It is believed by many that the parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus supports the teaching of the immortality of the soul. They believe that at death the righteous go to heaven, to an eternal bliss, and the wicked go to hell, to suffer everlasting torment in a lake of fire. Because Jesus began the parable with the words “there was,” some believe that it was a real event, and that the parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus cannot be just an allegory.

If we consider the different parables of Jesus where the words “there was” were used, we will understand that Jesus used them, on many occasions, to represent things which did not exist in reality. In the same chapter (Luke 16:1), Jesus used the same words “there was” referring to a rich man who had an unfaithful steward. Most of us realize that it was only a parable and not a real event. The same rule should be applied to the parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus.

A close analysis of this parable will show that it was not a literal event but only an allegory. If all the details of the parable should be literal, then the saved would recognize their relatives in hell, in terrible agony, and hell and heaven would be next to each other, and the saints could talk to the wicked in torment. Parents would see their wicked children who had rejected the free offer of salvation groaning in the eternal torment, and they would hear their anguishing cries. Such condition in heaven could never be a happy condition.

If the parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus is to be understood as being a literal event, then the souls of those who are condemned to be tormented in the fires of hell would have physical tongues which could be cooled with some water on the tip of one’s finger. Yet those who believe in the immortality of the soul, and affirm that this parable is to be understood as a literal incident, also believe that the souls in heaven or in hell are immaterial. These two theories are inconsistent, because in the parable the rich man has a tongue, a mouth to speak, and Lazarus has fingers, arms and so on. Would the immaterial souls have material lips, tongues, fingers, hands, mouths?

The Bible tells us that the rich man died and he was buried. This affirmation is sufficient to prove that the dead do not go to hell, but to the grave. All dead are buried, as the rich man of the parable. Later it is said of the rich man that he was in hell. Therefore the hell where he was and where all who die go at death is the grave. The Bible makes it clear that the dead do not know anything:

“For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten. Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion for ever in any thing that is done under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 9:5, 6).

The rich man in the parable was talking to Abraham, and asked him to send messengers to his relatives with a message of salvation. He showed his love towards his relatives. But the Bible says that when man dies his love, his hatred, and his envy perish, and they have not any more a portion under the sun. It is evident that the parable here is allegorical, the same way as the one in Judges 9:8-15, where the trees wanted to anoint a king, and many of the trees answered negatively. We all know that trees do not speak words. This must be allegorical language.

The Bible clearly says that at death there is no advantage of man over a dumb animal. They all breathe the same air, and when they die they all go to the same place: to the dust. From the moment they die, their thoughts perish; that is, they think not any longer.

“For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast: for all is vanity. All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again” (Ecclesiastes 3:19, 20).

“Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help. His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish” (Psalm 146:3, 4).

There are many illustrations in the parables of Jesus which are used just to complete the illustration which the parables are to teach us. For example: The parable of the Unjust Judge. This judge would not listen to the complaints of the poor widow, but because of the insistent pleading he decided to vindicate her case. Through this parable Jesus wanted to emphasize the need of perseverance in prayer. The judge of the parable was unjust (Luke 18:6). whereas the heavenly Judge is righteous and just. This judge would not listen to the widow, but the heavenly Father listens to us whenever we pray in the name of Jesus. We see here that the expression “unjust” was used by Jesus just to complete the illustration, but it can never be used to represent the real fact.

Another parable of the same nature is the one of the Unfaithful Steward. The steward in this parable (Luke 16:1-9) was unfaithful and dishonest in the sight of his lord in making no provision for the future. What does this parable teach us? Does it suggest for us to be unfaithful and dishonest? Not at all. Jesus wanted to teach us that we should make provision for the future, and that after doing our part we may be received in “everlasting habitations” (verse 9). The expression “unfaithful” is used just to complete the illustration, but it never teaches us to be dishonest or unfaithful. The specific expression has nothing to do with the main point which the parable teaches us, i.e, to make provision for the future. The same way, the parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus contains certain details which do not represent the main point. This parable does not teach the immortality of the soul.

Through the parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus, Jesus aimed to teach us that the Jewish people were in an advantageous position over the Gentiles. While these were despised in the Old Dispensation and the Jews exalted, in the New Dispensation things would be reversed. In the Old Dispensation the Jews were the ones compared to the rich man who “fared sumptuously” (see Romans 9:4, 5), and the Gentiles were considered as dogs who had to be content with the spiritual crumbs left by the Jews. In the New Dispensation a complete change took place. The Gentiles who accepted the Messiah as their personal Saviour are symbolically enjoying themselves in Abraham’s bosom. Paul says: “And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise” (Galatians 3:29). At the same time the Jews are (in allegorical language) in torment, because they have completely rejected the Messiah. Prophecy has foretold their lot: “And I will scatter you among the heathen, and will draw out a sword after you” (Leviticus 26:33). Therefore a gulf separates them from each other, and this gulf is unbelief and disobedience (see Romans 11:20, 23).

The main reason why Jesus used allegorical language as He presented His object lesson in this parable was because in those days some of the pagan ideas about the state of the dead were believed by some. The heathen believed in the consciousness of the soul after death, and also believed in the existence of a burning hell. Therefore Jesus used these beliefs of His time to illustrate His object lesson. One of the sects of the Jews did not believe in the resurrection, neither in the existence of angels, nor in the future life. They inclined their hearts to their cherished ideas, the doctrines of the heathen, and the Lord answered them according to the multitude of their idols (see Ezekiel 14:4). Jesus met them on their own ground. This is what the Spirit of Prophecy says:

“In this parable Christ was meeting the people on their own ground. The doctrine of a conscious state of existence between death and the resurrection was held by many of those who were listening to Christ’s words. The Saviour knew of their ideas, and He framed His parable so as to inculcate important truths through these preconceived opinions.” 1

These two men, the rich man and Lazarus, represent two classes of people on earth.

“Lazarus represents the suffering poor who believe in Christ.” 2

The rich man represents those who seek all things of this world and expect that the kingdom of God be added unto them. “The parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus shows how the two classes represented by these men are estimated in the unseen world.” 3

The parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus clearly teaches us that no change takes place in man after death. This is why the wise king Solomon said: “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest” (Ecclesiastes 9:10). There can be no activity whatsoever in the grave, and no communication between the living and the dead.

“Christ desires His hearers to understand that it is impossible for men to secure the salvation of the soul after death. ‘Son’, Abraham is represented as answering, ‘remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed; so that they which would pass from hence to you can not; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.’ Thus Christ represented the hopelessness of looking for a second probation. This life is the only time given to man in which to prepare for eternity.” 4

In the parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus, Jesus made reference to the words of Moses and the other prophets which ought to be heard. They tell us what we should do in order to be saved. There is no other way of salvation but to hear the words of the prophets, because they point us to Jesus Christ, the only Saviour. If one does not listen to the words of the prophets, there is no hope for him. He would not listen even to an angel, nor to one who would come from the dead.

In seances the dead appear and claim to be deceased relatives or friends. We know that this is witchcraft. Satan and his angels do appear, personifying the dead, to deceive the people. But the faithful, obedient people of God will not be deceived.

“And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to the dead? To the law and to the testimony; if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them” (Isaiah 8:19, 20).

The parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus teaches us also that we should be patient, suffer all things on this earth, and look forward to the time when all our earthly troubles will be over. If we stand every test and wait patiently, the Lord will give us the reward at His coming. Then, and not before, will all receive their reward according to their deeds.