Daily Scripture:
Luke 16:
19 “Once there was a rich man who used to dress in the most expensive clothing and spent his days in magnificent luxury. 20 At his gate had been laid a beggar named El‘azar who was covered with sores. 21 He would have been glad to eat the scraps that fell from the rich man’s table; but instead, even the dogs would come and lick his sores. 22 In time the beggar died and was carried away by the angels to Avraham’s side; the rich man also died and was buried.
23 “In Sh’ol, where he was in torment, the rich man looked up and saw Avraham far away with El‘azar at his side. 24 He called out, ‘Father Avraham, take pity on me, and send El‘azar just to dip the tip of his finger in water to cool my tongue, because I’m in agony in this fire!’ 25 However, Avraham said, ‘Son, remember that when you were alive, you got the good things while he got the bad; but now he gets his consolation here, while you are the one in agony. 26 Yet that isn’t all: between you and us a deep rift has been established, so that those who would like to pass from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’
27 “He answered, ‘Then, father, I beg you to send him to my father’s house, 28 where I have five brothers, to warn them; so that they may be spared having to come to this place of torment too.’ 29 But Avraham said, ‘They have Moshe and the Prophets; they should listen to them.’ 30 However, he said, ‘No, father Avraham, they need more. If someone from the dead goes to them, they’ll repent!’ 31 But he replied, ‘If they won’t listen to Moshe and the Prophets, they won’t be convinced even if someone rises from the dead!’”
(Complete Jewish Bible).Reflection Questions:
This is the third of three “rich man” parables Luke included (we read the other two earlier this week). The story had two main characters—“a certain rich man” and a poor beggar “named Lazarus.” (Spoiler alert: the poor man, but not the rich man, got the dignity of a personal name.) The “certain rich man” shared not even a crumb with Lazarus, the poor beggar “at his gate.” Once earthly life was over, the beggar got to be by Abraham’s side, while the rich man, in misery, begged him to warn his brothers away from his painful fate.
- Jesus' story used popular ideas about heaven and Hades to teach that God cares more about how generously we do (or do not) treat the poor than about the size of our bank balance. Lazarus, the beggar, received joy and love in the end, while the rich man (like Jacob Marley in Dickens’ A Christmas Carol) faced a dismal afterlife. What influences have helped you choose values (social, financial and spiritual) based on “Moses and the prophets”—and Jesus? In what ways has living in Jesus' kingdom shifted your values?
- Jesus’ teaching about wealth and poverty extended the message of the Old Testament prophets (cf. e.g. Isaiah 1:15-17, Amos 2:6-7)(Isaiah 1:
- 15 “When you spread out your hands,
- I will hide my eyes from you;
- no matter how much you pray,
- I won’t be listening;
- because your hands are covered with blood.
- 16 “Wash yourselves clean!
- Get your evil deeds out of my sight!
- Stop doing evil, 17 learn to do good!
- Seek justice, relieve the oppressed,
- defend orphans, plead for the widow. , Amos 2:6 Here is what Adonai says:
“For Isra’el’s three crimes, no, four — I will not reverse it — because they sell the upright for silver and the poor for a pair of shoes, 7 grinding the heads of the poor in the dust and pushing the lowly out of the way; father and son sleep with the same girl,
profaning my holy name;
)(Complete Jewish Bible). After his first mission trip to Malawi, Resurrection member Brian Hague wrote “The River” (click here to hear the song). How does your heart respond when you see suffering people at your “gate” (which today is the size of our whole planet)?Lord Jesus, I’m tempted to think that because I cannot give to everyone, I may as well not give to anyone. Save me from the rich man’s foolish, destructive choice. Amen.
Read today's Insight by Darren LippeDarren Lippe helps facilitate Journey 101 “Loving God” classes, guides a 7th-grade Sunday school class, is a member of a small group and a men’s group, and serves on the curriculum team.
Since today’s passage offers a rare glimpse of the afterlife, I thought we might “visit” with the founder of Bearur Family Mortuary.
DL: Thank you for visiting with me, Mr. Bearur.
Mr. Bearur: Please call me Paul. It was easy to fit you in, as you know most Funeral Directors only work half days – only in mourning. Fortunately, we had a light schedule today, just a service for a professional mime performer.
DL: Oh my.
Paul Bearur: Yes, there were no words to express our sorrow.
DL: So, what stands out to you from this parable?
Paul Bearur: For centuries scholars debated whether Jesus was actually giving us a sneak peek of the afterlife. However, I agree with the conclusion of most theologians that Jesus was just using the popular imagery of the day (Bosom of Abraham, Torment of Hades) to help His audience to quickly get up to speed. Today, Jesus might reference the “Pearly Gates” or “Crossing the River of Jordan.”
DL: What else?
Paul Bearur: There are several fascinating elements to Jesus’ parable.
Lazarus never speaks, but Abraham speaks on behalf of Lazarus. This adds some theological heft to his conversation with the Rich Man & it also suggests that Lazarus has no need/desire to redress old wrongs – he is now in a place of complete joy & peace.
The Rich Man only asks for some temporary relief. He doesn’t seek a pardon for his transgressions - as if he understands his plight is fair & just.
Jesus really puts His audience on the spot when the Rich Man begs Abraham to let his remaining brothers know that they need to change their ways. Abraham pointedly says if they didn’t believe the prophets of yesterday, what would one more voice mean - even if it were from the afterlife? I would suggest that now we are cast as the brothers: will we heed Jesus’ call? What are your impressions?
DL: Jesus is obviously noting the need to care for the sick & impoverished. But I would submit His point is even broader than that. The Rich Man’s crime is his utter lack of compassion for his fellow man.
This parable becomes more convicting with each reading. If we acted with compassion, perhaps our theological differences wouldn’t be quite so judgmental. If we acted with compassion, then maybe our ideological views wouldn’t always devolve into a good vs. evil template – where my side is always good & your side is, well, not. If we acted with compassion to those we encountered in person or online, then perhaps we wouldn’t constantly assign the worst motives to each other, wouldn’t be in a continuous state of indignation, & wouldn’t have to use our [CAPS LOCK] key quite so much.
Paul Bearur: I agree. You know, the final point of this parable that brings me comfort is the vision of the angels guiding Lazarus through the mysterious & scary valley of death to the place of peace & beauty. As Billy Graham wrote, “Death is the fiery chariot, the gentle voice of the King, the invitation to non-stop passage into the banquet house of the world of glory.1”
Whoa. I need to go - I have to re-train our hearse driver. He used to drive a taxi. Every time he gets in the hearse he turns around & asks, “Where to?”
DL: Sounds like a grave problem.
Paul Bearur: (Sigh.)
1Billy Graham, Angels (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1975) 224-225.Like this post? Share it!
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- Jesus offended money-loving Pharisees
- Been given much? Much is demanded
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- “Guard yourself against greed”
- Prayer Tip: What Would Jesus Say to the 1%?
- Or download this week's printable GPS.
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Scripture quotations are taken from The Common English Bible ©2011.
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