Rich Man & Lazarus

The Rich Man& Lazarus
Luke 16:19-31
19"There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day.20But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid at his gate,21desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table. Moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.22So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham's bosom. The rich man also died and was buried.23And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.24Then he cried and said, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.'25But Abraham said, 'Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented.
26And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us.'27Then he said, 'I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father's house,28for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.'29Abraham said to him, 'They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.'30And he said, 'No, father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.'31But he said to him, 'If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.' "
The Context:
Parable of the unjust steward (vv. 1-13)Pharisees: lovers of money (v. 14)God knows the heart & judges accordingly (v. 15)Jesus addresses their love of wealth (vv. 19-31)
Real Story or Only A Parable?
What difference does it make?Not called a parableIf it were a parable – still teaches the sameSome of the elements of the story are real:Abraham (v.23)Moses & prophets [Law] (v.29)If these are real – why not the rest?
The Rich Man& Lazarus
Lessons From
The Rich Man & Lazarus
It is foolish to trust in riches(vv.19,25)Riches can lead us away from God (Mt. 6:19-24)Riches can lead us into sin (1 Tim. 6:9-10)It’s not what you have, but who you are that counts in life(vv.19-21)The rich man was well off, but not right with God (Lk. 12:20)Lazarus was poor in life, but rich with God (Jas. 2:5)
The wealthy often ignore and neglect the poor(vv.20-21)Who is your Lazarus (Prov. 21:13; Gal. 2:10; 1 Tim. 6:17-18; Jas. 1:27; 1 Jn. 3:17)?All men die, rich or poor(v.22)Death is an appointment all will keep (Heb. 9:27)Are you ready? (Lazarus was – Rich man wasn’t)
The Rich Man & Lazarus
The Rich Man & Lazarus
Death is not the end of life, but a transition from one life to the next(v.23)There is more to man than a body (Gen. 1:26; 2;7; Eccl. 12:7; 2 Cor. 4:16; Jas. 2:26)The spirit of man lives on after death (Mt. 22:32; Lk. 23:46; Phil. 1:23)There is a life to come (Mk. 10:30)
Salvation is not universal; not all will be saved(v.23)Lazarus saved and the rich man lostGod wants all men to be saved (1 Tim. 2:3-4), but few will be saved (Mt. 7:13-14,21;Lk. 13:23-24)Mercy must come from us in this life, before it comes from God in the next(v.24)Are you merciful now (Matt. 5:7; Jas. 2:13)?
The Rich Man & Lazarus
You can go from comfort to suffering, or from suffering to comfort(vv.24-25)Terrible to be lost: the torment of Hell is great (Mk. 9:43-48; 2 Thess. 1:8-9).Wonderful to be saved: the comfort of Heaven is great (Heb. 4:9-11; Rev.21:4)You can’t order God around in the next life(v.25)We are judged according to our deeds (Rom. 2:6)
The Rich Man & Lazarus
The Rich Man & Lazarus
You will be conscious in the next life(vv. 23ff)The doctrine of“Materialism”is deniedWe “see,” “say” and “remember” in HadesOnce you die your destiny is fixed(v.26)The doctrine of“Second Chances”is deniedThe doctrine of“Reincarnation”is deniedThe doctrine of“Purgatory”is deniedThe doctrine of“Baptism of the Dead”is deniedAll dieonce, then the judgment (Heb. 9:27)Judged for what we dotoday(2 Cor. 5:10; 6:2)
The Rich Man & Lazarus
It’s too late for personal evangelism after you die(v.27)Open doors are shut at death (Col. 4:3)Don’t wait until death to be urgent about preaching (2 Tim.2:2; 4:2)It is possible to judge a person as lost(v.27)We can judge righteously (Matt. 7:1-5)We can judge someone as “lost” (Lk. 15:24)
The Rich Man & Lazarus
God saves through Scripture, not through miracles, or communicating with the dead(vv.29-30)The doctrine of“Spiritism”is deniedThe doctrine of“Calvinism”is deniedThe“Social Gospel”doctrine is deniedThe Scriptures are all sufficient for salvation (Rom. 1:16; Jas. 1:21; 2 Tim. 3:15-17).Some will not let God’s word convince them(v.31)Some are hardened (Jn. 12:40; Acts 19:9)
Where Will You Be…One Second After Death?
No more sermons, songs, or studyNo more family and friends to encourage youNo more longsuffering and listeningNo more opportunities to get it rightWhere will you spend your eternity?