Sunday 25 September 2022

Psalm 146

Background

This story of Jesus, addressed both to his disciples and the Pharisees, is apparently a warning to encourage those with riches to use them wisely.

The poor man is called Lazarus, which means 'the one whom God helps' and he is the only named character in any of Jesus’s parables. The appearance of the historical figure of Abraham in the parable is also unique. Lazarus (a common enough name at the time) happens to also be the name of the only named person whom Jesus raised from the dead (see John 11) and we might note that the raising of that other Lazarus from the dead only enhanced the determination of the Jewish leaders to plot the death of Jesus. A few manuscripts of Luke name the rich man too; while it is natural that there were those who wished to do that, we can be sure that Luke originally left him unnamed, probably so that any hearer or reader could ask: “Is it me?”

The word "gate" (v. 20) applies to an ornamental gateway to a city or mansion, the kind of place that many would pass daily, and would therefore  be a good spot for begging. Lazarus is described as being “covered with sores” which may indicate he was also a leper, so socially isolated even from other poor beggars.

Reference to “what fell from the rich man’s table” in verse 21 is not about careless eating, but very likely refers to the scraps of bread with which guests wiped their hands after eating, then throwing them beneath the table. It can be assumed that leftover food supplied the household servants’ meals, but it is not impossible that some such found its way to Lazarus. What matters is that any such charity was not initiated by the rich man, although it is clear in the second act of the story (v. 24) that he knew Lazarus’s name, so failure to show mercy to him during his lifetime was no accident.

 “Hades” (v. 23) probably refers to the general realm of the dead prior to judgement when people would be assigned to paradise or hell. “Torment” (v. 23) was considered a feature both of the intermediate state and of hell itself.

Since it is a story in which, as with all stories, locations as well as characters and dialogue are invented by the author, we can learn nothing of the geography (if such a term is appropriate) of the after life.
 

To Ponder:

• In the story, rich and poor find their fortunes reversed in the life to come. Would you expect that to turn out to be generally true?
• At the end of the parable, it is made clear that communication between the world to come and earth would be pointless because it would not change anyone’s belief or behaviour. How do you respond to this, and what is your view generally regarding attempts to communicate with the dead?
• Can you expect to get into heaven if you are rich? (See Luke 18:24-25). In what senses ought you be numbered among the rich?