Why did Abraham tell Lazarus: “They have Moses & the Prophets” regarding the brothers of the Rich Man?
This famous account in Luke is illustrative. In the Jerusalem Bible there is a footnote that acknowledges it is “a parable in story form without reference to any historical personage.” But Jesus’ illustration teaches much. Abraham, who exhibited extraordinary faith is the first in the Bible to be spoken of as a prophet. The religious leaders put much stock in Abraham, referring to themselves as his offspring. See John 8:33. Moses symbolized the Mosaic Law and the prophets symbolized the prophets as well as their prophetic writings which pointed to the Messiah. The rich man represented the Pharisees. (Compare, for instance, Luke 16:14.) Lazarus represented the common people, those ones whom the Pharisees looked down on and despised. See Luke 18:11 and John 7:49. The deaths of the rich man and of poor Lazarus were illustrative also – in this case, they symbolized a change in circumstances. Thus, the rich man became disapproved and the common people (Lazarus) became approved. Why? The ric
