31 He answered them and said, I tell you, men, that they who trust in riches cannot trust in God and cannot come into the kingdom of the soul; 32 Yea, it is easier for a camel to go through a needle’s eye than for a man with hoarded wealth to find the way of life. And his disciples said, Who then can find the way? Who can be saved? 33 And Jesus said, The rich may give his gold away; the high may kiss the dust, and God will save. 34 Then Jesus spoke this parable to them: 35 A rich man lived in splendid state; he wore the finest garments men could make; his boards were loaded with the costliest viands of the land. 36 A beggar, blind and lame, whose name was Lazarus, was wont to sit beside the waste gate of this home that he might share with dogs the refuse from the rich man’s boards. 37 It came to pass that Lazarus died, and angels carried him away unto the bosom of our father Abraham. 38 The rich man also died, and he was buried in a costly tomb; but in the purifying fires he opened up his eyes dissatisfied. 39 He looked and saw the beggar resting peacefully in the bosom of his father Abraham, and in the bitterness of his soul he cried, 40 My father Abraham, look down in mercy on your son; I am tormented in these flames. 41 Send Lazarus, I beseech, that he may give me just a sup of water to cool my parched tongue. 42 But Abraham replied, My son, in mortal life, you had the best things of the earth and Lazarus had the worst, and you would not give him a cup of water there, but drove him from your door. 43 The law must be fulfilled, and Lazarus now is comforted, and you are paying what you owe. 44 Besides, there is a great gulf fixed between your zone and us, and if I would I could not send Lazarus to you, and you cannot come up to us till you have paid your debts. 45 Again the man in anguish said, O father Abraham, I pray, send Lazarus back to earth, and to my father’s house, that he may tell my brothers who are yet in life, for I have five of them, about the horrors of this place, lest they come down to me and not to you. 46 And Abraham replied, They have the words of Moses and the seers, let them hear them. 47 The man replied, They will not hearken to the written word; but if a man would go up from the grave they might believe. 48 But Abraham replied, If they hear not the words of Moses and the seers they would not be persuaded even though one from the dead stood in their midst. 49 And Peter said, Lord, we have left our all to follow you; and what is our reward? 50 And Jesus said, Most verily I say to you, that you who have left all to follow me shall come into a newness of a life hid deep with Christ in God. 51 And you shall sit with me upon the throne of power, and judge with me the tribes of Israel. 52 And he who conquers carnal self, and follows me through Christ shall have a hundred fold of that which is the wealth of life on earth, and in the world to come, eternal life. CHAPTER 143.