Lazarus and the Rich Man
Luke 16.19-30
This parable is often ignored or used for evangelistic sermons about the permanency and reality of heaven and hell. Whilst it does deal with both of those subjects, that is not actually the core teaching of this parable. As always let us set the parable in its context. If you look at verses 9-13 of the same chapter you will see Jesus’ teaching about the impossibility of serving two masters – God and mammon. Jesus speaks, using a play on words in the Aramaic language of his day, of how we cannot be trusted with ‘the truth of God’ if we cannot be trusted with the mammon that has been given to us. Also we should note that this parable is the third of a trilogy – the prodigal son wasted his father’s money (Luke 15), the dishonest steward wastes his master’s possessions (Luke 16.1-8) and here a rich man wastes his own possessions.
There are two sections to the parable – the picture painted of the situation in verses 19-23 and the dialogue in verses 24-30.
The first scene in the parable paints a picture of self-indulgence. Here we meet a man who cares only for himself and his own pleasures. Each day he dressed himself in purple robes. He had other robes of different colours but purple being the most expensive colour of the day it is this which he displays to the outside world. Look how rich I am! We also read that he wore ‘fine linen’. The word in Greek is bussos, which transliterates the Hebrew word butz, which in turn refers to quality Egyptian cotton used in making undergarments. There is a touch of humour here with Christ. He is saying that this man not only had expensive outer robes but in case anyone was interested, he also wore fine quality underwear. We also hear from the lips of Jesus that this man feasted sumptuously ‘every day’ – making out that he did not observe the Sabbath. His indulgent lifestyle was the most important thing to him, even more important than observing the Law of God.
In verse 20 we meet the second player in this parable, Lazarus. Lazarus means ‘the one whom God helps.’ He is the only character given a name in any of the parables. Here we read of a man who seems to be neglected, forgotten by God. Day by day he lies at the gate of this rich man. Presumably he is unable to walk there as we read that ‘he was laid’ outside this man’s gate each day and would require his family and friends to carry him there each day. He has no food, no wealth and is sick. His family and friends did what they could for him, laying at the gate of the only man with the resources to truly help him. Yet this rich man was blind to Lazarus lying at his gate, but as we will see later in the parable he did know his name. Jesus says that Lazarus ‘desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man’s table.’ He wanted this but was unable to attain this. Lazarus lies at the gate of this man’s home. Each day he witnesses the sights and smells of the sumptuous banquet and each day his desire for food goes unfulfilled. The guard dogs of this man’s house are better fed than Lazarus.
Lazarus’ only comfort is that the dogs come and lick his wounds. Dogs lick you when they show affection and this is the only affection that Lazarus receives from the rich man’s household. What a contrast to the indifference of the rich man to Lazarus’ suffering.
The parable continues that Lazarus died and too poor for a funeral the angles take him to Abraham’s side where a banquet is thrown to welcome him. The rich man also dies and was buried. The contrast is startling. It would have come as no surprise to those listening to Christ that this self-indulgent rich man found himself in Hades or hell. The dramatic tension between Lazarus and the rich man continues in the afterlife. The rich man recognises Lazarus, so he knew Lazarus which makes his behaviour towards him even more reprehensible. Surely the rich man will apologise for his behaviour towards Lazarus and ask his forgiveness.
The rich man begins the second part of the parable with a request. A request not to Lazarus but to Abraham. He begins by addressing Abraham as ‘my father Abraham…’ The rich man is playing his racial card – I have the blood of Abraham running in my veins, and Abraham is the patriarch of my clan. He is relying on this to gain favour with Abraham but it doesn’t. The rich man next states the traditional ‘beggar response’ “have mercy on me.” I wonder how often he heard such words fall from the lips of the helpless Lazarus at his gates? He longs to become Lazarus – the one whom God helps, but it is too late.
His first request is unbelievable. When Lazarus was in pain and distress this man ignored him. Yet here he is asking Abraham to send Lazarus to alleviate his thirst. Instead of an apology, he demands service. After all he is not used to such suffering. This rich man cannot envisage a world where he is not in control and where his needs are not met. He cannot envisage a world where the social orders are not in place and where he is superior to Lazarus. The tables have turned. Lazarus is now the one in power and I wonder, I just wonder, did some of those listening to Christ want Lazarus to let off both barrels at this man. But Lazarus is quiet. There is no anger within Lazarus ready to explode at this man.
Abraham responds to the rich man – verses 25-26. Abraham addresses him with affection ‘my dear son…’This is the same phrase the father uses to address the returning prodigal. Abraham then says ‘remember.’ When we say that word we think of recalling something – which is part of its meaning in Scripture but it also carries within it an OT prophetic meaning = repent. When the prophets called the people to ‘remember’ it was also a call to repent of their wicked ways. The rich man is to remember four points:
He had received good things – luxury and wealth
Lazarus bad things – sickness and neglect
He is comforted – Lazarus is beside Abraham
You are in anguish – rich man is in hell.
The last three phrases should be seen together and they are connected by the word ‘and.’ I want you to note that Lazarus is not described as healed or well fed but comforted which demonstrates that outside the rich man’s gates he was in anguish. The most painful experience for Lazarus was his treatment at the hands of this rich man who knew him. Abraham goes on to point out to the rich man that there is a great chasm fixed between them and then he says something startling – so that no one can go from here to you and vice versa. We glance over that and think nothing of it but stop and think for one moment what Christ has Abraham say here. It is perfectly understandable why someone would want to leave hell and go to heaven but why would anyone, seeing the torment of hell, want to go from heaven to hell? The implication is that Lazarus was willing to go and bring water to the rich man to alleviate his suffering. Lazarus was willing to do for the rich man what the rich man was not willing to do for Lazarus. This is a revelation of the character of Lazarus to Jesus’ listeners. He not only refrains from gloating but has compassion for this rich man who neglected him during his lifetime on earth.
The rich man responds with concern for his brothers, ignoring Abraham’s call on him ‘to remember.’ The rich man changes the subject. If Lazarus cannot become a waiter and bring him water then he can become an errand boy and go and warn this man’s brothers. Some commentators have noted that this man has five brothers and with the addition of himself it makes 6 = the number for evil in the Scriptures. If he had added Lazarus it would have made 7 = completion, perfection in Scripture – but that is an aside.
Abraham tells the rich man that they have the Law and the Prophets (OT) and that is sufficient for them to ‘hear.’ Around 3-10% of the population in the time of Christ would have been literate – the public reading (at the Temple etc) of the Scriptures was key to people knowing about God. Yet if these 5 brothers follow the path of this rich man and have feasts every day they will never be in a position to ‘hear’ God speak to them. ‘To hear’ in Semitic languages is to ‘listen and obey.’ The rich man is not accustomed to anyone saying ‘No’ to him and so he makes another request, demand of Abraham. In this request, verse 30, he contradicts and then seeks to correct Abraham. It is completely lost on this man that the fires of hell did not change his attitude towards Lazarus, or himself. He still sought to order Lazarus about and to seek the alleviation of his own suffering. Abraham concludes the conversation very tersely, verse 31. In fact a man called Lazarus did rise from the dead and the high priest was not convinced but in fact his heart was hardened against Christ – John 11.45-50.
Application
I want to ask you this morning which of these two men do you readily identify with? Which of these two eternal destinies will be yours? This is a stark parable. It is no wonder that people often chose to ignore it. It challenges me about my attitude towards others. Am I self-indulgent – feasting sumptuously each day and ignoring the beggar at my gate? Do I spend my life seeking self-fulfilment and ignoring everything and everyone else? Are my priorities God’s priorities? What is my attitude to the things of God? To God Himself? Do I ever think of my eternal destiny?
Lazarus – when the shoe is on the other foot do I let them have both barrels that I have loaded time and time again? Or am I compassionate and willing to alleviate the suffering of someone else when they never stretched out a hand to help me?
Remember the context of this parable – you cannot serve both God and mammon – who are you serving this morning?
Amen.
