Luke Chapter 16, Verse 22
From BibleWiki
22: εγενετο δε αποθανειν τον πτωχον και απενεχθηναι αυτον υπο των αγγελων εις τον κολπον του αβρααμ απεθανεν δε και ο πλουσιος και εταφη
22: And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by
the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and
was buried;
22: And it came to pass that the beggar died and was carried by the
angels into Abraham's bosom. And the rich man also died: and he was
buried in hell.
Was carried by the angels. The Jews held the opinion that the spirits
of the righteous were conveyed by angels to heaven at their death. Jesus
speaks in accordance with this opinion; and as he expressly affirms the
fact, it seems as proper that it should be taken literally, as when it
is said the rich man died and was buried. Angels are ministering spirits
sent forth to minister to those who are heirs of salvation (Heb 1:14),
and there is no more improbability in the supposition that they attend
departing spirits to heaven, than that they attend them while on earth.
Abraham's bosom. This is a phrase taken from the practice of reclining at meals, where the head of one lay on the bosom of another, and the phrase therefore denotes intimacy and friendship. See "Mt 23:6". See "Jn 13:23". See "Jn 21:20".
The Jews had no doubt that Abraham was in paradise. To say that Lazarus was in his bosom was therefore the same as to say that he was admitted to heaven and made happy there. The Jews, moreover, boasted very much of being the friends of Abraham and of being his descendants, Mt 3:9. To be his friend was, in their view, the highest honour and happiness. Jesus therefore showed them that this poor and afflicted man might be raised to the highest happiness, while the rich, who prided themselves on their being descended from Abraham, might be cast away and lost for ever.
Was buried. This is not said of the poor man. Burial was thought to be an honour, and funerals were, as they are now, often expensive, splendid, and ostentatious. This is said of the rich man to show that he had every earthly honour, and all that the world calls happy and desirable.
