534. LUK 16:19, LUK 16:22. RICH MAN AND LAZARUS. (1ST SKETCH.)

Luk_16:19, Luk_16:22. Rich Man and Lazarus. (1st Sketch.)

"There was a certain rich man, who was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every, day: and there was a certain beggar named. Lazarus, who was laid at his gate, full of sores," &c.:’97Luk_16:19, Luk_16:22.

This is confessedly the most awful of all the Saviour’s parables. It is worthy of notice how repeatedly Christ adverted to the doctrines of future rewards and punishments. No other teacher ever said more concerning death, and judgment, and eternity’97concerning heaven and hell, than Jesus. In this parable, as in many others, two individuals are brought before us in contrast, and the contrast is sustained throughout. It begins in time, and is carried out into the future state. The whole is so graphic and forcible that some have supposed it to be the language of narration and not of parable. In either case the great truths presented must be the same, and to these let us with the utmost seriousness of spirit direct our attention. Observe,

I. The rich man in his affluence and enjoyments. Most probably he was rich by descent. Owned some magnificent family inheritance. At any rate his means were abundant. He had riches in profusion. At the greatest possible distance from earthly want or dependency. Hence there is reference made,

1. To his costume. "Clothed in purple and fine linen," Luk_16:19. Articles of dress of the most costly kind, and such as could be worn only by one of the grandees of the earth.

2. To his style of living. Doubtless a splendid mansion the place of his residence. "And he fared sumptuously every day." Hence his hall would be one continued scene of banqueting and gayety. One round of sensual enjoyments. Luxuriousness the order of every day. Observe,

II. Lazarus in his poverty. Here we have the greatest possible contrast before us. For Lazarus,

1. Was a beggar. One without any earthly dependency. One whose wants were to be supplied by the precarious generosity of others. No inheritance’97no sure provision laid up for a single day. A child of deep need’97one evidently born for adversity. He was anxious for the crumbs of the rich man’s table.

2. Without a dwelling. He was homeless. Had not even a mud-walled cottage for his habitation. For he was laid at the rich man’s gate. The mere animals belonging to the mansion fared better than he. Like the Lord of life and glory, he had not where to lay his head. To the piercing cold’97to the teeming rain’97to the painful frost of night, and to every peril and wretchedness, he was exposed.

3. He was miserably afflicted in his person. "Full of sores," &c., Luk_16:20. Most likely lame and helpless, and distressed with painful and loathsome ulcers. Probably his extreme poverty might result from his diseased condition, being unable to toil for the bread which perisheth. "Moreover the dogs came and licked his sores," Luk_16:21. We are directed,

III. To the death of Lazarus. "And it came to pass, that the beggar died," Luk_16:22. We marvel not at this, but rather that he had lived, when his misery and destitution are considered. His poverty and afflictions probably hastened his death. He died as he had lived’97poor, forlorn, and neglected. But at his death he became the subject,

1. Of angelic ministration. Those bright, and holy, and benevolent spirits, the immediate servants of God in heaven, who are ever hearkening to the voice of his word, were sent to watch the dying agonies of the neglected beggar. No earthly hand is near to close his eyes’97no earthly bosom to heave with tender sympathy. But angels witness his last struggles, and might be commissioned to administer celestial consolation.

2. He is conveyed in triumph to glory. He exchanges earth for heaven,’97poverty for celestial riches,’97and disease and destitution for ineffable joy and blessedness. How striking, how indescribable the change! God’s saint, who had no dwelling on earth, is now a citizen, a prince royal of immortal glory. Of his funeral we have no account’97what became of the diseased, worn-out tabernacle, is not stated; but the soul, the deathless part of the beggar, is beatified. We are now directed,

IV. To the demise of the rich man. "The rich man also died and was buried," Luk_16:22. As the beggar had died of destitution, who knows but the rich man had died of repletion? For the one is almost as unfavorable to health and longevity as the other. At any rate,

1. He died. Riches, affluence, earthly glory, could not ward off disease, nor prevent the fatal stroke of mortality. In spite of friends and physicians, the enemy of our species directed the fatal dart with unerring precision. Observe, it is recorded,

2. That he was buried. Rank and wealth keep up their distinctions after death, in the magnificence of the funeral obsequies’97in the marble monument’97in the flattering inscription, and eulogy on the deceased. But this is the utmost stretch of earthly distinction, unless some dependent writer immortalizes his name and deeds in song, or on the pages of his country’s history. We have now surveyed the leading features in the earthly history of these two individuals. We have seen them pass away from the scenes of time. We look for them, but they are not. Another lord tenants the mansion, and the beggar no longer is seen prostrate at the family gate. Both are gone’97for both, after all, were travellers to the same home. Their final state we must reserve for another occasion. We learn,

1. That piety on earth is often allied with poverty and suffering.

2. That earthly prosperity and magnificence are no proofs of the divine favor.

3. That whatever be our condition in this world, we are travelling towards another. Here we have no abiding. This is not the final abode of either rich or poor.

4. That death is inevitable to all stations and ranks. How necessary to remember this. To prepare for it, by a life of sanctity and devotedness to the cause of God in the world.

Autor: JABEZ BURNS