The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1914-05-13
Sunday School Notes
Side Light, on Next Sundays Lesson
for Teachers and Pupils.
Edited by Charles K. Meyers
May 1.-THE Rich Man and Lazarus
Luke 16-14.15-l9-31


by Jesus while on earth. 1t is a par
able over which there has been much
discussion. Its conclusions are
fraught with tremendous possibilities
They bring into strong outline the
thought that there is place of etern
al punishment for those who have vii
fully dsobeyed the bible command
ments.
The Saviour was talking to group
of Pharisees who held that they con
stituted the truly holy people Of the
earth. In their seltishness and sell
righteousness they had little heed in
passing by on the other side of the
priest and the levite when they found
a poor man in the road between Jerus-
allen and Jericho fifty showed the
spirit which dominated these supposed
holy men.
The lesson of this day is parable
in which it is told of a rich man who
Jared sumptuOusly every day and had
all those things which wealth could
buy. 1t is told that at his door there
was laid beggar named Lazarus,
who was helpless and covered with
sores, and who ate from the crumbs
which came from the rich mans
table. In due time both Of these men
died and the one who had lived in lux
ury finds himself in place OF tor
ment and is able to view the beggar
in place where he is happy and con-
tented. AS the parable goes, the one
in pain requested that Lazarus be
sent to even so much as to dip the
| tip of his finger in water and cool his
tongue. This request was refused be-
cause there was gulf of separation
between. A second prayer was made,
and in this the one in trouble realiz-
! ing that he had five brothers who
were living as he had lived while on
earth, and were thus in danger Of be-
ing associated with him in the great
future request was made that Lazarus
go and warn these brothers. The re-
ply to this prayer was that his broth
ers had the Old Testament scriptures
of Moses and the prophets and that
If these were not sufficient as warn
ing for repentance, that even If one
should rise from the dead to tell them
it would be in vain.
am far from prepared to give the
exact meaning of this parable. but |
do know that Jesus talked many times
OF Judgment to come; that he told
OF separation of the wheat from the
tares, of a door being shut after am
pie opportunity had been given to
enter, of some being told II never
knew you," when they made protesta-
eions OF being in his service. He told
OF the great value OF the immortal
soul and said to beware OF those who
had power to kill both the soul and
the body. He put forth that search
ing question, What shall it profit
man If he gain the whole world and
lose his own soul, or what shall a
man give in exchange for his soul"?
In view of these statements of Jesus,
who was the Son Of God and who
knew exactly the state of those who
have departed their lives, am led
to believe that 1t Is dangerous thing
to go heedlessly through life defying
the standards OF the bible, or coming
up to them as matter of policy and
hypocricy; that it will be better for
all eternity for those who have truly
loved God, had faith in his son Jesus,
and who practiced the christianity
set forth by the great Apostle Paul.
The parable of the rich man
and Lazarus has many comforting
thoughts to those who view the in
equalities of our present existence.
AS we see from day to day the burd-
ems which are put upon the worthy
poor and those physically unfortunate,
and the seeming ease of life of those
| who, by the turn OF fortune are pos
sessed OF great wealth and good bodily
health, it does seem but right and
justice that matters should be evened
up in the great beyond. The parable
in question finds no fault with the
rich man for having wealth, or is Lag
| arus commended for being poor. but
the spirit of the former of seltishness
and apparent neglect OF a suffering
one at his door is condemned.
II a knowledge of the Old Tesla
ment scripture was held sufficient in
the parable for one to live right
life in Gods sight, it is certain that
a defense of no opportunity to know
the right after the death OF Jesus,
the writings of st. Paul and the rec
ord OF the christian church in the
years gone by would be unavailing. 1t
is thus clear. that with church and
chapels, dotting the hill tops OF our
country, the open bible in practically
every household, christian ministers
and teachers, devoting their lives to
pointing the way, that 1t is fearful
thing to close ones eyes and to go on
in a life OF riotous living, or defiance
of the Almighty God.
do not believe this parable means
that those who do disregard shall be
literally burned or tormented through
endless time. Those who have passed
beyond are spirits and incapable OF
physical pain. This fact alone shows
the reasonableness Of the above con-
clusion. This is certainly a parable
full OF great thoughts. Thousands OF
sermons and as many books have been
put forth based on its supposed teach
ings, and this little talk has certainly
not fathomed its depths, but it is to
be hoped that the study OF this lesson
throughout the world on Sunday next
will be the means Of making such an
impression on the mind of students
that they will desire to shun those
things which will lead them to fail
to find favor with Jesus, when it
comes to the final accounting of their
lives.