Listen to the Sound...

 

Luke 16:19-31 is one of the few places that we, as humans still on this earth, get a glimpse into the life after death. Several notable lessons can be gleaned from this set of verses, but as you read through this passage this time, take special note of the words of Lazarus.

 

Luke 16:19-31, The Rich Man and Lazarus.

19 “Now there was a rich man, and he habitually dressed in purple and fine linen, joyously living in splendor every day.

20 “And a poor man named Lazarus was laid at his gate, covered with sores,

21 and longing to be fed with the crumbs which were falling from the rich man’s table; besides, even the dogs were coming and licking his sores.

22 “Now the poor man died and was carried away by the angels to Abraham’s bosom; and the rich man also died and was buried.

23 “In Hades he lifted up his eyes, being in torment, and saw Abraham far away and Lazarus in his bosom.

24 “And he cried out and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus so that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool off my tongue, for I am in agony in this flame.’

25 “But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that during your life you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus bad things; but now he is being comforted here, and you are in agony.

26 ‘And besides all this, between us and you there is a great chasm fixed, so that those who wish to come over from here to you will not be able, and that none may cross over from there to us.’

27 “And he said, ‘Then I beg you, father, that you send him to my father’s house—

28 for I have five brothers—in order that he may warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’

29 “But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.’

30 “But he said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent!’

31 “But he said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead.’ ”

New American Standard Bible : 1995 update. 1995 (Lk 16:19-31). LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

 

Did you get it? What words did Lazarus speak? Lazarus said nothing. In this entire account, Lazarus is recorded as saying absolutely nothing.

The rich man in this passage is portrayed, after his death, as being in utter and complete torment. He is in flame and agony. He is burning, but he is not blind. He clearly sees the peace and rest that he so desperately wishes he had. He can see Lazarus in the bosom of Abraham, resting peacefully without a care.

What did you notice when the rich man called out? Who was it who answered him? Abraham, right? Never does the Bible portray Lazarus as having any knowledge that the man in torment is able to see him or is calling out for him to be sent for water.

Is this significant, or just a coincidence? Although it does not really matter to our immediate salvation, I wonder if perhaps this is a clue about what sort of peace is included in our reward after this life. And, perhaps this is a clue that those who are tormented will, at least in this phase, be able to see those who are at rest.

Let me illustrate the point I am making. When you are having a bad day, what is the worst thing that can happen? How about, someone you know is having the best day of their life, and they tell you all about it? For some reason, that always seems to make your bad day worse than it was.

When we think of the man in torment, how much worse would his torment be if he could see the man in rest, and know exactly what he's missing?

On the side of Lazarus, how much better would his peace be if he knew nothing of the man in torment, could not see the place of torment, and was not bothered with the wails of those who are suffering?

Many, I'm sure, have observed this side of the passage before, but some, I'm sure, have never thought about it. I hope that this thought has sparked an interest in you for the Bible and the teachings of Jesus. Don't forget to listen to the sound...of silence.