The Rich Man's Request

"And he cried and said, Father Abraham have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame."

(Luke 16: 24, KJV) 

 

In Luke 16: 19-31 we have the story of the Rich Man and Lazarus. I find verse 24 of particular interest. How can the Rich Man in hell ask for Lazarus to dip his finger in water and cool the Rich Man's tongue, seeing the Rich Man's body in hell was spiritual in nature, while his physical body was buried on earth? Since water is a physical substance that can only satisfy and sustain a physical being, how then can such water cool and satisfy a spiritual being?

 

Is Luke 16: 19-31 a Parable?

Often this passage of Scripture on the Rich Man and Lazarus gets mistaken for a parable. Cults such as the Jehovah's Witnesses, Seventh day Adventist, and even some parts of the Church believe and teach that Luke 16: 19-31 is a parable. I believe the reason why such cults and some Christian groups want to believe Luke 16 is a parable, is because they want to dismiss the reality of a literal hell for those who reject Christ. Nevertheless, the question can still be raised, Is Luke 16: 19-31 a parable? A simple answer to that question is no. Here is the reason why. (1.) Luke 16: 19-31 is not a parable because it is never mentioned to be one; whereas parables are usually mentioned in the illustration given (see Matt. 13: 18, 24, 31, 33, 21: 33; 24: 32; Mark 12: 1, 12; 13: 28; Luke 5: 36); (2.) Recognizable names are  actually used in Luke 16; (3.) And finally, the Lord Jesus teaches truth, not falsehood. Former Jehovah's Witness turned Christian, Lorri MacGregor agrees:

 

"This account is not a parable, since proper names of recognizable Bible characters are used, whereas Jesus never used proper names in His parables, and generally indicated when He was teaching in a parable. Even stretching the point and allowing that Luke 16 could be a parable, it teaches a spiritual truth, and Jesus taught truth, not falsehoods."[1]

 

What Water did the Rich Man in Hell Thirst For?

So as we can see, Luke 16 is NOT a parable as many falsely claim it to be. Now that we got that out of the way. Let us now come back to the original question at the beginning of this blog. "How can the Rich Man in hell ask for Lazarus to dip his finger in water and cool the Rich Man's tongue, seeing the Rich Man's body in hell was spiritual in nature, while his physical body was buried on earth?" Physical water CANNOT nourish a spiritual being. Since the Rich Man was conscious of his present state in hell, could he have been aware that physical water would not satisfy him? Perhaps. However, the Scriptures are clear on the matter of what the natural [physical, fleshy] man desires as opposed to what the spiritual man desires (1 Cor. 2: 14; Rom. 7: 23; 8: 5-10; Gal. 5: 17). If it was a physical body, it would crave physical water; whereas a spiritual body would crave "living water." I believe the water that the Rich Man craved was living water! Hence, Lazarus' words in our text: "And he cried and said, Father Abraham have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame."  Though "living water" is not specifically mentioned in this text, it certainly is implied. An example of this "living water" that I am talking about can be seen in the discussion that the Lord Jesus had with a Samaritan woman at Jacob's well in John 4. A comparison is given in this passage of Scripture between natural water that causes us to thirst again, because it does not satisfy as opposed to the living water that Jesus offers that will satisfy completely (see John 4: 10-15; Isa. 12: 2-3).

 

So what can we learn from all that has been said? Well, since the Rich Man was in hell in his spirit form, his craving would naturally be for the "living water" that Jesus was speaking of in John 4. The Rich Man was consciously aware of his plight after realizing that Lazarus was enjoying his salvation, whereas he was in torment, and that he was in need of God's water of salvation. Being in torment he came to realize it was too late for him. How fitting are the words:

 

"For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?" (Mark 8: 36-37). 

"How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation" (Heb. 2: 3).

 

Let us be wise like Lazarus who though he was poor in earthly goods, he made preparations to be rich towards God; whereas the foolish Rich Man was wealthy in earthly goods, but made no preparations to meet God. Therefore, he died and found himself in hell. Dear friend, God loves you, so if you have not made preparation to meet God when you die. I encourage you to be wise like Lazarus and receive God's "living water" of salvation and trust the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior today, make no delay!

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[1] Lorri MacGregor, Christadelphians & Christianity, (MM Outreach, Nelson, BC, 1998), pg. 23.