Banquet

Luke 16:19-26

Jesus said, “There was a certain rich man who was splendidly clothed in purple and fine linen and who lived each day in luxury. At his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus who was covered with sores. As Lazarus lay there longing for scraps from the rich man’s table, the dogs would come and lick his open sores. “Finally, the poor man died and was carried by the angels to sit beside Abraham at the heavenly banquet. The rich man also died and was buried, and he went to the place of the dead. There, in torment, he saw Abraham in the far distance with Lazarus at his side. “The rich man shouted, ‘Father Abraham, have some pity! Send Lazarus over here to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue. I am in anguish in these flames.’ “But Abraham said to him, ‘Son, remember that during your lifetime you had everything you wanted, and Lazarus had nothing. So now he is here being comforted, and you are in anguish. And besides, there is a great chasm separating us. No one can cross over to you from here, and no one can cross over to us from there.’

The theme of banquets and rejoicing continues in Jesus' teaching.

Yet this time with a solemn warning for the callous of heart.

How often had that rich man passed by poor Lazarus daily as he lay by the gates of his luxurious mansion?

He passed him by without a thought - not even giving him even the smallest scraps of food or help.

My nearest and dearest skin is very slow to heal and Roki loves to lick his wounds. This always puts me in mind of that Lazarus.

In his earthly life he had nothing but lack, suffering and sorrow.

You have to ask what would have happened if the rich guy had shared some good nutritional food and care for him? But he didn't, he was too wrapped up in his own pleasure!

Yet taking the "long view" though, who fared better?

We're told Lazarus was carried off to a heavenly banquet - where all his sorrows were forgotten.

While the anonymous rich guy found himself in torment.

[Strange how there was no name given to the rich man - but Lazarus is called by name.

Though the LORD is exalted, He regards the lowly and invites them into His fellowship; But the proud and haughty He knows from a distance - Psalm 138:6]

During his life he'd had ample opportunities to share his luxury with others, but now he pleaded for help and none was available.

If we're given abundance of any kind, it may be a test to see how much we notice we take of others in need and share out of our storehouse.

Don't worry about missing out, as believers in Jesus, we are assured of our place at Heaven's Great Banquet.

Thought

Who am I overlooking in my everyday life? How can I share and invite them to the Banquet?

Interesting point:

The non-Jews were called dogs in Jesus' time.

In this passage even the "dogs" (non-believers) had more compassion on Lazarus than the rich man (believer)! How often this is true of us!