κήρυξον τὸν λόγον

Hallelujah! He is Risen! ... The word for our meditation today comes from our Gospel reading, which is well known as the parable of the rich man and Lazarus. We need to hear this one again.  [Jesus said:] Now a certain man was rich and was clothing himself in purple and fine linen, and he was celebrating himself brilliantly every day. And a certain poor man named Lazarus had been cast aside toward his gate afflicted with skin abscesses and an overwhelming desire to be fed from what fell from the table of the rich man. But even the dogs came and licked his abscesses . And it came to pass: The poor man died and was carried away by the angels into Abraham’s [embrace], and the rich man also died and was buried. And in hades, having lifted his eyes, existing in torment, [the rich man] saw Abraham from afar and Lazarus in [Abraham’s embrace]. And he, having cried out, said: Father Abraham, have mercy on me and send Lazarus in order that he might dip the tip of his finger in water and coo...

And (the rich man) said, ‘I ask you, therefore, father, that you might send (Lazarus) into my father’s house, for I have five brothers, so that he may witness to them, and they won’t have to come into this place of torment.’  Then Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the prophets. Let them hear them.’  But (the rich man) said, ‘No! Father Abraham! But if someone from the dead should journey to them, they might repent.’ (vv 27-30).  They don’t need to hear Moses and the prophets!  That was the rich man’s argument in our Gospel reading. In other words, We don’t need to be reminded of our history . We don’t need the Law. We don’t need to be reminded we are selfish sinners. We don’t need any promises. We don’t need real repentance. We don’t even need God. This poor rich man didn’t even think he needed the forgiveness of sins as he burned in the fire!  Why do so many of us think we don’t need to hear Moses and the prophets?  Why do so many of us think we don’t ne...

Then [Abraham] said to [the rich man], If they do not hear of Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if one should rise from the dead (v 31). 4. I heard you all confess that you believe in the resurrection of the body and life everlasting. But do you believe in hell? I need to ask you this question today because there are too many people who call themselves Christians who don’t believe in hell, or Hades. They don’t believe God will consign those who refuse to listen to Moses and the Prophets to burn in the unquenchable fire he prepared first for the devil and his minions. They don’t believe in sin, and they don’t believe that unrepentant sinners will suffer punishment forever too.  Far more people today believe in heaven than believe in hell. Go figure. More people are looking for a positive experience in church. More people want to hear an inspiring message that teaches them a good word about good living, that teaches them how to be better Christians. To be sure we...

Preached to the saints at Grace Lutheran Church in Marble, MN and Mount Olive Lutheran Church in Bovey, MN on June 6, 2021. There was a rich man, and he clothed himself in purple and fine linen, celebrating each day splendidly. And a poor man named Lazarus was left fallen against his gate, being covered with sores; and he longed to be satisfied from what was falling from the rich man’s table, and even the dogs came to lick his sores (Luke 16:19-21). The lesson Jesus presents to us today is a difficult one. On first glance, it seems that Jesus is saying that those who are rich are on the broad path to perdition because they are rich; whereas poverty is somehow a certainty of eternal bliss to come at Abraham’s side. Let’s put those two assumptions to rest right away. Your earthly station in life is not an indication of your eternal welfare. The rich and well to do in this life are not predestined to condemnation - Abraham was very wealthy, and it was to his side where the poor man...