Today’s passage is very well known. The parable of the rich
man and Lazarus (sometimes called Lazarus and Dives). There is some debate as
to whether this is a parable or not. Jesus typically does not use proper names,
such as ‘Lazarus’, in parables. On the other hand, the teaching sounds like
many other parables of Jesus, such as the Dishonest Manager, the Talents, or the
Wedding Feast.
The Lazarus and Dives text is often used as biblical
support for conscious life after death. Both Lazarus, the rich man, and Abraham
exist in what is called ‘Hades’ or the ‘netherworld’. It is some realm of disembodied
human spirits. There is a place of comfort for Lazarus and torment for
the rich man. Jesus intimates that each person is where they are because of
their state of penitence (Vv. 30). There is ample room to expand here, but
today my focus is on the imperative of Jesus' teaching; compassion shows the
state of our heart toward God.
The rich man is not necessarily in a place of torment because
of his wealth. He is there because he lacked compassion for the beggar at his
gate. I picture the rich man walking past Lazarus daily, seeing him in need and
doing nothing. The rich man enjoys plenty and Lazarus lays there with sores and
an empty stomach. The callousness grows. Finally, the rich man does not even think
to look at Lazarus anymore. Or maybe he decides to walk another way. He has
turned away from Lazarus, and therefore away from God (cf Matthew 25:40-45).
When the rich man sees the error of his ways, he starts to understand
compassion. He asks that something be done to help his brothers. He realizes
that while he is stuck, perhaps something could be done for another. I think
this has a hint of silver lining. The problem is that the rich man’s brothers already
have plenty to go on, as Abraham tells him. If they won’t listen to the teaching
of God through Moses and the prophets, it will do no good to have one visit
them from the dead. This seems like as clear a picture as any that we must take
God’s word seriously. We have a great deal of help from the pages of Sacred
Scripture.
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