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At that time Jesus said to the Pharisees: “There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day. But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid at his gate, desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table. Moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham's bosom. The rich man also died and was buried. And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. Then 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 in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented. And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us.’ Then he said, ‘I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father's house, for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.’ Abraham said to him, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.’ And he said, ‘No, father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ But he said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.’”(Luke 16:19–31)
When you have a bad day, does God love you? When things just don't seem to go right, does God care about you? When it seems like your day is filled with one problem after another, are these signs that God is punishing you?
It's easy for us to think that, because we have problems, God doesn't love us. It's easy for us to think that, because things just don't seem to go right, God doesn't care about us. It's also easy for us to think that the fortunate and the well off are blessed by God, while the unfortunate and the poor are not.
The prosperity preachers will say that, if you live a good life, God will bless you. But if you have problems, your faith must not be strong enough.
During Jesus' day, people thought that the well to do were blessed by God while those who had problems were not. One day, the disciples asked Jesus about a blind man. They asked, “Who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned” to cause this (John 9:2–3).
So in our Holy Gospel for today, the rich man thought that, because he has plenty of money, clothing, food, and friends, he must be blessed by God while the poor beggar was not. The rich man concluded that, since God is blessing him, he doesn't even need to repent. He doesn't need to hear Moses and the prophets from the synagogue. He thinks that his life is already blessed. The rich man also thought that his inheritance in heaven must be guaranteed because of his genealogy from father Abraham. Furthermore, the rich man thought, “Don't give clothing and food to the poor beggar because he is cursed by God.”
The rich man had several problems. He broke commandments 1 through 3 by making money his idol god, by not trusting in the one true God for His salvation, by not recognizing that God is the giver of all good things, and by not hearing Moses and the prophets as read in the synagogue. Furthermore, he did not believe in the power of God's Word to convert his five brothers. He also broke commandments 4 through 10 by not loving his neighbor — namely the poor beggar who asked for help.
All of this was the exact thinking of the Pharisees during the time of Jesus. Jesus spoke this parable against the Pharisees, because they were “lovers of money” (Luke 16:14). They were not merciful to the needy. They did not repent. And they did not believe in Jesus as the Messiah whom Moses and the prophets spoke about.
In the end, we see that the rich man died and suffered the torments of heat in Hades. He ended up poor in hell and was truly cursed. He once laid up treasures on earth but, in the end, was not able to take any of his riches with him, and none of his riches saved him.
Jesus once said, “He who does not believe [in the Son] is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God” (John. 3:18). John 3:26 says, “whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on him.”
Dearly beloved, the unbelief of this rich man is a warning for you and me. Do not doubt God's many promises, but trust in them. Do not reject the Word of God, but listen to it and follow it. Do not make riches or anyone or anything your idol god, but believe in the one true God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Do not think that repentance is unnecessary, but confess your sins and seek God's forgiveness in Christ.
Let's now turn our attention to the poor beggar in our text. I'm sure he asked, “Does God love me? Does God care about me?” He was sick, being full of sores. The dogs even came and licked them. Perhaps he was crippled, unable to fend off the dogs. He probably didn't have much clothing. He didn't have much to eat, desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table.
Did God love him? Yes. Did God care about him? Yes. Moses says in Deuteronomy 10:17–19, “For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords…. He administers justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the stranger, giving him food and clothing.” This poor beggar believed that God will provide for him; that God will give him his daily bread even if they are crumbs. After all, we learn that this poor beggar's name was Lazarus. The name Lazarus means “the one whom God helps.” This poor beggar was helped by God. The poor beggar suffered. But he never cursed God. Instead, he looked beyond his suffering to a time of glory in heaven with God.
Furthermore, Moses says in Deuteronomy 18:15, “The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your midst, from your brethren. Him you shall hear.” This is talking about the promised Messiah which was fulfilled in Christ. This poor beggar believed in the coming Messiah as prophesied by Moses and the prophets.
When this poor beggar died, it was his faith in the coming Messiah which got him to heaven. He was carried by the angels to heaven. The poor man Lazarus ended up with the riches of heaven. He was truly blessed. He laid up treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal (Matthew 6:19–20). In the end, Lazarus is really the rich man. He was rich in God's righteousness. Jesus once says, “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life” (John 5:25).
Dearly beloved, we are all poor beggars. We have been stripped of our righteousness in the garden of Eden and were left naked in guilt. We have the sores and wounds of sin.
Our sinful flesh has made money its idol god. Our sinful flesh is selfish and self–centered. It doesn't want to help the poor and the needy or give to charity. Our sinful flesh doubts God's Word and His many promises. Our sins hurt us. They cripple us. They are like open wounds. Our sins burden our conscience. Our sins destroy relationships. We hunger and thirst for righteousness.
Do not be complacent like the rich man, but repent. Humble yourself before God recognizing that all of us are poor beggars before God.
Our only help is in Jesus, whom Moses and the prophets foretold.
While on earth, Jesus was rich in righteousness, yet for our sakes, He became poor. He never had a place where He could call “home”. In the end, Jesus was full of sores, for his flesh was ripped open by the whips of the soldiers. He was laid at the gate of the rich religious authorities, and yet, they offered Jesus no mercy. They stripped Him of his clothing and nailed Him to a cross. They never even gave Him a crumb of bread or a sip of water, but they gave him sour vinegar. Psalm 22:16 says, “Dogs have surrounded Me. They pierced my hands and My feet.” The dogs who surrounded Jesus on the cross were the Gentile soldiers and the crowd of evildoers who mocked Him.
While on earth, Jesus was rich in righteousness, yet for our sakes He laid aside his Godly powers, humbled Himself, and became obedient to the point of death, even death upon a cross. He did this so that we might become rich through His poverty. No one here has suffered more than our Lord.
Three days later, Christ rose from the dead. You don't need visible signs to make you believe. Blessed are you who believe in the resurrection of our Lord even though you have not seen it.
Dearly beloved, in your baptism, Jesus clothed you with the righteousness He earned on the cross. Therefore, your nakedness of sin is covered. In Holy Absolution, God forgives sin and your burdened conscience is removed. Blessed are you who hear the Word of God preached from this pulpit. It's the hearing of God's Word that brings one to faith in Christ. If people do not hear God's Word, neither will they be persuaded though a human being may rise from the dead. God's Word is sufficient to bring you and others to repentance and faith.
Jesus once said, “My sheep hear My voice.” And He said, “Blessed are those who hear the Word of God and keep it.” So, hold preaching and the Word of God sacred and gladly hear and learn it.
At this altar, Jesus satisfies your hunger and thirst for righteousness. Even though it's a crumb of bread and a sip of wine, His body and blood removes all your sin.
It's the Gospel and sacraments that create and nurture your faith in Christ. Some will say, “No, these are not sufficient. Let's liven things up and make things entertaining and emotional, like things of this world; then people will be converted.” Do not think such thoughts. Rather, trust in the robe of righteousness given to you in your baptism. Hear the law and Gospel preached which brings repentance and faith. Touch and taste the body and blood of our Lord for the forgiveness of all your sins. Through these simple means of Gospel, our Lord comes to you — a poor beggar — and gives your peace and comfort.
God has been merciful to you. Therefore, you are merciful to others who are in need. Money is necessary and important for your well being, but you ought not to be lovers of it, like the Pharisees. Properly use all of the gifts God has given you — all to His glory — giving Him thanks. Like the poor beggar, lay up treasure in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroy and where thieves do not beak in and steal.
If you are ever in need, God will hear your prayer. Trust in Him and in His many promises. May God give you grace to accept your afflictions. May you persevere with God as your strength and refuge.
So, God does loves you, and He deeply cares about you despite what happens around you. You are blessed in both body and soul. You are especially blessed with faith in Christ and the gift of eternal life. Don't take these for granted, but always give thanks be to God. Amen.
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