Have you cast off the glamorous outer shell that the world envies, and clothed yourself instead in the garments of grace and conduct that are blameless before God?

 

Have you cast off the glamorous outer shell that the world envies, and clothed yourself instead in the garments of grace and conduct that are blameless before God?

 

 

 

 

“There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day.  At his gate lay 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 was carried by the angels 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.’” (Luke 16:19-31).

 

 

 

(1)      As I meditate today on the passage from Luke 16:19–31—specifically the "Parable of the Rich Man and the Beggar Lazarus" as told by Jesus—I intend to examine the "rich man" and "Lazarus the beggar" separately.  By contrasting their lives on this earth with their eternal existence in the afterlife, I seek to discern the lessons this passage offers us.

 

(a)    Since attempting to meditate on this entire passage all at once would result in an excessively long reflection, I have decided to focus solely on the "rich man's" life on this earth today, seeking to draw lessons from that specific aspect:

 

(i)      The Bible states: "There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and  lived in luxury every day" (Lk. 16:18).

 

·         In this context, the phrase describing the "rich man" as being "dressed in purple" [“ἐνεδιδύσκετο πορφύραν” (‘enedidysketo porphyran’)]—as found in the original Greek text—serves as a vivid visual expression of the extreme wealth and high-ranking authority he enjoyed within the world.  The following details outline the specific word meanings and grammatical features involved (Internet):

 

1.    Word Meanings

 

‘Porphyran’ (πορφύραν): This term signifies "purple wool" or "purple garments."  In the ancient world, purple dye was an incredibly rare and expensive commodity; it took thousands of murex snails (a type of shellfish found in the Mediterranean) to yield a mere one gram of dye.  Consequently, purple clothing was the ultimate luxury item—something worn exclusively by royalty, emperors, or individuals of unimaginable wealth.

‘Enedidysketo’ (ἐνεδιδύσκετο): This is the imperfect passive (or middle) form of the verb ‘endyo’ (ἐνδύω), which means "to put on" or "to wear."

 

2.    Grammatical Significance (The Importance of the Imperfect Tense)

 

The use of the Greek grammatical form known as the "imperfect tense" is of great significance here.  In Greek, the imperfect tense indicates that an action in the past occurred "repeatedly, continuously, or habitually."

 

In other words, this rich man did not merely dress in purple garments once in a while on a special occasion.  It signifies that he lived his life—day after day, constantly, and habitually—clad in the finest purple attire.  This usage creates a perfect parallel with the phrase that immediately follows: "feasting sumptuously every day."

 

In summary:

This Greek expression exposes the fact that the rich man indulged in the luxuries reserved for the highest social class of his time, and that such indulgence constituted his ordinary daily routine (his habit).  Through this portrayal, the Bible creates a dramatic contrast between the wretched misery of Lazarus—the beggar who lay naked and starving outside the rich man's gate—and the opulence of the rich man.

 

-        As I meditated on the purple garments worn by this rich man, I was reminded of the "coat of many colors" that the patriarch Jacob—who held a special love for his wife Rachel—had given to her son, Joseph.

 

a.       Joseph’s Garment vs. the Rich Man’s Garment: A Difference in Terminology

 

Joseph’s Garment (The Coat of Many Colors): The garment that Jacob gave to Joseph in Genesis 37 is referred to in Hebrew as ‘ketonet passim’ (כְּתֹנֶת פַּסִּים).  While the Revised Korean Version translates this as a "coat of many colors," its original linguistic meaning denotes a "splendid and precious garment featuring long sleeves that extended down to the ankles" (the Greek Septuagint translates this as ‘chitona poikilon’—meaning a garment of various colors).

 

The Rich Man’s Garment (Purple Robe): The garment worn by the rich man in the Gospel of Luke is a "purple robe" (‘porphyran’)—dyed with Mediterranean pigments—which symbolizes royalty and high social status.

 

Although the terminology differs, these two garments share a perfect thematic resonance: both represent "garments of the highest honor and unique status—garments that, in their respective eras, were not accessible to just anyone."

 

b.       The Spiritual Contrast Between These Two "Special Garments"

 

By comparing the significance of the splendid garments worn by these two figures, we can glean a profound spiritual lesson.

 

Joseph’s Garment: A Garment of "Mission and Refinement"

 

Joseph’s coat of many colors was a garment of "love and distinction" bestowed upon him by his father.  However, because of this very garment, Joseph incurred the hatred of his brothers and endured great suffering—having his coat torn from him and being cast into a pit.  In essence, Joseph’s garment was not intended for worldly pleasure; rather, it marked the starting point of a divine mission—a mission with which God had clothed him—to eventually bring salvation to the family of Israel.

 

The Rich Man’s Garment: A Garment of "Greed and Alienation"

 

In contrast, the purple robe worn by the rich man in Luke’s Gospel was not a garment of divine mission; rather, it was a garment of greed that he had appropriated for himself solely to flaunt his own wealth and power.  Clad in this robe, he "feasted sumptuously every day"; yet, he utterly turned a blind eye to the responsibility incumbent upon one of such privileged status—the duty to care for his neighbors, specifically Lazarus, who lay right at his doorstep.  Ultimately, that purple robe became nothing more than a hollow shell, powerless to save him from the flames of hell.

 

Conclusion for Reflection: The Garment We Must Wear

 

Like Joseph, those who wear the special garment bestowed upon them by their Father—a garment of grace and calling—will ultimately become channels of salvation that bring life to many, even if that garment is torn amidst the trials of suffering.  Conversely, a life spent adorning oneself with purple robes—much like the rich man—and living solely for one’s own gratification day after day leads only to a miserable ruin.

 

·         Here in Luke 16:19, the “fine linen” worn by the rich man [βύσσον (bysson)] refers to fine linen cloth, the most luxurious textile of that time.  If the “purple garment” he wore outwardly displayed royal-like authority and status, the “fine linen” worn underneath demonstrated how extravagantly and lavishly he lived, even down to the clothing that touched his skin (Internet):

 

1.       Meaning and Characteristics of the Word

 

Finest Egyptian Linen: The term “fine linen” [βύσσον (bysson)] refers to cloth woven from exceptionally fine, high-quality linen fibers produced in places such as Egypt.

 

A Value Beyond Monetary Calculation: At that time, this fabric was considered so precious that it could be exchanged weight for weight with gold.  The threads were so delicate that the fabric appeared to shimmer, and its texture was as soft and light as silk.

 

The Finest Undergarment and Daily Clothing: The rich man wore this luxurious fine linen as the garment directly touching his skin—either as an undergarment or inner robe—and then draped the splendid purple garment over it.

 

2.       Spiritual Significance in the Biblical Context

 

An Exposure of Religious Leaders’ Hypocrisy: In the Old Testament, this fine linen was originally the sacred fabric used to make the garments of the high priest.  In Jesus’ day, the Pharisees and Sadducees (the priestly class) wore such garments as symbols of spiritual purity and holiness.  Through this parable, Jesus exposes their hypocrisy: outwardly clothed in holy garments while inwardly filled with greed and indifferent to the needs of their neighbors.

 

A Stark Contrast with Lazarus: While the rich man wrapped himself in fine linen worth its weight in gold, Lazarus lay at his gate with no proper clothing, his diseased and ulcerated skin fully exposed.  The softness of the rich man's fine linen stands in dramatic contrast to the festering wounds of Lazarus.

 

Connection to the Earlier Meditation on Joseph

 

Interestingly, when Joseph became governor of Egypt, Pharaoh clothed him with this very same “bysson” (fine linen)—the term used in the Septuagint version of Genesis 41:42.  Joseph’s bysson was a garment of glory and authority given by God to one who had endured suffering.vvThe rich man's bysson, however, was a garment of greed, used solely for self-display and self-indulgence.

 

-          As I meditated on this bysson (fine linen), I was also reminded that Joseph of Arimathea wrapped Jesus’ body in this very same fine linen and laid Him in the tomb (Mt. 27:59).  Furthermore, I reflected on Revelation 19:8: “It was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure—for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints.”

a.    The Redemptive-Historical Background: The Garment of Grace That God Provides

 

Throughout the entire redemptive history of Scripture—from the Old Testament to the New Testament—bysson consistently symbolizes the glory and holiness that God bestows upon those whom He chooses.

 

The Holy Garments of the High Priest: In the Old Testament, priests were required to wear fine linen garments when ministering before God in the sanctuary (Exod. 28:39).  These garments symbolized being set apart for God, covering human sinfulness and sweat (human effort) so that one might approach God's holiness.

 

The Garment of Salvation That Covers Sin: When Jesus Christ died on the cross, Joseph of Arimathea wrapped His body in fine linen and laid Him in the tomb (Mt. 27:59).  Jesus being wrapped in fine linen in death symbolizes the redemptive grace through which we are clothed with the righteousness of Christ.

 

b.    The Connection in Revelation: Fine Linen as “The Righteous Deeds of the Saints”.  This fine linen appears again in its most beautiful form in Revelation 19, the climax of Scripture.  When the marriage supper of the Lamb (Jesus Christ) arrives, the Church, His bride, is described as wearing this garment: “It was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure—for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints” (Rev. 19:8).

 

An important spiritual principle is revealed here.  The fine linen in Revelation is not a garment that believers purchased for themselves.  Rather, it is a garment “granted” to them—a gift of grace freely given to those who have been saved by the blood of Jesus Christ. 

 

At the same time, this garment is manifested through the “righteous deeds” (dikaiōmata) of God's people—the visible fruit of a righteous life.  In other words, those who have been saved by grace will inevitably leave behind evidence of loving their neighbors and doing the will of God during their earthly lives.

 

c.    The Spiritual Contrast with the Rich Man in Luke: False Garments and True Garments

 

When we return to the rich man of Luke 16 with this redemptive-historical perspective, it becomes even clearer why he ended up in hell.

 

                       A Rich Man Who Was Only a Priest in Appearance: The rich man wore the finest bysson (fine linen) every day.  He likely considered himself a person blessed by God and naturally worthy of salvation—a holy Jew belonging to God's covenant people.

 

                       A Dead Faith Without Righteous Deeds: Yet his linen garments were nothing more than an empty shell.  They lacked the “righteous deeds of the saints” spoken of in Revelation.  Had he truly worn the spiritual fine linen of God's people, he would have demonstrated righteous action by caring for Lazarus at his gate.  Instead, he used the wealth and status God had entrusted to him solely for self-glorification and pleasure.

 

           Stripped Naked at the End: At the moment of death, the earthly bysson in which he had taken pride was torn away forever.  Spiritually naked, he found himself suffering in the flames of Hades.  Meanwhile, Lazarus, who had been naked and covered with sores on earth, was clothed in heavenly glory and welcomed into Abraham's bosom.

 

Summary: The rich man's purple garment and fine linen symbolize human self-righteousness and greed that proclaim: “I am complete, holy, and lacking nothing.”  In contrast, Joseph's garment and the fine linen of Revelation symbolize the true garments of glory given to those who follow God's will even through suffering.

 

Ultimately, this parable confronts us today with a solemn question: “Are you presently clothed in the purple garments of greed and self-exaltation, or are you clothed in the righteous deeds of the saints—the true fine linen that gives life to and cares for others?” (Internet)

 

·         Here in Luke 16:19, the Bible says that the rich man “lived in luxury every day.” In Greek, the phrase is “εὐφραινόμενος καθ’ ἡμέραν λαμπρῶς” (‘euphrainomenos kath’ hēmeran lamprōs’).  This expression vividly exposes the depth of the pleasure and the lifestyle that this rich man enjoyed in the world.  When we examine the meaning of each word and its grammatical features, we can better understand why Jesus deliberately chose these words and the profound message He intended to convey (Internet).

 

1.       Detailed Meaning of Each Word

 

Euphrainomenos (εὐφραινόμενος)

 

This is the present participle form of the verb euphrainō (εὐφραίνω), which means “to rejoice,” “to be merry,” “to celebrate,” or “to feast.”

 

This word goes beyond merely feeling happy inwardly.  It refers to outward expressions of joy—eating and drinking lavishly, celebrating extravagantly, and enjoying continual feasting.

 

Because it is a present participle, Greek grammar indicates that this feasting and rejoicing was not occasional but continuous and ongoing.

 

Kath’ Hēmeran (καθ’ ἡμέραν)

 

This phrase means “every day” or “day after day.”

Most people celebrate only a few times a year or on special occasions such as Sabbaths and festivals.  For this rich man, however, every one of the 365 days of the year was a feast day.  His entire life was saturated with luxury and pleasure.

 

Lamprōs (λαμπρῶς)

 

This adverb means “splendidly,” “magnificently,” “brilliantly,” or “gloriously.”  It comes from a word associated with light or brightness.

 

The term paints a vivid picture of feasts that were not modest gatherings but dazzling, extravagant banquets that would leave onlookers astonished.

 

2.       Spiritual Meaning and Criticism within the Context

 

Connection with the “Rich Fool” in Luke 12

 

The verb euphrainō (“to rejoice” or “to make merry”) also appears in Luke 12 in the parable of the Rich Fool.  After storing up abundant grain, the rich fool says to himself: “Take life easy; eat, drink, and be merry (εὐφραίνου).”  Jesus consistently used this word to expose the folly of those who live only for their own comfort, pleasure, and self-indulgence.

 

Complete Self-Centeredness and Spiritual Blindness

 

The rich man was “feasting splendidly every day.”  The aroma of roasted meat and the sounds of music that flowed from his banquets every day would likely have been a source of suffering for Lazarus lying outside the gate.  The rich man undoubtedly saw Lazarus whenever he entered or exited his estate.  Yet he was so blinded by his own pleasures that he completely ignored the suffering neighbor before his eyes.  Scripture thus exposes him as a man suffering from spiritual blindness, unable—or unwilling—to see the needy person right in front of him.

 

Summary:

This Greek expression means that the rich man lived every single day, without interruption, immersed in dazzling luxury and extravagant celebration.

 

If the purple robe and fine linen revealed his outward appearance and social status, this phrase reveals his inner way of life—one wholly consumed with self-gratification and pleasure.

 

Rather than using the wealth God entrusted to him to shine light (lamprōs) into the lives of others, he spent his entire life making only himself shine and rejoice (Internet).

 

(b)    As I reflected today only on the rich man's life on earth, I was reminded of Hans Christian Andersen’s famous fairy tale, “The Emperor’s New Clothes.”  When I shared this thought with an AI, it responded as follows (Internet):

 

“This is a remarkably insightful observation. Andersen’s The Emperor’s New Clothes becomes a spiritual illustration that perfectly parallels the rich man in Luke 16.

 

When we compare the protagonists of the two stories, the profound spiritual significance of this connection becomes strikingly clear.

 

1.       Slaves to Visual Splendor and Obsession with Clothing

 

The Emperor: The emperor desired the most magnificent and expensive garments in the world to display his authority and uniqueness.

 

The Rich Man in Scripture: The rich man wrapped himself in the finest purple garments (porphyra) and fine linen (bysson) and held dazzling feasts every day.

 

Their Common Trait: Both men devoted their lives not to substance—character or the soul—but to outward appearance, superficiality, and visual vanity.

 

2.       A False Reality Produced by Blindness: The Swindlers’ Clothes and the Garments of Greed

 

In Andersen’s story, the emperor is deceived by swindlers into believing that he is wearing magnificent clothes that do not actually exist.

 

Likewise, the rich man in Scripture trusted that his purple robes and fine linen would somehow secure his future.  He mistakenly believed that his wealth proved he was especially blessed by God and therefore spiritually secure.  Blinded by luxury and pleasure, he failed to see both Lazarus’ suffering and the fact that his own soul was dying.  He was spiritually blind to reality.

 

3.       Death: The Child’s Cry That Exposes the Truth

 

The climax of Andersen’s story occurs when a child cries out: “The emperor has no clothes!”  In that instant, all the emperor’s pretensions collapse.

 

For the rich man, that moment came at death.

 

The instant he entered Hades, the dazzling purple garments and fine linen that had surrounded him vanished completely.  Not a single piece remained.

 

He was exposed as a pitiful and naked spiritual beggar, pleading for a drop of water upon his tongue while suffering in the flames.  Though he had spent his entire life in luxury, before God he stood utterly unclothed.

 

Conclusion of the Meditation: The True Garment We Must Seek

 

Just as the emperor’s officials were too afraid to tell him the truth, the rich man’s five brothers and banquet guests likely surrounded him with flattering words while helping to conceal reality from him.

As this meditation suggests, the rich man appeared to be a magnificent emperor who enjoyed luxury every day, yet in truth he was the most pitiable naked man of all.  This reflection forces us to ask: “Have we removed the glamorous outer garments that the world envies and put on the garments of grace and righteous deeds that are not shameful before God?” (Internet).

 

(i)       This leads us to examine ourselves.  Could it be that we have failed to put on the true fine linen—the righteous deeds of the saints that bring life and care to our neighbors—and instead clothed ourselves in the purple garments of greed that display our status and outward appearance?  Could it be that, beneath a beautiful exterior, our lives are filled only with self-satisfaction and pleasure, making us the most pitiable kind of Christian in God's sight—a “naked Christian”?

 

·         The “Naked Christian” and the Church of Laodicea: Remarkably, this picture of the “naked Christian” corresponds exactly with the rebuke that Jesus gave to the church in Laodicea in the final book of the Bible.

 

a.       Jesus’ Warning to the Church in Laodicea

 

The church of Laodicea in Revelation 3 was known for its wealth, prosperity, and self-confidence.  They said: “I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing” (Rev. 3:17a).

 

Clothed in the purple garments of economic success, impressive buildings, and social prestige, they believed they lacked nothing.  But Jesus exposed their true spiritual condition: “You do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked” (Rev. 3:17b).

 

Like the rich man in Luke 16 and the emperor in Andersen’s story, they were blind to the fact that they were spiritually naked.

 

b.       Take Off the False Purple Garments and Buy the True White Garments

 

Jesus then gives them the remedy: “I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see” (Rev. 3:18).

 

Here, the white garments Jesus speaks of are precisely the “bright and pure fine linen” discussed earlier—the righteous deeds of the saints. 

 

We must tear off the purple garments of greed that measure blessing by worldly success, social standing, and personal comfort.  Instead, we must put on the fine linen of grace granted by Christ and begin living lives marked by righteous deeds—reaching out to the suffering neighbor lying at our gate.  This is the Lord’s earnest call.

 

Concluding Reflection:

Today we may proudly display the outward appearance and status of being Christians—the purple garments.  Yet our actual way of life may still be filled with self-gratification and pleasure while completely ignoring the Lazaruses around us.

 

Only by honestly facing our true spiritual condition through the eyes of Christ, denying ourselves daily, and clothing ourselves with the true fine linen that brings life and compassion to others can we avoid becoming spiritually naked.  According to this meditation, that is the only path by which we will not be found naked before God (Internet).