Hi Everyone
 
Websters definition of parable
a usually short FICTICIOUS story that illustrates a moral attitude or a religious principle
===> http://webster.com/dictionary/parable
 
Would you recommend building Christian doctrines upon "fictitious stories"?
 
Happy Sabbath
IBIJ

Hej!
I am not sure that I understand your post.
 
You do call in question Websters' definition of "parable", right? But not Jesus' teaching method - I hope...?
 
I love the parables in the NT and they are foundations for the whole of mankind today, of course.
 
My favourite is Luke 10. Parable of the Good Samaritan
 
On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. Teacher, he asked, what must I do to inherit eternal life?
 
What is written in the Law? he replied. How do you read it?
 
He answered: 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbour as yourself.'
 
You have answered correctly, Jesus replied. Do this and you will live.
 
But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, And who is my neighbour?
 
In reply Jesus said: A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half-dead.
 
A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side.
 
So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.
 
But a Samaritan, as he travelled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him.
 
He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him.
 
The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. 'Look after him,' he said, 'and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.'
 
Which of these three do you think was a neighbour to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?
 
The expert in the law replied, The one who had mercy on him.
 
Jesus told him, Go and do likewise.

Hi Windmill
 
I do not call Webster's definition into question. Actually, I think it's right on the money, so to speak.
 
What I do call into question is building Christian doctrines off of only a parable such as Jebus is glad to do from Lazarus and the rich man. Unlike your parable he has no other Biblical support for man going to Heaven except for this one ficticious passage which he himself identifies as a parable.
 
If your parable held no more substantiating proof than this one ficticious story, then I would have to call into question any doctrinal position you would attempt to take from it as this is just a story. Fortunately, in your case, this is not the case.
 
Matthew 25:40
"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'
 
Matthew 25:45
"He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.'
 
While the above is a description of things that have not happened yet and as such could be dismissed just as a parable would, the below certainly is not.
 
Matthew 19:14
Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."
 
Mark 10:14
When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.
 
Luke 18:16
But Jesus called the children to him and said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.
 
In view of Jebus not providing the same support for his parable the interpretation he places upon it must be held as highly suspect, especially since there is direct references within God's Word that positions themselves exactly opposite to the way that Jebus would like to interpret this fictious story. Of course, the question then becomes one of what the purpose of this passage remaining in Scrpture is; which if we look at it as it is written can become quite clear.
 
Happy Sabbath
IBIJ