18 May 2024
Continuing with the Rich Man and Lazarus...
The Rich Man cannot imagine humble pie. We would expect Lazarus to rub it in, but he is silent, which says a lot. Unfortunately, Bailey makes more of this than is really appropriate, offering a lesson in Greek about patience.
Instead, Abraham responds directly. Calling the Rich Man the equivalent of "my dear boy", he tries to point out what this fellow fails to notice. It includes another ABBA:
A. You had it good
B. Lazarus had it bad
B. Lazarus is now comforted
A. You are in anguish
The wording indicates that the Rich Man was a passive recipient of blessings, having done nothing to earn them. God's gifts to Lazarus were a little rougher, but his graceful attitude reversed the whole situation in eternity.
Of course, the nature of eternity is the real issue. There is an impenetrable barrier between Lazarus and the Rich Man. The Rich Man kept one on earth, but in eternity, God does. Should we assume that Lazarus would even volunteer to help, given the way Abraham's comment is worded? "Those who want to pass from here to there cannot."
The Rich Man changes the subject. Could we dispatch Lazarus back to earth so the shock of a dead man rising again could get his brothers' attention on this awful outcome? Nothing about hoping those like Lazarus can be given good news. Abraham assures him that if the regular teaching of Moses is not enough, nothing will help the man's brothers. Again, the Rich Man appeals for special treatment.
Abraham assures him that even this would not be enough to break up hardened hearts of those who serve Mammon. Note that parallel here: The Sanhedrin had solid proof that another Lazarus rose from the dead, but it served only to reinforce their resolve to kill Jesus, and to put Lazarus back in the grave for good measure.
In the process, Jesus drives a stake in the heart of the notion that wealth and power equal God's favor, a primary doctrine of the Pharisees.
Comments
Dan D.
This and the previous post are so incredibly insightful to me. I cannot believe all the things I missed over the decades of reading this parable. Thank you for writing this blog, I will share this with others.
Jay DiNitto
You're not alone. A lot of people miss things because pastors generally teach from a western point of view, a view that isn't in the Bible. If anything, the NT condemns western thinking on its face, as the Pharisee movement was descendant from a good few hundred years of rational Greek thought manipulating the Near East and ancient Hebraic way of viewing the world.
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