Vicar Christopher Gillespie
Immanuel Lutheran Church of Frankentrost Saginaw, Michigan 
Trinity 1 (May 25, 2008) 
Text: Luke 16:19-31; 1 John 4:16-21 
“Despite earthly appearances, God grants heavenly gifts by faith in His Word.”

2008-05-25 audio

Grace and peace be to you from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen

Today’s appointed Gospel text is the Rich Man and Lazarus. The rich man is given much but keeps it to himself. Poor Lazarus had little but desired much. After death, the roles are reversed. The rich man is in torment and Lazarus enjoying all the good gifts of heaven at Abraham’s side. The rich man trusted in His wealth over  faith in God and so is in Hades. Poor Lazarus stands on the other side of the great chasm between eternal life and torment, having trusted in the Word of God and taken into heaven. So Jesus teaches us that our eternal fate comes not by wealth but instead by trust in His Word. 

Let us pray: O God, fountain and source of every blessing, what You do, is done well. Our lives may be a rough road, marked by death, distress, and misery. But we know You promise to hold your children in Your loving arms just like a father. Therefore we will remain steadfast in You, trusting in Your Word until our final day. Amen

In the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, Jesus presents two kinds of men upon the earth. There are the “haves” and the “have-nots”. On the one hand, the “haves” don’t just “have” but have tremendously. These are the rich man. The rich man enjoyed his life. He had a large estate. He is well-clothed and fed. He has all that he needs, great and abundantly. Clothing, house, shoes, food and drink. All are provided for him.

 On the other side of this great gully are the “have-nots”. They aren’t just poor but are cursed by hunger and disease. These men are Lazarus. Lazarus longed for earthly gifts. He is starving and sick. He knew full well that the rich man could help him. It is no accident that he lay before the man’s gates. He’s looking for handouts. Yet, the rich man did not care for him. Not even the crumbs of the man’s table fell into his mouth. So despised was he that the no man cares for his sores. No family member cared for him in his dying days. Rather only the dogs have mercy upon him, tending his wounds.

This parable is not about possessions. Previously in chapter 16, Jesus already spoke to the Pharisees about idolatry of wealth. Jesus said, “no servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will  be devoted to the one and despise the other.” (Luke 16:13) The Pharisees, who loved money, ridiculed these things. But Jesus then makes the transition to another parable. He said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves before me, but God knows your hearts. For what is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God. The Law and the Prophets were until John; since then the kingdom of God is preached, and everyone is forcefully urged into it. But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one dot of the Law to become void.” (Luke 16:15-17) 

The parable of the rich man and Lazarus is about faith in God’s promise of eternal life. He baits us with beginning His parable with talk of charity to the poor. He knows full well we will make the mistake of seeking to relate the gifts of God to His promises. Jesus sets us up a simple trap and is ready for us to spring it.

  He knows we might assume that the presence of earthly gifts of fine clothing, food, and health indicate our heavenly fate.  The Lord obviously had been good to the rich man so He must love him.  If I have all that I want and more, then God must love me.  This is the thinking of those who proclaim the so-called prosperity gospel.  Of course, the rich man ends up in Hades, so this must not be true.

Then, we might assume that the rich man’s eternal fate is the direct result of his neglect to care for his neighbor.   If only he had fed, clothed, and cared for poor Lazarus, then the Lord would have had mercy upon Him and welcomed into heaven.  “If only I had known!” he says! At least tell my brothers so they can earn entry to heaven. This is works-righteousness, that we merit forgiveness based on anything other than Christ’s own blood and righteousness.  The conclusion of the parable prevents this error.

The great chasm that separates the rich man and Lazarus in eternity is not wealth, health, prosperity, or even works of charity. Trusting in earthly appearances does not indicate our heavenly reward. The great chasm is unbelief and belief. 

Faith does not come by earthly gifts but by the Word of God. The rich man did not trust in Moses and the Prophets.  The rich man trusted in his wealth as an indicator of God’s love. Receiving purple linen, fine dining, and health are all great gifts. 

We dare not trust that God loves us merely on the presence of these gifts. For it rains on the just and the unjust. All receive what they need to support this body and life.  Good gifts are not the pinnacle of God’s love. What use are purple robes since they pass away? What use is great abundance since all that we see must vanish? What use are sensual thrills when our body itself must go from here? 

The rich man was wealthy in the material but poor in the spiritual. His priority was for earthly things over the heavenly things. He is damned him by his lack of faith in God which comes by hearing and trusting in Moses and the Prophets, the good news of the kingdom of God.

This judgement of God on the last day is final. Those outside of the love of God are doomed to the anguish of the flames. Their tongues are parched from the heat.  Nor can the faithful visit them from the cool springs of living water.  For those who do not dwell in the Lord by faith, Hades awaits. The great chasm between the faithless and the faithful is the un-cross-able chasm between hell and heaven.

But for those who abide in the love of God faithful, the angels await to carry us to Abraham’s side. The ultimate love of God is shown in His heavenly gifts of forgiveness, life, and salvation.  This love is revealed in the death of the Father’s son, Jesus Christ.  The love of the Father yields His own son unto death that we might all be saved.

This is the love which is perfected in us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment.  We have no fear of punishment and hell for God has loved us, sending his son to die for us. This is the love granted to Lazarus by Moses and the Prophets. Faithful Abram believed when the Lord spoke. So also Lazarus heard the voice of the Lord by Moses and the Prophets and believed.

We are often burdened like Lazarus by the the miseries of this sinful world.  We may pray with the Psalmist “How long, O Lord? Will You forget me forever? How long will you hide Your face from me?”

Our Lord sends His Word to overcome these torments.  His Word responds to our groans with the promise “Consider me and answer me, O Lord my God, light up my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death.” His Word responds with confidence of faith, trusting that our Lord will overcome our doubt and grant the life of faith.

No earthly wealth can match this poverty of the heart, when all earthly desires disappear and we are left alone with Jesus and His Word. We should long for nothing more than Christ who makes us spiritually rich. In the poverty of trust alone in the Lord, accept your suffering with joy. Those who patiently bear Lazarus’ torments are taken up to heaven by angels.

Lazarus may been clothed the garments of the wretched on this earth. But his purple robes are Christ’s precious blood.  Earthly sores availed him here but he rejoices now in resurrected flesh.  He suffered famine in time but now enjoys the heavenly banquet of Christ’s own body.

Like Lazarus, all Christians are prepared for death.  All appearances indicate that God does not love us, for we suffer greatly in our final hours.  But the Word of God comes to us, granting us forgiveness. The love of God made manifest in His Son washes away all our sins.  In this forgiveness, the Christian can die in confidence, knowing that the angels are coming to carry us to the Lord.

God’s Word too comes on Spirit’s wings, consecrating us as one of His children with the waters of the font.  It is so easy for us to doubt the necessity of this saving flood when we peer into the adoring eyes of a child.  But God’s Word has told us that we are born in sin, even from conception.  We are in need of the forgiveness wrought from Jesus from infancy.  Loving parents trust the Word of God and commend their child to this highest gift of God, the promise of eternal life. 

His holy meal appears insufficient to nourish our souls, to grant forgiveness to the spiritually tormented.  But His Word says “take eat and take drink for the forgiveness of sins.” A mere morsel of bread and wine renew us in the truth faith unto life everlasting. Earthly food preserves this temporal life but the heavenly feast keeps us steadfast in the promise of eternal life.

God has granted His church these means to abiding in His love.  By them, His Holy Spirit instills in us His love so that we love our neighbor.  This love granted to us by His means of grace grants us a loving spirit.  This spirit uses our temporal wealth to benefit our neighbor’s physical needs.  The love of Christ which first cared for the sick, the needy, and the hungry, now dwells in the hearts of the faithful.  Break your bread with the hungry and those who take into your house those in misery.  If someone is naked, then clothe him.  As the Lord said, “When you did to the least of these my brothers, you did it unto me.” 

There is a danger to see wealth as contrary to faith. Jesus intends to break our mental link between wealth and faith with this parable. Even if the rich man had given all he had to the poor, he still would not have attained heavenly joy. “Without faith it is impossible to please [God].” (Hebrews 11:6) Without faith any philanthropic work would avail the rich man nothing. God gives us a good conscience so that we Christians can enjoy modest possessions with great delight. 

Rather Our Lord looks not to our wealth but rather to our heart for faith. “The Lord looks down from heaven on the children of man, to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God.” (Psalm 14:2)  Where the heart dwells in God’s love, so will the faithful heart care for his neighbor.

The abiding love of God grants us the grace to keep His Commandments.  By the first table of the Law we remain in the one, true faith.  By the second table we act in the save love of God toward our neighbors.  Those who do not believe this Word of God, are like the rich man, and do not act in love for his neighbor. Before him lay poor Lazarus. He had the resources to care for Lazarus, given to Him in excess. Yet he neglected to care for those who lay ill and hungry at his gate.

We take notice that he did not have to go far to find the needy or the hungry. Poor Lazarus lay at his own gate. God places neighbors in our care in many stations of life.  Some are wealthy and can care for the poor.  Some are parents and care for their children.  Others are workers and serve their employer.  Farmers grow food for all people.  On this Memorial Day weekend we especially remember soldiers die in battle.  The Christian soldier who dies in war shows the love of God by protecting the family and country Our Lord has granted Him. 

We extend this love to all, regardless of gain or loss. Jesus said, 

“If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.” (Luke 6:32-36)

Earthly care and sacrifice are certainly good works when done in faith. But the greatest gift we can give our neighbor is to speak to Him Christ’s Word for forgiveness and new life.  No earthly miracle, wealth, or prosperity will bring them to faith. Our Lord says in the parable that even resurrecting the dead will not bring them to faith.

Instead he sends us the bread of Life, the living water of His Son, the Word incarnate. Christ healed of every disease, feed of the hungry, and the cast out of demons.  But the ultimate love of Christ is his death and resurrection on the cross.

For God desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.  The love of God compels us to care first for the spiritual welfare of our neighbors.  Encourage your neighbor to leave the comfort of their earthly mansions and and come to the Lord’s house as spiritually homeless beggars. Encourage them to recognize their sinful sores that infect their body and ask for our Lord’s forgiveness.  Encourage them to come and receive the crumbs that fall from the Master’s table.  By these means they abide in the love of God so that this love may be perfected in them.

Do not let yourself be frightened in your final days since in the end you shall feel delight and sweet consolation of heaven like poor Lazarus. In the end, all your sorrows will vanish. Trust in God’s love, the promise of eternal life which casts out all fear of the coming judgment. Faith trusts in the redemption won for all who believe in Jesus Christ, the crucified. May God grant it for His sake! Amen

O Lord, the afflicted shall eat and be satisfied; those who seek You shall praise You!  All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the Lord, and the families of the nations shall worship before you.  All the faithful of the earth eat and worship; before him shall bow all who go down to the dust.  They shall come and proclaim his righteousness to a people yet unborn, that he has done it.  May it be as You have promised!  Amen.  (paraphrase of Psalm 22:26-31)