You're making my point: The fact that there are elements in this passage that don't jive with the rest of Scripture, like people in the grave having memories, is why this has to be a symbolic passage in need of interpretation. The idea of Abraham's bosom being the holding tank for the dead is pure speculation. What IS Biblical is what Job said about where the dead will await until Jesus comes for them: "All the days of my appointed time will I wait till my change (immortal body) comes...If I wait, the GRAVE is mine house."
Why do you keep putting forth the idea that Jesus spoke only to a gathering of Pharisees? If you start at Luke 15:1 which says "then all the sinners and publicans drew near unto Him" and read all the way down to the Rich Man and Lazarus, you'll discover that the sinners and publicans have been there with the Pharisees the whole time listening to Jesus. There is not one intimation that the sinners and publicans left the Pharisees there alone with Jesus.
You are completely missing the point, if there is no memory in the grave, then how could these two people be in their condition of seeing what was going on? To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. Have you ever notice the personality of someone whose spirit has left their body? Not much fellowship there.
I guess you missed the part where Jesus turned his attention from the crowds to the Pharisees.
Luk 16:14 And
the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided him.
Luk 16:15 And
he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.
Luk 16:16 The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it.
Luk 16:17 And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail.
Luk 16:18 Whosoever putteth away his wife, and marrieth another, committeth adultery: and whosoever marrieth her that is put away from her husband committeth adultery.
Luk 16:19 There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:
Luk 16:20 And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,
Luk 16:21 And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.
Luk 16:22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;
Luk 16:23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
Luk 16:24 And he cried and 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; for I am tormented in this flame.
Luk 16:25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.
Luk 16:26 And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.
Luk 16:27 Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house:
Luk 16:28 For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.
Luk 16:29 Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.
Luk 16:30 And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.
Luk 16:31 And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.
All of these passages is Jesus speaking directly to the Pharisees.