Division - One or the Other
KJV Luke 16:19 There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: 20 And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, 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.
Introduction
This parable is a comparison, not between rich and poor, but between faith in Jesus Christ and faith in the righteousness of the Law.
Parables are from the Jewish tradition, where a story is told to teach some points about the Word of God. The parables are short stories, and very special coming from the Son of God. No one else can teach so much in a few words.
The rationalists and apostates get this mixed up. They teach that the miracles are fictional stories, which have some kind of meaning apart from Jesus being able to cure terrible diseases and raise the dead. To prove this, they mistakenly call all miracles "myths" so that the New Testament will be true if only we remove all the miracles from it. They are not too sure about parables either. My New Testament professor at Waterloo Lutheran Seminary published a book about parables - and said no one could understand them. Apparently, that included him.
The parables of Jesus often have several points, and Luther was exceptional about explaining them. The New Testament is concise, stingy with words, so every phrase of a parable from Jesus should be considered and remembered for its powerful lessons. Some of this is from removing false ideas about a parable. The other part is about seeing how the parable is part of the great harmony of the Scriptures, from Creation to the end of time.
This parable has a dramatic comparison, not between rich and poor, but between faith and unbelief. Or to be more blunt, between faith in Christ and faith in works. The ultimate sin, the foundational sin, is not placing our trust in Christ (John 16:8).
a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day
First of all, we know Lazarus is rich, because he wore clothes that very few could afford. Purple was the color used by royalty or by those few who could afford it. This does not mean Lazarus is being portrayed as evil because of his wealth. The key point is that he dined on the best foods every day. Taking the two together, this is a man truly in love with himself and glad to put on a show of his wealth. A man with so much to spend would gather many people around him, feeling very sure of himself because of his possessions and having that established by his ability to entertain so many people. A regular at his estate could save a lot of money and make important and influential friends
a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores 21 And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table
The repetition of "certain" makes it clear that this parable will concern two people. While food is being dished out every day for the rich man's friends and boot-lickers, poor Lazarus is placed at the gate in the hopes of left-overs. He was so malnourished that his skin had painful sores, which are difficult to heal, even today in modern medicine.
We stopped at a restaurant on Christmas Eve, because we were cold (Aerostar Van - hot all summer, cold all winter) and very hungry. We got to a Chinese restaurant, which was closing, and we begged for food, anything! We'll pay. They couldn't, then relented, a bucket of hot rice and chicken, with two plastic sporks. The van warmed up a bit and we had a meal which we talked about forever after.
Being hungry is bad enough, but being turned away or ignored when a large house has a festival each day - that is pure cruelty.
moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.
These were not the cute indoor puppies of the Canaanite woman's miracle story. The filthy roaming dogs were scavengers who either took pity on his plight or sought to get some nourishment from the beggar's fading life. This detail is revolting for anyone, and enhances the thought of cruel shunning by the oh-so-well-fed hangers-on who walked by Lazarus every day.
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; 23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
The great separation between the rich man and Lazarus is emphasized again, only Lazarus is carried by angels into Abraham's bosom. That by itself is a mark of great honor. Abraham - not Moses - is the Old Testament star in the New Testament.
One person complained that I spent too much time on Abraham in The King James Version book (24 pages!). No, I was stunned by how often Abraham came up, because the patriarch is the Father of Faith (Hebrews 11) and the example of Justification by Faith in Romans 4-5. Being brought to Abraham is a way of teaching us that salvation is faith in Christ, forgiveness is faith in Christ, eternal life is faith in Christ.
The rich man's torment is experiencing the nothingness of Hell, as Luther expressed it. By placing all his interest in honoring himself, the rich man was shown where that led when the hangers-on are gone, the food does not matter, and one has universal and infinite loneliness.
1. We have hitherto heard in our Gospel lessons of various examples of faith and of love; for as they all teach faith and love, I hope you are abundantly and sufficiently informed that no human being can be pleasing to God unless he believes and loves. Now in this Gospel text the Lord presents to us at the same time an example of faith and of unbelief or of the state of the godless, in order that we also may abhor the contrary and the opposite of faith and love, and that we may cleave to faith and love more diligently.
For here we see the judgment of God upon the believers and the unbelievers, which is both dreadful and comforting. Dreadful to the faithless and comforting to the faithful. But in order that we may the better grasp the meaning of this text we must picture to ourselves both the rich man and poor Lazarus. In the rich man we see the nature of unbelief and in Lazarus the nature of belief.
The Rich Man's First Request
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. 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. 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.
The rich man is no longer rich, but he would like the beggar he ignored to wait on him, sooth his burning tongue with some water. Abraham answering said, "No you had nothing but good in your life and Lazarus nothing but evil, so it is only fair that he has comfort and you have torment. Not only that, there is no travel between your place and his." That reminds us that the rich man stepped over or past Lazarus whenever he went out and came back.
Second Request
27 Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house: 28 For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. 29 Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.
There is a long list of things which contribute nothing to salvation.
- One is a long list of organizations, often devoted to building themselves up.
- Another is a list of programs, and of course, new programs that will generate results.
- Some organizations feel a bit guilty about their endowments, so they tell everyone how much good they do with the money, which goes to organizations and programs.
- Bishop Pike told his mother they needed to become Episcopalians because "the best people go there."
- The ex-bishop of San Francisco slept on city streets to emphasize the plight of the homeless, somewhat like Lazarus before the final curtain.
Seldom mentioned is that One Thing Which Is Needful - the Gospel Word of faith in Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Abraham represents faith in Gospel Promise that his son would start a family tree leading to the Messiah and the ever-growing Kingdom of God.
The Promise of Genesis 15:6, Galatians, Romans 4
Astonishing or not, this is ignored and rejected by the vast majority today. For many, it is because the wrong thing is emphasized:
- You are in the correct church body.
- You are following a carefully conceived plan that will yield super results if you deploy it the right way.
- You have all the church officials, college presidents, 3 Synod Presidents (3!), District Presidents, annuity salesmen (Thrivent) praising you for the gifts and ignoring the Sixth Commandment.
Only one thing is needful, Jesus said, praising the sister who dwelt on His Word of grace, admonishing the sister who was so busy being busy that she neglected the Word.
Final Request Denied
30 And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. 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.
Here is one of the great ironies of the Bible - and there are many. The Gospel of John is full of them, but this Luke parable is the most memorable. The rich man is proposing that Lazarus be sent to his brothers, because that would scare them into repenting when they found out how bad their circumstances are after death.
Which is more powerful? A person rising from the dead? Or hearing Moses and the Prophets?
Moses and the Prophets are more powerful, because hearing the Gospel in the Scriptures has the effect of creating and sustaining faith in the Messiah. Before the death and resurrection of Christ, it was faith in the future Savior. Afterwards, it is the Gospel we have experienced - or ignored.
What will prove more valuable in the end? I have been reading the stories of the French Protestants and their persecution at the hands of popes, bishops, and the armies. They identified with the truth of the Gospel and gave their lives for that truth.
KJV Luke 10:38 Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house.
39 And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word.
40 But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.
41 And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:
42 But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.
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