Just some “curious random thoughts” here:
Jesus is still addressing the Pharisees who were identified as being “lovers of money.”
This story appears to be a WARNING..but to whom?
With references to “Father Abraham,” “Moses” and to the “Prophets,” the “Jewish-ness” of this story is being underscored…and highlighted
The RICH MAN is NOT named. Why?
And yet we know that he dressed in fine linen and wore deep purple, feasted sumptuously everyday and lived in opulence. Surely, everyone knew his name!
But the lowly beggar IS NAMED…isn’t that curious…?
I am mindful of the verse we had last week – “You cannot serve both God AND Money.”
Is there a tie-in? Is this about serving one or the other…
The rich man served ONLY himself. We do not know anthing about Lazarus…except for he was beyond poor.
It seems like there are a number of “reversals,” “assumptions” and “surprises” in the story.
Rich men DID NOT go to Hades or hell, because of their many, many blessings, they were believed to be personally blessed by God.
In Jesus’ day, there was an EXTREME contrast between RICH people and POOR people, with no shades of gray anywhere in between.
Poor people, extremely poor people would be well known and commonplace for many of Jesus’ listeners.
Why doesn’t the rich man HAVE A NAME? Certainly he did have one…
There is NO JUDGMENT SCENE in the parable. They both die and go straight to their assigned places.
When Lazarus was lying at the gate of the rich man, the rich man COULD HAVE helped Lazarus, but the rich man made the clear choice NOT TO…offer aid OR assistance.
Lazarus is NOT ABLE to aid the rich man, even if he wanted to…
Is this saying something about “the urgency to act” – when YOU can? When YOU are able? Because there will come a time, when you will be UNABLE to help!
Then we find out, the reason that Abraham DOES NOT send Lazarus to warn the brothers…is not because he cannot…
But rather, because they already have received the warnings and teachings they need from Moses and the prophets…
It has all been SPELLED OUT for them.
Apparently, they are “a hard-hearted lot,” presumably like their rich brother…
Someone has suggested that the story is entitled wrong. It should NOT be the “RICH MAN and Lazarus…”
But rather, “The Indifferent Guy With Money Galore Who Could Have Listened To Moses And The Prophets And Followed “God’s Way Of Life” And Who Could Have Been “Welcomed Into Paradise” By Father Abraham – But Chose Not To — And Lazarus.”
All of which seemingly says, that THE RICH MAN and his brothers were not CONDEMNED because of their “excessive wealth…”
But because they were “indifferent to the cries of those in need” and did nothing to help…them.
Everyone knows that God’s WORD clearly has concern for the poor, the marginalized and the down-trodden…all over the place…
But they DIDN’T CARE.
They looked “the other way.”
They thought only of “themselves.” They didn’t care about OTHERS…
But the real curiosity about the story is…how many times have you heard it (already) in your life time? And what kind of an IMPACT has it made?
Are WE, any better than “the Rich man and his brothers?”
WE, who have had “ample opportunity” to help and to respond to those in need, and still HAVE NOT done so!
We who have HAD someone RISE FROM THE DEAD to “confirm the truth” of the “teachings of Moses and the prophets…”
And still we DO nothing!!!!
It seems to me…that THIS STORY of reversals and surprises is really all about US.
It is not about the rich man and Lazarus, at all! Instead, it is about YOU and ME.
Amen.