Lazarus Begging from the Rich Man - Luke 16:21

The beloved physician Luke wrote how Jesus said, “There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day. And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, ...”, and in chapter sixteen and verse twenty-one of his book Luke wrote how Jesus said Lazarus was, “desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table” where we read:

And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table:

moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.

The verse reads, “And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table:” Luke began with the words, “and desiring to be fed” or “and wanting, craving and coveting to be physically filled and satisfied” “with the crumbs” which means “with a little bit of food or morsels” “which fell from the rich man's table” or “that were cast or thrown down separate and apart from the wealthy man's table upon which food is placed”. Luke shared how Jesus revealed how the “poor man” “named Lazarus” wanted to be “fed” with only the “small pieces of food or morsels” from the “rich man's table”.

The verse goes on to say, “moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.” Luke continued with the words, “moreover the dogs” or “nevertheless, notwithstanding and moreover the hounds within the city” “came and licked” which means “arose and appeared before the beggar and licked with their tongues” “his sores” or “Lazarus' ulcerated sores”. Luke shared how Jesus described “dogs”, which were usually “wild dogs that roamed the city”, approached the “beggar named Lazarus” and would “lick” his “ulcerated sores” with their tongues.

When we consider Luke's words in this verse, we learn about the horrific conditions of “Lazarus'” life. While the “rich man” “fared sumptuously every day”, Lazarus “begged” for tiny morsels of food while wild dogs “licked his sores”. God is aware of those who are hungry and hurting in this world, and because He sent Jesus to “die” on the cross for every person, those who do not “fare sumptuously” may receive the gift of His “eternal salvation”. Regardless of the wealthy or poor condition of a person, they may become “rich” by submitting their lives to Jesus and allowing Him to elevate them to a place they have never experienced before.

Next time Luke shares how Jesus said, “the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom” so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".