While some believers believe it to be a parable, others believe Lazarus in Luke 16:19, to be a story of real events, What ever one we believe, whether parable or not, it has always been understood by many that Lazarus in Luke 16:19, was a beggar. This is because of the many Bibles that used the word: BEGGAR in its translation.
At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores, New International Version (�1984)
While this seems true at a glance, if we dig deep in to the original Greek words, we find many of us have misunderstood this very significant story as we have read it according to translations that use a word that changes the original meaning. I admit that I missed this important fact myself initially.
After writing a long article called: Shocking Discovery and facts about Luke 16:19, The Rich Man and Lazarus. In which I wrote and posted saying I believed that Lazarus the Beggar that we see in Luke 16:19 is the one and same person as Lazarus, brother of Mary and Martha, raised by Jesus in John 11.
Many readers read this article but I received some interesting feedback from a Christian Pastor as quoted below.
'Although the Lazarus theory is interesting the relatively wealthy Lazarus 1 does not fit the description of the poor beggar Lazarus 2. I don't think there can be an answer to this objection. If the tomb in Bethany is actually Lazarus' tomb that only confirms he was in a wealthy family.
We are told that this was no 'one off' accident of Lazarus, but a lifestyle of poverty. He is called a 'poor man' (v 20) and Abraham confirms this in v 25: 'Child, remember that you IN YOUR LIFETIME received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner BAD THINGS; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish.' For me this means it must be a different Lazarus.
After reading the Pastors feedback I realised that he had some good points. On his email above I noticed something very interesting, He is called a 'poor man' The Bible translation he was using did not say he was a beggar but said He is called a 'poor man'.
This rang a bell in my mind!!
What translation was he using? So I searched in my HEBREW GREEK INTERLINEAR BIBLE, given to me by a Christian Jew named Jeremy Crystal for a birthday present. It must be one of the most valuable presents I have ever received as I believe it takes you right back as near as possible to the true original words used which was written in HEBREW and GREEK.
When I am doing some deep serious studying I look in the pages of this amazing Bible to find that it reveals secrets that many of us would not find in the many different translations of the Bible today. In this book you find the words and meanings can be quite different. We shall return to this shortly.
If we look below we can see there are 11 Bibles which have all used the word 'BEGGAR' instead of 'POOR'.
For your perusal I have listed those versions below:
New International Version (�1984)
At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores
New Living Translation (�2007)
At his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus who was covered with sores.
English Standard Version (�2001)
And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores,
New American Standard Bible (�1995)
"And a poor man named Lazarus was laid at his gate, covered with sores,
King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,
International Standard Version (�2008)
A beggar named Lazarus, who was covered with sores, was brought to his gate.
Aramaic Bible in Plain English (�2010)
"And there was a certain poor man whose name was Lazar and he lay at the gate of that rich man, being stricken with abscesses."
GOD'S WORD� Translation (�1995)
There was also a beggar named Lazarus who was regularly brought to the gate of the rich man's house.
King James 2000 Bible (�2003)
And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, who was laid at his gate, full of sores,
American King James Version
And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,
American Standard Version
and a certain beggar named Lazarus was laid at his gate, full of sores,
Douay-Rheims Bible
And there was a certain beggar, named Lazarus, who lay at his gate, full of sores,
Darby Bible Translation
And there was a poor man, by name Lazarus, who was laid at his gateway full of sores,
English Revised Version
and a certain beggar named Lazarus was laid at his gate, full of sores,
Webster's Bible Translation
And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, who was laid at his gate, full of sores,
Weymouth New Testament
while at his outer door there lay a beggar, Lazarus by name,
World English Bible
A certain beggar, named Lazarus, was laid at his gate, full of sores,
Young's Literal Translation
and there was a certain poor man, by name Lazarus, who was laid at his porch, full of sores,
So what is the right word? Is it Poor or Beggar?
Picking up my Greek Bible of hidden secrets I checked out to see if the word POOR in Luke 16:20 was in my Bible. And it was the same word used in my friends Bible. My book revealed the word POOR was the same and there was a certain poor one named Lazarus, who had been laid at his porch, being plagued by sores. Luke 19:20, HEBREW GREEK INTERLINEAR BIBLE.
So my Christian brother had used a translation very much the same as mine, proving he was a series contender.
However that is what I hoped it would say POOR and not beggar.
So was Lazarus POOR or A BEGGAR?
My belief is that the correct translation is indeed 'poor'. However is it 'poor' as we know it as in meaning financial hardship or poverty.
Here is what I found during my research.
The word 'poor' in Greek is actually ptōx�s i.e. helpless as a beggar. (ptōchos )
1) reduced to beggary, begging, asking alms
2) destitute of wealth, influence, position, honour
a) lowly, afflicted, destitute of the Christian virtues and eternal riches
b) helpless, powerless to accomplish an end
c) poor, needy
3) lacking in anything
a) as respects their spirit
Barnes' Notes on the Bible states:
Beggar - Poor man. The original word does not mean "beggar,"
Short Definition: poor, destitute
If Lazarus had collapsed of a illness as we know he was: plagued by sores. Luke 16:20, than he would have been poor or poorly or as the Greek term states ptōx�s I.e. helpless as a beggar.
We also know Lazarus was so poorly that he could not get up to escape the dogs who where liking his sores. But even the dogs coming licked his sores. Luke 16:20.
When Jesus said and there was a certain poor one named Lazarus. I believe Jesus did not mean poor as finances or wealth but rather poor as in physical health, ill with a long term disease because Jesus said being plagued by sores. Luke 19:20.
Friends, I believe that Lazarus suffered from a long term disease probably most of his life because Abraham stated: But Abraham said, child, remember that you fully received your good things in your life time, and Lazarus like wise the bad things. Luke 16:25. Here we see clearly the rich man received good things in all his life time, but Lazarus like wise the bad things in his life time. My interpretation of that is that he was plagued by ill health.
In fact there are still many types of incurable diseases around to day called ''herpes'' HSV-1 and HSV-2. They were documented right back to the ancient Greeks as sores that seemed to creep over the surface of the skin. Herpes is derived from the Greek word meaning '' to creep''. See the link at the bottom about the history of Herpes.
Some of these diseases can be fatal resulting in death, and outbreaks come and go throughout the remainder of a person's life.
ALEXIA ELEJALDE-RUIZ Chicago Tribune states:
But unlike HSV-2, the virus that usually causes genital herpes, cold sores are not usually sexually transmitted, though they can be. Most people get infected with HSV-1 as kids from kissy adults.
Did you know the Emperor Tiberius attempted to curb an epidemic of herpes. We also know Jesus healed many who had various diseases.
32 That evening after sunset the people brought to Jesus all the sick and demon-possessed. 33 The whole town gathered at the door, 34 and Jesus healed many who had various diseases. He also drove out many demons, but he would not let the demons speak because they knew who he was. Mark 1:32-34
If we were going for a long walk on our own, but then collapsed of heart failure or suffered a damaged tendon for example, or a disease or virus afflicts us during a long journey, as I believe was the case with this story of Lazarus, at that point in time we would then be as the examples above: 1) reduced to beggary, begging, asking anyone for help, destitute, helpless, powerless, needy and if we were then refused help just as the Rich man did to Lazarus, in hours we would be thirsty and hungry and if left for days we would be willing to be fed with anything, and longing to be filled from the crumbs that were falling from the table of the rich man. Luke 16:21.
It is a fact that when people who suffer from diseases like' 'herpes'' HSV-1 and HSV-2 their immune system breaks down from a result of not maintaining a proper diet or taking steps to reduce stress, such as getting proper amounts of sleep so they are likely to experience outbreak of cold sores. In addition, these outbreaks can sometimes be fatal.
Just as it was for Lazarus. And it happened, the poor one died, Luke 16:22
I believe Lazarus was not a beggar as we have seen above in the many Bibles which use the word, BEGGAR instead of POOR which is translated in Greek as ptōx�s i.e. helpless as a beggar.
The rich man treated the beggar with contempt and indifference, not caring that he was in need of subsistence, food, clothing and shelter from the elements.
There is also an interesting fact here, Luke 16:20, tells us Lazarus, who had been laid at his porch, If he was a beggar then why was Lazarus laid at the rich mans PORCH?
Jesus makes it very clear here, stating that Lazarus was at HIS PORCH, Not anyone's porch, Not a porch at the temple which did not belong to him but, Lazarus, who had been laid at his porch, He was laid at the rich mans PORCH. I believe literally.
In the Bible there were many beggars and they would sit in a busy place where they could be seen by many people passing by as we shall see below.
Here was a true beggar
<< Mark 10 >> 46 And they came to Jericho: and as he went out of Jericho with his disciples and a great number of people, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, .sat by the highway side begging
Here we see blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the highway side begging. Beggars would beg in a place where there was passing people as we see here with Bartimaeus, sat by the highway side
Lazarus was not sat by the highway side. The original Greek states Lazarus was laid at his porch. Luke 16:20. and there was a certain poor one named Lazarus, who had been laid at his porch, being plagued by sores.
If he was a beggar than why was Lazarus laid at the rich mans porch, which is the entrance to the rich mans house, and not sat by the highway side, like most beggars did.
Below are other references to porches:
Young's Literal Translation
And Peter having knocked at the door of the porch, there came a damsel to hearken, by name Rhoda,
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
At the door of the gate - Rather the door of the vestibule, or principal entrance into the house. The house was entered through such a porch or vestibule, and it was the door opening into this which is here intended. See the notes on Matthew 9:2.
Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible
And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate. The lesser door in the great gate, or the door of the porch through which they entered into the house. So the Jews distinguish between "the door", and "the gate"; see Judges 18:16
Conclusion
I believe Lazarus may have returned from a long journey, he suffered from a long term disease being plagued by sores. Similar to many incurable diseases today as HSV-1 and HSV-2 there was a certain poor one named Lazarus, poor as poorly in physical health, ill with a long term disease.
He became weak and tired, which then caused his immune system to break down as it does for many with these diseases, this then caused his disease to break out, he then become helpless as a beggar.
In desperation he crawls on his hands and knees to the rich mans porch. knocking and begging on the door of the rich mans house for help with food and water to strengthen him, but the rich man treats Lazarus with contempt and ignores his needs.
There he lies until perhaps someone recognizes him as the brother of Mary and Martha and word gets back to the two sisters who rescue him from his desperate state by bringing him back to their home in Bethany where they nurse him. Realising that their brother was very sick they call upon Jesus for help.
So the sisters sent word to Jesus, "Lord, the one you love is sick." John 11:3
BUT Jesus waits 2 more days before going to see Lazarus. WHY? The Bible does not tell us. However 4 days have passed and Jesus already knows that Lazarus is dead with out any one telling him.
So then he told them plainly, "Lazarus is dead, John 11:14. In this time the rich man also dies And the rich one also died, and was buried Luke 16:22.
Jesus then leaves and on the way to Mary and Martha Jesus tells his disciples the story of Luke 16:19 THE RICH MAN AND LAZARUS, a man with the identical name who was also ill who has also died. On Jesus arrival he finds Lazarus has been dead for 4 days.
We all have souls that live on after death and in the verse below Jesus makes this very clear.
"And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But fear Him rather who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell." Matthew 10:28
So where did the soul of Lazarus go in John 11. Luke 22, tells us And it happened, the poor one died, and was carried away by the angels in to the bosom of Abraham.
WHERE IS THIS PLACE - the bosom of Abraham?
It is a compartment called paradise which was in Hades. 9 (Now this, "He ascended"-what does it mean but that He also first descended into the lower parts of the earth? Ephesians 4:8-9 This is the same place as Jesus went to, by whom also He went and preached to the spirits in prison, 1 Peter 3:19 Because you will not leave my soul in Hades, neither will you allow your Holy One to see corruption Acts 2:27
Jesus then tells us in Luke 16:19 after Lazarus leaves his dead body his soul was carried away by the angels in to the bosom of Abraham.
Now he is in comfort he hears a call from the rich man who treated him with such a lack of compassion for his situation. The situation is now reversed the rich man now becomes the helpless one begging for water as Lazarus was when he was laid on his porch. The rich man is deeper down in the earth being closer to the centre where it is hotter, now in pain
3. And being in torment in Hades, lifting up his eyes, he sees Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosoms.24.And send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for i am suffering in this flame. Just as this verse states that there is a fire deep down in the earth,
For a fire is kindled by my anger, and it burns to the depths of Seoul, it devours the earth and its increase, and sets on fire the foundations of the mountains. New Revised Standard Deuteronomy 32:22
The above translation uses the Old Testament word Sheol, a place where a fire burns in Gods anger, This proves that Sheol cannot be a grave as there is fire that burns in Sheol.
Was this a coincidence, or lucky guesswork by the authors of the Bible who states the fire devours the earth and its increase, and sets on fire the foundations of the mountains. I cannot believe that it is a coincidence, or lucky guesswork by the authors of the Bible and other stories of HADES and Hell that led them to describe Hades and Hell in such terms - being deep under the earth and fiery hot, with lakes of lava - that do rise from volcanoes, that do burn everything in its path. Exactly as it states. Deuteronomy 32:22 Is not symbolic, figurative or a figure of speech, but a matter-of-fact; Literal.
Abraham then tells the rich man the whole of his life was good but Lazarus suffered all his life from a plague and needed help from him but did not receive any and then consequently died because of his greed and selfishness.
The rich man, now realises he is in Hades for good, begs Abraham again, but this time to send a message back to his Fathers house and his five brothers.
Interestingly at the same time while Lazarus in John 11 is still laid dead in the tomb waiting for Jesus to raise him back to life we have Annas the High Priest, the ruling power behind the Sadducees responsible later for the arrest, trial and crucifixion of Jesus. Annas is the father of 5 brothers and a force to be reckoned with as he was able to exert power and authority through his position. They denied the resurrection of the body in Mat 22:23, Luke 20:27, Acts 4:1-2, 23:8 and believed that a persons soul dies with his body.
Could this be the same five brothers in laws the rich man was atttempting to reach? It is certainly a coincidence.
Back in Luke 16:29. Abraham said to him, they have Moses and the prophets; let them here them.30. But he said, no, father Abraham, but if one should go from the dead to them, they will repent.
Interestingly we read that Annas and his mob now wanted Lazarus dead. Did Lazarus oofend them after being raised from the dead by passing on the message of truth from the rich man by telling Annas and his sons the truth about HELL, to warn them not to go where he is? We know that Jesus raised two more people, the widows son at Nain (Luke 7:11-17) and Jairus' daughter (Matthew 9:18-26; yet they did not want to kill them but only Lazarus. So, the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well, John 12:10
IS THIS ALL A COINCIDENCE?
We then find in John 11 Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead, 43 When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out!" 44 The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, "Take off the grave clothes and let him go."
Did Jesus grant the rich mans request by raising Lazarus back to the dead who then warns the rich mans father in law Annas the High priest, and his five sons being his brother in - laws, as we read that Abraham gives a prophecy saying in Luke 16;31 And he said to him, if they will not here Moses and the prophets, they will not be persuaded even if one from the dead should rise.
The very clever part by Jesus.
My personal beliefs relating to the story of Luke 16:19 is that a true and very significant event took place. It is as it appears, a story of life after death, the destination of the saved and the unsaved souls.
A simple story that Jesus wanted ALL to understand the truth of, so that people would repent and be saved.
The very clever part of the story of Luke 16:19, is how Jesus holds back secrets by not telling, us the reader, why the rich man went to Hades/Hell and Lazarus to paradise. It is at this point that the reader starts to scratch his head with confusion. Do all people who die of a illness go to heaven and all rich people go to hell for being rich? Of course not. The Bible makes it very clear that we are all saved by faith in Jesus Christ,
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God- 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. Ephesians 2:8-9. Acts 2:21
WHY did Jesus keep this story separate from the story of Lazarus the brother of Mary and Martha? WHY did Jesus only reveal this story of the rich man and Lazarus in Luke's Gospel and not the others?
Because I believe Jesus hid this fact of the 2 Lazarus' being the same person in a parable. So that only those that dig deep will understand the truth, just as Jesus said, SEEK AND YOU WILL FIND. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. Matthew 7:8
The story of Lazarus in Luke 16:19, I believe, was a true story of Lazarus,s spiritual life after dying and leaving his body in John 11, but both stories together are hidden by Jesus in a parable.
"I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter what has been hidden since the foundation of the world." (Matt. 13:35)
Unless we are truly born again, it is impossible to understand the stories of the Bible and the secrets of God. It is only by being born again that we can receive the Holy Spirit who helps us to understand the truth of the kingdom of heaven,
Jesus promised us, if we keep his commands, we will know the TRUTH NOW, not later, by Gods Holy Spirit. John 16:13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. 15 "If you love me, keep my commands. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever- 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will bec]"[c] in you. John 14;15
1 John 2:27 As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all thingsand as that anointing is real, not counterfeit--just as it has taught you, remain in him.
John 15:26 "When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, he will testify about me.
Romans 8:9 You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ.
1 Corinthians 2:14 The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.
1 John 3:24 Those who obey his commands live in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us.
1 John 4:6 We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
The Spirit of truth - He is thus called here because he would teach them the truth, or would guide them into all truth, John 16:13. He would keep them from all error, and teach them the truth, which, either by writing or preaching, they were to communicate to others.
10 The disciples came to him and asked, "Why do you speak to the people in parables?" 11 He replied, "Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. 12 Whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. 13 This is why I speak to them in parables: "Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand. 14 In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah: "'You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. 15 For this people's heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them. (Matt. 13:10 to 15)
Thank you for reading this article I hope that it has blessed you. May the Lord God bless those who seek him, in Jesus name I pray.
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