Scriptures:
Text to read:
Text to Read: Luke 16: The Rich Man and Lazarus
19-21 “There once was a rich man, expensively dressed in the latest fashions, wasting his days in conspicuous consumption. A poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, had been dumped on his doorstep. All he lived for was to get a meal from scraps off the rich man’s table. His best friends were the dogs who came and licked his sores.
22-24 “Then he died, this poor man, and was taken up by the angels to the lap of Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried. In hell and in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham in the distance and Lazarus in his lap. He called out, ‘Father Abraham, mercy! Have mercy! Send Lazarus to dip his finger in water to cool my tongue. I’m in agony in this fire.’
25-26 “But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that in your lifetime you got the good things and Lazarus the bad things. It’s not like that here. Here he’s consoled and you’re tormented. Besides, in all these matters there is a huge chasm set between us so that no one can go from us to you even if he wanted to, nor can anyone cross over from you to us.’
27-28 “The rich man said, ‘Then let me ask you, Father: Send him to the house of my father where I have five brothers, so he can tell them the score and warn them so they won’t end up here in this place of torment.’
29 “Abraham answered, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets to tell them the score. Let them listen to them.’
30 “‘I know, Father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but they’re not listening. If someone came back to them from the dead, they would change their ways.’
31 “Abraham replied, ‘If they won’t listen to Moses and the Prophets, they’re not going to be convinced by someone who rises from the dead.’”
____________________________
John Wesley’s Notes-Commentary:Text to read:
Text to Read: Luke 16: 19-31
Verse 19
[19] There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:
There was a certain rich man — Very probably a Pharisee, and one that justified himself before men; a very honest, as well as honourable gentleman: though it was not proper to mention his name on this occasion: who was clothed in purple and fine linen - and doubtless esteemed on this account, (perhaps not only by those who sold it, but by most that knew him,) as encouraging trade, and acting according to his quality: And feasted splendidly every day - And consequently was esteemed yet more, for his generosity and hospitality in keeping so good a table.
Verse 20
[20] And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,
And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, (according to the Greek pronunciation) or Eleazer. By his name it may be conjectured, he was of no mean family, though it was thus reduced. There was no reason for our Lord to conceal his name, which probably was then well known. Theophylact observes, from the tradition of the Hebrews, that he lived at Jerusalem.
Yea, the dogs also came and licked his sores — It seems this circumstance is recorded to show that all his ulcers lay bare, and were not closed or bound up.
Verse 22
[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;
And the beggar — Worn out with hunger, and pain, and want of all things, died: and was carried by angels (amazing change of the scene!) into Abraham's bosom - So the Jews styled paradise; the place where the souls of good men remain from death to the resurrection.
The rich man also died, and was buried — Doubtless with pomp enough, though we do not read of his lying in state; that stupid, senseless pageantry, that shocking insult on a poor, putrefying carcass, was reserved for our enlightened age!
Verse 23
[23] And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
He seeth Abraham afar off — And yet knew him at that distance: and shall not Abraham's children, when they are together in paradise, know each other!
Verse 24
[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.
Father Abraham, have mercy on me — It cannot be denied, but here is one precedent in Scripture of praying to departed saints: but who is it that prays, and with what success? Will any, who considers this, be fond of copying after him?
Verse 25
[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.
But Abraham said, Son — According to the flesh. Is it not worthy of observation, that Abraham will not revile even a damned soul? and shall living men revile one another? Thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things - Thou didst choose and accept of worldly things as thy good, thy happiness. And can any be at a loss to know why he was in torments? This damnable idolatry, had there been nothing more, was enough to sink him to the nethermost hell.
Verse 26
[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.
Beside this there is a great gulf fixed — Reader, to which side of it wilt thou go?
Verse 28
[28] For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.
Lest they also come into this place — He might justly fear lest their reproaches should add to his own torment.
Verse 31
[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.
Neither will they be persuaded — Truly to repent: for this implies an entire change of heart: but a thousand apparitions cannot, effect this. God only can, applying his word.
____________________________
Daily Devotions:
Monday, November 3, 2014
Sermon theme: The Faith Solution - Stewardship: Indulgences
Read the entire story.
What challenges you the most here?
Why?
Tuesday, November 4, 2014
Sermon theme: The Faith Solution - Stewardship: Indulgences
How is this story about grace rather than judgement?
Wednesday, November 5, 2014
Sermon theme: The Faith Solution - Stewardship: Indulgences
Where do you see the story of justice here?
How does it work?
Thursday, November 6, 2014
Sermon theme: The Faith Solution - Stewardship: Indulgences
What fuels our desire to give?
How do we decide?
Friday, November 7, 2014
Sermon theme: The Faith Solution - Stewardship: Indulgences
Do you often give because you are asked or because you took the initiative?
Saturday, November 8, 2014
Sermon theme: The Faith Solution - Stewardship: Indulgences
What kind of giving gives you the most joy?
Why?
Sunday, November 9, 2014
Sermon theme: The Faith Solution - Stewardship: Indulgences
Pray for all those that have the means to help others.
____________________________
First United Methodist Church
2111 Camino del Rio South
San Diego, CA 92108
____________________________
Sermon Story "Life After Faith" by Gary Lee Parker for Sunday, 9 November 2014
Text to read: Luke 16: The Rich Man and Lazarus
19-21 “There once was a rich man, expensively dressed in the latest fashions, wasting his days in conspicuous consumption. A poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, had been dumped on his doorstep. All he lived for was to get a meal from scraps off the rich man’s table. His best friends were the dogs who came and licked his sores.
22-24 “Then he died, this poor man, and was taken up by the angels to the lap of Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried. In hell and in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham in the distance and Lazarus in his lap. He called out, ‘Father Abraham, mercy! Have mercy! Send Lazarus to dip his finger in water to cool my tongue. I’m in agony in this fire.’
25-26 “But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that in your lifetime you got the good things and Lazarus the bad things. It’s not like that here. Here he’s consoled and you’re tormented. Besides, in all these matters there is a huge chasm set between us so that no one can go from us to you even if he wanted to, nor can anyone cross over from you to us.’
27-28 “The rich man said, ‘Then let me ask you, Father: Send him to the house of my father where I have five brothers, so he can tell them the score and warn them so they won’t end up here in this place of torment.’
29 “Abraham answered, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets to tell them the score. Let them listen to them.’
30 “‘I know, Father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but they’re not listening. If someone came back to them from the dead, they would change their ways.’
31 “Abraham replied, ‘If they won’t listen to Moses and the Prophets, they’re not going to be convinced by someone who rises from the dead.’”
How does this parable of Jesus apply to the people listeners of Jesus then and now? We hear the words of Jesus spoken to his hearers some 2000 years ago when there appeared to be a great gap between the rich and the poor. Here we have a rich man who was festing everyday on what he has produced or purchased for himself and his family giving the scraps to the dogs, which could mean any person who was not a Jew or the Gentiles as well as animals. There was and man was was sopoor that he sat at the gates of the rich person begging for a little scraps and this poor man could have been a Jewish brethren of the rich man. Anyway, both the poor man and the rich man died. The rich man found himself in a place where he was tortured and was very, very thirsty while the poor man was seated and lying at the lap or bosom of Abraham. Somehow, they could see each other's plight or rewards and even communicate with each other. The rich man asked Abraham to have Lazarus come to him with water on his fingerto quench his thirst. Did the rich man have the same attitude in the after life as he did in the human life where he needed to be served? Abraham responded to the rich man is that he received the good in the human life while Lazarus did not as well as no one can go between the torture chamber and the reward chamber. Then, the response was by Abraham after the rich man asked for Lazarus to go to his brothers and tell them about what they need to do with Abraham saying that they have Moses and the Prophets, but they would not even believe if someone arose from the dead. Could Jesus have been referring to the resurrection of Lazarus, the widow's only son, and even his own resurrection after he is killed and dies? What character do you relate to or no relate to? How do you understand the resurrection of Jesus? Do you believe or not believe his own resurrection and ascension? We now look at today's world and how the rich exploit the poor to get richer and even find ways to keep the poor from getting ahead in life. How does God look at the fact that in many nations there is a gap between the rich and the poor with very little hope to better oneself with even in this country it is getting bigger? How has the church contributed to this in the paying of pastor's salaries ove the past forty years when in the past many pastors were in the low income bracket, but not really now? What are you thinking is yours and the church's responsibility to transform us and the community to do better?
___________________________
No comments:
Post a Comment