Reference: Lazarus
American
1. A friend and disciple of Christ, brother of Martha and Mary, with whom he resided at Bethany near Jerusalem. Our Savior had a high regard for the family, and often visited them; and when Lazarus was dangerously ill, word was sent to Christ, "Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick." The Savior reached Bethany after he had lain four days in his grave, and restored him to life by a word, "Lazarus, come forth." This public and stupendous miracle drew so many to Christ, that his enemies sought to put both him and Lazarus to death, Joh 11; 12:1-11. The narrative displays Christ as a tender and compassionate friend, weeping for and with those he loved, and at the same time as the Prince of life, beginning his triumph over death and the grave. Happy are they who, in view of their own death, or that of friends, can know that they are safe in Him who says, "I am the resurrection and the life;" and, "because I live, ye shall live also."
2. The helpless beggar who lay at the rich man's gate in one of Christ's most solemn and instructive parables. The one, though poor and sorely afflicted, was a child of God. The other described as self-indulgent rather than vicious or criminal was living without God in the enjoyment of every earthly luxury. Their state in this life was greatly in contrast with their real character before God, which was revealed in the amazing changes of their condition at death, Lu 16:19-31. See ABRAHAM'S BOSOM. Our Savior plainly teaches us, in this parable, that both the friends and the foes of God know and begin to experience their doom immediately after death, and that it is in both cases unchangeable and eternal.
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"Now there was a certain rich man, and he was clothed in purple and fine linen, faring sumptuously every day. And a certain poor man, Lazarus by name, had been laid at his gate, full of sores, read more. and desiring to be fed with the crumbs falling from the rich man's table; yea, even the dogs, coming, were licking his sores. And it came to pass that the poor man died, and that he was carried away by the angels into Abraham's bosom. And the rich man also died, and was buried; and in Hades, lifting up his eyes, being in torments, he sees Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And, crying, he 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; because I am in anguish in this flame!' But Abraham said, 'Child, remember that, in your lifetime, you received in full your good things, and Lazarus, likewise, evil things; but now here he is comforted, and you are in anguish. And, in all these things, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed; so that those wishing to cross from hence to you cannot; nor do they pass from thence to us.' And he said, 'I pray you, therefore, father, that you would send him to my father's house; for I have five brothers; that he may testify to them, lest they also come into this place of torment.' But Abraham says, 'They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.' But he said, 'Nay, father Abraham; but, if one go to them from the dead, they will repent.' But he said to him, 'If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, if one rose from the dead.'"
Easton
an abbreviation of Eleazar, whom God helps. (1.) The brother of Mary and Martha of Bethany. He was raised from the dead after he had lain four days in the tomb (Joh 11:1-44). This miracle so excited the wrath of the Jews that they sought to put both Jesus and Lazarus to death.
(2.) A beggar named in the parable recorded Lu 16:19-31.
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"Now there was a certain rich man, and he was clothed in purple and fine linen, faring sumptuously every day. And a certain poor man, Lazarus by name, had been laid at his gate, full of sores, read more. and desiring to be fed with the crumbs falling from the rich man's table; yea, even the dogs, coming, were licking his sores. And it came to pass that the poor man died, and that he was carried away by the angels into Abraham's bosom. And the rich man also died, and was buried; and in Hades, lifting up his eyes, being in torments, he sees Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And, crying, he 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; because I am in anguish in this flame!' But Abraham said, 'Child, remember that, in your lifetime, you received in full your good things, and Lazarus, likewise, evil things; but now here he is comforted, and you are in anguish. And, in all these things, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed; so that those wishing to cross from hence to you cannot; nor do they pass from thence to us.' And he said, 'I pray you, therefore, father, that you would send him to my father's house; for I have five brothers; that he may testify to them, lest they also come into this place of torment.' But Abraham says, 'They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.' But he said, 'Nay, father Abraham; but, if one go to them from the dead, they will repent.' But he said to him, 'If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, if one rose from the dead.'"
Now a certain one was sick, Lazarus from Bethany, of the village of Mary and her sister Martha. And it was the Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped His feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick. read more. The sisters, therefore, sent to Him, saying, "Lord, behold, he whom Thou lovest is sick." And Jesus, hearing it, said, "This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it. Now Jesus was loving Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus. When, therefore, He heard that he was sick, He then abode two days in the place where He was. Then, after this, He saith to the disciples, "Let us go into Judaea again." The disciples say to Him, "Rabbi, the Jews were just now seeking to stone Thee; and art Thou going there again?" Jesus answered, "Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any one walks in the day, he stumbles not, because he sees the light of this world; but, if any one walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him." These things He spake; and after this He saith to them, "Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going to awake him out of sleep." The disciples, therefore, said to Him, "Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover!" Now Jesus had spoken concerning his death; but they thought He spake of taking rest in sleep. Then, therefore, Jesus said to them plainly, "Lazarus died. And I am glad, for your sakes, (in order that ye may believe), that I was not there. But let us go to him." Thomas, who is called Dydimus, said, therefore, to His fellow-disciples, "Let us also go, that we may die with Him." Jesus, therefore, having come, found that he had already been four days in the tomb. Now Bethany was near to Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs distant. And many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother. Martha, therefore, when she heard that Jesus was coming, met Him; but Mary was sitting in the house. Martha, therefore, said to Jesus, "Lord, if Thou hadst been here, my brother would not have died; and now I know that, whatsoever Thou shalt ask of God, God will give Thee." Jesus saith to her, "Your brother shall rise again." Martha says to Him, "I know that he will rise again, in the resurrection at the last day." Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life; he that believes on Me, though he die, yet shall he live; and whosoever lives and believes on Me shall never die. Do you believe this?" She says to Him, "Yea, Lord; I have believed that Thou art the Christ, the Son of God, He Who was to come into the world." And, saying this, she went away, and called Mary her sister privately, saying, "The Teacher is present, and calleth for you." And she, when she heard it, arose quickly, and went to Him. (Now Jesus had not yet come into the village, but was still in the place where Martha met Him.) The Jews, therefore, who were with her in the house, and were comforting her, seeing Mary, that she rose up quickly and went out, followed her, supposing that she was going to the tomb, to weep there. Mary, therefore, when she came where Jesus was, seeing Him, fell at His feet, saying to Him, "Lord, if Thou hadst been here, my brother would not have died." Jesus, therefore, when He saw her weeping, and the Jews weeping who came with her, groaned in the spirit, and troubled Himself; and He said, "Where have ye laid Him?" They say to Him, "Lord, come and see." Jesus wept. The Jews, therefore, said, "Behold, how He was loving him! And some of them said, "Could not This Man, Who opened the eyes of the blind, have caused that even this man should not die?" Jesus, therefore, again groaning in Himself, cometh to the tomb. Now it was a cave, and a stone was lying on it. Jesus saith, "Take ye away the stone." The sister of the deceased, Martha, says to Him, "Lord, already he is decaying; for he has been dead four days." Jesus saith to her, "Did I not say to you that, if you would believe, you should see the glory of God?" So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up His eyes, and said, "Father, I thank Thee, because Thou didst hear Me. And I knew that Thou always hearest Me; but, because of the multitude standing around, I said it, that they may believe that Thou didst send Me." And, having spoken these words, He cried with a loud voice, "Lazarus, come forth!" He that was dead came forth, bound feet and hands with grave-clothes; and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith to them, "Loose him, and let him go."
Fausets
LAZARUS or ELEAZAR ("God helps".)
1. Of Bethany; brother of Mary and Martha (Joh 11:1). (See BETHANY.) The sisters were the better known, from whence they are put prominently forward here, and in Lu 10:38, etc., are alone named. Lazarus was "of (apo, 'belonging to at that time') Bethany, from (ek, implying his original settlement) the village of Mary and Martha" (still it is likely the same village is meant in both Luke 10 and John 11, namely, Bethany). Curiously, Ganneau found close to Bethany a tomb, probably of the first century, containing the names all together of Simon, Martha, and Lazarus. Lazarus' subordinate position at their feast in Christ's honour (Joh 12:2) makes it likely he was the youngest. Moreover, the house is called that of Simon the leper (Mt 26:6; Mr 14:3); who was probably therefore their father, but either by death or leprosy no longer with them, though possibly he too, as a leper healed by Jesus, was then one of that happy family.
Their friends from Jerusalem (Joh 11:19), according to John's use of "the Jews," were of the ruling elders and Pharisees. The feast; the costly ointment, the family funeral cave (compare Isa 22:16; 2Ki 23:6; Jer 26:23), all bespeak good social position. The sisters' warm attachment to Lazarus was strengthened by their common love to Jesus who loved all three (Joh 11:5). Lazarus had won the disciples' love too, for Jesus calls him "our friend" (Joh 11:11). At the time of Lazarus' sickness and the sisters' call, Jesus was in Peraea beyond Jordan, on His way to Jerusalem, two days' journey from Bethany. He delayed two days to give time for that death which He foresaw, and from which He was about to raise Lazarus. On proposing to go to Judea, His disciples remonstrated on the ground that He would be going into the very danger from which He had just escaped (Joh 10:39-40; 11:8-10).
He replied that while His appointed day yet lasted He was safe, and that He was going to awaken Lazarus out of sleep. He was "glad" that He had not been on the spot before, that Lazarus' death and rising might awaken the disciples out of the deadness of unbelief. The sisters grieved at His seeming neglect. God sees cause for joy where even His people see only cause for grief. Four days had elapsed after the call when He arrived. Martha went and met Him, while Mary sat in the house, in beautiful harmony with the character of each respectively, described in Lu 10:40-42. Martha's faith had now become stronger; so she says, "Lord, I know that even now whatsoever Thou wilt ask of God, God will give it Thee (more buoyant in spirit than Mary, and cherishing even now a vague hope of her brother's restoration) ... Yea, Lord, I believe that Thou art the Christ the Son of God ... the Resurrection and the Life." Upon Martha telling Mary of Jesus' arrival and "call" for her, either expressed or implied ("secretly," through fear of Jewish informers, see Joh 11:28,46), the latter also came "quickly" to Him.
The Jews her friends, not having heard Martha's communication, supposed Mary was gone to the tomb to weep, but found her as of old "at Jesus' feet." Her words were fewer, but her action more impassioned, than those of her sister. So the whole company, Jesus, His disciples, the sisters, and their sympathizers, were met at the grave. At the sight of their weeping, Jesus "groaned in spirit," and troubled Himself, but checked His emotion which would otherwise have choked utterance. "Where have ye laid him?" Sympathy with their sorrow, which He was instantly to relieve, at last found vent in tears: "Jesus wept" (compare Lu 19:41; Heb 4:15). "Behold. how He loved him," the Jews, His adversaries, were constrained to exclaim. Their unbelief, "could not this man which opened the eyes of the blind (John 9, they allude not to the raising of Jairus' daughter and the widow of Nain's son, which took place in Galilee, but to the miracle which made such a stir in Jerusalem; they never thought of His raising the dead) have caused that even this man should not have died?" made Him "groan again."
Take away the stone. Martha, retaining still remainders of unbelief (she believed in Lazarus' future resurrection, but she hardly dared to believe what she herself had hinted at in Joh 11:22, that Christ will raise him now), objected on the ground of the body's presumed decomposition by this time. He tells her to "believe, so she shall see the glory of God." With a preparatory thanksgiving to the Father for the already felt answer to His prayer, He said, "Lazarus, come forth," and he came forth bound hand and foot, the graveclothes and napkin about his face. "Loose him, and let him go"; contrast Jesus' resurrection, the graveclothes and the napkin folded separately, because, unlike Lazarus, He was to die no more (Joh 20:6-7). The same miracle which converted some Jews to belief furnished others only with materials for informing the Pharisees against Him. It brought the plots of the rulers and Caiaphas to a crisis (Joh 11:45-53).
The very sign which the Pharisees desired in the parable of Lazarus (Lu 16:27-30) is now granted in the person of one of the same name, but only stimulates them to their crowning sin, to kill Jesus, nay even to kill Lazarus too (Joh 12:10). The same sun that develops the fragrant violet strengthens the poison of the deadly nightshade. This is the crucial miracle of the truth of the Gospels. Spinosa said if this were true he would tear his system in pieces and embrace Christianity. As the Lord's Judaean ministry was not the subject of the first three evangelists, but the Galilean, they omit the raising of Lazarus. The Jews' consultation to kill Lazarus, and his own probable shrinking from publicity after such a mysterious experience, perhaps further influenced them in their omission of the miracle. By John's time of writing the brother and sisters were dead, and no reason for reserve any longer existed.
Tradition says that Lazarus' first question on coming back was whether he should die again; on learning he must, he never smiled again. Such an impression was made by this miracle that many Jews flocked to Bethany to see both Jesus and Lazarus. The eye witnesses bore record, and the people who heard of it from them met Him on His way to Jerusalem, and formed part of His retinue in His triumphal entry with the palmbearing multitude (Joh 12:12,17-18). E. H. Plumptre (Smith's Dictionary) identifies Simon the leper with Simon the Pharisee (Lu 7:36-40); Martha had the Pharisees' belief in the resurrection (Joh 11:24); Mary's gift of the ointment was after the example of the sinful woman in Simon's house; the leprosy came on subsequently.
Also he identifies Lazarus with the rich young ruler (Matthew 19; Mark 10; Luke 18); Jesus' words to him, "one thing thou lackest," answer to His words to Martha. "one thing is needful"; "Jesus beholding loved him" (Mark) is said also of Lazarus (Joh 11:5); Jesus' love at last wrought out his conversion, possible to God though not to man; a sharp Palestine fever is sent to discipline him; his death and rising through Jesus' power is accompanied by his spiritual resurrection (Joh 5:24-25). Judas and the eleven expected, that the feast in Joh 12:2 was the farewell feast of Lazarus, renouncing his former life and obeying Christ's command, "sell that thou hast, and give to the poor"; hence, Judas' bitter objection, "why was not this ointment sold for 300 pence and given to the poor?"
On the night of Christ's betrayal Lazarus, whose Bethany home was near and was Christ's lodging on the previous night, in the hasty night alarm rushed eagerly with "the linen cloth (the term applied to graveclothes always, the same which he had on when the Lord raised him from the grave (Joh 11:44), sindon) cast about his naked body" (Mr 14:51-52; 15:46), and was seized by the high priest's servants as a second victim (Joh 12:10), whereas they let the other disciples escape.
2. Lazarus in the parable, Lu 16:19-31. The one unknown on earth has a name with God; the rich man, well known as a great man among men, has no name with God (Re 3:1). The historic Lazarus (John 11-12) belonged to the richer classes. Yet it is not a rich Lazarus, but Lazar
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"Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon the earth, where moth and rust consume, and where thieves break through, and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in Heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes, and where theives do not break through, nor steal; read more. for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
And I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the Kingdom of Heaven; but the sons of the Kingdom shall be cast out into the outer darkness; there will be the weeping, and the gnashing of teeth."
But she said, "Yes, Lord; for even the little dogs eat of the crumbs falling from the master's table."
And, while He was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper, as He was reclining at table, there came a woman having an alabaster cruse of ointment of pure spikenard, very costly; and, having broken the cruse, she was pouring it down on His bead.
And a certain young man was following with Him, having a linen cloth thrown around his naked body; and they lay hold on him; but, leaving the linen cloth, he fled naked.
And he, having brought linen cloth, and having taken Him down, wrapped Him in the linen cloth, and laid Him in a tomb which had been hewn out of a rock; and he rolled a stone against the door of the tomb.
Produce, therefore, fruits worthy of repentance; and begin not to say within yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father'; for I say to you, that God is able out of these stones to raise up children to Abraham.
And one of the Pharisees was asking Him to eat with him; and, having entered into the Pharisee's house, He reclined at table. And, behold, a woman who was in the city, a sinner; and, learning that He was reclining at table in the house of the Pharisee, having provided an alabaster cruse of perfume; read more. and standing behind at His feet weeping, she began to wet His feet with her tears, and wiped them off with the hair of her head; and she kept kissing His feet, and anointing them with the perfume. But, seeing it, the Pharisee who invited Him, spake in himself, saying, "This Man, if He were a prophet, would know who and what sort of woman this is that is touching Him, because she is a sinner." And Jesus, answering, said to him, "Simon, I have something to say to you." And he says, "Teacher, say it."
Now, as they were going on their way, He entered into a certain village; and a certain woman, Martha by name, received Him into her house.
But Martha was being distracted about much serving; and, coming up suddenly, she said, "Lord, carest Thou not that my sister left me to serve alone? Speak to her, therefore, that she assist me!" But the Lord, answering, said to her, "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things; read more. but of one thing there is need; for Mary chose the good part, which, indeed, shall not be taken away from her."
And He said to them, "Ye are those who justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts; because that which is exalted among men is an abomination before God.
"Now there was a certain rich man, and he was clothed in purple and fine linen, faring sumptuously every day. And a certain poor man, Lazarus by name, had been laid at his gate, full of sores, read more. and desiring to be fed with the crumbs falling from the rich man's table; yea, even the dogs, coming, were licking his sores. And it came to pass that the poor man died, and that he was carried away by the angels into Abraham's bosom. And the rich man also died, and was buried; and in Hades, lifting up his eyes, being in torments, he sees Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And, crying, he 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; because I am in anguish in this flame!' But Abraham said, 'Child, remember that, in your lifetime, you received in full your good things, and Lazarus, likewise, evil things; but now here he is comforted, and you are in anguish. And, in all these things, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed; so that those wishing to cross from hence to you cannot; nor do they pass from thence to us.' And he said, 'I pray you, therefore, father, that you would send him to my father's house;
And he said, 'I pray you, therefore, father, that you would send him to my father's house;
And he said, 'I pray you, therefore, father, that you would send him to my father's house; for I have five brothers; that he may testify to them, lest they also come into this place of torment.'
for I have five brothers; that he may testify to them, lest they also come into this place of torment.'
for I have five brothers; that he may testify to them, lest they also come into this place of torment.' But Abraham says, 'They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.'
But Abraham says, 'They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.' But he said, 'Nay, father Abraham; but, if one go to them from the dead, they will repent.'
But he said, 'Nay, father Abraham; but, if one go to them from the dead, they will repent.'
But he said, 'Nay, father Abraham; but, if one go to them from the dead, they will repent.'
But he said, 'Nay, father Abraham; but, if one go to them from the dead, they will repent.' But he said to him, 'If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, if one rose from the dead.'"
But he said to him, 'If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, if one rose from the dead.'"
And, when He came near, seeing the city, He wept over it,
"Verily, verily, I say to you, He that hears My word, and believes Him Who sent Me, has eternal life, and comes not into judgment, but has passed out of death into life. Verily, verily, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those having heard shall live.
They were seeking, therefore, again to seize Him; and He went forth out of their hands. And He went away again beyond the Jordan unto the place where John was at first immersing; and there He abode.
Now a certain one was sick, Lazarus from Bethany, of the village of Mary and her sister Martha.
Now Jesus was loving Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus.
Now Jesus was loving Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus.
The disciples say to Him, "Rabbi, the Jews were just now seeking to stone Thee; and art Thou going there again?" Jesus answered, "Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any one walks in the day, he stumbles not, because he sees the light of this world; read more. but, if any one walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him." These things He spake; and after this He saith to them, "Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going to awake him out of sleep."
And many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother.
Martha says to Him, "I know that he will rise again, in the resurrection at the last day."
And, saying this, she went away, and called Mary her sister privately, saying, "The Teacher is present, and calleth for you."
He that was dead came forth, bound feet and hands with grave-clothes; and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith to them, "Loose him, and let him go." Many, therefore, of the Jews who came to Mary and beheld what He did, believed on Him; read more. but some of them went away to the Pharisees, and told them what Jesus did.
but some of them went away to the Pharisees, and told them what Jesus did. The high priests, therefore, and the Pharisees gathered a council, and said, "What are we doing? because This Man is doing many signs. read more. If we let Him thus alone, all will believe on Him; and the Romans will come, and take away both our place and our nation. But a certain one of them, Caiaphas, being high priest that year, said, "Ye know nothing at all; nor do ye consider that it is expedient for you, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not." And this he said not of himself; but, being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus was about to die for that nation; and not for that nation only, but that He might also gather together into one the children of God that are scattered abroad. From that day, therefore, they took counsel, that they might put Him to death.
They, therefore, made Him a supper there; and Martha was serving; but Lazarus was one of those reclining at table with Him.
They, therefore, made Him a supper there; and Martha was serving; but Lazarus was one of those reclining at table with Him.
But the high priests consulted, that they might slay Lazarus also;
But the high priests consulted, that they might slay Lazarus also;
But the high priests consulted, that they might slay Lazarus also; because, on his account, many of the Jews were going away, and were believing on Jesus. read more. On the morrow a great multitude that had come to the feast, having heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem,
The multitude, therefore, that was with Him when He called Lazarus out of the tomb, and raised him from the dead, was bearing testimony. On this account also, the multitude met Him, because they heard that He had done this sign.
He, leaning back as he was on the breast of Jesus, says to Him, "Lord, who is it?"
Simon Peter, therefore, also comes, following him, and he went into the tomb; and beholds the linen cloths lying, and the napkin that was on His head, not lying with the linen cloths, but rolled up in a place by itself.
and He gave him no inheritance in it, not even a foot-breadth; and He promised to give it to him for a possession, and to his Seed after him, when he had no child.
Why is it judged incredible with you, if God doth raise the dead?
for we have not a High Priest, unable to sympathize with our infirmities, but One Who hath been tempted in all points like as we, apart from sin.
These all died according to faith, not having obtained the promises, but having seen them from afar, and having greeted them, and having confessed that they were strangers and sojourners on the earth.
"And to the angel of the assembly in Sardis write these things," saith He Who hath the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars: "I know your works, that you have a name that you are living, and you are dead.
Hastings
A common Jewish name, a colloquial abbreviation of Eleazar.
1. The brother of Martha and Mary, the friend of Jesus (Joh 11:3,11,36, where 'love' and 'friend' represent the same root in Greek). The family lived at Bethany, a village within two miles of Jerusalem just over the brow of Olivet. Lazarus was the subject of the greatest miracle of the Gospel story (Joh 11:1-44). In the last year of His ministry Jesus sojourned at Jerusalem from the Feast of Tabernacles in October to that of the Dedication in December; and, on being driven out by the violence of the rulers (Joh 10:31,39), He retired to 'Bethany beyond Jordan' (Joh 10:40; cf. Joh 1:28 RV). A crowd followed Him thither, and in the midst of His beneficent activities of teaching and healing tidings reached Him that His friend had fallen sick. He might have responded immediately to the sisters' appeal either by hastening to their home and laying His hand on the sick man, or by sending forth His word of power and healing him across the intervening distance of some twenty miles (cf. Joh 4:46-54; Mt 15:21-28 = Mr 7:24-30). But He did neither; He remained where He was for two days, until Lazarus was dead. He desired not only to manifest His power to His friends, but to make a signal appeal to impenitent Jerusalem, by working a miracle which would attest His Messiahship beyond all question.
At length He set forth. If the messenger started in the morning, he would reach Jesus the same evening. Jesus stayed two days, and setting out early would arrive on the evening of the fourth day. Thus on His arrival Lazarus had been dead four days (Joh 11:39). In that sultry climate burial followed immediately on death, and it sometimes happened that a swoon was mistaken for death, and the buried man came to life again. The Jewish belief was that the soul hovered about the sepulchre for three days, fain to re-animate its clay. On the fourth day decomposition set in, and hope was then abandoned. Jesus arrived on the fourth day, and there was no doubt of the reality of Lazarus' death and of the ensuing miracle. It was not a recovery from a trance, but a veritable resurrection. He went to the rock-hewn sepulchre, and in presence of the sisters and a large company of mourners, including many of the rulers who had come from the adjacent capital to testify their esteem for the good Lazarus and their sympathy with Martha and Mary (Joh 11:19), summoned the dead man forth and restored him, alive and well, to his home. It was a startling miracle. It made a profound impression on the multitude, but it only exasperated the rulers. They convened a meeting of the Sanhedrin and determined to put Jesus to death (Joh 11:47-53).
He retired to Ephraim near the frontier of Samaria, and stayed there until the Passover drew near; then He set out for Jerusalem to keep the Feast and to die. Six days before it began (Joh 12:1), He reached Bethany, and despite the Sanhedrin's decree He received a great ovation. He was honoured with a banquet in the house of one of the leading men of the village, Simon, who had been a leper and had probably been healed by Jesus (Joh 12:2-11 = Mt 26:6-13 = Mr 14:3-9). Lazarus was one of the company. The news of His arrival at Bethany reached Jerusalem, and next day the multitude thronged out and escorted Him in triumph into the city. It was the raising of Lazarus that excited their enthusiasm (Joh 12:3,17-18).
After this Lazarus appears no more in the Gospel story. Surely he of all men should have stood by Jesus at His trial and crucifixion; and the explanation of his absence is probably that he had been forced to flee. Observing the popular enthusiasm, the infuriated rulers had determined to put him also to death (Joh 12:10-11). He would withdraw more for Jesus' sake than for his own. His presence only increased the Master's danger.
2. The beggar in our Lord's parable (Lu 16:19-31).
See Verses Found in Dictionary
And I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the Kingdom of Heaven;
And, going forth thence, Jesus withdrew into the parts of Tyre and Sidon. And, behold, a Canaanitish woman, having come forth out of those borders, cried out, saying, "Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a demon!" read more. But He answered her not a word. And His disciples, coming near, were beseeching Him, saying, "Send her away; for she is crying after us!" But He, answering, said, "I was not sent, except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." But she, coming, was worshiping Him, saying, "Lord, help me!" And He, answering, said, "It is not good to take the children's bread and cast it to the little dogs." But she said, "Yes, Lord; for even the little dogs eat of the crumbs falling from the master's table." Then Jesus, answering, said to her, "O woman, great is your faith! be it done to you as you wish." And her daughter was healed from that hour.
Now, when Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper, there came to Him a woman having an alabaster cruse of very precious ointment, and poured it down upon His head, while reclining at table. read more. And the disciples, seeing it, were much displeased, saying, "To what purpose is this waste? For this might have been sold for much, and given to the poor!" But Jesus, perceiving it, said to them, "Why do ye give trouble to the woman? for she wrought a good work for Me; for the poor ye always have with you; but Me ye have not always. For she, in pouring this ointment upon My body, did it with reference to My burial. Verily I say to you, wheresoever this Gospel shall be preached in all the world, that also which this woman did shall be spoken of for a memorial of her."
And, rising up, He went thence into the borders of Tyre and Sidon; and, entering into a house, He wished no one to know it. And He could not be hid. But straightway a woman, whose little daughter had an unclean spirit, having heard of Him, coming, fell down at His feet. read more. And the woman was a Greek, a Syrophoenician by race. And she kept asking Him to cast forth the demon out of her daughter. And He said to her, "Suffer the children first to be satisfied; for it is not good to take the children's bread, and cast it to the little dogs." But she answered, and says to Him, "Yes, Lord; even the little dogs under the table eat of the children's crumbs." And He said to her, "Because of this word go your way; the demon has gone out of your daughter." And, going away into her own house, she found the child laid upon the bed, and the demon gone out.
And, while He was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper, as He was reclining at table, there came a woman having an alabaster cruse of ointment of pure spikenard, very costly; and, having broken the cruse, she was pouring it down on His bead. But there were some who were much displeased among themselves, saying, "To what purpose has this waste of the ointment been made? read more. For this ointment could have been sold for above three hundred denaries, and given to the poor!" And they were murmuring against her. But Jesus said, "Let her alone; why do ye cause her trouble? She wrought a good work on Me; for the poor ye always have with you; and whensoever ye will, ye can do them good; but Me ye have not always. She did what she could: she anointed My body beforehand for the burial. And verily I say to you, wheresoever the Gospel shall be preached in the whole world, that also which this woman did shall be spoken of for a memorial of her."
And I say to you, make to yourselves friends out of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when it fails, they may receive you into everlasting tabernacles.
"Now there was a certain rich man, and he was clothed in purple and fine linen, faring sumptuously every day. And a certain poor man, Lazarus by name, had been laid at his gate, full of sores, read more. and desiring to be fed with the crumbs falling from the rich man's table; yea, even the dogs, coming, were licking his sores. And it came to pass that the poor man died, and that he was carried away by the angels into Abraham's bosom. And the rich man also died, and was buried; and in Hades, lifting up his eyes, being in torments, he sees Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And, crying, he 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; because I am in anguish in this flame!' But Abraham said, 'Child, remember that, in your lifetime, you received in full your good things, and Lazarus, likewise, evil things; but now here he is comforted, and you are in anguish. And, in all these things, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed; so that those wishing to cross from hence to you cannot; nor do they pass from thence to us.' And he said, 'I pray you, therefore, father, that you would send him to my father's house; for I have five brothers; that he may testify to them, lest they also come into this place of torment.' But Abraham says, 'They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.' But he said, 'Nay, father Abraham; but, if one go to them from the dead, they will repent.' But he said to him, 'If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, if one rose from the dead.'"
These things were done in Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was immersing.
He came, therefore, again into Cana of Galilee, where He made the water wine. And there was a certain nobleman, whose son was sick at Capernaum. This man, having heard that Jesus had come out of Judaea into Galilee, went to Him, and was asking Him, that He would come down, and heal his son, for he was about to die. read more. Jesus, therefore, said to him, "Unless ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe." The nobleman says to Him, "Sir, Come down, before my child die!" Jesus saith to him, "Go your way; your son lives." The man believed the word that Jesus spake to him, and went his way. And, as he was now going down, his servants met him, saying, that his son was living. He inquired of them, therefore, the hour when he began to mend. They said, therefore, to him, "Yesterday, at the seventh hour, the fever left him." The father, therefore, knew that it was at that hour in which Jesus said to him, "Your son lives;" and he himself believed, and his whole house. This again is a second sign that Jesus did, after having come out of Judaea into Galilee.
They were seeking, therefore, again to seize Him; and He went forth out of their hands. And He went away again beyond the Jordan unto the place where John was at first immersing; and there He abode.
Now a certain one was sick, Lazarus from Bethany, of the village of Mary and her sister Martha. And it was the Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped His feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick. read more. The sisters, therefore, sent to Him, saying, "Lord, behold, he whom Thou lovest is sick."
The sisters, therefore, sent to Him, saying, "Lord, behold, he whom Thou lovest is sick." And Jesus, hearing it, said, "This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it. read more. Now Jesus was loving Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus. When, therefore, He heard that he was sick, He then abode two days in the place where He was. Then, after this, He saith to the disciples, "Let us go into Judaea again." The disciples say to Him, "Rabbi, the Jews were just now seeking to stone Thee; and art Thou going there again?" Jesus answered, "Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any one walks in the day, he stumbles not, because he sees the light of this world; but, if any one walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him." These things He spake; and after this He saith to them, "Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going to awake him out of sleep."
These things He spake; and after this He saith to them, "Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going to awake him out of sleep." The disciples, therefore, said to Him, "Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover!" read more. Now Jesus had spoken concerning his death; but they thought He spake of taking rest in sleep. Then, therefore, Jesus said to them plainly, "Lazarus died. And I am glad, for your sakes, (in order that ye may believe), that I was not there. But let us go to him." Thomas, who is called Dydimus, said, therefore, to His fellow-disciples, "Let us also go, that we may die with Him." Jesus, therefore, having come, found that he had already been four days in the tomb. Now Bethany was near to Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs distant. And many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother.
And many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother. Martha, therefore, when she heard that Jesus was coming, met Him; but Mary was sitting in the house. read more. Martha, therefore, said to Jesus, "Lord, if Thou hadst been here, my brother would not have died; and now I know that, whatsoever Thou shalt ask of God, God will give Thee." Jesus saith to her, "Your brother shall rise again." Martha says to Him, "I know that he will rise again, in the resurrection at the last day." Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life; he that believes on Me, though he die, yet shall he live; and whosoever lives and believes on Me shall never die. Do you believe this?" She says to Him, "Yea, Lord; I have believed that Thou art the Christ, the Son of God, He Who was to come into the world." And, saying this, she went away, and called Mary her sister privately, saying, "The Teacher is present, and calleth for you." And she, when she heard it, arose quickly, and went to Him. (Now Jesus had not yet come into the village, but was still in the place where Martha met Him.) The Jews, therefore, who were with her in the house, and were comforting her, seeing Mary, that she rose up quickly and went out, followed her, supposing that she was going to the tomb, to weep there. Mary, therefore, when she came where Jesus was, seeing Him, fell at His feet, saying to Him, "Lord, if Thou hadst been here, my brother would not have died." Jesus, therefore, when He saw her weeping, and the Jews weeping who came with her, groaned in the spirit, and troubled Himself; and He said, "Where have ye laid Him?" They say to Him, "Lord, come and see." Jesus wept. The Jews, therefore, said, "Behold, how He was loving him!
The Jews, therefore, said, "Behold, how He was loving him! And some of them said, "Could not This Man, Who opened the eyes of the blind, have caused that even this man should not die?" read more. Jesus, therefore, again groaning in Himself, cometh to the tomb. Now it was a cave, and a stone was lying on it. Jesus saith, "Take ye away the stone." The sister of the deceased, Martha, says to Him, "Lord, already he is decaying; for he has been dead four days."
Jesus saith, "Take ye away the stone." The sister of the deceased, Martha, says to Him, "Lord, already he is decaying; for he has been dead four days." Jesus saith to her, "Did I not say to you that, if you would believe, you should see the glory of God?" read more. So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up His eyes, and said, "Father, I thank Thee, because Thou didst hear Me. And I knew that Thou always hearest Me; but, because of the multitude standing around, I said it, that they may believe that Thou didst send Me." And, having spoken these words, He cried with a loud voice, "Lazarus, come forth!" He that was dead came forth, bound feet and hands with grave-clothes; and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith to them, "Loose him, and let him go."
The high priests, therefore, and the Pharisees gathered a council, and said, "What are we doing? because This Man is doing many signs. If we let Him thus alone, all will believe on Him; and the Romans will come, and take away both our place and our nation. read more. But a certain one of them, Caiaphas, being high priest that year, said, "Ye know nothing at all; nor do ye consider that it is expedient for you, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not." And this he said not of himself; but, being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus was about to die for that nation; and not for that nation only, but that He might also gather together into one the children of God that are scattered abroad. From that day, therefore, they took counsel, that they might put Him to death.
Jesus, therefore, six days before the passover, came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus raised from the dead. They, therefore, made Him a supper there; and Martha was serving; but Lazarus was one of those reclining at table with Him. read more. Mary, therefore, having taken a pound of ointment of pure spikenard, very costly, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair; and the house was filled with the odor of the ointment.
Mary, therefore, having taken a pound of ointment of pure spikenard, very costly, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair; and the house was filled with the odor of the ointment. But Judas Iscariot, one of His disciples, who was about to betray Him, says, read more. "Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred denaries, and given to the poor?" And he said this, not because he cared about the poor; but because he was a thief; and, having the money-box, he was wont to carry what was put therein. Jesus, therefore, said, "Suffer her to keep it for the day of My burial; for the poor ye always have with you, but Me ye have not always." The great multitude, therefore, of the Jews knew that He was there; and they came, not because of Jesus only, but that they might see Lazarus, whom He raised from the dead. But the high priests consulted, that they might slay Lazarus also;
But the high priests consulted, that they might slay Lazarus also; because, on his account, many of the Jews were going away, and were believing on Jesus.
because, on his account, many of the Jews were going away, and were believing on Jesus.
The multitude, therefore, that was with Him when He called Lazarus out of the tomb, and raised him from the dead, was bearing testimony. On this account also, the multitude met Him, because they heard that He had done this sign.
There was at the table reclining in Jesus' bosom one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved.
There was at the table reclining in Jesus' bosom one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved.
he also shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which has been mingled undiluted in the cup of His anger; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and before the Lamb.
Morish
Laz'arus
1. Brother of Martha and Mary, and a resident at Bethany. Jesus loved them all, and He spoke of Lazarus as 'our friend.' Very little is recorded of him except the striking fact that he was raised from the dead by the Lord Jesus, which manifested the glory of God and glorified the Son of God. When his sisters made the Lord a supper at Bethany, Lazarus was one of those who sat with Him. He was a living witness of the power of the Son of God over death, and as such he was in danger of being killed by the Jews, on account of many believing on the Lord because of him. Joh 11:1-43; 12:1-17.
2. The poor man in the parable of Luke 16. His circumstances are related
See Verses Found in Dictionary
"Now there was a certain rich man, and he was clothed in purple and fine linen, faring sumptuously every day. And a certain poor man, Lazarus by name, had been laid at his gate, full of sores, read more. and desiring to be fed with the crumbs falling from the rich man's table; yea, even the dogs, coming, were licking his sores. And it came to pass that the poor man died, and that he was carried away by the angels into Abraham's bosom. And the rich man also died, and was buried; and in Hades, lifting up his eyes, being in torments, he sees Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And, crying, he 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; because I am in anguish in this flame!' But Abraham said, 'Child, remember that, in your lifetime, you received in full your good things, and Lazarus, likewise, evil things; but now here he is comforted, and you are in anguish. And, in all these things, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed; so that those wishing to cross from hence to you cannot; nor do they pass from thence to us.' And he said, 'I pray you, therefore, father, that you would send him to my father's house; for I have five brothers; that he may testify to them, lest they also come into this place of torment.' But Abraham says, 'They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.' But he said, 'Nay, father Abraham; but, if one go to them from the dead, they will repent.' But he said to him, 'If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, if one rose from the dead.'"
Now a certain one was sick, Lazarus from Bethany, of the village of Mary and her sister Martha. And it was the Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped His feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick. read more. The sisters, therefore, sent to Him, saying, "Lord, behold, he whom Thou lovest is sick." And Jesus, hearing it, said, "This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it. Now Jesus was loving Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus. When, therefore, He heard that he was sick, He then abode two days in the place where He was. Then, after this, He saith to the disciples, "Let us go into Judaea again." The disciples say to Him, "Rabbi, the Jews were just now seeking to stone Thee; and art Thou going there again?" Jesus answered, "Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any one walks in the day, he stumbles not, because he sees the light of this world; but, if any one walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him." These things He spake; and after this He saith to them, "Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going to awake him out of sleep." The disciples, therefore, said to Him, "Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover!" Now Jesus had spoken concerning his death; but they thought He spake of taking rest in sleep. Then, therefore, Jesus said to them plainly, "Lazarus died. And I am glad, for your sakes, (in order that ye may believe), that I was not there. But let us go to him." Thomas, who is called Dydimus, said, therefore, to His fellow-disciples, "Let us also go, that we may die with Him." Jesus, therefore, having come, found that he had already been four days in the tomb. Now Bethany was near to Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs distant. And many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother. Martha, therefore, when she heard that Jesus was coming, met Him; but Mary was sitting in the house. Martha, therefore, said to Jesus, "Lord, if Thou hadst been here, my brother would not have died; and now I know that, whatsoever Thou shalt ask of God, God will give Thee." Jesus saith to her, "Your brother shall rise again." Martha says to Him, "I know that he will rise again, in the resurrection at the last day." Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life; he that believes on Me, though he die, yet shall he live; and whosoever lives and believes on Me shall never die. Do you believe this?" She says to Him, "Yea, Lord; I have believed that Thou art the Christ, the Son of God, He Who was to come into the world." And, saying this, she went away, and called Mary her sister privately, saying, "The Teacher is present, and calleth for you." And she, when she heard it, arose quickly, and went to Him. (Now Jesus had not yet come into the village, but was still in the place where Martha met Him.) The Jews, therefore, who were with her in the house, and were comforting her, seeing Mary, that she rose up quickly and went out, followed her, supposing that she was going to the tomb, to weep there. Mary, therefore, when she came where Jesus was, seeing Him, fell at His feet, saying to Him, "Lord, if Thou hadst been here, my brother would not have died." Jesus, therefore, when He saw her weeping, and the Jews weeping who came with her, groaned in the spirit, and troubled Himself; and He said, "Where have ye laid Him?" They say to Him, "Lord, come and see." Jesus wept. The Jews, therefore, said, "Behold, how He was loving him! And some of them said, "Could not This Man, Who opened the eyes of the blind, have caused that even this man should not die?" Jesus, therefore, again groaning in Himself, cometh to the tomb. Now it was a cave, and a stone was lying on it. Jesus saith, "Take ye away the stone." The sister of the deceased, Martha, says to Him, "Lord, already he is decaying; for he has been dead four days." Jesus saith to her, "Did I not say to you that, if you would believe, you should see the glory of God?" So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up His eyes, and said, "Father, I thank Thee, because Thou didst hear Me. And I knew that Thou always hearest Me; but, because of the multitude standing around, I said it, that they may believe that Thou didst send Me." And, having spoken these words, He cried with a loud voice, "Lazarus, come forth!"
Jesus, therefore, six days before the passover, came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus raised from the dead. They, therefore, made Him a supper there; and Martha was serving; but Lazarus was one of those reclining at table with Him. read more. Mary, therefore, having taken a pound of ointment of pure spikenard, very costly, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair; and the house was filled with the odor of the ointment. But Judas Iscariot, one of His disciples, who was about to betray Him, says, "Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred denaries, and given to the poor?" And he said this, not because he cared about the poor; but because he was a thief; and, having the money-box, he was wont to carry what was put therein. Jesus, therefore, said, "Suffer her to keep it for the day of My burial; for the poor ye always have with you, but Me ye have not always." The great multitude, therefore, of the Jews knew that He was there; and they came, not because of Jesus only, but that they might see Lazarus, whom He raised from the dead. But the high priests consulted, that they might slay Lazarus also; because, on his account, many of the Jews were going away, and were believing on Jesus. On the morrow a great multitude that had come to the feast, having heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, took the branches of the palm trees, and went forth to meet Him, and cried, "Hosanna! blessed is He Who is coming in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!" And Jesus, having found a young ass, sat upon it; as it has been written, "Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your King is coming upon an ass colt." These things His disciples did not understand at the first; but, when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written about Him, and that they did these things to Him. The multitude, therefore, that was with Him when He called Lazarus out of the tomb, and raised him from the dead, was bearing testimony.
Smith
Laz'arus
(whom God helps), another form of the Hebrew name Eleazar.
1. Lazarus of Bethany, the brother of Martha and Mary.
Joh 11:1
All that we know of him is derived from the Gospel of St. John, and that records little more than the facts of his death and resurrection. The language of
Joh 11:1
implies that the sisters were the better known. Lazarus is "of Bethany, of the village of Mary and her sister Martha." From this and from the order of the three names in
Joh 11:5
we may reasonably infer that Lazarus was the youngest of the family. All the circumstances of John 11 and 12 point to wealth and social position above the average.
2. The name of a poor man in the well-known parable of
Lu 16:19-31
The name of Lazarus has been perpetuated in an institution of the Christian Church. The leper of the Middle Ages appears as a lazzaro. The use of lazaretto and lazarhouse for the leper hospitals then founded in all parts of western Christendom, no less than that of lazaroni for the mendicants of Italian towns, is an indication of the effect of the parable upon the mind of Europe in the Middle Ages, and thence upon its later speech.
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Now a certain one was sick, Lazarus from Bethany, of the village of Mary and her sister Martha.
Now a certain one was sick, Lazarus from Bethany, of the village of Mary and her sister Martha.
Now Jesus was loving Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus.
Watsons
LAZARUS, brother to Martha and Mary. He dwelt at Bethany with his sisters, near Jerusalem; and the Lord Jesus did him the honour sometimes of lodging at his house when he visited the city. See the account of his resurrection related at large in Joh 11:5, &c.
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Now Jesus was loving Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus.