August 19, 2001

THE RICH MAN AND LAZARUS

1 Peter 3:18

   The story of the rich man and Lazarus is not a parable but is somewhat parabolic in nature. In order to find the real point the Lord was making, let us search the context very carefully.

   Luke 16 begins with the Lord telling of the "unjust steward" and how he had wasted his master's goods and concludes warning that no one could serve two masters, "God and mammon." For this the Pharisees derided Him and thus drew His scathing rebuke. He said their self justification might be admired by men but it was an abomination to God. They had ignored and perverted God's word through Moses and the prophets and were now not heeding the preaching of John or Him-self. This is the audience Christ told of the rich man and Lazarus.

   Surely they admired and identified with the rich man and despised beggar Lazarus. But if the law of Moses meant loving "thy neighbor as thyself," the rich man was in clear violation! The Psalmist also addressed that very issue, "Be not thou afraid when one is made rich, when the glory of his house is increased, for when he dieth he shall carry nothing away, his glory shall not descend after him. Though while he lived he blessed his soul: and men shall praise thee when thou doest well to thyself... Man that is in honor and understandeth not is like the beasts that perish" (Psa. 49:6-20). The point the Lord was making had been made long ago. The Pharisees were miserable stewards of the blessings God had given Israel and were not taking seriously the word of God. The ministry and blessing of John and the Lord were also ignored in unbelief. This is the warning of the story.

   We may rightly conclude that possessions of this life should be considered as belonging to God and not for man's selfish pleasure. People in every dispensation should think of themselves as stewards of blessings such as wealth, time, and talent, and use all for the glory of God. But to deduce that Abraham's bosom or flaming torment should be seen as accurate descriptions of the realm beyond the grave is not the Lord's purpose here. We should confine ourselves to such other passages where that is the subject being considered rather than to stretch this story beyond its intended scope.

Ivan L. Burgener