"Now, as to hades, wherein
"The rich man also died, and
was buried; and in hades he lift
the souls of the righteous and
up his eyes ... Son, remember
unrighteous are detained, it is
necessary to speak of it".
that thou in thy lifetime
receivedst thy good things, and
"This region is allowed as a
likewise Lazarus evil things: but
place of custody for souls, in
now he is comforted, and thou art
which angels are appointed as
tormented".
guardians to them, who
distribute to them temporary
punishments, agreeable to
every one's behaviour and
manners".
Here we have still further parallels: in both, hades is a place where punishments are meted out before the
day of judgment, agreeable to the life lived on earth.
"And seeth Abraham afar off,
"They are struck with a
and Lazarus in his bosom".
fearful expectation of a future
judgment, and in effect
punished thereby: and not only
so, but where they see the
place of the fathers and of the
just, even hereby are they
punished".
"Now those angels that are
"Father Abraham, have
set over these souls, drag them
mercy on me ... I am tormented
into the neighbourhood of hell
in this flame".
itself, who, when they are hard
by it, continually hear the noise
of it, and do not stand clear of
the hot vapour itself".
"A chaos deep and large is
"send Lazarus, that he may
fixed between them: insomuch
dip the tip of his finger in water,
that a just man, that hath
and cool my tongue ... between
compassion on them, cannot be
us and you is a great gulf fixed:
admitted, nor can one that is
so that they which would pass
unjust, if he were bold enough
from hence to you cannot;
to attempt it, pass over it".
neither can they pass to us, that
would come from thence".
No words of ours are wanted to make it abundantly clear that the whole imagery of this parable is
unalloyed Pharisaic doctrine. As to sheol, the parable differs from the teaching of the Old Testament, for
no plain statement is to be found there that teaches either consciousness or punishment before the day of
judgment. Throughout the New Testament judgment is never said to be meted out in hades, but at the day
of judgment, when men shall be raised from the dead. The Lord most definitely endorses the teaching of
the Old Testament on this subject, saying at the end of the parable:
"If they hear not Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the
dead".
The whole of Luke 16 is one, and the parts of the two parables are related the one to the other. This may
be seen if set out in outline, which we trust will be tested by all readers before they accept it as true.
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