Scripture to Read: Luke 16:22-23
Jesus continued to share, as we read in Luke 16:22–23, “Now the poor man died and was carried away by the angels to Abraham’s bosom; and the rich man also died and was buried. 23 In Hades he lifted up his eyes, being in torment, and *saw Abraham far away and Lazarus in his bosom.” Here we see that both men died. The rich man went to Hades (also called the realm of the dead or the place of the dead and in the Old Testament, Sheol), and the poor man went to “Abraham’s bosom.” It’s important to understand that when Jesus shared this parable, He had not yet been crucified. Therefore, those who placed their faith in God in the hope of His coming Messiah, when they died prior to Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection, went to a place of comfort and rest that Jesus called “Abraham’s bosom.” Jesus, though, while hanging on the cross, did not tell the thief who surrendered to Him as Lord, “Today you’ll be with Me in ‘Abraham’s bosom.’” No, Jesus told that thief in Luke 23:43, “Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise.” This is the same place (also called “the third heaven,”) that God had Paul describe in 2 Corinthians 12:2–4, which Paul called “Paradise.” Our Lord Jesus Christ mentions “Paradise” again in Revelation 2:7. The point is that there has always been a place of torment, and those who refuse to place their faith in God go there, while the place of rest and comfort is for those who do.
Challenge & Application
From what God taught us today, what can we be sure of about what happens to our souls when we die?
How do we know that the rich man never placed his faith in God but that the poor man did?
Don’t forget to pray using the A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) method!