I quote: Luke Timothy Johnson. The Gospel of Luke. Sacra Pagina Series 3. The Liturgical Press, 1991.; and Charles B. Courar. “Exegetical Perspective, Proper 21.” In Feasting on the Word, Year C Volume 4. Westminster John Knox Press, 2010.
Text: The Talmud is a collection of commentaries on the law and prophets by important Jewish thinkers used to guide the daily lives of believers. Scripture scholar Luke Timothy Johnson quotes the Talmud on this Gospel: “Whoever turns away his eyes from one who appeals for charity is considered as if he were serving idols.” Turning-one’s-eyes-away may be the key to this parable. Jesus does not say that the rich man is wicked. He does not say that wealth is evil. It’s said, however, that our possessions possess us more than we possess them. Scripture scholar Charles Cousar agrees: “The problem is that…the rich never ‘see’ the poor.” Wealth can cause blindness.
When Jesus defined his ministry (Lk4:18-19), he said he would bring glad tidings to the poor. That’s good news for Lazarus. Jesus also said he would offer “recovery of sight to the blind.” The proclamation would be good news for the rich man if—big IF—he opens his eyes. In the parable, he fails. Look how he tries to use Lazarus as a servant or messenger in the next life.
Jesus references Abraham to make an important point: the rich man was not being accused of violating a new teaching. The prophets of old taught us justice. Justice means that each person—made in God’s image—must have the means to a good life. Individuals are bound by justice in our interaction with one another. Furthermore, humans construct social systems; we must design society for justice. That’s Old Testament. Christians need to ask how much more the obligation of justice affects us after the Father weighed in by raising the unjustly convicted Crucified One. From that moment, justice became a derivative of God’s love being applied to social interaction.
This parable carries an important Lukan theme: the great reversal. Jesus’s life, death, and resurrection upends everything. See Mary’s words (Lk1:46-55), Simeon’s proclamation (Lk 2:25-35), the Lord’s sermon on the plain (Lk 6:20-26), the parable of the rich fool (Lk 12:15-21). Luke carries the theme into the Acts; see his ideal church (Acts 2:42-47). The rich and poor, the hungry and the well-fed, the powerful and the lowly exchange places in God’s Kingdom.
Jesus of Nazareth never faced our Twenty-First Century situation. Our communication devices bring us the bad news of the world daily. It’s overwhelming. The question of who is at our door takes on a new meaning. Many wish to isolate themselves. How often I have heard Christians misquote the proverb: “Charity starts at home.” British clergyman Thomas Fuller said:“Charity starts at home but should not end there.” And novelist Charles Dickens added: “Charity starts at home, but justice begins next door.” How do we cope with a Twenty-First Century front door?