We come now to a familiar
story told by Jesus: "The Rich
Man And Lazarus".
Commonly referred to as a parable, though I have my doubts.
It is the only one in which names of actual individuals are used one was certainly a real-life person, Abraham.
But even if this story is a parable, parables told by Jesus were
true-to-life not fantasy stories, but illustrations based upon events that were actually possible.
There are similarities with this story and "The Unjust
Steward"... Both start out by saying "There
was a certain rich man..."
The previous parable stressed the proper use of wealth;
This story illustrates one who did not "make friends...by
unrighteous mammon", however both call us to repent before it is too late.
