from WL Worcester (H Blackmer, ed.), 
The Sower.  Helps to the Study of the Bible in Home and Sunday School
 
(Boston: Massachusetts New-Church Union, n.d.)

Table of Contents
 

 

Lesson 64

Luke 16:19-31  The Rich Man and Lazarus

The Story

Primary

The story today is of a rich man who had clothes of fine white linen, and robes of purple, dyed with the rich color which the Tyreans knew how to make from a little shellfish. He had more than enough rich food and drink, and there was feasting every day in his house. And there was a poor beggar named Lazarus, who was brought each day to the gate, begging for crumbs which fell from the rich man's table. The poor man had many sores, and no one was kind and helped to heal them except the dogs which came and licked them. The dogs in the eastern cities have no home and no master, but live in the streets and find what they can to eat. They were sorry for poor Lazarus.

After a time the beggar died and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom. He reclined next to Abraham at the table, as John leaned upon Jesus' breast at the table of the last supper. The rich man also died and was buried. He awoke into the other world and found himself tormented by a flame, the flame that his own selfishness made. The man who had been rich was now in torment, not because he had been rich but because he had been selfish. And Lazarus who had suffered so much was now made happy. The rich man asked that Lazarus might come to him and dip the tip of his finger in water and cool his tongue. This could not be, for a great gulf separated between them which could not be passed over. Then he asked that Lazarus might be sent to his five brethren in the world to warn them not to live selfishly, but that could not be. "They have Moses and the prophets," Abraham said, the commandments and the lessons which the Lord has given us in the Bible. "Let them hear them. If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rose from the dead." The Lord teaches in His Word what we need to know, and in the way that will help us best, so that when we die we can find our home in heaven.

Junior

The parable gives a strong picture of the rich selfish man having more than enough of everything but doing nothing to help the poor beggar at his gate, and of the poor man asking for crumbs, and no one but the dogs to treat him kindly. Both the beggar and the rich man died, and the parable gives another strong picture in the other world. Does it mean that everyone who has riches in this world will be poor in the other world, and that everyone who has suffered here will be comfortable and happy there? No, one's state in the other world does not depend upon what his conditions in this world have been, but upon the spirit in which he has lived here, whether he has been proud and selfish, or humble, knowing that he needs the Lord's help. The Lord taught at another time that one who trusts in riches, who is proud and selfish and thinks he needs nothing, can hardly come into heaven, but "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." The humble spirit, knowing its need of help, is represented by the beggar. Such persons the Lord called to Him in this world, and He calls them to Himself in heaven.

The beggar in the parable is called Lazarus. Do you remember another Lazarus in the Gospel who was a real man, whom the Lord loved? The same name is used for Lazarus of the parable and Lazarus of Bethany because they represent the same kind of spirit which the Lord can love, a humble spirit, knowing its need and willing to be helped and taught.

The parable tells us some things about the other world which are made more plain by the fuller teaching given in the doctrine of the New Church, especially in the book "Heaven and Hell." When people die they awaken in the spiritual world. The part of that world where they awaken is called the world of spirits. Here all are welcomed. Soon the inner character of all comes plainly out, and the good and evil separate, for they cannot live together. The evil must be restrained from hurting others, but their selfish feelings can never make them happy. These are meant by the tormenting fire. Those who are good at heart are kindly taught and prepared for heaven, and there each one finds his home, with those whom he loves, in doing a use which he can enjoy. Heaven in the parable and in other places in Scripture is pictured as a feast, for the Lord gives every day abundantly the strength and instruction and blessing for the day. The parable speaks of Abraham. In fact, it is the Lord Who receives and cares for each one in His great love.

Does it seem that it might have been useful for Lazarus to go to the rich man's brethren? Does it seem as if it often might be useful for an angel to come from heaven, or for the Lord to give some sign or miracle to make us give attention and obey? Such things might compel an outward obedience, but they would not reach and win men's hearts to the Lord and good life. The Lord knows what can best do this, and He gives the teaching and the help in the Bible for those who are willing to be taught and helped.


1. Who are the rich who cannot come into heaven? Who are the poor in spirit of whom the Lord says, "Theirs is the kingdom of heaven"?

2. Do we remember any other Lazarus? Who was he?

3. Where is the choice made between good and evil, in this world or the other?

4. By what means does the Lord warn us and teach us so that we can be ready for heaven?

Spiritual Study

Intermediate

Shall we study a little further some of the points taken up with the junior classes? Are we to think that riches in this world necessarily lead to unhappiness in the other world? Or that poverty here brings riches there? What are the riches which unfit one for heaven? and what is the poorness which prepares one for heaven? Read of the rich and the poor in heaven in H. 357-365.

We must think also of riches of knowledge, things good and true from the Word. In that thought the rich man represents the Jews and others who have precious knowledge from the Word but keep it selfishly to themselves. And the beggar at the gate represents the Gentile people ignorant but eager to be instructed. The purple and fine linen represent the knowledge of things good and true possessed by those who have the Word, and the sumptuous fare the hearing of much wisdom from the Word, but with all this they are the more proud and selfish. The beggar's sores are the many falsities which the Gentiles were in from ignorance. The dogs' licking of the sores represents the sympathy of simple good people like themselves and their effort to heal the errors as far as possible. Read full explanations of the parable in A. 9231, 10227; T. 215; E. 118.

Recall what you know of the separation of the good and evil in the other world, and of the state of each. Note in the parable the phrases "afar off," a "great gulf," "this flame."

In the Old Testament history Abraham, Isaac and Jacob represent the Lord in His human development, on the planes of love, understanding and life. To be with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of God (Matthew 8:11) is to be near to the Lord in these ways. To be carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom would then mean to come in heaven into very loving nearness to the Lord, and into consciousness of His love. (A. 3305, 6960; E. 118)

Read in H. 456 and 1156, P. 134, 135, why it is not useful that people shall be compelled to faith in the Lord and to good life by miracles or signs or by one rising from the dead. The faith would not be real and lasting, and good and true things would be profaned. The Lord teaches us in His Word, where we can learn without compulsion and choose freely the good ways.

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