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 daily. But there was a certain poor man named Lazarus, who had been placed near his gate, covered with sores, read more. and longing to be fed with the crumbs that fell from the rich man's table. But even the dogs that came licked his sores. And it came to pass for the poor man to die and be carried by the heavenly agents to Abraham's bosom. And the rich man also died and was buried. And having lifted up his eyes in Hades, being in torments, he sees Abraham from afar and Lazarus by his bosom. And having cried out, he said, Father Abraham, be merciful to me, and send Lazarus, so that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this flame. But Abraham said, Child, remember that thou in thy lifetime received thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things. But now here he is comforted and thou are in agony. And besides all these things, between us and you a great chasm is fixed, so that those here who want to cross over to you are not able, nor may those go across from there to us. And he said, I beg thee therefore, father, that thou 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 to him, They have Moses and the prophets. Let them hear them. And he said, No, father Abraham, but if some man would go to them from the dead they will repent. And he said to him, If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if some man would rise 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 daily. But there was a certain poor man named Lazarus, who had been placed near his gate, covered with sores, read more. and longing to be fed with the crumbs that fell from the rich man's table. But even the dogs that came licked his sores. And it came to pass for the poor man to die and be carried by the heavenly agents to Abraham's bosom. And the rich man also died and was buried. And having lifted up his eyes in Hades, being in torments, he sees Abraham from afar and Lazarus by his bosom. And having cried out, he said, Father Abraham, be merciful to me, and send Lazarus, so that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this flame. But Abraham said, Child, remember that thou in thy lifetime received thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things. But now here he is comforted and thou are in agony. And besides all these things, between us and you a great chasm is fixed, so that those here who want to cross over to you are not able, nor may those go across from there to us. And he said, I beg thee therefore, father, that thou 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 to him, They have Moses and the prophets. Let them hear them. And he said, No, father Abraham, but if some man would go to them from the dead they will repent. And he said to him, If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if some man would rise from the dead.
Now a certain Lazarus, from Bethany of the village of Mary and her sister Martha, was sick. And Mary was the woman 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 love is sick. But when Jesus heard, he said, This sickness is not about death, but for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified by it. Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. When therefore he heard that he is sick, then he actually remained two days in that place he was. Later after this he says to the disciples, Let us go into Judea again. The disciples say to him, Rabbi, the Jews were now seeking to stone thee, and thou go there again. Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day? If a man walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. But if any man walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him. He spoke these things, and after this he says to them, Our friend Lazarus has become asleep, but I go that I may awake him. His disciples therefore said, Lord, if he has become asleep, he will be healed. But Jesus had spoken about his death, but those men thought that he was speaking about the restfulness of sleep. Therefore Jesus then said to them plainly, Lazarus died. And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, so that ye may believe. Nevertheless let us go to him. Therefore Thomas, called Didymus, said to his fellow disciples, Let us also go, that we may die with him. So when Jesus came, he found him already four days being kept in the sepucher. Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs away from it, and many of the Jews had come to the women, about Martha and Mary, so that they might console them about their brother. Therefore Martha, when she heard that Jesus was coming, met him, but Mary was sitting in the house. Martha therefore said to Jesus, Lord, if thou were here, my brother would not have died. But I know even now that as many things as thou may ask of God, God will give to thee. Jesus says to her, Thy brother will rise. Martha says to him, I know that he will rise in the resurrection at the last day. Jesus said to her, I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me, even though he died, he will live. And every man who lives and believes in me will, no, not die, into the age. Do thou believe this? She says to him, Yes, Lord, I have believed that thou are the Christ, the Son of God who comes into the world. And when she said these things, she departed and called Mary her sister privately, saying, The teacher is here and calls thee. When that woman heard, she rises quickly, and comes to him. (Now Jesus had not yet come into the village, but was in the place where Martha met him.) The Jews therefore being with her in the house and consoling her, having seen Mary, that she rose up quickly and went out, followed her, saying that she was going to the sepulcher that she may weep there. Therefore when Mary came where Jesus was, after seeing him, she fell down at his feet, saying to him, Lord, if thou were here, my brother would not have died. When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews who gathered with her, weeping, he groaned in the spirit, and was himself troubled. And he said, Where have ye laid him? They said to him, Lord, come and see. Jesus wept. The Jews therefore said, Behold how he loved him. But some of them said, This man who opened the eyes of the blind man, was he not also able to cause that this man also would not die? Jesus therefore again groaning in himself comes to the sepulcher. Now it was a cave, and a stone lay against it. Jesus says, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of the man who came to end, says to him, Lord, he smells now, for is the fourth day. Jesus says to her, Did I not to say thee, that if thou believed, thou will see the glory of God? So they took away the stone where the man who died was laying. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou heard me. And I had known that thou always hear me, but because of the multitude that stands by I spoke, so that they may believe that thou sent me. And having said these things, he cried out with a great voice, Lazarus, come out. And the man who died came forth, wrapped hands and feet with grave-clothes, and his face had been wrapped around with a face cloth. Jesus says to them, Loose him, and allow him to 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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What are thou doing here? And whom have thou here, that thou have hewed thee out here a sepulcher? Hewing him out a sepulcher on high, carving a habitation for himself in the rock!
and they fetched forth Uriah out of Egypt, and brought him to Jehoiakim the king, who killed him with the sword, and cast his dead body into the graves of the common people.
Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon the earth, where moth and rust deteriorates, and where thieves break through and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust deteriorates, and where thieves 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 east and west, and will sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of the heavens, but the sons of the kingdom will 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 house dogs eat of the crumbs that fall from the table of their masters.
And while he was in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat relaxing, a woman came having an alabaster cruse of ointment of pure spikenard, very valuable. And having broken the alabaster cruse, she poured it on his head.
And a certain one young man followed with him, having been wrapped naked in a linen cloth. And the young men seized him, but having left behind the linen cloth, he fled from them naked.
And having bought fine linen, and having taken him down, he wrapped him in the linen, and laid him in a sepulcher, being that which had been hewn out of rock. And he rolled a stone to the door of the sepulcher.
Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and do not begin to say within yourselves, We have a father, Abraham. For I say to you, that God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham.
And a certain man of the Pharisees asked him that he would eat with him. And having entered into the Pharisee's house, he sat down. And behold, a woman in the city who was sinful. And when she knew that he sat in the Pharisee's house, having brought an alabaster cruse of ointment, read more. and having stood behind near his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with the tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head. And she kissed his feet much, and anointed them with the ointment. But when the Pharisee who invited him saw it, he spoke within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would know who and what kind the woman is who touches him, that she is sinful. And having responded, Jesus said to him, Simon, I have something to say to thee. And he says, speak Teacher.
And it came to pass as they went, he also entered into a certain village, and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house.
But Martha was encumbered about much serving. And having stood near, she said, Lord, do thou not care that my sister left me behind to serve alone? Speak to her therefore that she may help me. But having answered, Jesus said to her, Martha, Martha, thou are anxious and troubled about many things, read more. but one thing is necessary, and Mary has chosen the good part, which will not be taken away from her.
And he said to them, Ye are those who declare yourselves righteous in the sight of men, but God knows your hearts. Because what is lofty among men is an abomination in the sight of God.
Now there was a certain rich man, and he was clothed in purple and fine linen, faring sumptuously daily. But there was a certain poor man named Lazarus, who had been placed near his gate, covered with sores, read more. and longing to be fed with the crumbs that fell from the rich man's table. But even the dogs that came licked his sores. And it came to pass for the poor man to die and be carried by the heavenly agents to Abraham's bosom. And the rich man also died and was buried. And having lifted up his eyes in Hades, being in torments, he sees Abraham from afar and Lazarus by his bosom. And having cried out, he said, Father Abraham, be merciful to me, and send Lazarus, so that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this flame. But Abraham said, Child, remember that thou in thy lifetime received thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things. But now here he is comforted and thou are in agony. And besides all these things, between us and you a great chasm is fixed, so that those here who want to cross over to you are not able, nor may those go across from there to us. And he said, I beg thee therefore, father, that thou would send him to my father's house,
And he said, I beg thee therefore, father, that thou would send him to my father's house,
And he said, I beg thee therefore, father, that thou 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 to him, They have Moses and the prophets. Let them hear them.
But Abraham says to him, They have Moses and the prophets. Let them hear them.
But Abraham says to him, They have Moses and the prophets. Let them hear them. And he said, No, father Abraham, but if some man would go to them from the dead they will repent.
And he said, No, father Abraham, but if some man would go to them from the dead they will repent.
And he said, No, father Abraham, but if some man would go to them from the dead they will repent.
And he said, No, father Abraham, but if some man would go to them from the dead they will repent. And he said to him, If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if some man would rise from the dead.
And he said to him, If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if some man would rise from the dead.
And when he came near, having seen the city, he wept over it,
Truly, truly, I say to you, that he who hears my word, and believes him who sent me, has eternal life. And he does not come into condemnation, but has passed from death into life. Truly, truly, I say to you, that an hour comes, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.
Therefore they sought again to take him, and he went forth out of their hand. And he departed again beyond the Jordan into the place where John was first immersing, and he stayed there.
Now a certain Lazarus, from Bethany of the village of Mary and her sister Martha, was sick.
Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.
Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.
The disciples say to him, Rabbi, the Jews were now seeking to stone thee, and thou go there again. Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day? If a man walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. read more. But if any man walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him. He spoke these things, and after this he says to them, Our friend Lazarus has become asleep, but I go that I may awake him.
and many of the Jews had come to the women, about Martha and Mary, so that they might console them about their brother.
But I know even now that as many things as thou may ask of God, God will give to thee.
Martha says to him, I know that he will rise in the resurrection at the last day.
And when she said these things, she departed and called Mary her sister privately, saying, The teacher is here and calls thee.
And the man who died came forth, wrapped hands and feet with grave-clothes, and his face had been wrapped around with a face cloth. Jesus says to them, Loose him, and allow him to go. Therefore many of the Jews who came to Mary, and who saw what Jesus did, believed in him. read more. But some of them went away to the Pharisees, and told them what things Jesus did.
But some of them went away to the Pharisees, and told them what things Jesus did. Therefore the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered a council, and said, What are we doing? Because this man does many signs. read more. If we allow him this way, all men will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and the nation. And a certain one of them, Caiaphas, being high priest that year, said to them, Ye know nothing at all, nor do ye consider that it is expedient for us that one man should die for the people, and not the whole nation should perish. Now he said this not from himself, but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus was going to die for the nation. And not for the nation only, but also that he might gather together into one the children of God who are scattered abroad. So from that day they consulted together so that they might kill him.
So they made a supper for him there, and Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those who sat dining with him.
So they made a supper for him there, and Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those who sat dining with him.
But the chief priests decided that they should kill Lazarus also,
But the chief priests decided that they should kill Lazarus also,
But the chief priests decided that they should kill Lazarus also, since because of him many of the Jews were going and were believing in Jesus. read more. On the morrow a great multitude having come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem,
Therefore the multitude, the one that was with him when he called Lazarus from the sepulcher, and raised him from the dead, testified. Also because of this the multitude met him, because they heard of him doing this sign.
And that man, having leaned thus toward Jesus' breast, says to him, Lord, who is he?
His disciples say to him, Lo, now thou speak plainly, and speak not one veiled word.
Simon Peter therefore comes following him, and he entered into the sepulcher. And he sees the linen cloths lying, and the face cloth that was on his head, not lying with the linen cloths, but wrapped up in one place separately.
And he gave him no inheritance in it, not even a footstep. And he promised to give it to him for a possession, and to his seed after him, although there was no child by him.
Why is it judged incredible with you, if God raises the dead?
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but who was tempted in all things in the same way, without sin.
All these died in faith, not having taken the promises, but who saw and greeted them from afar, and who confessed that they were foreigners and sojourners on the earth.
And to the agent of the congregation in Sardis write, These things says he who has the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars: I know thy works, that thou have a name that thou live, and thou 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).
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And I say to you, that many will come from east and west, and will sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of the heavens,
And having gone out from there, Jesus departed into the regions of Tyre and Sidon. And behold, a Canaanite woman having come out from those regions, cried out to him, saying, Be merciful to me, O Lord, thou son of David, my daughter is grievously demon-possessed. read more. But he answered her not a word. And his disciples having approached, they besought him, saying, Send her away, because she cries out behind us. But having answered, he said, I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. But having come, she worshiped him, saying, Lord, help me. And having answered, he said, It is not right to take the children's bread and cast it to the house dogs. But she said, Yes, Lord, for even the house dogs eat of the crumbs that fall from the table of their masters. Then Jesus having answered, said to her, O woman, great is thy faith. Be it done for thee as thou desire. And her daughter was healed from that hour.
Now when Jesus happened to be in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper, a woman came to him having an alabaster cruse of precious ointment, and she poured it upon his head as he sat relaxing. read more. But when his disciples saw it, they were indignant, saying, Why this waste? For this ointment could have been sold for much, and given to the poor. But Jesus knowing it, he said to them, Why do ye cause troubles to the woman? For she has wrought a good work upon me. For ye always have the poor with you, but ye do not always have me. For by pouring this ointment upon my body, she did it for my burial. Truly I say to you, wherever this good-news may be proclaimed in the whole world, what this woman did will also be told for a memorial of her.
And having risen from there, he went away into the borders of Tyre and Sidon. And having entered into a house, he wanted no man to know it, and yet he could not be hid. For a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit, after hearing about him, having come, she fell down at his feet. read more. Now the woman was a Greek, a Syrophoenician by race. And she besought him that he would cast out the demon from her daughter. And Jesus said to her, Allow the children first be filled, for it is not right to take the children's bread and cast it to the house dogs. But she answered and says to him, Yes, Lord, for even the house dogs under the table eat of the children's crumbs. And he said to her, Because of this saying, go thou. The demon has gone out of thy daughter. And having departed to her house, she found the demon having gone out, and her daughter laid upon the bed.
And while he was in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat relaxing, a woman came having an alabaster cruse of ointment of pure spikenard, very valuable. And having broken the alabaster cruse, she poured it on his head. And some were indignant within themselves, saying, Why has this waste of the ointment happened? read more. For this could have been sold for over three hundred denarii, and given to the poor. And they grumbled at her. But Jesus said, Leave her be. Why do ye cause troubles for her? She performed a good work on me. For ye always have the poor with you, and whenever ye may desire ye can do them well, but ye do not always have me. She applied what she had to anoint my body. She did it beforehand for the burial. And truly I say to you, wherever this good-news may be preached in the whole world, also what she did will be told for a memorial of her.
And I say to you, make friends for yourselves from the mammon of unrighteousness, so that, when ye cease, they may receive you into the eternal dwellings.
Now there was a certain rich man, and he was clothed in purple and fine linen, faring sumptuously daily. But there was a certain poor man named Lazarus, who had been placed near his gate, covered with sores, read more. and longing to be fed with the crumbs that fell from the rich man's table. But even the dogs that came licked his sores. And it came to pass for the poor man to die and be carried by the heavenly agents to Abraham's bosom. And the rich man also died and was buried. And having lifted up his eyes in Hades, being in torments, he sees Abraham from afar and Lazarus by his bosom. And having cried out, he said, Father Abraham, be merciful to me, and send Lazarus, so that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this flame. But Abraham said, Child, remember that thou in thy lifetime received thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things. But now here he is comforted and thou are in agony. And besides all these things, between us and you a great chasm is fixed, so that those here who want to cross over to you are not able, nor may those go across from there to us. And he said, I beg thee therefore, father, that thou 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 to him, They have Moses and the prophets. Let them hear them. And he said, No, father Abraham, but if some man would go to them from the dead they will repent. And he said to him, If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if some man would rise from the dead.
These things occurred in Bethany beyond the Jordan where John was immersing.
Jesus therefore came again to 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 comes out of Judea into Galilee, he went to him and besought him that he would come down and heal his son, for he was going to die. read more. Jesus therefore said to him, Unless may ye see signs and wonders, ye will, no, not believe. The nobleman says to him, Sir, come down before my child dies. Jesus says to him, Go, thy son lives. And the man believed the word that Jesus said to him, and he departed. And as he was now going down, his bondmen met him and reported, saying, Thy boy lives. So he inquired of them the hour in which he fared well. And they said to him, Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him. So the father knew that it was at that hour in which Jesus said to him, Thy son lives. And he himself believed and his whole house. This again is a second sign that Jesus did, having come out of Judea into Galilee.
Therefore again the Jews took up stones so that they might stone him.
Therefore they sought again to take him, and he went forth out of their hand. And he departed again beyond the Jordan into the place where John was first immersing, and he stayed there.
Now a certain Lazarus, from Bethany of the village of Mary and her sister Martha, was sick. And Mary was the woman 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 love is sick.
The sisters therefore sent to him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou love is sick. But when Jesus heard, he said, This sickness is not about death, but for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified by it. read more. Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. When therefore he heard that he is sick, then he actually remained two days in that place he was. Later after this he says to the disciples, Let us go into Judea again. The disciples say to him, Rabbi, the Jews were now seeking to stone thee, and thou go there again. Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day? If a man walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. But if any man walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him. He spoke these things, and after this he says to them, Our friend Lazarus has become asleep, but I go that I may awake him.
He spoke these things, and after this he says to them, Our friend Lazarus has become asleep, but I go that I may awake him. His disciples therefore said, Lord, if he has become asleep, he will be healed. read more. But Jesus had spoken about his death, but those men thought that he was speaking about the restfulness of sleep. Therefore Jesus then said to them plainly, Lazarus died. And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, so that ye may believe. Nevertheless let us go to him. Therefore Thomas, called Didymus, said to his fellow disciples, Let us also go, that we may die with him. So when Jesus came, he found him already four days being kept in the sepucher. Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs away from it, and many of the Jews had come to the women, about Martha and Mary, so that they might console them about their brother.
and many of the Jews had come to the women, about Martha and Mary, so that they might console them about their brother. Therefore Martha, 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 were here, my brother would not have died. But I know even now that as many things as thou may ask of God, God will give to thee. Jesus says to her, Thy brother will rise. Martha says to him, I know that he will rise in the resurrection at the last day. Jesus said to her, I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me, even though he died, he will live. And every man who lives and believes in me will, no, not die, into the age. Do thou believe this? She says to him, Yes, Lord, I have believed that thou are the Christ, the Son of God who comes into the world. And when she said these things, she departed and called Mary her sister privately, saying, The teacher is here and calls thee. When that woman heard, she rises quickly, and comes to him. (Now Jesus had not yet come into the village, but was in the place where Martha met him.) The Jews therefore being with her in the house and consoling her, having seen Mary, that she rose up quickly and went out, followed her, saying that she was going to the sepulcher that she may weep there. Therefore when Mary came where Jesus was, after seeing him, she fell down at his feet, saying to him, Lord, if thou were here, my brother would not have died. When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews who gathered with her, weeping, he groaned in the spirit, and was himself troubled. And he said, Where have ye laid him? They said to him, Lord, come and see. Jesus wept. The Jews therefore said, Behold how he loved him.
The Jews therefore said, Behold how he loved him. But some of them said, This man who opened the eyes of the blind man, was he not also able to cause that this man also would not die? read more. Jesus therefore again groaning in himself comes to the sepulcher. Now it was a cave, and a stone lay against it. Jesus says, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of the man who came to end, says to him, Lord, he smells now, for is the fourth day.
Jesus says, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of the man who came to end, says to him, Lord, he smells now, for is the fourth day. Jesus says to her, Did I not to say thee, that if thou believed, thou will see the glory of God? read more. So they took away the stone where the man who died was laying. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou heard me. And I had known that thou always hear me, but because of the multitude that stands by I spoke, so that they may believe that thou sent me. And having said these things, he cried out with a great voice, Lazarus, come out. And the man who died came forth, wrapped hands and feet with grave-clothes, and his face had been wrapped around with a face cloth. Jesus says to them, Loose him, and allow him to go.
Therefore the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered a council, and said, What are we doing? Because this man does many signs. If we allow him this way, all men will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and the nation. read more. And a certain one of them, Caiaphas, being high priest that year, said to them, Ye know nothing at all, nor do ye consider that it is expedient for us that one man should die for the people, and not the whole nation should perish. Now he said this not from himself, but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus was going to die for the nation. And not for the nation only, but also that he might gather together into one the children of God who are scattered abroad. So from that day they consulted together so that they might kill him.
Therefore six days before the Passover Jesus came to Bethany where Lazarus was, the man who died whom he raised from the dead. So they made a supper for him there, and Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those who sat dining with him. read more. Mary therefore, after taking a pound of ointment of very costly genuine spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled of the aroma of the ointment.
Mary therefore, after taking a pound of ointment of very costly genuine spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled of the aroma of the ointment. Therefore one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, the man who was going to betray him, says, read more. Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii, and given to the poor? Now he said this, not because it was a concern to him about the poor, but because he was a thief, and he had the purse and removed things that were put in. Jesus therefore said, Let her alone. She has keep it for the day of my burial. For ye always have the poor with you, but ye do not always have me. Therefore a great multitude of the Jews knew that he is there. And they came, not only because of Jesus, but that they might also see Lazarus whom he had raised from the dead. But the chief priests decided that they should kill Lazarus also,
But the chief priests decided that they should kill Lazarus also, since because of him many of the Jews were going and were believing in Jesus.
since because of him many of the Jews were going and were believing in Jesus.
Therefore the multitude, the one that was with him when he called Lazarus from the sepulcher, and raised him from the dead, testified. Also because of this the multitude met him, because they heard of him doing this sign.
And one of his disciples whom Jesus loved was sitting at Jesus' bosom.
And one of his disciples whom Jesus loved was sitting at Jesus' bosom.
he also himself will drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which was mixed undiluted in the cup of his anger. And he will be tormented with fire and brimstone before the holy agents 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 daily. But there was a certain poor man named Lazarus, who had been placed near his gate, covered with sores, read more. and longing to be fed with the crumbs that fell from the rich man's table. But even the dogs that came licked his sores. And it came to pass for the poor man to die and be carried by the heavenly agents to Abraham's bosom. And the rich man also died and was buried. And having lifted up his eyes in Hades, being in torments, he sees Abraham from afar and Lazarus by his bosom. And having cried out, he said, Father Abraham, be merciful to me, and send Lazarus, so that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this flame. But Abraham said, Child, remember that thou in thy lifetime received thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things. But now here he is comforted and thou are in agony. And besides all these things, between us and you a great chasm is fixed, so that those here who want to cross over to you are not able, nor may those go across from there to us. And he said, I beg thee therefore, father, that thou 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 to him, They have Moses and the prophets. Let them hear them. And he said, No, father Abraham, but if some man would go to them from the dead they will repent. And he said to him, If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if some man would rise from the dead.
Now a certain Lazarus, from Bethany of the village of Mary and her sister Martha, was sick. And Mary was the woman 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 love is sick. But when Jesus heard, he said, This sickness is not about death, but for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified by it. Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. When therefore he heard that he is sick, then he actually remained two days in that place he was. Later after this he says to the disciples, Let us go into Judea again. The disciples say to him, Rabbi, the Jews were now seeking to stone thee, and thou go there again. Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day? If a man walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. But if any man walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him. He spoke these things, and after this he says to them, Our friend Lazarus has become asleep, but I go that I may awake him. His disciples therefore said, Lord, if he has become asleep, he will be healed. But Jesus had spoken about his death, but those men thought that he was speaking about the restfulness of sleep. Therefore Jesus then said to them plainly, Lazarus died. And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, so that ye may believe. Nevertheless let us go to him. Therefore Thomas, called Didymus, said to his fellow disciples, Let us also go, that we may die with him. So when Jesus came, he found him already four days being kept in the sepucher. Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs away from it, and many of the Jews had come to the women, about Martha and Mary, so that they might console them about their brother. Therefore Martha, when she heard that Jesus was coming, met him, but Mary was sitting in the house. Martha therefore said to Jesus, Lord, if thou were here, my brother would not have died. But I know even now that as many things as thou may ask of God, God will give to thee. Jesus says to her, Thy brother will rise. Martha says to him, I know that he will rise in the resurrection at the last day. Jesus said to her, I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me, even though he died, he will live. And every man who lives and believes in me will, no, not die, into the age. Do thou believe this? She says to him, Yes, Lord, I have believed that thou are the Christ, the Son of God who comes into the world. And when she said these things, she departed and called Mary her sister privately, saying, The teacher is here and calls thee. When that woman heard, she rises quickly, and comes to him. (Now Jesus had not yet come into the village, but was in the place where Martha met him.) The Jews therefore being with her in the house and consoling her, having seen Mary, that she rose up quickly and went out, followed her, saying that she was going to the sepulcher that she may weep there. Therefore when Mary came where Jesus was, after seeing him, she fell down at his feet, saying to him, Lord, if thou were here, my brother would not have died. When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews who gathered with her, weeping, he groaned in the spirit, and was himself troubled. And he said, Where have ye laid him? They said to him, Lord, come and see. Jesus wept. The Jews therefore said, Behold how he loved him. But some of them said, This man who opened the eyes of the blind man, was he not also able to cause that this man also would not die? Jesus therefore again groaning in himself comes to the sepulcher. Now it was a cave, and a stone lay against it. Jesus says, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of the man who came to end, says to him, Lord, he smells now, for is the fourth day. Jesus says to her, Did I not to say thee, that if thou believed, thou will see the glory of God? So they took away the stone where the man who died was laying. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou heard me. And I had known that thou always hear me, but because of the multitude that stands by I spoke, so that they may believe that thou sent me. And having said these things, he cried out with a great voice, Lazarus, come out.
Therefore six days before the Passover Jesus came to Bethany where Lazarus was, the man who died whom he raised from the dead. So they made a supper for him there, and Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those who sat dining with him. read more. Mary therefore, after taking a pound of ointment of very costly genuine spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled of the aroma of the ointment. Therefore one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, the man who was going to betray him, says, Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii, and given to the poor? Now he said this, not because it was a concern to him about the poor, but because he was a thief, and he had the purse and removed things that were put in. Jesus therefore said, Let her alone. She has keep it for the day of my burial. For ye always have the poor with you, but ye do not always have me. Therefore a great multitude of the Jews knew that he is there. And they came, not only because of Jesus, but that they might also see Lazarus whom he had raised from the dead. But the chief priests decided that they should kill Lazarus also, since because of him many of the Jews were going and were believing in Jesus. On the morrow a great multitude having come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, took the branches of the palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried out, Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of Lord, the King of Israel! And Jesus, having found a young donkey, sat on it, as it is written, Fear not, daughter of Zion. Behold, thy King comes, sitting on a donkey's colt. Now his disciples did not understand these things at first, but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these were things written because of him, and they did these things to him. Therefore the multitude, the one that was with him when he called Lazarus from the sepulcher, and raised him from the dead, testified.
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.
See Verses Found in Dictionary
Now a certain Lazarus, from Bethany of the village of Mary and her sister Martha, was sick.
Now a certain Lazarus, from Bethany of the village of Mary and her sister Martha, was sick.
Now Jesus loved 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.
See Verses Found in Dictionary
Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.