Death is the Great Equalizer

Luke 16:19-31

¹⁹“There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. ²⁰And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, ²¹who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores. ²²The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried, ²³and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. ²⁴And 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.’ ²⁵But 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. ²⁶And 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.’ ²⁷And he said, ‘Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father’s house— ²⁸for I have five brothers—so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.’ ²⁹But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.’ ³⁰And he said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ ³¹He said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.’”

This has always been one of my favorite stories from the Bible because it evokes an interesting mental image for the hearers. The question that the story begs is one for all of us; what does it take for you to live for the Kingdom of God rather than the kingdom of this earth?

Lazarus is the Greek equivalent of the Hebrew Eleazar, which means “the one whom God helps.” The rich man has sometimes been called “Dives,” which is simply a transliteration of the word translated “rich” in Latin. The fact that Lazarus has a name but the rich man is nameless is an important feature; he whom God helps lives forever!

As the story begins, we find that the rich man is out of control. His feasting isn’t doesn’t happen when feasting is warranted but instead happens every single day. He is so rich that while he certainly knows about the beggar sitting at his gate, he doesn’t care about him at all. But, as with all people, both men die. The stark simplicity of Jesus’ words stands in contrast to the lavish opulence of the man’s life: “the rich man also died and was buried”. The finality of this statement rings in the ears of the hearers. That he “was buried” suggests that his destination is eternal death.

“Dives” retains his arrogance even after he has been relegated to hell. He orders up a drink of water from the finger of Lazarus! He still sees Lazarus in the position of servant – which is actually a step up from beggar – who is still there to service his needs. The rich man still thinks of himself and his needs before those of Lazarus. When Abraham denies this request, Dives has yet another idea. Send Lazarus back to his brothers so that they might respond to a miraculous resurrection and choose to change their ways so that they too are not sent to hell. This request is also denied, with an admonition. Just as Dives had the chance to hear the words of Moses and the Prophets, so to do the brothers have the same opportunity (which they clearly are not going to take.)

Curiously, the rich man does not speak words of repentance, for he seems to realize that his condition of torment is permanent. His cry for mercy is not a cry of repentance, but a plea for help that results from a desperate situation. There are two themes: The first is that wealth is not necessarily a sign of righteousness. Secondly, God who looks on the heart regards anyone who is proud-exalted as an abomination. The rich man did not use his wealth to give alms mercifully to poor Lazarus at his gate. The rich man’s wealth was a curse that led to eternal torment. His outward behavior of excessive feasting indicated that inwardly in his heart he was not a generous and merciful man but a proud and arrogant one. The only conclusion for the Pharisees is this: if they don’t stop scoffing at Jesus’ teaching about hypocrisy and the proper use of possessions, they will find themselves with the rich man in eternal torment.

Just, A. A., Jr. (1997). Luke 9:51–24:53 (p. 635). St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House.

What are we to make of this illustration in 2016? God is not condemning wealth or any outward appearances that we might have going on in our lives. Instead He is looking at the heart of each person for in our hearts lies faith or folly. Nothing – absolutely nothing – can save us apart from the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Not wealth, nor power, or even good works. Even if Dives had given Lazarus something to eat from his lavish table, that action alone would not have brought him into the Lord’s presence. Instead, he would have had to repent of his sin-filled life and humbly surrendered into the loving arms of the only one who can save him – the One who was telling the story. (Note- the words are in red!)