October 8, 2016
Today’s reading from Encounter with God

Thinking the Unthinkable

Please see the links to our EXTRA Bible Study notes at the bottom of the page.

Opening Prayer

Lord of All Seasons, the work of Your hand can be seen in the gold and crimson landscapes of fall. Yours is the kingdom and the glory.

Read Luke 16:19–31

[19] “There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. [20] At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores [21] and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores. [22] “The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. [23] In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. [24] So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’ [25] “But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. [26] And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’ [27] “He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my family, [28] for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’ [29] “Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’ [30] “‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’ [31] “He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.'”

Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Reflect

Our temporal possessions must find purpose in an eternal vision.

This parable and also yesterday’s (the Shrewd Manager) need to be taken together to understand what Jesus originally intended. Out of context, this story becomes a text about hell, eternal punishment and suffering; it may well help us with those questions, but it wasn’t the reason for which Jesus told it. Note again the emphasis on status and position, on wealth and poverty. In the whole flow of the passage, the rich man represents those who believe they carry the Word of God and are the guardians of his law, whereas Lazarus represents the margins, the sinners, the pig-huggers who sit on the fringe of the kingdom. In a dramatic status-reversal story, the rich man is now in the place of judgment and suffering and Lazarus is reclining on the bosom of Abraham. The man of privilege and opportunity is lost and the one who seemed to have nothing is eternally found!

To the Pharisees, who loved money (14) and who believed their status and position were enough to ensure favor with God and a place close to Abraham, Jesus issues a stern and terrifying warning. Unless they consider the way of God’s kingdom, as taught and represented by Jesus, they will find themselves excluded while those who are currently excluded will take their place. However, if they will not listen to Moses and the prophets, why would they listen even “if someone rises from the dead” (31)? Jesus is attempting to shock the religious community into action by showing them in the starkest of images that their privilege, position and power will not be enough to sustain them for what is coming. Spiritual status before God is grace granted, never humanly earned!

Apply

If we keep looking up to God in gratitude we’ll never look down on others in judgment. How can you put the truth of this statement into practice?

Closing prayer

Mighty God, I am filled with praise to You. Because “I once was lost, but now am found. Was blind, but now I see” (John Newton, 1725–1807).

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