All that’s necessary to get to the bosom of Abraham is to follow the law of Moses and the guidance of the prophets. But note that the modern evangelical formula for hell-avoidance is missing! In this parable, you don’t have to “accept Jesus as your personal Lord and savior”. Progressive Christians might be taken aback by the vivid imagery of hell (its Greek version, called Hades) in this passage. The prophetic tradition has always exhorted the rich to attend and respond to the plight of the poor. A similar story circulated in ancient Egypt. Jesus’ parable was old when he uttered it. His words ring as true today as they did in 1955 when he delivered them in a sermon. I don’t think I can improve on MLK’s commentary. His sin was his refusal to use his wealth to bridge the gulf between the extremes of superfluous, inordinate wealth and abject, deadening poverty.”
Dives’ sin was not his wealth his wealth was his opportunity. Dives’ sin was not that he was cruel to Lazarus, but that he refused to bridge the gap of misfortune that existed between them. Dives is the American capitalist who never seeks to bridge the economic gulf between himself and the laborer, because he feels that it is natural for some to live in inordinate luxury while others live in abject poverty. Dives is the Indian Brahman who refuses to bridge the gulf between himself and his brother, because he feels that the gulf which is set forth by the caste system is a final principle of the universe.
“Dives is the white man who refuses to cross the gulf of segregation and lift his Negro brother to the position of first-class citizenship, because he thinks segregation is a part of the fixed structure of the universe. Here is Martin Luther King’s interpretation of the story: At death, Dives is sent to Hades (the Greek version of hell) and Lazarus is directly delivered into the bosom of Abraham. Lazarus begs for crumbs from Dives’ table.
In the old Vulgate edition of the Bible, the rich man in Jesus’ parable in Luke 16: 19-31 is called “Dives”. As a progressive Christian, how should one read and understand the story about Lazarus and the rich man?
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