Reasons for why the Rich Man/Lazarus is Literal or Parabolic:
Which way do the scales tip?
I. Literal:
1) Jesus used the
proper name “Lazarus”
II. Parabolic:
1) The passage is found
right in the midst of several other parabolic passages (Luke 14,15,16, 17)
2) The passage
begins just as Jesus' other parables, “There was a certain (rich) man” and should be immediately recognized as a parable, just as “Once upon a time” is immediately recognized as the beginning of a fairy tale
3) The passage contains
highly symbolic elements which by default disqualifies it as literal
4) “Abraham's bosom” is clearly symbolic, in that
it is neither heaven or hell where it is popularly but erroneously claimed the dead immediately go
5) Abraham's literal bosom
can't possibly be big enough to receive all the righteous dead
6) The Rich Man, Lazarus, and Abraham
have bodies with tongues, eyes, fingers, bosoms, etc., however the Bible teaches the dead do not again possess bodies until the resurrection
(Philippians 3:20-21 KJV;
Colossians 3:4 KJV;
1 John 3:2 KJV;
1 Corinthians 15:51-55 KJV;
John 5:28-29 KJV;
Job 14:12-14 KJV)
7) A person completely engulfed in flame
can't carry on an intelligent conversation
8) A person completely engulfed in flame
can't obtain relief from a drop of water
9) Jesus chose “Hades”
instead of the fiery, burning, blazing “Gehenna” when mentioning hell
10) Scripture says
the dead are buried or left unburied, not carried by angels anywhere
11) Scripture says
the dead know not anything, but these dead do
(Ecc. 9:5 KJV)
12) Scripture says
the dead have no memory, but these dead do
(Ecc. 9:5 KJV;
Psalms 115:17 KJV)
13) Scripture says
the dead have no emotions, but these dead do
(Ecc. 9:6 KJV)
14) Scripture says
the dead do not devise plans but the dead Rich Man does just that
(Ecc. 9:10 KJV)
15) Scripture says
the dead have no wisdom but these dead demonstrate wisdom
(Ecc. 9:10 KJV)
16) Scripture says
the dead go down into silence but these dead are heard talking
(Psalms 115:17 KJV)
17) Scripture says
the dead go down into darkness but these dead can see and be seen
(Psalms 88:12 KJV)
“All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables;
and without a parable spake he not unto them: That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying,
I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world.” --
Matthew 13:34-35 KJV