I'm not so sure about that brother. I hesitate to believe this is a parable. In the parables (which are specifically identified as parables), there is never any identification of the people by name. They say such things as, there was a man, or some such but never name people by their name. In this story Lazarus is actually named. Are you aware of any scriptures wherein it is positively stated to be a parable, and also names people?
But the parables start, " there was a certain rich man?" The argument,. it's not a parable because Jesus uses a name, is from silence. Along that line one could also argue that it is a parable because there is nowhere else in the Bible that teaches the dead are somehow alive.
Have you considered that the name means something in the parable? Most names come from normal words. Your name and mine were probably everyday words in the language in which they originated. Your name is a compound of two words, here is what Wikipedia says about it.
Edward is an
English given name. It is derived from
Old English words
ead (meaning 'wealth', 'fortune' or 'prosperous') and
weard(meaning 'guardian' or 'protector'). Wikipedia
Edward stems from to common everyday words. With that in mind what does:Lazarus mean? Lazarus is the Greek form of Eleazer which means God helps. Who does God help?
Lazarus was a poor beggar
And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said,
Blessed be ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God. (Luk 6:20 KJV)
The Pharisees were proud and they were rich, the rich man was rich and if he represents the Jewish leadership as I suspect he was proud. Lazarus on the other hand was humbled and reduced to begging.
3 Blessed are the
poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Mat 5:1 KJV)
KJV James 4:6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but
giveth grace unto the humble. (Jam 4:6 KJV)
KJV 1 Peter 5:5 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for
God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. (1Pe 5:5 KJV)
KJV Isaiah 66:2 For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD:
but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word. (Isa 66:2 KJV)
These passages describe Lazarus (The beggar) and explain that this is the one that God helps (Lazarus)
When we look at the parable who is God helping, it's Lazarus, not the rich man..