只是問一下 (24)：要是與地獄或煉獄無關呢？

這個問題或許有點冒瀆。

若我們俯瞰財主和拉撒路這個引人入勝的故事，俯瞰財主與阿伯拉罕的對話，探尋其中更大的題旨，豈非有意思？（見篇末的經文）

不錯，有些細節是相當有趣的，叫人很難抗拒。
* 財主在陰間受苦，可憐的拉撒路卻在阿伯拉罕懷中。
* 不滅的火煎熬著財主。
* 灼熱的艱苦與阿伯拉罕懷中的舒適兩者之間是鴻溝。
* 地獄抑或煉獄？

如此生動的描述。
只是俯瞰？
那麼焦點該放哪裡？

摩西和先知！

那是耶穌的焦點。
祂的話指向摩西和先知。

何謂摩西和先知？
當然是指「希伯來聖經」！
摩西代表律法。
加上先知，就是指「律法和先知」。

那就是這段經文之前的主題：
律法和先知的重要性，希伯來聖經的重要性！

「律法和先知到約翰為止，從此上帝國的福音傳開了，人人努力要進去。天地廢去比律法的一點一畫落空還要容易。」（路加福音十六章16～17節《和合本修訂版》）

財主和拉撒路這個有趣的故事，其主旨豈不是教導聖經不可或缺的重要性？

如此重要，若是忽略了，即使一個人從死人中復活，也無補於事！

聖經已經告訴你一切所需。
因此無須害怕地獄或煉獄，儘管它們既真實又恐怖！
不要害怕煉獄或地獄。
不要注意富人和窮人之間的憎恨。

因為……根本無須有復活的人回去教導甚麼。
只須聽從律法和先知！

如此，上帝的話屹立。
既是真實的指導。
又是生活的準繩。

無須死人復活。

甚至：如果你不相信律法和先知，你也就不需要耶穌復活了！

只是問一下。

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路加福音十六章19～31節《和合本修訂版》

19「有一個財主穿著紫色袍和細麻布衣服，天天奢華宴樂。20又有一個討飯的，名叫拉撒路，渾身長瘡，被人放在財主門口，21想得財主桌子上掉下來的碎食充飢，甚至還有狗來舔他的瘡。22後來那討飯的死了，被天使帶去放在亞伯拉罕的懷裏。財主也死了，並且埋葬了。23他在陰間受苦，舉目遠遠地望見亞伯拉罕，又望見拉撒路在他懷裏，24他就喊著說：『我祖亞伯拉罕哪，可憐我吧！請打發拉撒路來，用指頭尖蘸點水，涼涼我的舌頭，因為我在這火焰裏，極其痛苦。』25亞伯拉罕說：『孩子啊，你該回想你生前享過福，拉撒路也同樣受過苦，如今他在這裏得安慰，你卻受痛苦。26除此之外，在你們和我們之間，有深淵隔開，以致人要從這邊過到你們那邊是不可能的；要從那邊過到這邊也是不可能的。』27財主說：『我祖啊，既然這樣，求你打發拉撒路到我父家去，28因為我還有五個兄弟，他可以警告他們，免得他們也來到這痛苦的地方。』29亞伯拉罕說：『他們有摩西和先知的話可以聽從。』30他說：『不！我祖亞伯拉罕哪，假如有一個人從死人中到他們那裏去，他們一定會悔改。』31亞伯拉罕對他說：『如果他們不聽從摩西和先知的話，就是有人從死人中復活，他們也不會信服的。』」

Lazarus and the rich man painted by Brother Joseph Carignano in 1890 (Chris Light, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons)

Just asking (24): What if it’s neither about hell nor purgatory?

This could be viewed as a sacrilegious question.

Wouldn’t it be acceptable to overlook the colorful story of the rich man and Lazarus, and the former’s conversation with Abraham for a greater purpose? (see passage below)

Yes it’s very difficult to resist the temptation of these juicy bits.
- [ ] Rich man goes to eternal punishment vs poor Lazarus enjoys presence of Abraham.
- [ ] Fire unceasing for the rich man.
- [ ] Chasm between fiery existence and comfort of Abraham’s bosom.
- [ ] Hell or purgatory?

Such juicy bits.
Overlook them?
But to focus on what then?

Moses and the prophets!

That’s the focus of Jesus.
He points the way to Moses and the prophets.

What’s Moses and the prophets?
Of course, that was a way of saying “the Hebrew Scriptures”!
Moses stands for the Law.
Prophets then makes it “Law and Prophets”.

That was the subject immediately prior to the current episode under consideration.
The importance of the Law and Prophets, the Hebrew Scriptures!

“Until John the Baptist, the law of Moses and the messages of the prophets were your guides. But now the Good News of the Kingdom of God is preached, and everyone is eager to get in. But that doesn’t mean that the law has lost its force. It is easier for heaven and earth to disappear than for the smallest point of God’s law to be overturned.” (Luke 16:16-17, New Living Translation)

Isn’t the key thrust of the juicy story of the rich man and Lazarus a teaching on the indispensable importance of Scriptures?

So important that if it is ignored, even a resurrected person could do no good!

Scriptures told you all that would be necessary.
There would be no fear of hell or purgatory, even if they were real and ghastly.
But fear not purgatory or hell.
Pay no attention to the hatred between the rich and the poor.

Because . . . there’s no need for dead man to return to educate.
Just listen to the Law and Prophets!

As such God’s Word stands.
Remains truthful guidance.
To live by.

No need dead man to come alive.

Even this: if you don’t trust the Law and Prophets, you have no need for the resurrection of Jesus!

Just asking.

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Luke 16:19-31, NLT

19 Jesus said, “There was a certain rich man who was splendidly clothed in purple and fine linen and who lived each day in luxury. 20 At his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus who was covered with sores. 21 As Lazarus lay there longing for scraps from the rich man’s table, the dogs would come and lick his open sores.
22 “Finally, the poor man died and was carried by the angels to sit beside Abraham at the heavenly banquet. The rich man also died and was buried, 23 and he went to the place of the dead. There, in torment, he saw Abraham in the far distance with Lazarus at his side.
24 “The rich man shouted, ‘Father Abraham, have some pity! Send Lazarus over here to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue. I am in anguish in these flames.’
25 “But Abraham said to him, ‘Son, remember that during your lifetime you had everything you wanted, and Lazarus had nothing. So now he is here being comforted, and you are in anguish. 26 And besides, there is a great chasm separating us. No one can cross over to you from here, and no one can cross over to us from there.’
27 “Then the rich man said, ‘Please, Father Abraham, at least send him to my father’s home. 28 For I have five brothers, and I want him to warn them so they don’t end up in this place of torment.’
29 “But Abraham said, ‘Moses and the prophets have warned them. Your brothers can read what they wrote.’
30 “The rich man replied, ‘No, Father Abraham! But if someone is sent to them from the dead, then they will repent of their sins and turn to God.’
31 “But Abraham said, ‘If they won’t listen to Moses and the prophets, they won’t be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead.’”