14 The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard all these things, and they ridiculed him. 15 And he said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God.
16 “The Law and the Prophets were until John; since then the good news of the kingdom of God is preached, and everyone forces his way into it. 17 But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one dot of the Law to become void.
18 “Everyone who divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery, and he who marries a woman divorced from her husband commits adultery.
19 “There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. 20 And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, 21 who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores. 22 The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried, 23 and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. 24 And he called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.’ 25 But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish. 26 And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.’ 27 And he said, ‘Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father’s house—28 for I have five brothers—so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.’ 29 But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.’ 30 And he said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ 31 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.’”
(ESV)
STOP! Think a little 🤔 What is God saying to you?
- What is the writer saying?
- How do I apply this to my life?
Jesus had just taught on using worldly wealth for the furtherance of God’s kingdom over selfish gain. The Pharisees showed they were lovers of money because they didn’t respond well. Instead, they ridiculed Jesus. He pointed out that they lived outwardly religious lives justified by their supposed adherence to the law. While they may have looked righteous before man, God knew their hearts. Their love of money blinded them into thinking that their wealth was a sign of God’s blessing for their righteous living, but what man uses to measure status and success is an abomination to God. Jesus went on to explain that the Law and the Prophets (The Old Testament) had been God’s revelation until John the Baptist. Now the good news of the kingdom that the Old Testament pointed to was being preached and they were trying to force their way into it through their justification by the law. But Jesus affirmed that the law would stand and those who insisted on living by it would be held to account down to every last point. James 2:10 makes this point very clear, failing in just one area of the law means you have not kept the law.
Jesus pointed out their failure to keep the law in the area of divorce. God’s ideal for marriage was laid out in the beginning, one man with one woman for life (Gen 2:24). Some of the Pharisees took a loose view of divorce. They taught that a man should not commit adultery, but if he wanted another woman, he could divorce his wife and marry the other woman so that adultery didn’t take place. This is an example of justifying yourself before man but being guilty before God.
Then Jesus told a story about a rich man who had an abundance. At his gate was a poor man named Lazarus who was covered in sores. He was so hungry he desired to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. He had no shelter because the dogs came and licked his sores. Lazarus died and was taken to be with Abraham. The rich man also died but he ended up in torment in Hades. While in torment he saw Abraham with Lazarus at his side and he asked Abraham to show him mercy from the anguish he experienced in the flames by sending Lazarus to dip his finger in water to cool his tongue. In this story, we don’t get a complete picture of heaven and hell but we do see physical and real anguish as well as a chasm that cannot be crossed. Not being able to obtain any personal relief, the rich man thinks of his family. He asks Abraham to send Lazarus back to warn his brothers so they can escape his terrible fate. Abraham replied that his brothers had Moses and the Prophets (The Old Testament scriptures) that provide a clear warning. The rich man insisted that if they were warned by someone who returned from the dead they would repent. Abraham was clear, if they did not listen to the warnings of Scripture, they would not change their mind if someone rose from the dead. The Pharisees were like that rich man. They were concerned about personal wealth and showed very little regard for the poor (or tax collectors or sinners). They had all the warnings of the Old Testament, which they studied, and yet they did not obey its teachings. Jesus, the very One who spoke to them would die at their hand and rise again from the dead and they still wouldn’t believe.
While these words were aimed squarely at the unbelieving Pharisees, we can still use them to ponder our own approach to God’s word. Are you concerned about living a life that “is exalted among men”? Take a moment to consider if your measure for success might be considered “an abomination in the sight of God.” Then consider your obedience to God’s word. Are you quick to obey the teachings of the Bible or are you looking for loopholes to excuse your actions?
Major Stories of the Bible Reading Plan
Time and Wealth: Ecclesiastes 3-4