This document contains a summary of the biblical parable of the rich man and Lazarus from the Gospel of Luke. It summarizes three key points: 1) The parable is a warning about how we treat the poor and emphasizes the importance of our actions in this life. 2) It teaches that people will be judged for how they lived and that there will be serious consequences, though the nature of the afterlife is unclear. 3) The parable reveals that God cares deeply for the poor and how we see and respond to those in need has an impact on our experience of God's judgment.

1. Prayer
God of Blazing light, through the power
of the cross you shattered our darkness,
scattering the fears that bind us
and setting us free to live as your children.
Give us courage and conviction
that we may joyfully turn and follow you
into new adventures of faithful service,
led by the light that shines through
Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.

2. theCHURCH
CALENDAR

3. Part 2: The Rich Man and
PARABLES and the EPIPHANY

4. The
Homeless
Christ
by
Kelly
Latimore

5. Lazarus
and
the
Rich
Man
by
James
Janknegt

7. There once was a rich man…
LUKE 16:19-31 (MSG; NRSV)

8. So you say you care about the poor.
Tell me, can you name them?
GUSTAVOGUTIEREZZ

9. Lazarus
and
the
Rich
Man
by
James
Janknegt

10. Part 2: The Rich Man and
PARABLES and the EPIPHANY

11. 1. A critique of “works righteousness”
(NOTE: put that track on repeat…)
this PARABLE is NOT about…

12. 1. A critique of “works righteousness”
(NOTE: put that track on repeat…)
2. A critique of the supposedly
Jewish view that riches = blessing
and
poverty = curse worthy of shame
this PARABLE is NOT about…

13. 1. A critique of “works righteousness”
(NOTE: put that track on repeat…)
2. A critique of the supposedly
Jewish view that riches = blessing
and
poverty = curse worthy of shame
3. A literal description of heaven/hell,
this PARABLE is NOT about…

14. If we remain unfazed by the idea of
endless pain, then we are no better than
the rich
man whose punishment we praise. If the
body is in the image and likeness of the
divine, is torturing it to be celebrated or
condemned? What purpose does eternal
punishment serve, other than certain
revenge fantasies of those who are not
being tortured? Schadenfreude may be a
AMY-JILL LEVINE

15. Perhaps one needs to be an atheist to
resist the idea that eternal damnation is
a is a righteous idea? Or do we just
rejoice
in our salvation and say, with all
literalness,
‘To hell with them’?...Once we judge the
rich man as deserving of his fate – eternal
torment – we condemn ourselves as
barbaric (and if) we envy Lazarus for his
AMY-JILL LEVINE

16. The problem of understanding the
biblical material on life after death is
much more problematic than most
Christians are aware. We know far less,
and Scripture is far less clear, than most
think…the nature of (this) story does not
allow it to be taken as an actual
description of the future life…
The parable is not intended to provide
a schedule or details about precisely
KLYNE R. SNODGRASS

17. The parable is a warning to the rich
and emphasizes the importance of
what humans do with the present, and
it still teaches that humans will be
judged
for the way they lived and that the
consequences will be serious.
KLYNE R. SNODGRASS

18. God cares deeply for the poor, and how
we respond to/interact with them – and
how we see ourselves in relation to
them –
has an impact on our experience
of Divine judgment
WHAT does this PARABLE
REVEAL about GOD?

19. God cares deeply for the poor, and how
we respond to/interact with them – and
how we see ourselves in relation to
them –
has an impact on our experience
of Divine judgment
NOTE: Believing in “judgment” is not
the same thing as a literal hell or anything
WHAT does this PARABLE
REVEAL about GOD?

20. Closing Prayer
God of every land and nation,
you have created all people
and you dwell among us in Jesus Christ.
Listen to the cries of those who pray to you,
and grant that, as we proclaim the greatness
of your name, all people will know
the power of love at work in the world.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.