Author: Gary Witcher

Parables Eighteen

For several studies now we have been discussing the parables of Jesus. Remember that a parable is an earthly story with a heavenly meaning. Although the parables are not accounts of actual events, every element is factual.  That is, no one can look at a parable and say, "That could never happen."
Since the parables are not accounts of actual events, the story recorded in Luke 16:19-31 should probably not be classified with this group.  The story of the rich man and Lazarus, told in this passage, is different in that a specific name is used.  This would indicate that what is given here is an account of something that actually happened.
But, since the method of teaching used here by Jesus is similar to that employed with the parables, we'll go ahead and take a look at it.
"Now there was a certain rich man,” the Lord recounts in Luke 16:19-21, "and he habitually dressed in purple and fine linen, gaily living in splendor every day.
"And a certain poor man named Lazarus was laid at his gate, covered with sores, and longing to be fed with the crumbs which were falling from the rich man's table; besides, even the dogs were coming and licking his sores."
What a familiar setting this is.  Some have so much.  And some have so little.  This rich man, who according to the context must be a Jew, is apparently not aware of God's instructions about dealing with the poor. Or maybe he knows but just doesn't care.
"If there is a poor man with you, one of your brothers," God informs the Jews in Deuteronomy 15:7,8, "in any of your towns in your land which the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart, nor close your hand from your poor brother; but you shall freely open your hand to him, and shall generously lend him sufficient for his need in whatever he lacks."
"You shall generously give to him," God continues in verses 10,11, "and your heart shall not be grieved when you give to him, because for this thing the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in all your undertakings.
"For the poor will never cease to be in the land; therefore I command you, saying, 'You shall freely open your hand to your brother, to your needy and poor in your land."
But what about those of us who are living today?  We are no longer under the Law of Moses.  Are we excused, then, from helping the poor?
In Matthew 25:31-46 Jesus gives us a glimpse of the judgment day.
"For I was hungry," the Lord explains to those who are in one of the two groups, "and you gave Me nothing to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me nothing to drink; I was a stranger, and you did not invite Me in; naked, and you did not clothe Me; sick, and in prison, and you did not visit Me."
"When did we see You hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not take care of You?" the people demand.
"To the extent that you did not do it to one of the least of these," Jesus replies, "you did not do it to Me."
"If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food," James 2:15,16 asks, "and one of you says to them 'Go in peace, be warmed and be filled'; and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body; what use is that?"
"But whoever has the world's goods," 1 John 3:17 states, "and beholds his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him?"
The rich man did not know any of this.   Or he didn’t care.   What about us?  Can we defend ourselves before God by claiming there were not any poor people on the earth when we were living?  Can we, like an ostrich with its head in the sand, say that there may have been some poor people somewhere, but we were not aware of them?   In this age of global transportation, can we get by with the excuse that there were poor people in other parts of the world, but there was no good way to get anything to them?
How will God look at us when we have recreational vehicles that are nicer than the homes of many people in the world?  What will He think about our snacking on and even throwing away more food than many people have to exist on?
Perhaps we can get by if we explain to God that what's ours is ours; we earned it and we don't have to share it with anyone.  The rich man in the story could make the same claim, couldn't he?  After this song we'll see how far he gets on this excuse.

"Now it came about that the poor man died and he was carried away by the angels to Abraham's bosom; and the rich man also died and was buried. And in Hades he lifted up his eyes, being in torment, and saw Abraham far away, and Lazarus in his bosom."
Remember what we learned in the last parable about making friends with unrighteous riches so they may receive us into the eternal dwellings? Well, here is where they will receive us.
The rich man cries out to Abraham to send Lazarus with water to cool his tongue.  He hasn't learned, has he?  He is so used to stepping on people like Lazarus that he thinks that even from Hades they can be ordered around to serve him.
"No," Abraham replies.  "During your life you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus bad things; but now he is being comforted here, and you are in agony."
"And, besides all this," Abraham adds, "between us and you there is a great chasm fixed, in order that those who wish to come over from here to you may not be able, and that none may cross over from there to us."
This gives us a picture of what it will be like after death.   Do we cease to exist or are we conscious?  What does this story say?  Remember, Jesus in His teaching NEVER invents a situation that is not realistic.
Is there an intermediate area where we can work our way out of one place and into another?  If there is, then either Jesus and Abraham are uninformed or they are liars, because Jesus quotes Abraham as saying it is impossible to move from one place to the other.   And Jesus does not correct Abraham's statement.
This may sound strong, but do we ever stop to think about what we are doing when we accept a doctrine that disagrees with the clear teaching of the Bible?  If we feel comfortable claiming that Jesus is mistaken or that He has lied about something, then we should go right ahead and accept the doctrines of men.  If we don't feel comfortable making this claim, then we had better do some serious looking at what we believe.
"In vain do they worship Me," God says in Matthew 15:9, "teaching as their doctrines the precepts of men."
The rich man's next request is that Abraham send Lazarus to warn his brothers about the place of torment.   We still see that  "errand-boy" mentality, don't we?
"No," Abraham answers, "They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them."
According to Abraham, what is the source of the faith that leads to salvation?  It is the Bible.
"But these have been written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God;" John 20:31 claims, "and that believing you may have life in His name."
"For I am not ashamed of the gospel," Paul notes in Romans 1:16, "for it is the power of God for salvation to every one who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek."
"For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God," Paul instructs in 1 Corinthians 1:21,  "God was well pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe."
"So faith comes by hearing,” Paul teaches in Romans 10:17,  "and hearing by the word of Christ."
And the list goes on and on.  But the point is that the way of salvation is revealed in the Bible.  Beware of anyone who tries to teach differently.
But the rich man wants to argue this one with Abraham.
"No, Father Abraham," he disagrees, "but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent!"
Is Abraham convinced?
"If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets,” Abraham informs the rich man, "neither will they be persuaded if someone rises from the dead."
There are those who teach that salvation is experienced through some supernatural activity.  According to this doctrine we simply "invite Jesus into our hearts" and we are overcome by some tremendous feeling.
In Acts chapter 10 a man named Cornelius is praying when an angel appears.  Does the angel say, "Accept Jesus as your personal Savior,” or does he say to send for someone to teach him the word of God?
In Acts chapter nine Saul is on the way to Damascus when Jesus Himself appears and talks with him.  Does the Lord say, "accept Me as your personal Savior," or does He say to go and wait for someone to teach him the word of God?
Let's open our eyes.  We have been lead to believe that we can enjoy our riches and close our eyes to the needs of those around us.   God says it just isn't so.  Who are we going to believe?
The religious world would have us think that it is all right to believe whatever we want to, regardless of what the Bible says.  God says it just isn't so.  Who are we going to believe?
Many falsely promise us heaven and deliver us to hell.   Only the truth will set us free.

Unless otherwise noted, "Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE(R), (C) Copyright The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977. Used by permission."