The National tribune., 1896-04-16

SUBJECT: PARABLE OF DIVES AND LAZARUS.
]. Data.
We have only this one account OF the para
bic of the rich man and >tho poor man. SITS.
Matthew and John do not mention it, though
they probably heard il uttered. 1t remained
for St Luke, who very likely never saw Christ,
to relate the parable 30 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 more
or less accurately from lip to lip. tt was too
important to be forgotten or TO be LETT 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.
Q. Time.
Christ spoke this parable early in March,
A. d. 30 two or three weeks before his death.
Abraham died 1921 Il. c. If we add A. ID. 30
we have 1850 1t was therefore $50 years
! between Abraham's death and the speaking of
the parable. If what we call parable were
really history we cannot tell when either Lag
arus or Dives died. The prophets, referred 10
in verse %. wrote from 1000 B. c. to 400 3. c.
The parable was uttered 1867 years ago.
3. Where.
Christ spoke the parable in Perea. probably
in the vicinity of Bethabara. Ho was going
from Galilee to jerusalem by way of Ephron,
Pcrea and Jericho. If the parable be history.
We cannot locate the residence OF Dives. Abra-
han 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 the parabolical style, thus making
his instructions thoroughly understood and
himself very entertaining
s. Hearers.
ut 1
his disciples But verse ii states that the
Pharisees also heard Christ. 1t would seem
our Savior directed his remarks (verses 1-l3)
to his disciples and that the Pharisees
heard the speech. Observing the effect of his
teachings on the Pharisees Christ then directed
his words to them, tho disciples in turn hear
ing what he said TO the Pharisees.
6. Circumstances.
What Christ said was generally suggested by
his surroundings. He does not seem like
having a program laid out with all its details
and demanding strict adherence. There was
not probably any break between verses l3 and
IA Of chapter 16 Christ spoke the parable of
the Unjust Steward TO the disciples, but the
Pharisees also heard it. They were not pleased
with its sentiments. The statement at the
close. aye cannot serve God and Mammon."
seemed utterly lndierous. They derided Christ.
The Greek word for /" derided Verse l4l lit
Christ The Phariseos tried to connect pety
and covetousncss. Verse ii declares they were
covetous. They could not tolerate Christs
doctrines, 10 wit, that they could not be
honestly religious and yet eager for wealth.
Hence they mado light of his statements.
Jesus seeing their utter inconsistency, pene-
tratng their shans, punctured them through
and through with the sharp saying, :" 70 are
( they which justify yourselves before men" and
added that they were positively abominabie to
God
The parable of the Unjust Steward illustrates
a wise use of money; that OF the rich man and
Lazarus a wrong use, One must DO liberal.
The Pharisecs were not kindly disposed to the
needy. ST. Matt 90: 4. The parable of tho
Uujus. Steward shows the wisdom of en-
ploying riches as to secure for ones self ever
lasting habiations" of bliss. V. 9. The par
able Of Dives and Lazarus illustrates the folly
of being wealthy aud at the same time selfish
and stingy. Those in prosperity need study ii
and lay it to heart.
z. Dipes.
Sticklers for the opinion that the parable is
historical go so far TO say that the certain
rich man > was Caiaphas, the high priest 1t
was not Christs custom in parallels, or even
otherwise, TO mention names. The account. rs
given by st. Luke. gives name for the rich
man. How has it happened that he is called
Dives? In the Latin language the word for
rich is dives. Old pictures in the Roman
Catholic branch of the Church. which illus
tra;cd this parable. we're inscribed, Dives ct
Lazarus" Thus the name Dives became CON-
mon as proper noun. After a time persons
not familiar with Latin became of the opinion
Dives WAS real proper name. Perhaps Christ
omitted the name of tho rich man to intimate
the fact that fame isnot dependent OH wealth.
Though Dives was important man in this
world the world now does not even know what
his name was. Though his name was on the
lips of all persons in his section OF country
when he was alive. it has actually dropped out
Of existence. 1t is not preserved in any human
history. and we feel assured 1T is not recorded
in the Lambs Book of Life.
1t is plain Dives was rich, extravagant,
luxuriant, naughty, snowy. He was doubtless
Jew. lie said, Father Abraham" (V. pa
and it is declared Of his five brothers that they
had Moses and the prophets V. ~. We may
snupose he was a Pharisee. and this would give
great force to tho parable as addressed to
Pharsees.
Curiously enough we have in this parable
the only mention by name ever made ny cur
Savior in any of his parab0lic teachings. The
name of the poor man WAS Lazarus. Lazarus
is a contraction from EleaZor. the letter 20"
being elded from IL" Eieazor means God
his help; n fit name, indeed. for the poor man
OF the parable which is our study now. Christ
gives the name Of the one whom he wa3 COM
mendng. We can speak well of folk, calling
them by name but we should not give names
when we are revealing and censuring faults of
said persons. There are some who believe the
name Lazarus was suggested for this parable
by tho fact of the resurrection = while before
of Lazarus the name then being on every
tongue and the man SO named evidently
pious person. st. John, chapter IL. From the
name Lazarus come our words lazar, lazaretto.
lazaroni, lazarite About all know of
Lazarus in his earthly career is that he was
poor and sick and practically friendIess. The
name is Jewish. and he probably was Jew.
Some one or moro haEi degree of interest in
him. This we learn from the fact lie was too
was carried TO the rich mans gate. V. 20. He
was not SO much beggar III the sense OF verbal
pleas as in his appealing condition.
Q. abraham.
The founder of the Hebrew race was Abra-
ham. He was born Mt Ur, in Chaldea, in the
year zoos A. NJ. He died about 1000 years
before this lesson. There was no question
about his being in Paradise.
TO- The Parable.
We suppose the paragraph is parable No
| doubt something like what Christ imagines
! had often taken place. similar story is
| found in the Babylmian Gemara The general
of the fact pictured gives the greater effect
iveness to its teaching. If true VIC have lesson.
not which should have been known and acted
upon by Dives alone but which is applicable al
ways and every where TO all rich men. OF force
specially as to individuals. it also may be