This Sunday we conclude our sermon series on the parables of Jesus, guided by the book Short Stories by Jesus: The Enigmatic Parables of a Controversial Rabbi by Amy-Jill Levine. To watch or listen to any/all of the services or sermons from this series, visit this page.
This parable is likely another familiar story, and in this case the original audience may have guessed the same about each character as we do today. Very often those who are exceedingly wealthy in Jesus’ parables are consumed by that wealth, and very often those who are exceedingly poor are terribly marginalized. The image of Lazarus especially may be particularly vivid—and may remind us of some that we have seen on our own streets and in our own neighborhoods.
Even as we may feel glad that we see these characterizations as intended, Professor Levine reminds us not to think of this parable as one about the afterlife. Indeed, the rich man wishes for a message to be sent to those who can still make changes in this life. What message do we hear in this parable?
Luke 16:19-31
19 “There was a certain rich man who clothed himself in purple and fine linen, and who feasted luxuriously every day. 20 At his gate lay a certain poor man named Lazarus who was covered with sores.21 Lazarus longed to eat the crumbs that fell from the rich man’s table. Instead, dogs would come and lick his sores.
22 “The poor man died and was carried by angels to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 While being tormented in the place of the dead, he looked up and saw Abraham at a distance with Lazarus at his side. 24 He shouted, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me. Send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I’m suffering in this flame.’ 25 But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that during your lifetime you received good things, whereas Lazarus received terrible things. Now Lazarus is being comforted and you are in great pain. 26 Moreover, a great crevasse has been fixed between us and you. Those who wish to cross over from here to you cannot. Neither can anyone cross from there to us.’
27 “The rich man said, ‘Then I beg you, Father, send Lazarus to my father’s house. 28 I have five brothers. He needs to warn them so that they don’t come to this place of agony.’ 29 Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets. They must listen to them.’ 30 The rich man said, ‘No, Father Abraham! But if someone from the dead goes to them, they will change their hearts and lives.’31 Abraham said, ‘If they don’t listen to Moses and the Prophets, then neither will they be persuaded if someone rises from the dead.’”
Consider these questions:
- What do you think is the purpose of this parable?
- Who do you think the rich man might symbolize? Who do you think Lazarus might symbolize?
- What kind of change do you think the rich man wishes for his family? What might be the result of such changes?