Lazarus and the Rich Man
Micah 6:8 – God’s desire for us….
Ps 37. Priority of righteousness
Ps 73 life filled w/ economic injustice
The Rich Man and Lazarus
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.
Example of verse: MATTHEW 6
“19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
22 “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy,[c] your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eyes are unhealthy,[d] your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!
24 “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. “
= “can’t love money and care for the things God cares about”
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.’
(See verses Luke 16:16-18)
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.’”
———-
Job 29:11-17 How job treated those in need
Jeremiah condemns King S pursuit of cedar house w/o care for poor
Jeremiah 22:11-16
ILLUS – door hinge
This entire text rests on the REALITY of THE LAW AND THE PROPHETS
Why does LAW exist?
Where
When
Why…