Lazarus and the Richman Introduction and Arguments There is much confusion regarding the parable of Lazarus and the Richman, it is the intention of this polemic teaching to clarify what is actually going on in this story and what the true meaning actually represents. I intend to prove the following: 1. The teachings from 14:1 to 16:31 are part and parcel of a successive teaching from our LORD against the Pharisees and the teachers of the law that build up to the parable of Lazarus and the Rich Man. 2. The story is not about the doctrine of eternal torment. 3. The teaching is a parable and not to be taken literally. 4. What the main teaching of the parable is. Below you will find all of the scriptures versus followed by: 1. An exegetical summary clarifying what is presented. 2. Chapter summaries. 3. Accusation summary. 4. Presentation of the most significant meaning of the parable of Lazarus and the Rich Man Luke Chapter 14 Teaching Location, Audience & Initial Subject Matter 1One Sabbath, when Jesus went to eat in the house of a prominent Pharisee, he was being carefully watched. There in front of him was a man suffering from abnormal swelling of his body. 3Jesus asked the Pharisees and experts in the law, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath or not?” 4But they remained silent. So taking hold of the man, he healed him and sent him on his way. 5Then he asked them, “If one of you has a child a or an ox that falls into a well on the Sabbath day, will you not immediately pull it out?” 6and they had nothing to say. Exegetical Summary 1. Jesus is a house guest on the Sabbath. 2. Jesus was invited to have a meal. 3. Jesus is the house guest of a prominent Pharisee. Lazarus and the Richman 4. He is being scrutinized. 5. There is a sick man there suffering from swelling in the body, Jesus challenges the Pharisees and the experts of the law regarding healing on the Sabbath. 6. Jesus heals the man. 7. Jesus silences them by asking, if you could pull your child or ox out of ditch on the Sabbath would you do it. Of-course this rhetorical, he knows they would, so they are silenced by wisdom. Parable 1- The Wedding Invitation 7When he noticed how the guests picked the places of honor at the table, he told them this parable: 8“When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, for a person more distinguished than you may have been invited. 9If so, the host who invited both of you will come and say to you, ‘Give this person your seat.’ Then, humiliated, you will have to take the least important place. 10But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, ‘Friend, move up to a better place.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all the other guests. 11For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” 12Then Jesus said to his host, “When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or sisters, your relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. 13But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, 14and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.” 15When one of those at the table with him heard this, he said to Jesus, “Blessed is the one who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God.” Exegetical Summary Key points: 1. Jesus notices the house guests are interested in the seat of honor which initiates a parable challenging their behavior. 2. Jesus says when invited to a wedding don’t take the seat of honor because it could result in embarrassment, should a more prominent person show up and you may have to move. You will be humiliated, and since most of the seats will already be filled, you will be left sitting in one of the worst seats. 3. Instead take a lowly spot then the opportunity to be exulted exists, in all likelihood the host will see you and move you to a more prominent place. 4. The spiritual teaching is “all those who exult themselves will be humble, and those who humble themselves will be exulted. 5. Jesus says to the host when you have a banquet do not invite family, friends and the rich instead invite the poor, crippled, lame and blind who cannot pay you back. This action will lead to the blessings of God. 6. God will repay such behavior at the resurrection of the righteous. 7. One person sitting with Jesus understood the message evidenced by “Blessed is the one who will eat at the feast in the Kingdom of God. Lazarus and the Richman 8. It is clear that Jesus is saying to the Pharisees and teachers of the law that they are going to lose their exulted position and be humbled because they are not living by Kingdom standards. 9. There is a good chance they won’t be at the resurrection of the righteous. If they do make it, they will be in a lowly seat. 10. Soon in chapter 16, we will be introduced to Lazarus a lame man sitting at the rich man’s gate who never gets invited to a banquet. 11. Human actions don’t make you righteous they prove that you are. This is a key understanding in Christianity. The righteous live by faith and their actions reflect their faith. Parable # 2 - The Great Banquet 16Jesus replied: “A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests. 17At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’ 18“But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said, ‘I have just bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please excuse me.’ 19“Another said, ‘I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I’m on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.’ 20“Still another said, ‘I just got married, so I can’t come.’ 21“The servant came back and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and ordered his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.’ 22“ ‘Sir,’ the servant said, ‘what you ordered has been done, but there is still room.’ 23“Then the master told his servant, ‘Go out to the roads and country lanes and compel them to come in, so that my house will be full. 24I tell you, not one of those who were invited will get a taste of my banquet.’ ” Exegetical Summary: 1. A great banquet is being planned and many have been invited. 2. The host sends out his servant to let the invitees know the party is ready to start. 3. The invitees reject attending they are not interested, they are buying property or oxen and taking care of personal affairs associated with just being married. 4. The servant gives the report to the master. 5. The owner of the house/host becomes very angry. 6. The decree is issued go out into the travel routes and compel the uninvited to come so my house will be full for the party. 7. None of the original invited guests will get a taste at my banquet. 8. Much speculation could be thrown into the story naming the characters in the story and this would be a fun exercise. 9. The key point is the Pharisees and teachers of the law love money, possessions and prominence. They do not appear to have much concern for the things of God, his banquet at the resurrection or the poor, lame, cripple and blind. 10. The Pharisees and the teachers of the law are rejecting God’s call to his banquet they are concerned with the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of wealth. Lazarus and the Richman Teaching # 1- The Cost of Being a Disciple 25Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: 26“If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple. 27And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. 28“Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? 29For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, 30saying, ‘This person began to build and wasn’t able to finish.’ 31“Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Won’t he first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? 32If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace. 33In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples.34“Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? 35It is fit neither for the soil nor for the manure pile; it is thrown out.