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The Rich Man And Lazarus (Luk_16:19 - Luk_16:31)
INTRODUCTION
1. We come now to a familiar story told by Jesus: "The Rich Man And
Lazarus"
a. Commonly referred to as parable, though I have my doubts
1) It is the only one in which names of actual individuals are
used
2) One was certainly a real-life person, Abraham
b. Some try to avoid its teaching concerning life after death by
saying it is only a parable
1) E.g., "Jehovah's Witnesses"
2) Who do not believe in life after death for the wicked
c. But even if this story is a parable, parables told by Jesus were
true-to-life
1) Not fantasy stories
2) But illustrations based upon events that were actually
possible
-- So not only is there the ultimate point to be gleaned, but there
is much we can learn about life after death from this "parable"!
2. There are similarities with this story and "The Unjust Steward"...
a. Both start out by saying "There was a certain rich man..."
b. The previous parable stressed the proper use of wealth; this
story illustrates one who did not "make friends...by unrighteous
mammon"
c. Both call us to repent before it is too late
[Let's begin our study by considering...]
I. THE PARABLE ITSELF
A. THE RICH MAN AND LAZARUS IN LIFE...
1. A certain rich man - Luk_16:19
a. Clothed in purple and fine linen
b. Fared sumptuously every day
2. A certain beggar named Lazarus - Luk_16:20 - Luk_16:21
a. Full of sores
b. Laid at the rich man's gate, hoping to be fed crumbs from
the rich man's table
c. Dogs came and licked his sores (adding to his misery, or
providing what little comfort he enjoyed?)
B. THE RICH MAN AND LAZARUS IN DEATH...
1. They both die - Luk_16:22
a. Lazarus is carried away by angels to Abraham's bosom (what
bliss!)
b. The rich man was buried (what an understatement by way of
contrast!)
2. The rich man in torment - Luk_16:23 - Luk_16:26
a. He is in "Hades", but sees Abraham afar off and Lazarus in
his bosom
1) The origin of the word "Hades" is uncertain...
a) Either from IDEIN (seen) with a negative prefix A-,
meaning "the unseen, invisible"
b) Or from AIANES, meaning "gloomy, gruesome"
2) In Classical Greek...
a) Homer used the word as a proper name for the "god of
the underworld"
b) In other literature, it stood for "the underworld" as
the abode of all the dead
1/ Which was divided into two parts (similar to Luke
16)
2/ These two parts were:
a/ The "Elysian fields", the abode of the good
b/ "Tartarus", the place of punishment for the
wicked
3) In the NT, "Hades" is found only eleven times...
a) Ten times it is translated "hell" or "hades" (Mat_11:23; Mat_16:18; Luk_10:15; Luk_16:23; Act_2:27, Act_2:31; Rev_1:18; Rev_6:8; Rev_20:13,Rev_20:14), and once it is the "grave" (1Co_15:55)
b) Some believe that "Hades" is the realm of ALL the
dead (similar to the concept of the Greeks), and made
up of two separate parts...
1/ With Paradise (at least prior to the Ascension of
Christ) for the righteous
2/ And Tartarus for the wicked - cf. 2Pe_2:4,2Pe_2:9
c) Others believe the term "Hades" refers only to the
place of the WICKED
1/ That it is not clear in Luk_16:22 - Luk_16:23 whether Hades
was just the abode of the rich man, or also that
of Lazarus and Abraham
2/ And in Act_2:26 - Act_2:27,Act_2:31 we may have a case of
synonymous parallelism, with only the resurrected
body of Christ in view ("soul" being used to refer
to the body, and "Hades" is referring to the
grave, as "Sheol" in the Hebrew sometimes does)
d) In any case, "Hades" is used at least on several
occasions in the New Testament...
1/ As the place of the wicked - Luk_16:23
2/ As a place where the wicked are in torment - Luk_16:23
3/ As a temporary place, to be thrown into "the lake
of fire" after the Judgment - Rev_20:13 - Rev_20:14
b. The rich man pleads with Abraham for relief - Luk_16:24 - Luk_16:26
1) That he might send Lazarus to dip his finger in water
and cool his tongue
2) But Abraham reminds him how conditions have now been
reversed
3) Besides, there is a gulf that prevents one from going to
one place to the other
3. The rich man pleads with Abraham for his five brothers - Luk_16:27 - Luk_16:31
a. That Abraham might send Lazarus to warn them of this place
b. Abraham says they have Moses and the prophets (i.e., the
word of God)
c. The rich man fears that will be inadequate to convince them
to repent
d. Abraham says that if they won't listen to Moses and the
prophets, neither would they be persuaded though one rise
from the dead
[While the condition of the dead is described here in very literal,
earthy terms, the story of "The Rich Man And Lazarus" does reveal
truths about life after death. What those truths are we shall see as
we continue with...]
II. THE PARABLE APPLIED
A. THE MAIN POINT...
1. The importance of heeding the Word of God! - Luk_16:29
a. Only by heeding the Word of God can one escape the torment
of Hades
b. The rich man had not done so; for his brothers, it would be
their only hope
2. If God's Word doesn't move you to repentance, a miracle won't
either! - Luk_16:31
a. Some people say they would believe if they only saw a
miracle
b. But many people saw Jesus' miracles, and did not believe;
even His resurrection from the dead did not convince some!
-- This may explain why the apostles depended upon the
Scriptures more than miracles to convince people Jesus was
the Messiah - cf. Acts 17:1 - Acts 17:3
B. OTHER LESSONS TO BE DRAWN...
1. A few points adapted from those listed by J. C. Ryle:
a. A man's worldly condition is no test of his state in the
sight of God
1) One may be rich, but not rich toward God - Luke 12:21
2) One may be poor, but rich in faith! - James 2:5
b. Death is the common end to which all classes of mankind
must come ("the same event happens to them all" - cf. Ecclesiastes 2:14)
c. The souls of believers are specially cared for by God in
the hour of death ("...carried by angels to Abraham's
bosom" - Luke 16:22)
d. The reality of hell
1) This story depicts the intermediate state of the wicked,
between death and the resurrection
2) We learn that the wicked...
a) Do not cease to exist ("he lifted up his eyes and
saw") - Luke 16:23
b) Are aware of where they are, and what is going on
around them ("I am tormented in this flame") - Luke 16:
24b
c) Recognize others ("Father Abraham...send Lazarus...")
- Luke 16:24a
d) Remember those who have yet to follow them in death
("for I have five brothers") - Luke 16:28a
e. Unconverted men find out the value of a soul, after death,
when it is too late
1) Jesus tried to teach the value of the soul before it was
too late - Matthew 16:26
2) When we will learn? Now, or when it is too late?
f. The greatest miracles would have no effect on men's hearts,
if they will not believe God's word
1) This relates to the main point of the story
2) Which emphasizes the importance of heeding the Word of
God, and not depending upon some sort of miracle!
2. A lesson NOT to be drawn from this parable is that it is
sinful to be rich...
a. The rich man was not the only person in this story who had
been rich in his life
1) Abraham had been very rich! - cf. Genesis 13:2
2) But he was also very hospitable - cf. Genesis 18:1 - Genesis 18:8
b. The difference is that Abraham...
1) Was a man of faith (which comes by heeding the word of
God - Romans 10:17)
2) Was a man who "made friends...by unrighteous mammon"
CONCLUSION
1. Why did Jesus tell this story?
a. Was it directed to His disciples in particular?
b. Or was it told with the Pharisees in mind?
2. While the disciples would learn from it, I suspect the Pharisees
were the intended audience...
a. They were "lovers of money" - Luke 16:14
b. They had just derided Jesus for His parable and the application
of "The Unjust Steward"
-- The story of "The Rich Man And Lazarus" illustrates the folly of
trusting in one's wealth
3. May this story also serve to remind us of...
a. The reality of punishment prepared for the wicked
b. The importance of preparing our soul for eternity
c. The place the Word of God has in that preparation!
As James wrote in his epistle...
"Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness,
and receive with meekness the implanted word,
which is able to save your souls.
"But be doers of the word, and not hearers only,
deceiving yourselves.
- James 1:21 - James 1:22
Are you heeding the Word of God which is able to save your soul?