Is Luke 16:19-31 a parable or an account of events that actually occurred?
Luke 16:19 - 31
ESV - 19 There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. 20 And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores.
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Asked July 01 2013
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Anonymous (via GotQuestions)
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S. Michael Houdmann
Supporter
Luke 16:19-31 has been the focus of much controversy. Some take the story of the rich man and Lazarus to be a true, historical account of events that actually occurred; others consider it a parable...
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Adrian D'monte
The context of the story remains very clear, even if we do not believe it in its literal sense, that after this life on earth there is no second chance given to us to fix anything which is already done. This means there is no repetence after we cross over from here.
Paul Castellanos
I am a lay person and new to eBible. I am a Ruling Elder in my church and a student of the Bible. Luke was a physician as am I. He was an expositor of great diligence as though he was an investigative reporter. If he made distinctions of proverbs from factual accounts in other parts of his (God's) Gospel book, it may be right to consider the potential that he knew the reliable reports of Jesus telling this story but none of his sources could offer a distinction. What does a good reporter do with information that he cannot corroborate? He leaves it out and leaves the reader to conclude for him/herself. The most striking part of this story/parable to me is the reality that Jesus revealed to us that those bound for eternal separation would not believe the truth even if "Moses AND the Prophets" (emphasis mine) would warn his family, it would make no difference. Jesus extended this to God's physical visible and audible warnings, in His incarnate form, since He shared the story with us all.
Kathy King
Jesus Christ rose from the dead and millions today don’t listen. However, Jesus was teaching this lesson while still alive and preparing his disciples. Therefore he had not been crucified nor risen from the grave. He is making reference to himself in verse 31. This sounds like a lesson/parable/true story of what Jesus wants the disciples to learn and tell the world. But because Jesus can see the end from the beginning, this most likely could be a true story -Luke 16:31 KJVS [31] And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead. He said “though one rose”, not “though one will rise from the dead”. Just a thought.
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