Unbelievable! We simply must do something about that troublemaker – soon! If he is not stopped, all of the people are going to rebel. It has been getting steadily worse – the crowds, the chaos, and the criticism. But today. . . today it is personal. I have no doubt that he was targeting me. He looked directly at me, and then he spoke that cursed name – Lazarus. I am sure he knew full well that Lazarus is the name is that filthy beggar that lies outside my gate – not that I haven’t tried to fix that situation. I have threatened those who bring him out each day to no avail. I have prohibited all members of my household and all of my field workers, from giving him anything – but many people travel past my gate on their daily trips to the synagogue. There are always those fools who toss him a few coins. I even released dogs upon him, but they were useless; and the next day, there he was again.
The dogs – that little part of his story really upset me. Did he include the comment about the dogs just to trouble my mind?
Who is he that I should be mindful of him? I refuse to make apologies for my lifestyle. I do have a very nice home, and my land is abundantly fruitful. I may be among the wealthiest men in the area, but I have worked very hard for my money, and I have invested it wisely. Shouldn’t a man enjoy the fruit of his own labors? In truth, I honor God by taking pleasure in his blessings! It would show lack of gratitude to feel guilty or ashamed of what he has so graciously given to me. And I am not ungrateful, or greedy. I make generous gifts every time I go to the temple – anyone can attest to that. I have earned the right to a little self-indulgence. I do not need to justify myself before sinners and dogs.
I am especially proud that I have kept my holiness and righteousness when the world around me is so corrupt. I make time for prayer every day. I am an honest man, careful about those with whom I conduct business. I have even kept a respectable distance from those who labor in my fields. I pay my laborers what I must, but I owe that worthless beggar nothing. He must have committed some grave sins to invite that level of punishment upon himself! Who am I to interfere with God’s wrath? If his deeds have brought him to this place in life, then let him pay the price for it! I have devoted myself to holiness and scriptures, and God has blessed me for it! It is only the jealous that criticize me.
Tax collectors, harlots, drunkards, and the unclean masses – even a few gentiles! That is who he chooses to surround himself with! Not only that, but when those who are passionate about the pursuit of holiness and the scriptures come to observe him, he attacks them with vile, hateful words! The simple are so easily led astray. Sure, he has some kind of power, but that does not mean he is a man of God – certainly not the “Messiah”, as some would like to believe. Even Satan and his demons have power, and that is most likely the well this man draws from. Is it not evidence enough that it is the simple who follow him, and the educated who reject him? The true Messiah will surround himself with righteous people, not fight against them. He will reward the holy, not welcome the sinful. Above all, he will be a man of the law!
That “teacher” is nothing more than another homeless beggar who can do a few tricks and say what the people want to here! Worse yet, he is a healthy man – strong and fit – who is fully capable of earning an honest living. Instead, he chooses the life of a vagrant, living off the kindness of others, and mocking those of us who have made better choices in life.
Today was worse than mockery. His little story, not so subtly directed at me, was much more than a slap in the face. He actually implied that upon his death, that beggar would be the one to be “carried by angels to Abraham’s side”, but the rich man – I’m sure he looked right at me – would end up in torment, eternally separated from Abraham. He implied that holy deeds and the diligent pursuit of righteousness are meaningless! It was blasphemous! This man demonstrates time and time again that he has no respect for the law of God! And the masses whisper “Messiah”. Fools – all of them!
He should have left the teaching to those who have actually been trained in the scriptures. At the very least, he should have sought out their guidance, and submitted to their wisdom. He should have left the sinners to their sin. Instead, he treats righteous people like they are sinners, and sinners like they are righteous people.
If he would just humble himself a little, and stop portraying himself as somehow closer to “the Father” than the rest of us, maybe there could be some kind of cooperation. No, perhaps at one time there could have been, but no longer. Just like his tax collector friends, he is certainly beyond redemption. What a waste, but he should not have made enemies of righteous people. That choice may cost him his life. There are those who have been seeking a way to eliminate him, and after today, I am in agreement with them. He is a dangerous man.
His little story has made me angry, but it does not worry me. It is obvious that the days of Lazarus the beggar are few in number; and no one will miss him when he is gone – except maybe those who carry him out to my gate each day. I am sure they pocket most of the money given to him by those heading to the synagogue. I have never understood what makes people think they can increase their standing with God by rewarding the sinful. How does that make sense? And giving coins to beggars is such a lazy way of doing “righteous acts” if you choose to call it that. Study the scriptures! Obey the law! Give to the temple treasury! Pray – long and loud! Stay as far away from sin and sinners as possible! This is how you please God! This is why I have no need of concern. I fully expect that my days will be long upon the earth. God’s hand is obviously with me! When I do die, old and full of years, I will be the one who is “carried by angels” – not a filthy beggar, not a tax collector, a harlot, or a drunkard; and certainly not a demon possessed troublemaker who knows how to stir up a crowd. On this, I place my trust!
Luke 16:19-31
The Rich Man and Lazarus
“There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.
“The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried.In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’
“But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’
“He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my family, for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’
“Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’
“‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’
“He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’”
His Way With People 