He Taught Them Many Parables… (The Rich Man And Lazarus) # 18

• Riches and Poverty

• Heaven and Hell

• Compassion and Indifference

• Inclusion and Exclusion

As we teach this parable, I need to mention that there are some who refuse to teach Luke 16:19-31 as a parable.

Their objection is for two reasons:

(1) It is the only one of the parables in which names of individuals are mentioned. For example, they believe that:

• When the Lord spoke of this rich man, He was talking about a particular rich man in hell. He referred to him as a “Certain rich man”

• When the Lord spoke of Lazarus the beggar, He was actually talking about a beggar named Lazarus.

(2) But also their objection to teaching this passage as a parable is because of a danger they see.

For example, the Jehovah witnesses do not believe in life after death. If you refer them to this passage of Scripture, they will say, “But that is only a parable, and it is only a story, it is not teaching life after death.”

But most theologians see this passage of Scripture as a parable.

In this parable, the Lord speaks of a world that none of us who are living know anything about. But He is capable of moving from the world in which we live, into the world of the dead without any difficulty.

The Lord can do this, because He knows everything there is to know about this life and the life hereafter.

There are only four people that can talk about life from the other side.

• The Lord Jesus

• Lazarus, the brother of Mary and Martha

• John the Revelator who was allowed to look into heaven

• The Apostle Paul, in 2 Cor. 12:2, who was caught up to the third heaven

Let’s look at this parable and see some of the things it does teach. First, we need to look at -

I. THE REVERSAL METHOD

This parable shows us a reversal of roles. The rich man becomes poor, and the poor man becomes rich.

Look at Luke 16:25, “But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.”

The roles of believers and unbelievers will be reversed in the life to come. This is one thing for certain that this parable is teaching.

But there are some things this parable DOES NOT TEACH!

For example, this parable does not teach that riches and wealth of themselves are evil, and lead people to hell

Illus: In the Old Testament, Abraham, Job, David and Solomon were wealthy. It did not condemn them. In the NT, Joseph of Arimathea was wealthy. He was a Christian.

According to 1 Timothy 6:9-10, it is the love of money which leads people to damnation.

We read, “But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”

There is nothing sinful about having money, but it is very sinful when money has us.

This parable does not teach that this man went to hell because he had money.

This parable does not teach that poverty, misery and woe of themselves lead to everlasting life

Our text does not say that Lazarus was saved because he was poor.

Some are quick to quote Luke 6:20-22, where we read, “And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, Blessed be ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are ye that hunger now: for ye shall be filled. Blessed are ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh. Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out.”

A good commentary on these verses is found in Matthew 5:3-12, where the Lord is not speaking of PHYSICAL POVERTY, but SPIRITUAL POVERTY.

We read, “Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.”