Rich Man ("Dives") & Lazarus the poor man at his gate Luke 16:19-31

Dives and Lazarus

If the Astute Manager (in its extended form 16:1-13) is to teach the disciples the proper use of

money, Dives and Lazarus (16:19-31) is to point out to the Pharisees the danger in which they stand by selfishly hoarding their wealth (v 14) - Luke has Christian 'Pharisees' in mind. Dives (the man is anonymous; the traditional name comes from the Latin dives; rich man) was a worldling who did not look beyond the good things of this life (v 19). In sharp contrast is the crippled beggar, Lazarus. He would have been glad to eat - if they had been offered to him - the pieces of bread on which the guests wiped their fingers and then dropped on the floor (vv 20-21). The rich man might (according to Luke's understanding of v 9) have made of Lazarus a friend to welcome him into the eternal habitations. It is important to observe that nowhere is it suggested that Dives' wealth is ill-gotten, nor that Lazarus was his victim. The sin of Dives is that, cushioned by his lavish lifestyle, he was simply oblivious to the presence of a beggar at his gate. The contrast between the two in the next life is more pronounced - but they have exchanged roles. Jesus' story reflects the current development of the Jewish notion of Sheol (abode of the dead) in the wake of belief in resurrection and retribution after death. In this Jewish scenario reflected in vv 22-26, we are not given anything resembling a 'topography of hell.' Similarly, in the second part, the reaction of Dives is described from an ordinary point of view: his present sorry state had at last opened his eyes and he was understandably desirous that his brothers should escape his fate (vv 27-28). Abraham answered that the five, who evidently led much the same sort of life as their unhappy brother, have 'Moses and the prophets,' that is, the Old Testament. A text of Isaiah meets precisely the situation in question: what God asks of his people is 'to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked to cover him (Is 58:7). The man made one more bid (Lk 16:30). Surely, if Lazarus were to come back from the dead his brothers would at last be moved and repent. The reply is that a miracle will not help those who have made no use of the means God has put at their disposal.

Wilfrid Harrington

LCW Wedderburn November 2024