Following Christ-Rediscovering the Jewish Faith of JesusSample

Day 25: The Rich Man and Lazarus

Once when speaking to His disciples, Jesus told them, “It is easier for heaven and earth to disappear than for the least stroke of a pen to drop out of the Law” (Luke 16:17).

This sounds very much like what He said in the Sermon on the Mount: “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:17-19).

However, in Luke Jesus followed up on it by telling a parable about a rich man and a beggar named Lazarus. Both men died and Lazarus was carried by angels to Abraham’s bosom, while the rich man ended up in Hades. In Jesus’ story, the rich man begs Abraham to send Lazarus who is with him to warn his five brothers, so they won’t also end up in torment like him.

Jesus concludes His story with this:

“Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’ “‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’ “He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead’” (Luke 16:29-31).

This comparison between the credibility of Moses and the Prophets and somebody rising from the dead is startling. Jesus Himself was to rise from the dead in the near future, and He knew that. Nevertheless, it shows how strongly Jesus valued the Hebrew scriptures—not only the prophets, but also the Law according to Moses—which Jesus had just described as unchanging.

It may not be easy to determine what contents of the Law and the Prophets would save a person from Hades, unless it was the prophecies of a coming Messiah, but one thing is clear: Jesus valued these writings, followed them during His life time, and expected His followers to value and follow them too.

When we search the Scriptures, we find Jesus the Messiah.

Reflection

Would Jesus be pleased with the level to which you value the Law of Moses?

Jesus truly honored God’s Word and followed God faithfully and flawlessly. We want to emulate Jesus in our walk. What is one way you can do that?

Jesus’ parable about Lazarus basically teaches that the Law was enough preparation to recognize Him. Following the Law predisposes one to hear His voice. How does your time in the Word of God help you hear God?

What part of the Law do you find most challenging, and what are some things you could do to gain traction there?