Hell to pay!

When I read through the story of the Rich man and Lazarus in Luke 16:19-31 it seems to me that the message is pretty clear. Help out the less fortunate or there will be hell to pay. In the context of Jesus' repeated teaching on loving neighbour and his constant reminder about coming to serve rather than being served this parable strikes a somewhat harsher note. A bit more confrontational. Possibly a reminder that there is a limit to even God's good grace.

There are other things at work in this parable also. For instance, the fact that the rich man never accepts or admits to being responsible for his own actions. There is no demonstrated repentance and even his requests on behalf of his six surviving brothers (maybe we should call this "The Parable of the Six Brothers") are unclear. Does he want the Lord to go back to warn them of hell or to confront them about their lifestyles?

Finally one more point of interest. Lazarus is the only character named in this story. There is an irony here. For though every aspect of his physical condition that is detailed in the parable would be understood by Jesus' listeners to be signs of God's punishment upon this hapless person, his name means "God helps". It seems to me there is a lesson here also. A reminder that even in the midst of what may seem to us to be hell on earth, God is present. Something else to think about.