In this post, I want to offer a perspective on the story Jesus tells in Luke 16 about the rich man and Lazarus. This post will seek to provide the following as a 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘦 interpretation to the story Jesus told:
1. The primary audience was the High Priest Caiaphas.
2. Jesus was shooting a “warning shot” across the bow of the chief shepherd of His people.
3. The rich man in Jesus’ story represented Caiaphas.
4. The application, though primarily aimed at Caiaphas, can also be appropriate for us as well.
To lay out this perspective, it is important to understand the history of Annas’ family in the first century and how it intersected with the work and mission of Jesus.
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐖𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 𝐨𝐟 𝐀𝐧𝐧𝐚𝐬
Annas became the High Priest in 6 AD and served until 15 AD, when the Romans deposed him. Rome was wary of letting anyone serve a lifetime appointment to such a powerful position. However, Annas must have found favor with the Romans because he was able to spend the next half of a century positioning his five sons into the office of High Priest, along with his son-in-law, Caiaphas.
Having first taken up the role of High Priest in 6 AD, it is likely that Annas was one of the religious officials who marveled at the 12-year-old Jesus when He astounded the teachers of the law with his teachings:
“After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers.” (Luke 2:46-47 ESV).
Jesus was born between 6 BC and 4 BC, according to most scholars. That would put the twelve-year-old Jesus teaching in the Temple during the first to third year of Annas’ appointment as High Priest. This would have likely been the first time that Israel’s chief shepherd to God’s people first met the Messiah, and the first encounter seemed to be a promising one.
But as the years passed, Annas used his position and influence to amass tremendous power and wealth for his family. According to the Jewish historian Josephus,
“Now the report goes, that this elder Ananus proved a most fortunate man; for he had five sons, who had all performed the office of high priest to God, and he had himself enjoyed that dignity a long time formerly, which had never happened to any other of our high priests” (Ant 20:198).
And
“for he was a great hoarder up of money:” (Ant 20:205).
How wealthy was Annas, and how did his family secure this wealth? In addition to the annual salary he would have been paid, the High Priest would have collected a 12.5% commission on the money changers as people came to Jerusalem for the Passover and other feast days. They also levied a fee for inspecting animals people brought with them for sacrifices. And for the people who didn’t bring animals for sacrifice, they could visit the 𝘉𝘢𝘻𝘢𝘢𝘳𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘈𝘯𝘯𝘢𝘴 and secure an animal, often at exorbitant prices when Holy Days drew near. Together, these sources of income would bring in millions of dollars in today’s value each year for the High Priest’s family, making them one of the most powerful and wealthy families in Israel. Is it no wonder Jesus was filled with rage when he cleansed the Temple from the moneychangers, charging that they had made His Father’s house a den of thieves? (Luke 19:45-46).
By the time the Messiah started His public ministry, Annas was the patriarch of one of the most influential, powerful, and wealthy families in the region. Though Jesus, as God, had appointed them to be the chief shepherds of His people, Annas and his children had abused their role to make themselves rich and powerful. And when they came face-to-face with the promised Messiah, instead of being ready to welcome Him, they sought at every turn to defeat Him and put Him to death. Jesus proved to be a threat to their twin idols of wealth and power.
𝐋𝐮𝐤𝐞 𝟏𝟔:𝟏𝟗-𝟑𝟏- 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐢𝐜𝐡 𝐌𝐚𝐧 𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐋𝐚𝐳𝐚𝐫𝐮𝐬
As we pick up Luke’s account in chapter 16, Jesus tells a story that seems out of place in the context of His teachings. In Chapter 15, we see that Jesus starts to tell a string of parables and teachings aimed at the Pharisees and religious teachers:
“Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.” So he told them this parable:” (Luke 15:1-3 ESV).
What follows are the teachings of
· The Lost Sheep (Luke 15:4-7)
· The Lost Coin (Luke 15:8-10)
· The Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32)
· The Dishonest Manager (Luke 16:1-13)
· The Law and the Kingdom (Luke 16:14-17)
· Divorce and Remarriage (Luke 16:18)
· Rich Man And Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31)
Lest we forget that these teachings are still aimed at the religious leaders, Luke tells us:
“The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard all these things, and they ridiculed him. And he said to them,” (Luke 16:14-15a ESV).
When Luke recounts the story of the 𝘙𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘔𝘢𝘯 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘓𝘢𝘻𝘢𝘳𝘶𝘴, Jesus narrows in on the love for money these religious leaders had. This is the story where Jesus tells about the rich man who dies and ends up in torment. Because of the details Jesus uses in this story, I believe this story may be aimed primarily at Caiaphas, the reigning High Priest in Israel and the son-in-law of Annas.
If so, then the story of the 𝘙𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘔𝘢𝘯 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘓𝘢𝘻𝘢𝘳𝘶𝘴 would not be a parable or a true historical event, but a story meant to fire a warning shot from God over the bow of His chief shepherd, who was letting wealth and power get in his way of making ready the people for the coming Messiah. Consider these details:
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐡 𝐦𝐚𝐧’𝐬 𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠: “There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day.” (Luke 16:19 ESV).
Colors are often used as identifiers. If we watch the Olympics and someone says, “Here comes the Red, White, and Blue,” we know they mean, “here come the American athletes.” Purple and fine linen would have conjured up an image of the High Priest in the first century Jew’s mind because they would have been familiar with Exodus 28-32, which went into great detail about the clothing of the High Priest. Speaking about Aaron’s garments:
“They shall receive gold, blue and purple and scarlet yarns, and fine twined linen. “And they shall make the ephod of gold, of blue and purple and scarlet yarns, and of fine twined linen, skillfully worked.” (Exodus 28:5-6 ESV).
And the Jews would have already known that the High Priest was one of the wealthiest people in Israel.
𝐈 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐛𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐬: “And he said, ‘Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father’s house-- for I have five brothers--so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.’“ (Luke 16:27-28 ESV).
It’s interesting that Jesus drops in this detail in the story. The man says he has five brothers that he is concerned with. As the current High Priest, Caiaphas has five brothers-in-law, all sons of the patriarch Annas, who has engineered the family’s wealth and power.
𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐌𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐡𝐞𝐭𝐬: “But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.’“ (Luke 16:29 ESV).
When this rich man pleads for Abraham to send back Lazarus to warn his five brothers, Abraham tells him that they have everything in the Law they need to avoid coming to this place. Of all people, it should be the chief shepherd of God’s people who knew the Law well enough to see signs of the coming Messiah. But the rich man argues,
“And he said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’“ (Luke 16:30 ESV).
To which Abraham responds,
“He said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.” (Luke 16:31 ESV).
If this is Jesus sending a warning shot across the bow of Caiaphas, then perhaps He is setting up something big that He wants the High Priest to consider. There is one detail in the story we have not mentioned. Jesus gives the name of the beggar who died: Lazarus.
“And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores,” (Luke 16:20 ESV).
When we look at the chronological events of the Gospels, what do you suppose comes immediately after Jesus’s story of the 𝘙𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘔𝘢𝘯 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘓𝘢𝘻𝘢𝘳𝘶𝘴 in Luke 16?
It’s John 11. You know, the chapter with the shortest verse in the Bible: “Jesus wept.” (John 11:35 ESV).
Right after the story in Luke 16, Caiaphas and a man named Lazarus are introduced. The name should have been on the top of Caiaphas’ mind after hearing the story of the rich man and Lazarus. While this man was not the poor beggar in Luke 16, a man named Lazarus would, indeed, come from the dead. And the reaction was exactly as Jesus said it would be.
As we start into chapter 11, Jesus gets word that his friend Lazarus is sick. But Jesus says something interesting and waits two days before heading to His sick friend:
“But when Jesus heard it he said, “This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” (John 11:4 ESV).
This is for the glory of God. Well, we know the story. Lazarus dies, and Jesus raises him to life. Everyone who saw and heard about this miracle was amazed. Well, almost everyone:
“but some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. So the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered the council and said, “What are we to do? For this man performs many signs. If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.” (John 11:46-48 ESV).
And guess who is there? Guess who heard about a man named Lazarus raised from the dead? I’ll give you a hint: He was a rich man clothed in purple and fine linen, who fared sumptuously, and someone who had five brothers who should have known Moses and the prophets more than anyone else:
“But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all. Nor do you understand that it is better for you that one man should die for the people, not that the whole nation should perish.” (John 11:49-50 ESV).
In fact, Caiaphas was so blind to the truth of the Messiah, he even decided that Lazarus should die too:
“So the chief priests made plans to put Lazarus to death as well, because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and believing in Jesus.” (John 12:10-11 ESV).
𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐂𝐚𝐢𝐚𝐩𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐔𝐬
So, what does this mean? If Luke 16 was a warning shot that God fired over the bow of His chief shepherd of Israel for letting wealth and power blind him to the coming of the Messiah, how careful must we be about the idols we hold tight to? Whether money, power, work, family, or anything we hold more precious than God, if we are not careful, we will walk away from the Messiah even though His truth is so plain to us today.
We can’t serve two masters. We will love the one and hate the other. Is there anything in our way of fully devoting ourselves to our Savior and King? If so, learn the tragic lesson of Israel’s High Priest, who was uniquely in a position to welcome the promised Messiah. If Caiaphas could be blind to Jesus when the truth was plain to see, then let us all examine the things in life we hold dear and ensure nothing causes us to be blind to the truth before us.
In my daily Bible reading, I am in 1 Peter. Peter talks about the suffering that we must endure for the name of Jesus. That suffering will vary from person to person.
But in some way, we all will endure something for the name of Jesus. For some, it will be a lot. For others, it will be less. But the focus shouldn’t be on how much you suffer versus how much I suffer.
Rather, we must ask ourselves, “What will I do when I face suffering for Jesus, rather little or much?”
Will I endure little? Will I endure much? Whatever I endure, it is for the glory of God.
Satan would have us adjust our faith, lay down our beliefs, or compromise our hearts to lessen the suffering. It is our endurance that brings glory to God, not our compromises.
Let me leave you with a verse from Peter to pray over today. As our society changes, which it is, more of us will start to suffer “little.” When this testing of our faith comes, how will we react?
“If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.” (1 Peter 4:14 ESV).
Insults are the “less” of suffering. Let us be prepared for them before we are asked to endure the “more” of suffering.
Matthew 24 speaks to the coming of the Lord. Whether you think this is the coming of the Lord for the destruction of Jerusalem or the Second Coming, there are similar principles that apply.
In fact, the Bible talks about many “coming of the Lord” when the Lord comes in judgment. Matthew 24 talks about two conditions that usually exist when the Lord comes in judgment.
“For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.” (Matthew 24:37-39 ESV).
Ignorance and Indifference.
“they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage” - This represents indifference.
“they were unaware”- This represents ignorance.
Take stock of our world today. Do we see ignorance of and indifference toward God?
We do not know when the Lord will return, and it is futile to try to nail down a date or time, but God is well aware of the ignorance and indifference of His creation today.
Whenever the Son of Man returns for His bride, let us be prepared and watching, full of concern and discernment as we trim our lamps for His impending return, so we are not found indifferent or ignorant.
Daily Bible Reading... This is one of the best ways to get the Word into your heart. It’s better than watching videos of sermons and better than reading spiritual posts. Nothing is better than listening to the Spirit speak to your heart directly as you read the inspired word.
Have you ever wondered if there were other ways to read the word, rather than starting with Genesis and reading through Revelation, and then starting over? Well, there are several ways to mix up your routine and keep it fresh. Here are a few ways I do it.
1. 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐫- Genesis through Revelation.
2. 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐦𝐥𝐲- Pick out a book, and when you are done, randomly pick another book.
3. 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐮𝐩 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐮𝐬𝐞- Sometimes, you can gain insights from comparative reading. Read through the word in one translation, and then choose another translation the next time.
4. 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐜𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐛𝐲 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐰𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐧- This will look at the date the book was written so you can read them in the order the Spirit inspired them to be written.
5. 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐚 𝐜𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐁𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞- This differs from the above method because it will break out pieces of a book and place the word in chronological order. This means you may have verses from one book next to verses from another book. For example, rather than read the books of history back-to-back that tell similar events, you will read excerpts of all the books in the order that the events happened. LaGard Smith has 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘕𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘉𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘐𝘯 𝘊𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘖𝘳𝘥𝘦𝘳 I plan on reading one day: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0736902392/.
If you want a start on mixing up your daily Bible reading, here is a list of the books of the Bible in chronological order as they were written (I have included a link to the source I used to grab this order).
Have fun mixing up your daily Bible readings!
Genesis
Exodus
Leviticus
Numbers
Deuteronomy
Joshua
Psalms
Judges
Ruth
Proverbs
Song of Solomon
1 Samuel
2 Samuel
Ecclesiastes
Job
Jonah
Amos
Hosea
Joel
Micah
Isaiah
Nahum
Zephaniah
Habakkuk
Jeremiah
Daniel
Ezekiel
Lamentations
Obadiah
1 Kings
2 Kings
Haggai
Zechariah
1 Chronicles
2 Chronicles
Ezra
Nehemiah
Esther
Malachi
Galatians
1 Thessalonians
2 Thessalonians
1 Corinthians
2 Corinthians
Romans
Mark
James
Ephesians
Philippians
Colossians
Philemon
Matthew
Luke
Acts (of the Apostles)
1 Peter
Titus
1 Timothy
2 Timothy
2 Peter
Hebrews
Jude
John
1 John
2 John
3 John
Revelation
https://connectusfund.org/books-of-the-bible-in-chronological-order
What do you suppose God thinks about us exploring the oceans or the universe? What does He think about us seeking empirical knowledge?
“It is the glory of God to conceal things, but the glory of kings is to search things out.” (Proverbs 25:2 ESV).
Could it be that God delights in His creation searching after and striving to understand the things He conceals?
I’d like to think so.
Tomorrow, I begin the last book of my Bible reading this time around before I start over by going through the Bible chronologically. Sunday and Monday, I will be reading the book of Revelation.
I’ve already read the spoiler...
God wins.
But I’m looking forward to seeing Him win again in the reading!
If we could always see our spouse through the same selfless eyes that Jesus sees the church, it would go a long way to mending many problems that couples face.
“Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her,” (Ephesians 5:25 ESV).
“In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.” (Ephesians 5:28 ESV).
Well, I started the book of Revelation, and something that has always bothered me reared its head again. I see the heavenly creatures seemingly worshipping God non-stop. I cannot imagine an existence where I would be able to worship God without ceasing.
Would I have the stamina? Would I know how to do something like that?
But then it occurred to me that I am making a lot of assumptions and not giving God nearly the credit due Him.
I know that most of my eternal existence will be in praise and worship to Him. That is what my spirit here on earth wants.
I need to trust that God will equip me to do what I have been created to do. He will give me the body made to carry out my purpose.
Today, I become disillusioned or disappointed because I fail to do in the flesh what my spirit earnestly desires to do. In heaven, I will be given a body that will enable me to finally do all my spirit wants to do when it comes to praising and worshiping God.
I’m not sure we understand everything about how our existence will be in heaven, but whatever it is, God will equip me with all that I need to do it without...
Growing tired
Feeling overwhelmed
Being inadequate
Or getting distracted.
God is good, and in eternity, He will equip me to finally be able to do all that my spirit desires.
“Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (Matthew 26:41 ESV).
In eternity, God will equip me to finally do all that my spirit is willing to do.
I know not everyone will agree with this, but I love seeing posts and pics of people being baptized. For me, it is encouraging to see evidence that the Word is flourishing more than we may realize.
What better thing than to see a new brother or sister in Jesus make the commitment that will alter their eternal destiny!
I am reading Revelation. What a powerful book. It tells us that no matter when the enemy rises against the Lamb and His kingdom, it will not prevail. And those who choose to side with the enemies of God will share in their punishment.
As we move away from God as a society, remember that there are followers of the Lamb sprinkled throughout the land. He is our shield, our redeemer, and our Lord and King.
Just keep on keeping on. Have patience and remember that we are citizens of a kingdom that shall not fall. Even when the dragon hurls its fury at the people of God, let us stay in the palm of our God’s hand.
There will be a time when war with God’s enemies will be done. We will witness our King cast the devil in the Lake of Fire. We will be clothed with an incorruptible body and be given honor as children of God made in His image.
We must stay true to our Savior when the war is waged against us in its full fury. Victory for us is ensured.
The message of Revelation is that God will win. Let us remember that when the heat of the war arrives at our doorsteps.
Praise God, the sovereign creator of all things!
“Then the dragon became furious with the woman and went off to make war on the rest of her offspring, on those who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus. And he stood on the sand of the sea.” (Revelation 12:17 ESV).
What point of prophecy do you see in Micah 5:2?
“But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days.” (Micah 5:2 ESV).
Yes, it says that the Messiah will be born in Bethlehem from the tribe of Judah. But what else does it say?
Does it not also say that this Messiah, who is born in Bethlehem from the tribe of Judah, whose coming is from old, from ancient days?
Not only will the Messiah be born in Bethlehem and be of the tribe of Judah, but He will also be God coming to be with man. Is it no wonder that Matthew writes this concerning the birth of Jesus:
“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us).” (Matthew 1:23 ESV).