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BURIED TREASURE: Exploring The Parables Of Jesus

by J. W. Jepson, D.Min.

Copyright © 1997 by J. W. Jepson

All rights reserved, including the right to grant the following permission and to prohibit the misuse thereof:

The Author hereby grants permission to reproduce the text of this article, without changes or alterations*, as a ministry, but not for commercial or non-ministry purposes.

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21.

THE GREAT REVERSAL

There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:

And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, and desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.

And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom:

The rich man also died, and was buried: and in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.

But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot: neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.

Then he said, I pray thee, therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house: for I have five brethren: that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.

Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.

And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.

And he said unto them, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.

--Luke 16:19-31

THE GREAT REVERSAL

Classifying the story of the rich man and Lazarus as a parable does not remove it from historical reality. Jesus said: "There was a certain rich man.... There was a certain beggar named Lazarus...." So we could call this a historical parable.

The rich man is not named, but the beggar is. This led Augustine to suggest that Jesus was reviewing the Book of Life, where He found the name of Lazarus but not that of the rich ran.

Jesus had just told his disciples to use money to benefit people, and so enjoy a glad reception into "the everlasting habitations." The Pharisees ridiculed the idea. Why should they "waste" God's blessings on people apparently "unworthy" of His blessings? Prosperity was proof of God's approval; so they were quite confident about their future after death.

Jesus cut the ground out from under them in this parable.

The rich man was clothed elegantly and "fared sumptuously every day." By contrast, Lazarus was laid ("cast") at the rich man's gate, hungry and full of ulcerated sores.

In those days, it is said, the very rich during their lavish feasting used chunks of bread to wipe their fingers. It could be that these discarded bits of bread were what Lazarus sought for to ease his hunger pangs.

In time Lazarus died, his death probably hastened by the neglect he suffered. Very likely there was no funeral, and his body was callously carted off to the Valley of Hinnom to be burned on the rubbish heap.

The rich man died also. The extra food that be consumed could have fed Lazarus. Instead, his gluttony might have hastened his own death. So both men suffered from the unfair distribution of food, though in different ways.

The rich man got a fine funeral. He went from a sumptuous table to a splendid tomb.

The bodies of both men lay still in death. Death is a social leveler.

At this point Jesus shocked His hearers by pulling back the mysterious veil, allowing them to see the awesome drama being acted out just beyond. What they saw was the great reversal.

First, a procession of angels escorted Lazarus to Paradise. Before the resurrection of Christ, all departed dead went into Sheol (Hades), a two-compartment realm. The righteous went to Paradise and the wicked to the place of torment. Paradise is now in Heaven because Jesus "led captivity captive" (see Ephesians 4:10). Hades is now exclusively a place of torment.

To make the scene even more pointed to His hearers, the Master used rabbinic terms (without necessarily endorsing rabbinic ideas). Lazarus was seen reclining in "Abraham's bosom," as at a feast. He who had been ignored by someone who called himself a son of Abraham now enjoyed the patriarch's embrace! That must have stung the self-righteous Pharisees.

And where was the former rich man? "And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments" (Luke l0:23).

But why? What crime did he commit? What were the charges against him? No doubt his behavior had been quite acceptable in the culture of his day. Why did he go to hell?

The moral government of God had one all-encompassing and soul-condemning charge against him--selfishness. He did not have the love of God in his heart.

Lazarus was the proof of it. Common mongrel dogs behaved better than this hypocrite. He ignored Lazarus, considering him to be of no concern to him. He callously accepted the social system with its classes. Lazarus was just another beggar, doing and being what beggars were supposed to do and be. He was in his "proper place," just part of the scenery.

We pause to look at some of the startling facts that Jesus revealed in this parable about what lies beyond death. Remember, parables are concrete facts that our Lord used to communicate spiritual truth.

Jesus showed us that the real person leaves the body at death, with practically no time lapse between death and destination. Also, personal identity, memory, and sensation continue after death, without the necessity of a physical body.

He revealed that there are two opposite destinies, one of extreme happiness and the other of extreme misery. Both are final and are determined according to choices made in this life.

The rich man begged for relief at the hand of Lazarus. Now the rich man begged as Lazarus had never begged, and Lazarus feasted as the rich man had never feasted!

We observe that the human mind in the torments of hell is both irrational and yet reflective. Though in eternity, he attempted to recapture time, thus thinking in linear sequence. He wanted a drop of water, in spite of the fact that such a passing physical palliative would be totally ineffective in the eternal fire.

On the other hand, he carried on a rational conversation concerning his five brothers. He knew they were lost because he knew they were of the same moral character as himself.

He pleaded desperately on behalf of his five brothers, but in vain. Abraham was firm: They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them" (verse 29).

But the tormented soul persisted: "Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent" (v. 30).

Abraham settled the matter with a great moral dictum: "If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead" (verse 31). The neglect of available knowledge does not exempt us from moral responsibility. Scripture alone is sufficient light, and it is sheer folly to disregard it.

Consider the lessons that come to us out of this parable. One is that God permits injustices in this life. Lazarus was victimized, and God forced no one to do anything about it. God is not running this present world as a moral police state. The Bible tells us how to live and it reveals the consequences of disobedience. The rest is up to us.

Perhaps the main lesson of this parable is that supreme self-love is total moral depravity. That is, it is the sum of sin. Making self-gratification one's supreme goal does not merely lead to sin: it is sin. It is the totally "pro-me" commitment that is hostile to God and the highest good. For that reason it stands under the complete condemnation of a good and holy God.

A selfish heart is totally inconsistent with true religion. It is impossible to love God while self rules the heart and life. The commitment to self-gratification renders all outward forms of religion and morality meaningless.

Another truth follows. If God's love rules the heart, it will energize the life. Love will put us into action where action is possible and practical to meet perceived need. We will not content ourselves with mere words, sentiments, and a few leftovers.

Christian, who is that at your gate?

We see also an evangelistic fact. Another man named Lazarus was raised from the dead (see John, chapter 11), and people who were like the rich man's five brothers tried to kill him. Jesus Himself rose from the dead, and most did not believe.

If people do not change their hearts with a Bible within their reach and a Lazarus lying at their door, a messenger from the dead will not convert them!

People must believe the word of God from the heart to be saved. Miracles confirm the divine authority of Scripture and thus reinforce the appeal of the gospel to the reason. But if miracles do not result in repentance and faith, they have only provided entertainment to the observer.

Another strong message is that our choices here determine the kind of eternity we will have. It has been put this way: "Where we go hereafter depends on what we go after, here." Where we will arrive depends on what road we travel. We get what we choose, what we live for. We are shaping our moral character to fit one of two places.

Jesus did not teach that we can merit Paradise by good works. Never! A person might feed and clothe every Lazarus in the world, and still not experience the change of heart that is involved in true saving faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Nevertheless, true saving faith changes the heart and also the life. We are saved by grace alone; and grace alone really saves. Jesus Christ breaks the hold of self-gratification and sets the heart free to love in deed and in truth. This is the great moral reversal called the new birth!

Have you experienced it?

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22. A Tale Of Two Sinners

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