The Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus

Today's Reading:

• Luke 16:19 - 17:10

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Luke 16:19 - 17:10
Today I read the Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus.  In this story there is a rich man who lives in luxury, denying himself nothing.  A poor diseased man named Lazarus laid at the rich man's gate, wishing for scraps - but instead dogs would lick his open sores as he laid there suffering.  Both men died, and Lazarus went to be with Abraham while the rich men went to be with the dead in suffering.  The rich man implored Abraham to let Lazarus come and relieve some of his suffering, and asked him to send Lazarus to his family so that they might repent.

Abraham told Lazarus a few things: First, he said that the divide between the the rich man and Lazarus was a chasm that none could cross.  That serves as a reminder that your state, once you are dead, is permanent.  Abraham also told the man that he had everything he wanted in life with Lazarus had nothing - and thus Lazarus was being comforted while the rich man was in anguish.  I am conflicted about this part of the story -- after all, all my needs are met, as are many of my wants.  Does that mean that I will be in anguish after I die?  I don't think that's quite what this story is saying, and I will say why as I continue.

When the rich man begged Abraham to send Lazarus to his family, Abraham also refused.  The rich man wanted to warn his family to repent and turn to God.  To me this implies they are in a completely unsaved state to begin with.  Lazarus didn't say to repent and tell them to not indulge themselves - no, he knew that they would wind up with him if they didn't turn to God.  Now, that's not to say that a person who is a Christian should have everything they want -- far the opposite.  But I would assume that if the rich man had turned to God, that he wouldn't allow Lazarus, the man who lay right outside his gate, to remain in suffering and poverty.

There's a lot to be said about that too.  After all, poverty will be a condition of this world until Jesus Christ comes back -- so how do Christians draw the line between helping those who are in need and managing their own lives?  It's a fine line, I think, that every Christian has to make for himself.  I will say this, however -- if there is someone in suffering at your door, you should do all you can to help them.  After all, the Lord brought them to you so that you could help them.

Finally, Abraham makes a point to the rich man.  He says that if the rich man's family did not believe Moses and the prophets, then nothing -- not even a man risen from the dead -- would cause them to believe.  I don't know about you, but for me it's easy to think that if God would just show this person this one thing then they will believe.  But the bible is telling us right here that isn't so.  And if you want more proof, look to Moses and the people of Israel!  How many miracles did the Lord show those people, yet they continued to doubt, and gripe, and debate God's greatness?  These people had the visible presence of God living in their camp, had encountered many many miracles, yet still failed to truly believe.  In the end, I think people will believe what they want to believe, no matter what they are shown.

The Parable of the Lost Son

Today's Reading:

• Luke 15:1 - 32

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Luke 15:1 - 32
The Pharisees were angry that Jesus was associating himself with notorious sinners.  Jesus responded with a series of parables about finding the lost.  In the first parable, Jesus talked about a shepherd who left all 99 sheep in search of the 1 that was lost, and the shepherd rejoiced when the 1 was found.  In another parable, a woman looked all over house in search of 1 coin that missing, and rejoiced when the coin was found.

The most powerful parable, however, was the Parable of the Lost Son.  Jesus talks of a man who begged his father for his inheritance and went off to squander it and live in sin.  Meanwhile the man had a faithful son who stayed by his side.  The wayward son spent all his money and came close to starving to death.  That is when the son decided to go back to his father, and beg to be a servant in his house so that he might have enough to eat.  When the son returned, humbled, the father rejoiced and embraced him as his son once again.  The other son was angry, for he had been faithful the entire time, but the father responded that they need to rejoice - for his son was lost and dead, and now he is found and alive.

Here are the things that I take away as key points in this parable:

1. The son returned completely humbled.  He confessed his sins to his father, repented of his behavior, and asked only to be a servant again. (Luke 15:18 - 15:19)
2. The father was watching for this man's coming from far off -- though he was lost, the father was always watching, always waiting for his son's return.  (15:20)
3. The father rejoiced immediately when he saw his son coming.  The son's sins had been forgiven and the father was just relived that his son had come back. (15:22 - 24)
4. The son was dead, but now he had returned to life.  He was lost, but then he was found.  (Without Jesus, without the Lord, we are all lost, we are all dead, our life is only temporary).  (15:24)
5. The other son was angry -- this is an emotion to be expected.  After all, he had been faithful the entire time.  But the father responded with the words "Everything I have is yours".  So even though the faithful might not be celebrated, they still share in everything the father has (15:31).

 This parable is so powerful, for both the lost and for the faithful.  When we are lost, when we are afraid that the Lord could never take us back, we must remember that the Lord is ALWAYS watching for our return, and when we return He will rejoice.  For those who are faithful already - everything the Lord has is already yours to share with him.  Rejoice in that.

Short Parables of Jesus, According to Luke

Today's Reading:

• Luke 13:1 - 14:6

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Luke 13:1 - 14:6
Today's reading contained many short parables.  These parables are:

The Parable of the Barren Fig Tree (13:6-13:9)
A man planted a fig tree, but that tree had yet to produce fruit.  So he was going to cut that fig tree down, until the gardener pleaded with him not to.  The man decided to give the tree one more year to produce figs; if it failed to produce fruit after all the extra nourishment then it would be cut down. 

This was a very short parable that was very open to interpretation.  Jesus in his time was talking to Israel, so perhaps it was a warning to them.  I read it as a warning to myself -- what I am doing to produce a fruitful crop?  How am I trying to help grow the Kingdom of Heaven?

The Parable of the Mustard Seed (13:18-19)
Jesus told the people that the Kingdom of God was likened to a mustard seed.  It starts off as the tiniest of seeds; yet grows into something so large that it houses the birds in nests. 

Again, this parable is so short and has no extra explanation to it, which leaves one to decipher the meaning of it themselves.  My study bible says the birds who nest in the tree are likened to the people who find protection and security within the Kingdom of God. 

The Parable of the Yeast (13:20 - 21)
In the final parable of this reading, the Kingdom of God is compared to yeast.  It takes but a tiny sprinkle to completely permeate all of a loaf of bread dough.  My study bible suggests that this is reference to the Kingdom of God permeating the entire world.  It is amazing how the Kingdom of God continues to grow.