and longing to be fed with the crumbs that fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.and desiring to be fed with the crumbs that fell from the rich man’s table. Yes, even the dogs came and licked his sores.And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.and desiring to be fed with the crumbs that fell from the rich man’s table; yea, even the dogs came and licked his sores.
3 sermons cite this verse
The first point I want to make is the poor man did not go to heaven because he was poor. The rich man did not go to hell because he was rich. That is not what the scripture teaches. If anybody goes to heaven, they do not go because of anything they bring to the picture. The reason the poor man went to heaven is because the poor man loved God, served God the best he could with what he had. He was a man who lived for God. And I think there's a hidden message in this. just because you live for God does not mean that your life will all go good. I think that if this man went to heaven, he obeyed God and lived for God the best that he could, which means he was not a bum that's living in the street like somebody who doesn't try. He knew to work. He knew the teachings of the Scripture. He knew to go provide for himself. …
I. 1. And, First, I will endeavour, with God’s assistance, to explain this history. “There was a certain rich man;” and, doubtless, on that very account, highly esteemed among men, — “who was clothed in purple and fine linen;” and, consequently, esteemed the more highly, both as appearing suitably to his fortune, and as an encourager of trade; — “and fared sumptuously every day.” Here was another reason for his being highly esteemed, — his hospitality and generosity, — both by those who frequently sat at his table, and the tradesmen that furnished it. 2. “And there was a certain beggar;” one in the lowest line of human infamy; “named Lazarus,” according to the Greek termination; in Hebrew, Eleazer. From his name we may gather, that he was of no mean family, although this branch of it was, at present, so reduced. It is probable he was well known in the city; and it was no scandal to him to be named. — “Who was laid at his gate;” although no pleasing spectacle; so that one might wonder he was suffered to lie there; — “full of sores;” of running ulcers; — “and desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table.” So the complicated affliction of poverty, pain, and want of bread, lay upon him at once! But it does not appear that any creature took the least notice of the despicable wretch! Only “the dogs came and licked his sores:” All the comfort which this world afforded him! …
This is also to be accounted for by the fact that God puts a mysterious honor upon His faithful servants. The painters place halos about the heads of the Bible saints—there were no such crowns of light upon them, literally, and yet within the legend there slumbers a great truth. He who leads an upright, holy, gracious life has a power about him which impresses the beholder—his presence in an ungodly company has an influence on wicked men like that of Zephon, of whom Milton sings in Paradise Lost To the great fallen angel his presence was a rebuke. God hedges the good with a dignity which men feel even when they are not conscious of it. It was so in the case before us. Moses was made to be as a god unto Pharaoh. Pharaoh had said, "Get you unto your burdens," addressing Moses and Aaron as if they were slaves! But now he sends for them and entreats their prayers on his behalf! This was like the case of Joseph. His brothers hated him and sold him for a slave—but how different the scene when they bowed before him and trembled as he said, "I am Joseph!" The archers had shot at him and wounded him, but still his bow abode in strength! Remember, too, Jeremiah, whom Zedekiah, the king, treated with great indignity till the Babylonians had surrounded the city—and then he sent to him and said, "Enquire, I pray you, of the Lord for us." Our Lord describes an instance still more remarkable. It belongs to the next world, but the same principles rule in all worlds. A poor saint was laid at a rich man's door, full of sores. He begged for the crumbs that fell from the rich man's table, "moreover, the dogs came and licked his sores." The rich man, clothed with purple and fine linen, took small note of this saint of God. But what a change happened on a day when the beggar died and was carried by angels into Abraham's bosom—and the rich man also died and was buried! In Hell the rich man lifted up his eyes, and Lazarus had honor before him, for he begged that Lazarus might be sent to cool his burning tongue with the tip of his finger dipped in water. They had changed places, for God had crowned His poor servant with glory and honor! The halo was around the head of Lazarus most assuredly. …