Sept 28, 2025            Luke 16:19-31

[Jesus said:] 19 “There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. 20 And at his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, 21 who longed to satisfy his hunger with what fell from the rich man’s table; even the dogs would come and lick his sores. 22 The poor man died and was carried away by the angels to be with Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 In Hades, where he was being tormented, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far away with Lazarus by his side. 24 He called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in agony in these flames.’ 25 But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that during your lifetime you received your good things and Lazarus in like manner evil things, but now he is comforted here, and you are in agony. 26 Besides all this, between you and us a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who might want to pass from here to you cannot do so, and no one can cross from there to us.’ 27 He said, ‘Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father’s house 28 for I have five brothers—that he may warn them, so that they will not also come into this place of torment.’ 29 Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; they should listen to them.’ 30 He said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’ 31 He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’ ”

There is grace and mercy for you, believe it.

Jesus was a storyteller. He understood that people enjoy stories, they tend to remember stories, and they might even retell the story to others. We can often identify with the characters or the situations presented in a story. So there is this moving story he used about these two different men. The rich man was certainly one to be envied by many. He had it made. He had the best clothes of purple and fine linen. Today that would be clothes with a name brand I can’t pronounce nor afford to buy. Everyday he hosted a feast with a splendid array of foods and beverages. These upper-class Hebrews had left their shameful days behind, no more wandering without direction in the wilderness without a homeland to call their own. Their former reputation as displaced subjugated drifters was buried beneath the luxuries they now lavished upon themselves. 

Of course, not every one of their people were appreciating fine dining and opulent living. Those who were so privileged assumed it was theirs by virtue of a blessing from God which was their reward. God had favored them because they had earned it and deserved it. Isn’t that so often the way we think of it?

Amos the prophet, centuries before, had discovered similar thinking and behavior among many in the northern kingdom of Israel. So God sent them this tree tender and shepherd into their exclusive circles. Israel had come into its own and they intended to enjoy it; let the good times roll. The rich and powerful had it made, no doubt about it. Then Amos shows up! He had the chutzpah to criticize them, denouncing their greed and selfishness, claiming that it contributed to the ruin of the people and their entire nation. He pointed out that their riches had been stolen from the poor. There was no longer any balance. God had provided abundantly, enough for all, yet there was no equity in how it was circulated. The foundation upon which the rich had built was shaky. They weren’t paying attention as their leaders made alliances with tyrannical rulers of nearby countries, with kings that could not be trusted. Amos had no pity for these self-indulgent ones. He said they would be the first to go into exile. He made it clear those who wallowed in leisure, who ate well and treated themselves to lotions, potions and brews, yet did nothing for their brothers and sisters, feeling no shame, having made life miserable for the poor, treating them as slaves, would feel the harsh consequences of their neglect and irresponsibility. God himself identified with the ill-treated poor and expected his faithful ones to show compassion and kindness, bringing about appropriate changes so all would have opportunities for a good life. You can imagine, they did not welcome Amos’ comments and did not agree with him. That was the common fate of the prophet’s word. Those people of influence and power in Israel saw their wealth in a different light. Just as those in Jesus’ time, their theology said that wealth and privilege were joined, as a blessing from God to those whom He favored. Therefore, any riches they possessed were a sign of God’s sanction and approval. From their point of view, their position of power and lifestyle was secure and unassailable. Amos told them how blind they were to the political threat which Assyria posed. They refused to acknowledge that their prosperity had been built upon neglect and cruelty of their own people and not on God’s blessings. It was not long before they experienced the truth of Amos’ message, when Assyria overtook their land and people, scattering them far and wide in exile.

Jesus’ story was an abbreviated version illustrating the same problem. Last week we also heard that both God and wealth cannot be served; only one will receive true devotion. Yet many of his listeners had that same notion as Amos’ audience: riches were a stamp of approval upon one’s righteous life and conversely, the poor were sinners receiving just punishment for their deeds. It would be great if life was so well delineated. So Jesus relates the contrasting realities of these two men. The rich man dressed in his finery ate sumptuously every day with friends surrounding him. He was not evil or a scoundrel, he shared with his buddies, enjoying his wealth with them. Evidently this constituted the focus of his whole life, for the next thing we hear, he has died. In effect this was his obituary, an abbreviated look at that which was important to him and the legacy of his life. The second man was so poor he lay at the gate of the rich man’s estate every day, hoping to receive some leftovers from that day’s feasting. That very place at the gate was set aside for that purpose, an expectation for a community to see and respond to those among them who needed such help. It was their approach in those days, like our food pantries. We hear that the dogs had pity on him and licked his sores but no snacks ever came from the rich man’s table. Then we learn this man is Lazarus, whose name means “God helps.” And he dies. 

We learn that Lazarus is carried by angels to be with Abraham, the patriarch of his people, where he receives comfort and recognition.  The rich man gets buried, probably with great pomp and circumstance, but his destination is Hades. Evidently his riches did not provide for future accommodations, for our exchange rate works only in this world. Yet even with this new insight about his wealth, he did not comprehend God’s way.  Some interesting information is revealed about the rich man. In Hades, where he was being tormented, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far away with Lazarus by his side. 24 He called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in agony in these flames.’  He still views himself as one who is in charge, expecting Lazarus to serve his need. He also reveals that he did know Lazarus, by name even. So he surely had known that Lazarus had been languishing at his gate, hoping for something to eat. But the rich man had ignored his existence then and his need. Now Abraham informs him that there is a chasm between them and Lazarus cannot cross it, there will be no relief for the rich man. It comes home to the rich man that his lack of concern for others has earned him his new circumstance. Suddenly he realizes that there are some others that are just like him. He hopes to spare them this ending. He has five siblings, who evidently have lived their lives as he had. He thinks a warning from poor Lazarus would awaken them to the changes they need to make. Abraham makes it clear, that won’t do it. They have had Moses and the prophets, like good o’ Amos, who had told them all along what they needed to know and how they should live. If they won’t listen, it isn’t going to matter who tells them to change, not even if one comes back from the dead to sound the alarm.

Are you hearing the clang of the bell, a siren, or a smoke alarm? Was Jesus pointing to himself, letting them know that He is the very one who is causing the cacophony? He came for the very purpose of telling us the way we are to live, to care for each other regardless of social status or familial connections. Jesus came to demonstrate love for one another, to notice our neighbors, to take care of each other and this creation. The time is now. The Word of God has been given to us, in Moses, by the prophets, & in Jesus. It is time to repent, to make the changes so others benefit. And He even came back from the dead to tell us!

The rich man and Lazarus’ story had an ending that the world does not expect or endorse. We have heard the message from Christ and it often includes the kind of twist given here, a reversal the world does not anticipate.    Recall what we have learned from Christ.

The last shall be first.  The meek will inherit the earth.

The least shall be great and the great shall be the least in God’s kingdom.  Find your life and you will lose it; lose your life for my sake and you will find it.

Leave the 99 and look for the lost and when that one is found, celebrate.  If you want to witness greatness, be a servant.  New life comes from death.

The gospel is God’s word of mercy and grace. 

It is for you and that love is better than money in the bank!                  Live it.