Treasurers In Heaven

Treasurers in Heaven

Luke 16:19-31

Rabbi Rev. Dr. Michael H. Koplitz

20 “And a poor man named Lazarus awas laid at his gate, covered with sores, 21 and

longing to be fed from the scraps which fell from the rich man’s table; not only that,

the dogs also were coming and licking his sores. 22 “Now it happened that the poor

man died and was carried away by the angels to 1aAbraham’s arms; and the rich man

also died and was buried. 23 “And in aHades he raised his eyes, being in torment,

and *saw Abraham far away and Lazarus in his 1arms. 24 “And he cried out and said,

‘aFather Abraham, have mercy on me and send Lazarus, so that he may dip the tip

of his finger in water and cool off my tongue, for I am in agony in bthis flame.’ 25

“But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that aduring your life you received your good

things, and likewise Lazarus bad things; but now he is being comforted here, and

you are in agony. 26 ‘And 1besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has

been set, so that those who want to go over from here to you will not be able, nor

will any people cross over from there to us.’ 27 “And he said, ‘Then I request of you,

father, that you send him to my father’s house— 28 for I have five brothers—in

order that he may awarn them, so that they will not come to this place of torment as

well.’ 29 “But Abraham *said, ‘They have 1aMoses and the Prophets; let them hear

them.’ 30 “But he said, ‘No, afather Abraham, but if someone goes to them from

the dead, they will repent!’ 31 “But he said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses

and the Prophets, they will not be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead.’”

In Luke’s Gospel, chapter 16, verses 19 through 30, we encounter a striking and

challenging story commonly titled The Rich Man and Lazarus. Right away, the name

Lazarus can cause confusion. Many readers immediately think of Lazarus of Bethany—

the brother of Mary and Martha—whom Jesus raised from the dead. This, however, is

a completely different individual. Why Jesus chose to use the same name is unknown,

but the story is clearly presented as a parable told to His followers.

What makes this parable especially compelling is that it is rich with symbolism and

rooted deeply in the customs and beliefs of the ancient world. That should not surprise

us. All of Jesus’ parables draw on familiar images, cultural assumptions, and everyday

experiences to convey profound spiritual truths. Teaching through parables was, in fact,

a long-standing rabbinic tradition well before the time of Jesus. Yet Jesus, as we know,

mastered this form of teaching like no one else—and this parable is no exception.

One important belief we must understand to fully grasp this parable is the ancient view

of the body and the soul. In early Israelite thought—prior to strong Greek influence—

many people believed that after death the soul remained with the body and that there

was little or no conscious existence beyond the grave. Even today, some people still

believe that when a person dies, that is simply the end—that they disappear entirely.

This parable directly challenges that idea. Jesus describes a man named Lazarus who lay

at the gate of a wealthy man, suffering, hungry, and desperate. The rich man saw him

every day and chose to do nothing. When both men died, the scene dramatically shifts:

the rich man finds himself in Hades, while Lazarus is comforted in the presence of

Father Abraham.

The rich man, now in torment, desperately wants relief. He cries out for help, but none

is given. He is told that a great chasm separates him from Lazarus—a division that

cannot be crossed. This is not presented as arbitrary punishment; rather, it is the

consequence of a life lived without compassion. The rich man ignored Lazarus at his

gate, and now he finds himself cut off, with no way back.

Another vital lesson from this parable concerns obedience to God’s commandments.

In Scripture, we encounter not only rules and laws, but also mitzvot—commandments

intended to bring blessing, both in this life and in the life to come. Charity is one of the

most important of these. The rich man failed in this responsibility. He did not offer

Lazarus even the smallest act of mercy. In doing so, he violated one of the core

commandments of faithful living.

The consequence, as Jesus describes it, is separation from God. Hades is portrayed not

merely as a place of suffering, but as a place of isolation—cut off from God’s presence.

The rich man had everything he wanted in life, but in the end he had nothing. The great