrected, and many will not believe that He is alive again...
The Hebrews author tells us that long ago before Jesus, God spoke many times and in many ways to our ancestors through Moses and the prophets...And now in these current times, God has spoken to us through His Son...God promised everything to His Son as an inheritance, and through the Son He created the universe...The Son radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very character of God, and He sustains everything by the mighty power of His command...God has given His Son much authority...After He had cleansed us from our sins on the cross, Jesus ascended to heaven in the place of honor at the right hand of the Majestic God...This shows that the Son is far greater than the angels, just as the name God gave Him is greater than their names...
Jesus is the only Son of God, and He speaks for God and has spoken for God...Jesus spoke God's Word, and is God's Word...In Jesus, we see the Goodness, the Holiness, and the Perfections of His Father...