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Luke 16 – What is Abraham’s Bosom?
What is Abraham’s Bosom?
Is “Abraham’s bosom” an intermediate place between heaven and earth; or is it in a personal, close, position to Abraham himself, proclaiming kinship? Is “Abraham’s bosom” a realm or describing being next to a person? (Luke 16:22-23).
Abraham’s name is mentioned more in Luke, than any other NT book. One familiar text is the story of…, well let me give you some details to see if you can figure it out:
1. It’s about salvation and damnation.
2. A homeowner is mentioned.
3. There is no changing places afterwards.
4. Food is mentioned.
5. There is pain and suffering for the wicked.
6. The saved are with Abraham.
Did you figure out the text? If you are thinking, “The Rich Man and Lazarus”, you are wrong…and you are right.
Both the story of the Rich Man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31), and the parable of the Narrow Way (or, parable of the homeowner) (Luke 13:23-30) share these details. While we are more familiar with Lazarus’ situation, can connecting these two Lukan texts help us understand the meaning of “Abraham’s bosom”?
In the parable of the Narrow Way, Abraham is in the “kingdom of God” (13:28). Furthermore, in this kingdom the saved are reclining at a banquet table (13:29).
In the Lazarus narrative, the saved poor man is in “Abraham’s bosom” (16:22,23).
So, reclining with Abraham in one; and in Abraham’s bosom in the other.
Now let’s connect these two texts by going outside of Luke to show what picture we should be seeing:
• John 13:23 (NASB) There was reclining on Jesus’ bosom one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved.
When put together, “Abraham’s bosom” is not an intermediate realm, nor does the text say Abraham’s bosom is in Hades. Only the rich man is, which in the Narrow Way parable is described has people weeping and gnashing their teeth.
“Abraham’s bosom” is picturing Lazarus sitting close to Abraham in the kingdom of God – not an intermediate realm. Lazarus, being in Abraham’s bosom, means the poor yet saved man is accepted by Abraham. Akin to how Luke often references outsiders, Lazarus is shown to also hsving inherited the promise. He is a son of Abraham. That’s the meaning of Abraham’s bosom.
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