September 28, 2025

Luke 16:14-15, 19-31

The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard all this, and they ridiculed him. ¹⁵ So he said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves in the sight of others, but God knows your hearts, for what is prized by humans is an abomination in the sight of God.

¹⁹ “There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. ²⁰And at his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, ²¹who longed to satisfy his hunger with what fell from the rich man’s table; even the dogs would come and lick his sores. ²²The poor man died and was carried away by the angels to be with Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried. ²³In Hades, where he was being tormented, he looked up and saw Abraham far away with Lazarus by his side. ²⁴He called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am in agony in these flames.’ ²⁵But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that during your lifetime you received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner evil things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in agony. ²⁶Besides all this, between you and us a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who might want to pass from here to you cannot do so, and no one can cross from there to us.’ ²⁷He said, ‘Then, father, I beg you to send him to my father’s house-²⁸for I have five brothers-that he may warn them, so that they will not also come into this place of torment.’ ²⁹Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; they should listen to them.’ ³⁰He said, ‘No, father Abraham; but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ ³¹He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’”

Reflection–

I so enjoy how scripture can speak directly to us. I especially like how the parables of Jesus speak to situations in our lives, even when we are unaware of them until we read them. I find it fascinating how Jesus can tell a story 2,000 years ago, and it still hits me square in the heart today. The most interesting aspect of Jesus’ parables is that they evolve as we do. As we grow up, grow older, and our circumstances change, the parables reveal something different to us. 

We are often told that parables were an essential element of Jesus’ ministry. They enabled Him to reveal the mysteries of God’s Kingdom in memorable and subversive ways. Parables disclosed spiritual truths to His followers, while concealing them from those with hardened hearts. Occasionally, however, Jesus shared a parable so powerful and direct that there was little room for misinterpretation, forcing us to grapple with its clear message even today. This gospel reading is one such example.

The differences between Lazarus and the rich man are precise and deliberate. The rich man wears luxurious purple linen, dines daily in extravagance, and exudes status and comfort. Lazarus, in sharp contrast, is destitute—sick, clothed in rags, hungry, and weak. He is the type of person most would, and do, avoid. The funny thing is that these men knew each other, and we may recognize them in our own lives.

Lazarus gazes at the rich man’s banquet, longing for even a single crumb from his table. Considering today, how much food is routinely discarded, it’s sobering. Today in America, 30-40% of the food supply is wasted—food that could feed the hungry, instead rotting in landfills. Strict aesthetic standards from grocery chains force usable but unappealing vegetables to be discarded. We often overbuy and let a lot of food spoil. Overpreparing food leads to the excess being thrown out of homes, restaurants, and churches. Abundance often diminishes our appreciation for what we have. In contrast, scarcity forces others to understand how precious a resource food and even drinking water are. 

The rich man is also acquainted with Lazarus, seeing him at his gate daily and even knowing his name. Still, he does everything possible to ignore him. One wonders how often he asked Lazarus to leave, or if he tried to have him removed, perhaps even investing in hostile architecture to keep him away. Today, some municipalities invest in measures such as spikes placed on the ground under overpasses and divided park benches to discourage activities like loitering, sleeping, and congregating, making public spaces uncomfortable or even inaccessible. At the very least, the rich man and his guests likely became experts at avoiding eye contact as Lazarus pleaded for mercy.

Jesus clearly affirms that a right choice must be made, and the consequence of rejecting it is dire. Lazarus, though deserving nothing on his own merit, is received into heaven solely by God’s grace. After enduring suffering in a fallen world, the angels extend comfort and fellowship to him—a kindness his community failed to show. Conversely, the rich man ends up in Hades (Greek for Hell), not by accident, but because of his sinful choices. He willingly abandoned his neighbor in need, broke the bonds of brotherhood, and wasted his resources in selfishness, disregarding God’s call to mercy and charity.

It may be pertinent to note that the word Hades is not translated as ‘Hell’. Is the mention of Hell something that we do not want to see, just as the wealthy in the story do not want to see the poor? Does the mention of eternal damnation touch upon the sensibilities of Luke’s readers? I find it fascinating that even as Jesus is telling the crowds that they need to make better choices with God’s blessings, the translators find it a step too far to say Hell is where those rich people are headed.  

God’s grace is sovereign, and our response matters deeply. Jesus’ parable reminds us that it isn’t our works or surface-level goodness that saves us, but genuine repentance and faith, evident in what we do. Our stewardship of God’s resources reflects what is in our hearts. If we neglect to act in love and mercy, we undermine God’s image in us and fail to do what Jesus commands. The unfathomable chasm between the rich man and Lazarus powerfully depicts the consequences of failing to do good with the time and blessings we are given.

The good news is this: Jesus tells this parable to those Pharisees to give them and us time to act. We have opportunities now to repair broken relationships and restore equity between those with abundance and those lacking—whether that’s money, privilege, or influence. We must evaluate our situation, count our blessings, and assess how we are using those blessings for God’s glory. As good stewards, let’s be mindful of those on the margins, seeking our mercy and generosity. Our daily choices as Christians are not only personal—they reflect God’s presence to the world. We are called to extend compassion in practical ways, so that our lives bear witness to God’s grace.

Lazarus was rejected for being sick and poor. Today, we continue to judge people by their health, wealth, appearance, age, and status—creating modern-day Lazaruses among us. If we do not recognize the image of God in those who are suffering, can we truly see it in ourselves? This parable is direct and leaves room for very little interpretation. I’ll leave that for you to seek in your personal reflections. 

Bibliography

Kittle, Gerhard, ed. Theological Dictionary of the New Testament. Trans. Geoffrey W. Bromiley, D. Litt., D.D. 1983 reprint. Vol. IV. Grand Rapids: WM.B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1967. X vols.

Meeks, Wayne A., et al., The Harper Collins Study Bible, New Revised Standard Version with the Apocryphal and Deuterocanonical Books. New York: Harper Collins Publishers, 1993.

“NRSVue.” Holy Bible With Deuterocanonical/Apocryphal Books of the Old Testament. Washington: Zondervan, 2021.