March 18, 2021
19 “There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. 20 And at his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, 21 who longed to satisfy his hunger with what fell from the rich man’s table; even the dogs would come and lick his sores. 22 The poor man died and was carried away by the angels to be with Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 In Hades, where he was being tormented, he looked up and saw Abraham far away with Lazarus by his side. 24 He called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am in agony in these flames.’ 25 But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that during your lifetime you received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner evil things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in agony. 26 Besides all this, between you and us a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who might want to pass from here to you cannot do so, and no one can cross from there to us.’ 27 He said, ‘Then, father, I beg you to send him to my father’s house— 28 for I have five brothers—that he may warn them, so that they will not also come into this place of torment.’ 29 Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; they should listen to them.’ 30 He said, ‘No, father Abraham; but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ 31 He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’” – Luke 16:19-31
Despite what we might want to believe, not everything we consider good in life is actually good for us, in this life as we move towards the next. This parable may teach us a little about the equalizing effect of end of this life, but it may also have more to say about how to begin the abundant and enteral life now.
Though we would think that the unnamed ‘rich man’ was an example of why one should give to the poor, this unnamed man is unnamed for a must simpler reason. His name is not written in the book of life, thus he remains nameless. The only thing the rich man has going for him is his good life on earth, where he is able to dress in nice clothing, and eat whatever he chooses each day. And when I read that statement about what made this man ‘rich,’ it really makes me stop and think. He was rich because he wore nice clothes every day, and could eat whatever he wanted. How many of us where nice clothes? How many of us can eat whatever we want each day? I know it’s true for me, and makes me realize I might have more in common with the ‘rich man’ than poor Lazarus.
But there is still hope, and it’s found as this parable is less about how these individuals lived their life, and more about the exchange between the rich man and Father Abraham.
In the Jewish tradition in which Jesus is teaching, if one were a ‘child of Abraham, they would be a part of the promise to be a great nation, and one day would join Father Abraham, and be welcomed into his bosom, where there would be rewards forevermore. It’s similar to the ideas that we have heard that in heaven that awaits those who believe, there are untold riches and joys that await. However, that there is a chasm to see between the eternal places where one could speak across might be lost on us.
We must recognize that this is a story, a parable to illustrate a point. And we might get hung up on the separation of good and evil, but I ask that we let that go. Instead focus on the conversation of Abraham and the rich man.
Knowing that his place was fixed, the rich man pleads, if not me, then perhaps my family can be saved. Abraham, could you send Lazarus to my brothers, I have five of them, and warn them about what is coming when they die? Abraham, according to Jesus, replies, but they have Moses and the prophets, they should listen to them.
Jesus is using this parable to speak to the people about the law and the prophets, which should have been taught to them by the Pharisees and Scribes, however, very few truly understood the nature of this teaching to Love the Lord their God, and love their neighbor as themselves. The rich man did not love his neighbor Lazarus, and now pleads that if Lazarus was raised from the dead to warn them, then they might believe and start to live right.
Jesus ends the parable simply with this. If they don’t believe or listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced even if someone rises from the dead. This message predicts both Jesus resurrection, and how some still will not believe.
When Jesus died on the cross, he descended to the lower realms and sets the captives of death free, those who followed him. And after seizing the keys of hell and death, he rose again, returning to this world alive. If one can’t believe the words of Moses and the prophets, will they then believe one who came back from the dead? Would someone rising from the grave make you consider showing mercy, and living in the love of God, and showing it to all your neighbors?
As we get closer to remembering the Jesus on the Cross during Holy Week, may we also grow in living a life resurrected in Him.
Grace & Peace,
Sam