Matthew Poole and continuators on Luke 16:22

22 And it came to pass that the begger died, and was carried by the angels into Abrahams bosom: The rich man also died, and was buried.

It is a Question of no great concern for us to be resolved about, whether this be an History, or Narrative of matter of Fact, or a Parable. Those that contend on either side have probable Arguments for their Opinion, and it may be they best judge, who determine it to be neither the one, nor the other, but a profitable discourse, that hath in it something of both. Our chief concern is to consider what our Lord by it designed to instruct us in. And certainly those do not judge amiss who think, that this discourse hath a great reference to what went before, v. 9.10. where our Saviour had been exhorting his heares▪ to make themselves Friends of the Mammon of Vnrighteousness, as also to the Pharisees deriding him for his Doctrine, v. 14. Our Lord by this discourse letting them know the danger of Covetousness, and Vncharitableness, and also letting them know that what is highly esteemed amongst Men, may be abomination in the sight of God. He telleth them there was a certain rich Man, who lived in great Plenty and Splendour, his clothing was Purple and fine linnen, that is exceeding costly, and splendid, his fare or Diet, was delicate and Sumptuous, and that every day, from whence may easily be concluded, that if he had had an heart thereunto▪ he might have spared something for the Poor. Nor were the objects of his charity far off. There was a certain Begger, whose name was Lazarus, poor enough, for he was full of sores, and would have been glad of the offal of the Rich Mans table; but the Dogs were more charitable then their Master; we read of nothing which the Rich Man gave him, but the Dogs came and licked his Sores. What was the end of this? The Begger died, and he was by the Angels carried into the bosom of Abraham, that is, into Heaven, some will have the Phrase signifie, one of the chiefest Mansions in Heaven. Abraham was the Father of believers, and an hospitable Person while he lived upon the Earth. Lazarus is expressed to have been conveyed to him. There are many things discoursed by Men of Wit and Learning about this Abraham's bosom, but the best center here, that by it is meant Heaven, and from hence two great points are proved. 1. That the Soul is capable of an existence separated from the Body, and therefore is not as some Atheists Dream, a meer affection of that, and an accident, but a distinct spiritual subsistence. 2. That the Souls of the Good, when they depart from their Bodies, immediately pass into an eternal state of Blessedness.