Luke 16:19-31

This week we’ve got a difficult story from Jesus. But it’s not difficult because it’s unclear. Rather, what makes it so difficult is how strikingly clear it is. There are lots of little details in this story that could distract us and Jesus doesn’t want everything in the story to be taken 100% literally. But there are some obvious big takeaways. The most unsettling one is that there will be a divide, an uncrossable chasm in the end between the righteous and the wicked, between heaven and hell. And there will be no “switching sides,” no “second chances” after death and after someone’s time of grace in this world runs out. Jesus’ story of the rich man and poor Lazarus is a warning, if nothing else. A warning about where one puts their confidence. Is our confidence in wealth or the Word?