Theme: SOME PARABLES OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST
Text: “But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.” – Luke 16:25.
Comment: The blessedness that would be the reward of the faithful and the emptiness that the ungodly would face in the end, not withstanding their worldly and material achievements, are depicted in the parable concerning Lazarus and the rich man.
Lazarus means “God’s help”. He, in the parable represents all the people of God – lovers of truth and righteousness who need the help of God but unfortunately receive falsehood as symbolized by “crumbs” in the parable at the instance of counterfeit religious shepherds. Earlier in Matthew 16:6-12, Christ had warned his followers to have nothing to do with false doctrines.
The rich man represents false prophets who although materially wealthy are in reality destitute of the pure word of God. To be in Abraham’s bosom is symbolic of being on God’s side of favour as practically demonstrated in John 13:23; 21:20.
The text for the day highlights the restlessness and shame which false religionists will face in God’s due time such that they will seek for compromise, wishing that the undefiled word of God would be preached in a soft and appealing manner so as to escape its piercing and indicting impact but this will not be possible since the truth can never be diluted, and light and darkness have no common ground (2 Corinthians 6:14-18). We are therefore encouraged to abide in the truth unto the end so as to profit from the profound benefits for so doing by the grace of God. – Isaiah 26:2-4; 1 Corinthians 15:58.