Why does Luke 16:20 emphasize the beggar's name but not the rich man's? Canonical Text “Now a certain beggar named Lazarus was laid at his gate, covered with sores” (Luke 16:20). Immediate Literary Context Luke places this account after a warning that “You cannot serve both God and money” (16:13) and just before the Pharisees, “who were lovers of money,” ridicule Jesus (16:14). The contrast between “a certain rich man” (16:19) and “a certain beggar named Lazarus” (16:20) functions as an illustration of that warning. Significance of Naming in Scripture 1. To be named is to be known by God (Isaiah 43:1; Exodus 33:17). 2. Names often carry theological meaning: “Lazarus” is the Greek form of the Hebrew “Eleazar,” meaning “God is my help.” 3. Scripture repeatedly links divine remembrance with naming (Malachi 3:16–17; Revelation 3:5). By giving the poor man a covenant name, Jesus identifies him as one remembered by God. The rich man’s anonymity underscores his lack of covenant standing despite earthly prominence. Eschatological Reversal Luke’s Gospel highlights reversals: the exalted humbled, the humble exalted (1:52–53; 6:20–26). Naming Lazarus and omitting the rich man’s name enacts that reversal: the forgotten of earth becomes memorable in heaven; the celebrated of earth becomes nameless in eternity. Covenant Identity and the Book of Life Scripture depicts the redeemed as having their names written in heaven (Luke 10:20; Philippians 4:3). By giving Lazarus a name, Jesus signals his place in that heavenly registry. The rich man, though socially famous, is absent from that roll; hence no name is recorded. Moral and Pastoral Emphasis Jesus aims not at social commentary alone but at the heart issue of trust. The rich man’s confidence rested in wealth (cf. Proverbs 11:28). Lazarus, whose very name confesses reliance on God, embodies dependence on divine mercy. The named beggar thus illustrates faith; the unnamed rich man illustrates self-sufficiency and spiritual bankruptcy. Didactic Contrast: Particular vs. Generic The rich man is introduced only as “a certain rich man,” a stock figure representing anyone enslaved to wealth. Lazarus is individualized, preventing readers from dismissing him as a mere statistic. The device forces personal engagement: “Which side am I on?” Historical vs. Parabolic Debate Because no other parable uses a personal name, many early Christian writers (e.g., Irenaeus, Tertullian) treated this narrative as reporting an actual event. Whether historical or parabolic, the naming remains purposeful: it guarantees realism and underscores that eternal destinies involve real persons, not abstractions. Intertextual Echoes • “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God” (Luke 6:20). • “The LORD hears the needy and does not despise His captive people” (Psalm 69:33). • “He who oppresses the poor reproaches his Maker” (Proverbs 14:31). These passages resound behind the choice to dignify the poor man with a name. Practical Application • Honor those the world ignores; God knows their names. • Guard against finding identity in possessions; namelessness before God is the ultimate poverty. • Live so that your name, like Lazarus’s, testifies, “God is my help.” Summary Lazarus is named and the rich man is not because divine recognition, not social status, determines eternal destiny. The naming affirms covenant hope, fulfills Luke’s motif of reversal, aligns with Old Testament theology of remembrance, and reinforces Jesus’ warning that wealth without mercy leads to anonymity before God. |
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