Scripture: “There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores. The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried, and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. And he called out, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.’ But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.’ And he said, ‘Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father’s house— for I have five brothers—so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.’ But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.’ And he said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ He said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.'” Luke 16:19-31 ESV
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Observation: Recapping Friday’s Daily Focus, Jesus addresses his disciples with a perplexing parable that appears to condone dishonesty: The Parable of the Shrewd Manager. As the story goes, the master of the house tells his wasteful manager to surrender his accounting records and find work elsewhere. Upon considering his age and physical limitation, the manager seeks to ingratiate himself with his master’s debtors by settling their debts at a discount. Learning of his former manager’s initiative, the master commends him for his shrewdness. Jesus then likens the manager’s cunning actions to those of the world and exhorts his disciples to similarly build relations with others to gain the support needed to stay on course toward his heavenly kingdom. Jesus then sums up his point by saying they must decide whom to serve because they cannot have two masters, particularly regarding God and money, for their affections will gravitate toward one or the other.
For today’s reading, Jesus tells an allegory aimed at the Pharisees about a rich man and a poor man in the afterlife. It points to the Pharisees’ lack of faith and their inevitable destiny of eternal suffering if they do not repent in this life. As the story goes, the rich man (unnamed) indulged in fine clothing and food while ignoring the needs of an impoverished man named Lazarus, who suffered terribly from malnutrition and eventually died. The rich man also died and found himself agonizing in Hades. In contrast, angels ushered Lazarus into heaven, where he found comfort by Abraham’s side. So the rich man cries out to Abraham for mercy and requests for Lazarus to come and ease his torment. But Abraham reminds the rich man that he indulged in luxuries and comfort in his earthly life and has reaped his just reward.
Conversely, as Abraham declares, Lazarus suffered immensely in his temporal life and is now enjoying eternal blessings. Abraham also explains that a chasm separates heaven from hell to prevent the crossover of souls. So the rich man begs Abraham to send Lazarus to his five brothers to warn them of what awaits them if they carry on in the same manner and do not repent. Abraham counters that the rich man’s brothers need to listen to Moses and the Prophet. With one last plea, the rich man contends that if someone from the dead warns them, they will listen. Abraham dismisses his naíve notion and ends the conversation by stating they will no more listen to the resurrected if they do not already listen to Moses and the Prophets.
Takeaway: Theologian Walter Liefeld rightly cautions the reader not to build a theology around matters of heaven and hell from this allegory. The main thrust carries three points:
- At the end of this now-but-not-yet age, Christ will reverse the human condition. Those who suffer but persevere by grace through faith will find eternal comfort and joy.
- Our decisions in this life carry the weight of eternal consequences. Those who reject the Gospel and refuse to repent will endure agonizing eternal separation from their Creator and all that is good and beautiful in his heavenly kingdom.
- Those who reject the truth revealed in Scripture (Moses and the prophets) will not be convinced even by the sign of the resurrection. It is the nature of our fallen human condition borne in pride.
Our takeaway? Repent (Luke 13:2-5) and walk by faith (2 Corinthians 5:7), relying on the truths of Scripture to help us persevere suffering in this life (Romans 8:18), and trust that eternity awaits us where every tear will be wiped away (Revelation 21:3-4). And don’t get caught up in trying to sort out the paranormal elements of this allegory regarding heaven and hell. As we covered in the August 11 Daily Focus regarding the “narrow door,” Jesus tells us we will join the company of saints who have gone before us, including Abraham and the prophets, to feast in his kingdom (Luke 13:28-29). That’s all we need to know about the future. So let’s live in the present, exercising our faith by immersing ourselves in Scripture, repenting as often as necessary, and persevering in the race marked before us while keeping our eyes fixed on our glorious resurrected Christ (Hebrews 12:1-2).
Prayer: Father God, we thank you for your Son, who persevered through immense suffering in his earthly life and rose victoriously from the grave as the first fruit of our promised resurrection. Still, we confess we sometimes lose sight of his cross and stumble in our walk of faith. So would you please help us to repent and rely on the truths of Scripture, leaning on your Holy Spirit to upright us when we fall, and trust that your Son has prepared a place for us in your glorious heavenly kingdom? Amen.
Rev. Gordon Green, M.Div., M.A. Counseling
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