The National tribune., 1890-07-31
SUNDAY MEDITATION.

SUBJECT: PARABLE OF Dives AND LAZARUS.
/. Data.
We have only this one account OF the para
bic of tho rich man and the poor man. SITS.
Matthew and John do not mention it, though
they probably heard it uttered. 1t remained
for st. Luke, who very likely never saw Christ,
to relate the parable 80 years after it was
spoken. 1t was uttered in Asia and reported
in Europe. Doubtless it was remembered by
those who heard it, and was handed down moro
or less accurately from lip TO lip. 1t was too
important to be forgotten or to be left to tradi-
ton, and hence the Holy Spirit led st. Luke to
incorporate it in his Gospel. Its record is an
other reason why we are rejoiced that the third
Gospel was written.
2. Time.
Christ spoke this parable early in March,
A. ID. 20, two TO three weeks before his death.
Abraham died 1881 b. g. If we add A. d. 30
We have 1850. 1t was therefore 1850 years
between Abraham's death and the speaking Of
the parable. If what We call a parable were
really history, we cannot tell when either Lag
arus or Dives died. The prophets, referred to
III verse %, wrote from 1000 3. G. to 400 b. Q.
The parable was uttered 1861 years ago.
3. Where.
Christ spoke the parable in Porea, probably
in the vicinity of Bethabara He was going
from Gallee to Jerusalem by way of Ephron,
we, cannot locate the residence of Dives Abra-
ham WAS buried at Hebron.
4, Speaker
The parable Is of interest and Importance as
an utterance of our Great Teacher, Christ. He
was fond of tho parabolcal style, thus making
his instructions thoroughly understood and
himself very entertaining
>. Hearers.
st. Luke, 16 ], shows that Christ addressed
his disciples But verse II states that the
Pharsees also heard Christ. IL would seem
our Savior directed his remarks (vorses 1-I3)
to his disciples and that the Pharisees over
heard the speech Observing the effect of his
teachings on the Pbarisees, Christ then directed
his words to them, the disciples in turn hear
ing what he said to the Pharisees.
@. Circumstances.
What Christ said was generally suggested by
his surroundings. lie does not seem like one
having program laid out with all its details
and demanding strict adherence. There was
not probably any break between verses Is and
II of chapter Is. Christ spoke the parable of
tho Unjust Steward to the disciples, but the
Pharisoes also heard it. They were not pleased
with its sentiments. The statement at the
close, :" Ye cannot serve God and Mammon,"
seemed utterly ludicrous They derided
Christ The Greek word for "derided verse
IL literally means they turned up their noses
at Christ. The Pharisees tried TO connect piety
aud coyetousness Verse IA declares they were
c0vetous They could not tolerate Christs
doctrines, to wit, that they could not be hon
estIy religious aud yet eager for wealth. Hence
they made light of his statements. Jesus see
ing their utter inconsistency, penetrating their
CHAINS punetured them through and through
with the sharp saying, Ye are they which
Justify yourselves before men. aud added that
they were positively abominable to God.
na mar l.lp nFf ha min ri fuef
a wise use of money that of the rich man and
Lazarus wrong use. One must be liberal.
The Pharisecs were not kindly disposed to the
needy. Isl. Matt, 23:4.l The parable of the
UHius. Steward shows the wisdom OF so employ
ing riches as 10 secure for ones self " everlast-
ing habitatiOus of bliss ". 81 Tho parable
Of Dives aud Lazarus illustrates the folly OF
being wealthy aud at the same time selfish and
stingy. Those in prosperity need study it and
lay 1t to heart
Z. Dires
Stieklers for the opinion that the parable is
historical go so far rs TO say that the certain
rich man " was Csiaphas, tho hiRh-priest. 1t
was not Christs custom in parallels or even
otherwise To mention names. The account, as
given by ST. Luke, gives no name for the rich
man How has it happened he is called Dives?
Ia the Latin language the word for rich is
dives. Old pictures in the Roman Catholic
branch OF the Church. which illustrated this
parable were inscribed, " Dives ct Lazarus"
Thus the name Dives became common as a
proper noun. After time persons not familiar
with Latin became of the opinion Dives was u
real proper name. Perhaps Christ omitted the
name OF the rich man to intimate tbc fact that
fame ia not dependent on wealth. Though
Dives was so important man in this world, the
world now does not oven know what his name
was Though his name was on tho lips OF all
persons in his section of country when he was
alive IL has actually dropped out OF existence
II is not preserved in any human history, aud
we feel assured ii is not recorded in the Lambs
Book OF Life.
II is plain Dives was rich extravagant lux
uriant, naughty, snowy. lie was doubtless n
jew. lie said, Father Abraham" (Y "a, and
1t is declared of his five brothers that they had
Moses aud the prophets. ". 29) We may
suppose he was Pharsee and this would give
great force To the parable as addressed TO
Pharisees.
8. Lazarus.
Curiously enough we have in this parable
the only mention by name ever made by our
Savior in any of his parabolic teachings. The
name of the poor man was Lazarus. Lazarus
Is n contraction from EieaZer, THE letter 20"
being elided from before a." EleazeI means
God his help, Dit name, indeed. for the poor
man of the parable which Is our study now
Christ gives the name Of the one whom lie was
commencing We can speak we'll OF folks, call
ing them by name but we should not give
names when we are revealing and censnring
faults Of said persons. There are some who
believe the name Lazarus was suggested for
this parable by tho fact of the resurrection
"A while before of Lazarus, the name then being
on every tongue, aud the man so named evil
IDENTIFY pous person. tSt. John, chapter IL
From the name Lazarus come our words
lazar, lazaretto, lazaroni, laZarite. About all
We know of Lazarus in his earthly career is
that he was poor and sick and practically
irendloss. The name is jewish and no prob
ably was Jew, Some one or more had a de-
gree of interest in ifim. This we learn from
Tho fact he was too feeble TO move himself from
gate. ". 20) He was not much a beggar
in the sense of verbal pleas as in his appealing
condition.
o. abraham.
The founder of the Hebrew race was Abra-
ham, He was born at Ur in Chaldea in the
year 20OS A. NJ. He died about 1000 years
before this lesson. There was no question
about his being in Paradise
10. The Parable.
We suppose the paragraph is parable No
doubt something like what Christ imagines
had often taken place. A similar story is found
in the Babyionian Gemara. The gcneraness of
the fact pictured gives the greater effectiveness
To its teaching IL true, we have n lesson
not which should have been known and acted
upon by Dives alone. but which is applicable
always aud everywhere 10 all rich men. OF
force specially rs to individuals il also may be