Lessons from the Rich Man and Lazarus (Luke, Part 8)
Luke 16:19-31
Introduction / Recap
- The study of Luke is an interesting one for believers to explore
-- We see Luke’s interest in humanity (it’s genuine, rem: career as a physician)
-- We also get to experience how Jesus interacts with society; He goes to them!
- Last week, we saw three specific challenges regarding choosing to follow God
1. A man/woman needs to hear an invitation to follow
2. Half-hearted choices are actually … worthless!
3. A half-hearted choice will always lead to being cast out
-- Each of these ties into one another, and is actually dependent on each other
-- Example: If we will invite, b/c we are fully committed, we show others Jesus
-- Re: Invite cards are available in the sanctuary for your use … take them!
- Today, I want us to examine a pretty familiar story, Lazarus, and the Rich Man
-- But I want us to take important note of what Jesus is demonstrating for us
-- It is more than just a story of two men … but a life challenge to us today
- Read Luke 16:19-31 / Pray
- Don’t miss: Jesus often taught in parables and referred to them as such
-- In this retelling however, there is no mention of it being a parable
-- This is a telling of an actual event – and He makes it very clear
-- Lesson: There is life after death … and we are about to see it
Point 1 – A contrast in life experiences
- Want us to see right off there is a big difference between these two men
-- Obvious: One was named, and the other was unnamed (v19)
-- Lazarus, whose name means “God is my Helper”, was known by God
-- The rich man, in contrast, was unknown and therefore nameless
- I find this a very interesting contrast for us to take note of
-- See this: Someone who is unknown by God, is simply: unidentified
-- It’s not that God doesn’t know who that person is …
-- But that person has no relationship and is therefore … “unknown”
-- Re: Matthew 7:23, Jesus says, “Depart from me, I never knew you …”
- Sort of like us knowing who a movie star is … but they don’t know you
-- Obviously, they know they have fans … but they don’t know you personally
-- This is the same thing shown here: one was intimate with God & one was not
- John 10:14, “I am the good shepherd; I know my own sheep, and they know me”
- The rich man was obviously wealthy, and Lazarus was very poor
-- So poor that he was carried to the gates of the rich man to beg (v20)
-- Sure, the rich man isn’t at fault for Lazarus’ life, but he doesn’t help him either
- The rich man lived in luxury while Lazarus waited for his crumbs
-- There is even mention of Lazarus fighting off dogs from licking his wounds
-- It is an incredible indictment to the world: do we care about those struggling?
- Have to see this: The sin of the rich man was self-indulgence
-- He sought things of pleasure from this world and only took care of himself
-- Yet, laying right at his gate – was this man who known by God (Jesus)
- 1 John 3:17, “If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion - how can God’s love be in that person?”
-- It is an interesting challenge to consider – and it’s at the heart of today’s story
- TR: Even in death, there was a difference in how their lives ended
Point 2 – Fact: Death can bring rewards OR punishments
- The rich man probably had a lavish funeral, tons of mourners, lots of money
-- While Lazarus, I’m sure just died one day and his body was discarded
- However, look at what awaited each once their life was over: Lazarus:
• Existed despite being dead – and lived in comfort
• His soul was immediately met by God’s angels, and,
• He was carried to the source of all peace & wealth (God’s protection)
- The rich man:
• Simply, died and was buried, and went to the place of the dead (v22)
• And there, in torment (v23), the rich man saw and recognized Lazarus
- Want to stop and teach a bit on this and unpack it for us
- But first, have to correct something: I mis-spoke several weeks ago
-- I mentioned that Paradise and Heaven were two different places
-- And well, that was some bad doctrine that I had learned long ago
-- I have done some heavy research this week and learned they are the same!
-- So, please forgive me on this if I caused you any confusion!
- What Jesus does here is magnificent
-- He gives us a preview of the world to come - world that He knew very well
-- RE: He came from Glory to rescue us … and we should heed His words
- IMP: Jesus is revealing the other world, the world to come when this life ends
-- The Greek work for Hades is also referred to (Old Testament) as Sheol
-- And what Jesus says is that Hades is divided into two very specific areas
-- APP: Hades is not hell; it is the place of the dead – where we go after life
- But, between these two areas, there exists a chasm that cannot be crossed (v26)
-- This means that once you are in one of those places, there is no switching
-- I cannot stress the importance of this fact enough … please heed this warning
- One is a place of great sorrow (v23-24, 28)
-- The other is a place of Paradise (v22) (this is where believers go)
-- So, to say that someone is dead is to say they are in Hades – or the other world
- Must see this: The spiritual world, or spiritual dimension, DOES exist
-- It is why Jesus is so clear in the description of what exists there
-- And in that world, are two places: Paradise (Heaven) and Hell (torment)
- Now, what is so critical is what those places consist of
-- This is where we tend to tune out … b/c humans don’t like this
-- Fact: We don’t like to hear that we may not be headed to the “good” place
-- So, I urge you, please stick with me … it really is a matter of life and death
- TR: What does Jesus teach us about life after our physical death? Here are …
Point 3 – Eight lessons about eternity
1. The rich man was in Hell, Lazarus was in Heaven
-- Death removed the rich man from his life of luxury and paradise
-- But for Lazarus, he was rescued from the life of suffering that he endured
- Fact: The rich man was unfit for Paradise; he lived a worldly paradise
-- He focused on himself and did not seek after the things of God
-- Therefore, He received his reward (stuff, possessions) and not in eternity
-- Prov 21:13 warns about this, “Those who shut their ears to the cries of the poor will be ignored in their own time of need.”
2. The rich man saw glory, Lazarus experienced God’s paradise
-- The rich man saw Paradise, and he even saw Lazarus and Abraham
-- Fact is I’m sure he envied what He saw – and was not able to obtain it
-- Luke 13:28, “There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, for you will see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets in the Kingdom of God, but you will be thrown out.”
3. The rich man was painfully alone, Lazarus had companionship
-- Nothing is said about the rich man having any company where he was
-- Not one soul came to greet him, or to give him any welcome/relief
-- All he could see, was those who were in Paradise from a distance
-- Consider: Hell is not going to be a party, but utter isolation from joy/peace
4. The rich man felt pain, Lazarus had comfort
-- The contrast is critical: the rich man felt burning from flames; begged for mercy
-- He even begged for Lazarus (by name) to provide a drop of water
-- In an eternal fire, anything would feel like relief … even a drop of water
- Consider: On this Earth, a man-made fire will eventually go out
-- Yet here, we see that it never ends – the separation and punishment go on
-- Here is Jesus’ lesson: You must FLEE from hell, it is eternal torment
5. The rich man was in anguish, Lazarus was at peace
-- RE: There is no relief for those who are separated from God
-- There are no more prayers to be said, no more possibility of God’s grace
-- Eternally … the choice has been made of where a soul will be
-- And even in that … note that the rich man FELT what was around him
6. The rich man remembered his former life, Lazarus was silent
-- To me, this is probably one of the most haunting pieces of scripture
-- In v25, Abraham speaks directly to the rich man as a lesson (re-read)
-- Lesson: You may get all you want here, but is it the right things to have?
- APP: The rich man remembered his sins, missed opportunities, his deaf ear to the plight of Lazarus, and his failure to seek after God by rejecting His warnings
7. The rich man was fixed in Hell, Lazarus was fixed in Paradise
-- Again … pay attention … there is no passing between Heaven and Hell (v26)
-- This is God’s purpose of keeping those apart who willingly reject Him
-- And, keeping those apart who reject what Jesus offers (grace / salvation)
- Fact: God doesn’t send people to hell – He honors their choice
-- If you choose to reject Jesus and His grace, then you get what you chose
-- Matthew 13:49, “That is the way it will be at the end of the world. The angels will come and separate the wicked people from the righteous”
-- And when that happens, Jesus tells us …
-- Matthew 25:46, “And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous will go into eternal life.”
8. The rich man agonized for his loved ones, Lazarus was settled in eternity
-- In v27 we learn that the rich man remembered he had five brothers
-- He knows that his example to live was terrible, begs for someone to go tell them
-- He know realizes that Hell is so bad, nothing in this world is worth going there
- Jesus said the same thing in Mark 8:36, “And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul?” (Mark this down … let is sink in)
-- Even Abraham’s answer is striking in its directness … re-read v29
- However, in contrast, Lazarus was fully settled in eternity – he remains silent
-- Perhaps in that realm, there is no more remembering of what was?
-- Perhaps, truly being in God’s presence is to forget the struggles of this world?
-- Are we being shown that God’s comfort/peace overcomes … everything?
- In Abraham’s response, he tells the rich man his brothers have all they need (v31)
-- How would someone appearing as a ghost convince them to change?
-- They have the scriptures, the prophets, and even (today) the life of Jesus
-- APP: What more could humanity need to be rescued?
- Jesus warned the Pharisees of this as well, John 5:39, “You search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to me!”
Big Idea
- The lesson we need to see here is clear … where do you want to spend eternity?
- What Jesus does is show the difference in eternity of two men:
-- One who lived for himself, and received what He had earned in life
-- The other, a man who knew God and we see God’s reward for his faithfulness
- So, our lesson & challenge today is simple:
• Lesson: Where will you go when your life is over?
• Challenge: Do you care where those around you will go?
• Or, how about what those around you are dealing with?
- We cannot be blind to those around us … to follow Jesus means to be like Him!
- Pray
