The Rich Man and Lazarus

by LA UBF   02/13/2016     0 reads

Question

The Rich Man and Lazarus

Luke 16:19-31

Key Verse 25

“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.’”

1. Read verses 19-23. What are the contrasts between the rich man and Lazarus? (19-21) What happened to Lazarus when he died? (22a) What happened to the rich man? (22b-23) What might lead them to two different places? (Rm 2:6-10, Rm 8:18)

2. Read verses 24-26. What did the rich man request to Father Abraham? (24) What was Abraham's response? (25) What does the great chasm between heaven and hell do? (26) What should we do with our lives in order to avoid the rich man’s destiny?

3. Read verses 27-31. What was the rich man’s next request? (27-28) Why did Abraham refuse? (29) What was his reason for his repeated request? (30) Why did Abraham reject his request again? What does this tell us about the importance of listening God’s words? (31, Jn 5:24)

Manuscript

Message

Rich man and Lazarus

Luke 16:19-31

Key Verse 16:25

“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.”

Happy Valentine day! I have one joke for your Valentine day. One day a husband and a wife were walking down the street. In front of them came a beautiful woman. After they passed the beautiful woman the wife asked her husband. What do you think about her? There were three possible answers from her husband. The first one is "she is beautiful". The second one is "She is so ugly". The third one is "What are you talking about it? I didn't see anything." Now which of these three answers is the best for her husband? The best answer is the third one. “Um? What are you talking about. I didn't see anything." Husbands, love your wives as yourself, and as Christ loved her church, and you will be happy husbands.

Now let us think about today’s passage. During my 30 years of life together with msn Isaac, he never demanded anything from me. He was embodiment of God's grace, always encouraging and bearing. But there is one thing he asked me to do several times. That is "to read spiritually good books". In my stubbornness I did not listen. I said in my heart, "well, I am not even reading the Bible much. How can I read other books?" Now these days I am trying to read several books, and I tell you I learn so many things. And I realized that had I listened to msn Isaac I could have repented many of my sins a long time ago, and I could have been freed from them a long time ago.

Now today's passage is also teaching about "listening" and "repentance". When Jesus taught the Pharisees saying “No can serve both God and money” they sneered at him. In their pride they did not listen to Jesus. They rejected his teaching and put it aside as incorrect teaching. But Jesus had mercy on them, and he wanted to help them to repent. How could he help them to repent? That is what we want to learn from today's passage.

My message has two parts. Part I. Lived in luxury everyday. (v.19-26) Part II. Let them listen to Moses and the Prophets (v.27-31)

Part I. Lived in luxury everyday (v.19-26)

Look at verses 19-20.

““There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. 20 At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores 21 and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.”

Here, there are rich man and Lazarus. This Lazarus is different from Lazarus who is the brother of Mary and Martha and whom Jesus raised up from the dead. The rich man was dressed in purple and fine linen. “Purple” could be a color of king’s clothes in those days. The rich man’s whole life style is summarized in one sentence. “He lived in luxury every day.”

At his gate of the rich man there was a beggar named Lazarus. He was brought by someone and laid at his gate. There is possibility that he was crippled man. He was laid there so that he could eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Not only was he poor and possibly crippled but also he was sick. He was covered with soars. His condition was so bad that even dogs came and licked his soars. Even dogs felt so comfortable with the beggar that they did not mind coming to him and licking his soars. And he did not have such strength to drive them away. Indeed his life was not different from dogs. Such was his life. What a miserable life it was especially when it was compared to that of the rich man.

But that was not the end of the story.

Look at verses 22-26.

22 “The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. 24 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.’

25 “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. 26 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.’

Jesus did not talk about in detail how they were judged by God and ended up living in Hades or Abraham’s side.

The rich man went to hell. And he was in agony. Then he saw Abraham and Lazarus far away and called out 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.”

Here Abraham talked to the rich man about ‘his lifetime.” The rich man had his lifetime. But there was another life after that. It was life after death. Of course the rich man might have heard about life after death. But he never thought about it seriously. Many people never think about life after death seriously especially when they are young or can not think about it properly. If I remember correctly, once Confucius, who was arguably known as the wisest man in China, was asked about ‘life after death’. He answered, ‘I even do not know life here on earth. How can I know life after death?”

The Pharisees believed the resurrection of the dead. But they did not think about their life after death seriously.

Many Christians may feel God’s judgment is not personal. It is like the story of other unbelieving people because they believe God’s forgiveness. They may believe God’s forgiveness without repentance. But forgiveness without repentance is called ‘cheap grace’.

The word ‘cheap grace’ was first used by German theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer in his book ‘The cost of discipleship’.  During Hitler’s regime, many German pastors compromised with Hitler to save their lives. But Dietrich Bonhoeffer did not do it. He opposed Hitler’s persecution of the Jews. And Hitler killed him. He became one of the glorious martyrs of Christ.

He described ‘cheap grace’ as “The preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline, and communion without confession. Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ.”

How can we know if someone believes in God’s forgiveness truly? We can know it if we see there is repentance. It is because ‘true grace’ is ‘forgiveness with repentance’.

I am sure the rich man in today’s passage must have heard about Moses and the Prophets. Many places in Moses and the Prophets, which represents old testament, emphasized that the Israelites should care for the poor. For example,

Leviticus 19:10

Do not go over your vineyard a second time or pick up the grapes that have fallen. Leave them for the poor and the foreigner. I am the Lord your God.

Deuteronomy 15:7

If anyone is poor among your fellow Israelites in any of the towns of the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward them.

But the rich man did not repent. He did not do anything for the poor Lazarus although he saw him everyday. Why didn’t he care Lazarus? It was because he was selfish. He might have believed God’s forgiveness through his sacrifice on the altar. But God’s forgiveness he understood was ‘cheap grace’ because there was no repentance on his side. He did not bear fruit of repentance.

Jesus said in Matthew 7:15-20.

15 “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.”

We don’t know the inside of false teachers. But we can see their fruit. By their fruit, we can recognize them as false teachers. We don’t know if a tree is good or bad. But we can know it by its fruit. So Jesus said, ‘Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.”

Jesus continually said in verses 21-23 right after he said in verses 15-20.

Matthew 7:21-23.

21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’

Calling Jesus “Lord, Lord” will not save us. Who will enter the kingdom of God? Whom will Jesus recognize? “Only the one who DOES THE WILL OF JESUS’ FAHTER in heaven.” So obviously there are many deeds that does not belong to the will of our Father in heaven.

Probably these people prophesied and drove out demons and perform miracles in order to boost up their pride. God knew their hearts. The will of God is ‘hallowed be God’s name, God’s kingdom come, and God’s will be done”. But those evil doers probably did all things for their name, their kingdom, and their will. So Jesus said to them, “I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers.”

The rich man must have invited many people to his house and had so many parties. He might have thought that he was using his money to gain friends.

But listen to what Jesus said in Luke 14:12-13.

12 Then Jesus said to his host, “When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or sisters, your relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. 13 But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, 14 and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”

So the rich man used money for himself. He thought his money was his money because he earned it. But that was not his money but God’s money entrusted to him only for a short time.

So he was judged by God and sent to hell, Hades. He could not argue with Abraham, saying, “God is not fair”.

We don’t know what Lazarus did. But he must be a righteous man who was rich toward God although his life on earth was so miserable.

Now Sovereign Lord established justice through his judgment. Abraham said, ““‘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.”

“Justice” is a huge topic. Who will uphold justice? How can it be established? In our study of 1 Samuel chapter 22, we saw terrible injustice against a priest named “Ahimelek” by Saul (1Sa 22:16-19). Although Ahimelek was completely innocent when he gave the consecrated bread to David, Saul murdered him and 85 entire family of the priest, men and women, children and infants, and even their cattle, donkeys and sheep. And there was no evidence that Saul was punished even a little bit in his lifetime.

When we look at this, we cry out, “Where is justice?” “Who will serve justice for Ahimelek and his entire family members?” Indeed when we look at the world, there is so much injustice, so many victims of evil men.

If we see only our lifetime here on earth we can see so much injustice. Injustice is so much that some people even do not believe in God saying, ‘If there is a God, he will not allow this much injustice.”

But there is God, and he will establish justice. He will uphold justice in the perfect way.

Revelation 21:8

But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”

There is another life after death. God will judge all evil doers including murders like Saul and throw them into eternal fiery lake of burning sulfur. There they will be tormented day and night in great agony.

Abraham revealed God’s justice to the rich man. Then Abraham further explained why he could not send Lazarus to comfort him. Look at verse 26.

26 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.’

God set up the system that once we finish our life here on earth there would be no more chance for us to change our destiny.

Part II. Let them listen to Moses and the Prophets. (v.27-31)

When the rich man realized that he could not do anything for him he made another request. Look at verses 27-31.

27 “He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my family, 28 for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’ 29 “Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’ 30 “‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’ 31 “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.’”

The rich man wanted to help his 5 brothers. He wanted them to repent so that they would not come to the place of torment. So he begged Abraham to send Lazarus believing that his brothers would repent if they saw a man from the dead. 5 brothers all knew Lazarus was dead. But Abraham said, they had Moses and the Prophets which refers to the old testament, and let them listen to them.

But the rich man thought it would not work. How did he know it would not work out for his 5 brothers? Because it did not work out for him. As if he did not listen to Moses and the Prophets, he knew his brothers would not listen to them. So he said, “30 “‘No, father Abraham, but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’

He was so sure that his brothers would repent if they saw Lazarus who was dead.

But to his great surprise Abraham said, “‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’”

This verse shows if a man does not listen to the word of God no miracle can help him to repent.

For example, Jesus rose from the dead and preached the kingdom of God but some people were not convinced. They were not convinced when Jesus preached while he was alive. They were not convinced after Jesus was raised from the dead and preached.

How can we repent? By listening to Moses and the Prophets which represents the word of God. Is listening to other people easy? No. It is not easy because of our defensive reasoning. If listening to other people is challenging, how much more challenging will it be for us to listen to the word of God? That is why testimony writing is not easy job. Testimony writing is basically our effort to listen to God.

From about a month ago, I really wanted to repent all my sins, hidden or unhidden. So I began to review all my relationships with others. I leave all other people’s sins and weaknesses and focused on myself. It is to see if there is any hint of my selfishness, pride, and self-centeredness on my side. So sometimes I woke up in the middle of the night and write down all my sins I could think of. Yesterday was one of them.

I woke up in the middle of the night in order to go to restroom. Then I could not sleep again when I think about how to repent all my sin thoroughly. I really wanted to remove all my sin so much. God revealed to me that my sins are the symptom of my inner corruption, which is myself to be the Lord instead of Christ. Then my selfishness, pride, and self-centeredness blind my eyes so much that I ended up developing many sinful habits. Now in order to remove those sins I have searched them with all my heart. But I have found that there is limitation. I am exhausted and I cannot search it anymore.

Then it dawned on me, that the word of God is the answer. I cannot find my hidden sins or root of my sins anymore. But the word of God can reveal my deep sins and darkness. Three sets of the word of God came into my mind. They are 1 John 1:5-10, Hebrews 4:12, and John 3:19-21. All those verses teach me that I can walk in the light, and I can remove my darkness through the word of God and what I do can be done in the sight of God.

1 John 1:5-10

“5 This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 6 If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. 8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.”

These verses strongly encourages me and motivates me to walk in the light. God has given the strong desire for all of us to walk in the light because he created us as children of light. And God is light. We all want to walk in the light, confessing our sins and being forgiven by God and being purified by God.

Hebrews 4:12

12 For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

Hebrews 4:12 gives me hope that I can find my sins continually and stay in the cleaning program of Jesus Christ because the word of God will reveal everything in my heart, and purge my sin from my heart. Jesus also said in John 15:3 “You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.”

John 3:19-21

19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. 21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.

Now John 3:19-21 tells me that I can come into the light so that it may be seen plainly that what I have done has been done in the sight of God.

So indeed the word of God, which is represented by Moses and the Prophets in today’s passage, is God’s divine instrument for our repentance. But our pride, selfishness, and self-centeredness blinds our eyes toward our sin. And that is why I believe ‘humility’ is the way for us to gain true faith in God and come into the light and walk in the light.

About 2 or 3 weeks ago, this is what I told one person after severe rebuke. “What is my prayer for you? My prayer for you is this: Be humble like dust of the ground and survive many years and be blessed by the Lord establishing wonderful family of God”. People trample on the dust of the ground, but the dust of the ground is so humble that it does not complain or resist or being hurt. It still remains as a dust of the ground. Nothing can hurt the dust of the ground because there is no lower place to go down. There is no more place to be humble more. After I told the person about the dust, I realized that is exactly God was speaking to me. “John Kwon, my prayer for you is this: that you may be humble like dust of the ground and survive until the Lord establishes his house through you.” Indeed the word of God helps us to repent our sins and come into the light and walk in the light.

In conclusion, Jesus helped the Pharisees to repent by listening to the word of God. We must repent because God will judge us and throw us into the eternal lake of burning sulfur if we do not repent. We can repent by listening to the word of God in humility.

One word: “‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’

Manuscript

Biblenote

The Rich Man and Lazarus

Luke 16:19-31

Key Verse 25

“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.’”

Introduction

Today’s passage shows two men with different lives and different destinies. One went to Heaven while the other to Hell. We can see the picture of both Heaven and Hell. What caused the rich man to end up in Hell after living in luxury? The rich man in this parable lived selfishly without sharing his wealth with the beggar. He enjoyed good things in this life and did not prepare for the next life. He did not listen to Moses and the Prophets who commanded men to love their neighbor and share their wealth with others. It is important to hear the words of God and put them into practice, for this life is the one and only chance to prepare for the life to come. May God help us listen to the word of God that we would not make the same mistake as the rich man in this passage.

1. Read verses 19-23. What are the contrasts between the rich man and Lazarus? (19-21) What happened to Lazarus when he died? (22a) What happened to the rich man? (22b-23) What might lead them to two different places? (Rm 2:6-10, Rm 8:18)

1-1. Read verses 19-23.

“There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. 20 At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores 21 and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores. 22 “The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side.”

1-2. What are the contrasts between the rich man and Lazarus? (19-21)

“There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day.

  • The rich man was dressed in purple and fine linen.

  • Purple clothes were the symbol of royalty, for they were very expensive.

  • This man must have celebrated life daily with great feasts. He invited all his friends and threw many fancy parties. He ate delicious food everyday.

  • Such was the daily life of comfort that the rich man experienced. He was the envy of all people.

  • But he was like the rich fool in Luke 12:18,

“This is what I will do, I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods.”

  • Here, the rich man said, “my barns, my grain, my family, and my goods.” This shows that he lived a me-centered life.

  • This rich man did not realize that his wealth came from God and that his life was the gift of God.

  • He did not share his wealth to love his neighbor. He did not live his life before God. He lived only for himself. He only cared about “me, me, and me.”

  • The Scripture demonstrates that God is the center of all things from the beginning.

  • God desires for all people of the world to know Him through the Scriptures and to worship Him.

  • But this man did not worship God and did not serve his neighbor as himself.

  • The rich man did not live a simple life but a luxurious life for himself. He did not learn the spiritual discipline of simplicity. He wasted his life in luxury.

At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores 21 and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.

  • In this parable, the rich man is unnamed while the poor beggar is named Lazarus.

  • This suggests that Jesus had a personal relationship with the beggar.

  • The Hebrew name “Lazar” is a contraction of Eleazar and means “God helps.”

  • The name is significant, for it indicates someone dependent on God. Though he was not recognized by people, he was recognized by God.

  • Lazarus had a personal relationship with God. He lived a simple life without possessions. He was a man of faith and hope in God.

  • To human eyes, Lazarus was nothing but a poor beggar. His body was covered with sores, causing him constant itching.

  • He desperately needed nutrition, but he had nothing to eat. Lazarus desired food but only got the embarrassing attention of unclean animals.

  • One would conclude that the rich man is blessed and Lazarus is not.

  • But Lazarus might have had a deep hunger for God while suffering from his physical hunger.

  • He might have exercised the spiritual discipline of solitude. Lazarus never speaks in the parable; he suffers alone and in silence.

1-3. What happened to Lazarus when he died? (22a)

“The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side.

  • Here, the story switches settings. After Lazarus died, the angels carried him to Abraham’s side.

  • Lazarus suffered in poverty and loneliness and sickness in this life. But in the next life he was carried to Heaven by the angels.

  • Whether we like it or not, death is surely coming to all like a thief in the night at the most unexpected time.

Hebrews 9:27 says,

“Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment.”

Hebrews 11:16 says,

“Instead, they were longing for a better country-a heavenly one. Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.”

  • Abraham lived by faith obeying the word of God. As God promised, our Father Abraham was already in heaven.

  • Now Abraham welcomed Lazarus to his side. Though Lazarus suffered in this life, he was comforted in the next life.

1-4. What happened to the rich man? (22b-23)

The rich man also died and was buried. 23 In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side.

  • The rich man prolonged his life a little bit longer with the help of many good doctors and medicine.

  • He thought he could enjoy his life forever. But he died too. However, there were no angels for him.

  • Death permanently changes everything.

In Hades, where he was in torment,

And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. (KJV)

  • Hades seems to have been the common abode of the dead. The rich man and Lazarus were not in the same place, but they were not far from each other.

  • They were in two areas of the same place (Hades), one a place of torments and the other a place of comfort (the bosom of Abraham).

  • Some scholar stated that before the finished work of Jesus on the cross – that the spirit or soul of the human dead went to a place called Hades. Some in Hades rested in comfort; others suffered under torments of fire.

  • Hades is a Greek word, but it seems to carry much the same idea as Sheol, a Hebrew word with the idea of the “place of the dead.”

Revelation 20:11-15 reads,

“Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. The earth and the heavens fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. 13 The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what they had done. 14 Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. 15 Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.”

2 Corinthians 5:6-8 reads,

“Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. 7 For we live by faith, not by sight. 8 We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 9 So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.”

  • Hades is something of a waiting place until the day of final judgment.

  • Yet since Jesus’ finished work on the cross, now there is no waiting place or period for believers who die; they go directly to heaven, to the presence of the Lord. So from our point of view it may be safe to call either hell or Hades.

  • So we don’t know how he ended up in Hades or hell but what really counts was that he was in torment.

  • The rich man’s situation stands in stark contrast to Lazarus’s new position. Their status was reversed.

  • He could not carry his water bottle to hell. He left everything behind. Now, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side.

  • Here we learn that there is a hell. Many Americans believe that there is a heaven but many of them do not believe that there is a hell.

  • Also, many do not believe that they are sinners. So they think that they can all go to heaven.

1-5. What might lead them to two different places? (Rm 2:6-10, Rm 8:18)

  • Lazarus’ poor condition did not bring him to heaven. If that is the case, we all should become homeless people to go to heaven.

  • But that is not the case. His faith in God brought him to heaven.

  • In the same way, it was not wealth that brought the rich man to hell. It was his life purpose.

  • The rich man did not put God at the center of his life. Rather, he himself became the center of his life and did not obey God’s word.

Romans 2:6-10 reads,

“God will repay each person according to what they have done. 7 To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. 8 But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger. 9 There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile; 10 but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. 11 For God does not show favoritism.”

Romans 8:18 says,

“ I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.”

  • God will judge each person according to his or her life purpose.

  • If people seek his kingdom and his righteousness by faith, he will send the angels to carry them to heaven.

  • If people ignore God and live selfishly without God, he will send them to hell.

Luke 13:28-29 reads,

“There will be weeping there, and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but you yourselves thrown out. People will come from east and west and north and south, and will take their places at the feast in the kingdom of God.”

  • In that culture, whenever there was a banquet, the guests reclined at the table in such a manner, leaning back upon the chest of the one near you; to engage in intimate conversation.

  • Lazarus is pictured at the banquet next to Abraham, the father of faith, enjoying rest, comfort, and fellowship; delivered from the trials known all his life.

  • God will dwell among us; no sin or grievances against us; no mourning or pain (Revelation 21:3, 4).

  • But the Bible makes it plain also, there is a place of eternal judgement called hell.

2. Read verses 24-26. What did the rich man request to Father Abraham? (24) What was Abraham's response? (25) What does the great chasm between heaven and hell do? (26) What should we do with our lives in order to avoid the rich man’s destiny?

2-1. Read verses 24-26.

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.’

25 “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. 26 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.’

2-2. What did the rich man request to Father Abraham? (24)

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.’

  • The rich man tries to change his condition by appealing to Abraham. He appeals to Abraham for Lazarus’ help.

  • The use of Lazarus’ name suggests that the rich man already knew Lazarus.

  • The rich man requests that Lazarus put just a drop of water on his tongue to relieve his anguish from the heat. But It was too late. He sealed his own fate with his unchanged attitude on earth.

2-3. What was Abraham's response? (25)

“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.

  • Here is the reversal of their fortunes. The rich man has gone from self-indulgence to anguish. Lazarus has gone from suffering to comfort.

2-4. What does the great chasm between heaven and hell do? (26)

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.’

  • Here Abraham explains that there is a great chasm in the afterlife. Between heaven and hell there is a great chasm.

  • The separation is complete and absolute. No one can go from heaven to hell, and vice versa.

  • Once one’s destiny has been decided, it will not be changed and there is no way out; it is eternal.

  • Even Abraham cannot change their fates because it is God who established it.

  • There will be no second chance when the door is closed. There will be no appeal.

  • In the end, there will be only two kinds of people: those in heaven and those in hell.

2-5. What should we do with our lives in order to avoid the rich man’s destiny?

  • Since present choices determine eternal destiny, we must repent and believe God’s Word and not be deceived by outward appearances.

  • God is keenly aware of those who are suffering for the salvation of others and for his glory.

  • God knows there are injustices on earth that are never compensated sufficiently.

  • Many sacrificial servants of God are helping needy ones receive God’s blessing by bringing them to Jesus.

  • God comforts his suffering servants, both in this life and the next.

  • Finally, he will wipe every tear from our eyes and restore perfect wholeness to our entire beings. We can be sure that God will give us much more than we sacrifice for him.

  • So Peter said: “...those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good” (1 Pe 4:19).

  • Let’s renew our decisions to participate in the sufferings of Christ; God will surely comfort us.

3. Read verses 27-31. What was the rich man’s next request? (27-28) Why did Abraham refuse? (29) What was his reason for his repeated request? (30) Why did Abraham reject his request again? What does this tell us about the importance of listening God’s words? (31, Jn 5:24)

3-1. Read verses 27-31.

“He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my family, 28 for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’ 29 “Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’ 30 “‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’ 31 “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.’”

3-2. What was the rich man’s next request? (27-28)

“He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my family, 28 for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’

  • When the former rich man heard Abraham's words, he began to beg that Lazarus go to his father's house on earth so that he might warn his five brothers.

  • He did not want them to come to the place of torment with him. Most likely, he had influenced them to love money and pleasure.

  • They were at risk of facing the same destiny as the man. He was becoming aware of his poisonous influence. His guilt and remorse were growing.

  • He desperately wanted to warn his brothers to repent so that they would not join him in eternal punishment.

  • Some people joke about hell, saying, they don’t mind going there, for family and friends will be there. They are fools.

  • Even a wicked and selfish man wants his loved ones to avoid hell.

3-3. Why did Abraham refuse? (29)

“Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’

  • Abraham told him, “They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.” Moses refers to the Law of God. Together with the Prophets they make up the Old Testament.

  • So Jesus was telling the man that his family members had the Bible and that if they took its teachings seriously they would find the way to be saved.

  • How precious the word of God is to our souls! How valuable is the time we spend in Bible study when we combine it with faith that leads to obedience.

Romans 1:5 reads,

“Through him we received grace and apostleship to call all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from[c] faith for his name’s sake.”

John 5:24 reads,

“I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life.”

  • When we believe and obey the word of God, God gives us eternal life the moment we believe.

  • The rich family in the story had this precious word of life. But they were too busy in enjoying pleasures to listen to the word of God.

3-4. What was his reason for his repeated request? (30)

“‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’

  • Knowing this, the former rich man pleaded with Abraham to send someone from the dead to warn them to repent.

3-5. Why did Abraham reject his request again?

“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.’”

  • Abraham said, “If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead” (31).

  • Some expect that God must warn them with signs before taking their lives. This is presumptuous.

  • God has already given us the Bible which teaches us the way of salvation. We must believe and obey the word of God now.

  • When we do so, we receive eternal life from Christ at that very moment.

3-6. What does this tell us about the importance of listening God’s words? (31, Jn 5:24)

“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.’”

John 5:24 reads,

“Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life.”

  • To reject the Scriptures is to reject Jesus, and to reject his teachings is to reject the message of Moses and the Prophets, for they are pointing to Jesus too.

  • It is a matter of heart not a matter of a signs. Signs in themselves are of no value if the heart is not right.

  • Believing in the word of God is not a matter of having more evidence or more sensational revelation.

  • It is a decision of faith to accept the authority of the Scriptures and to believe the Bible as it is.

  • But we have to repent and accept Jesus as our Savior.

  • The rich man tried to preach for their brothers in hell but his request was denied three times.

  • Now is the time to preach the good news.

  • It is time to share the word of God. Our youth is our wealth and our time is our money. Would we like to share our life and time to invite someone to heaven?

  • The only way to overcome the chasm between heaven and hell is to hear the word and believe in Jesus.

Conclusion

This passage teaches that nothing can change one’s fate in the afterlife. Once God has rendered judgment, it is permanent. Our choices in this life last for eternity. Either we will spend our life in comfort or in torment. Let’s accept Jesus’ word and inherit the kingdom of God he promised to all who believe in his word.

One word: Now is the time to be saved!

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