This morning’s sermon is entitled “Receiving Our Reward,” and it’s taken from what is commonly called “The Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus.” All of us are going to be rewarded according to our deeds when this life is over. Some will enter into heaven and others will enter into hell. In his book The Problem of Pain, C. S. Lewis said of those whose reward is hell, “The lost enjoy forever the horrible freedom they have demanded.”(1) What he meant was that many people choose to live entirely for themselves, when Christ calls us to live for Him. If we choose to live for Christ then we will enter into heaven, but if we choose to live for ourselves, demanding freedom from the rule and reign of the kingdom, then we will enter into hell.
This message stresses the reality of the afterlife, but it also emphasizes the place where those who don’t know Jesus will go when they die – and that place is called hell. J. C. Ryle said, “The watchman who keeps silent when he sees a fire is guilty of gross neglect. The doctor who tells us we are getting well when we are dying is a false friend, and the minister who keeps back hell from his people in his sermons is neither a faithful nor charitable man.”(2) It is my hope, this morning, that we will gain a better understanding of the reality called hell, and that we will realize that if we fail to surrender our life to Jesus Christ then hell is where we’re headed.
Now, before we get started, I want to point out that I’m going to be preaching from the King James Version, rather than the New King James. I have studied this passage extensively, and in the original language – some of which is portrayed in the New King James Version – there are some terms that can take us down a rabbit hole of what some would call fringe theology; and so, we’re not going to go there today. Alice needs to stay above ground. If we were to follow that path and go down that hole, it would be a distraction from grasping the reality and horrors of hell.
True Riches Are of the Heart (vv. 19-21)
19 There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day. 20 And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, 21 and desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover, the dogs came and licked his sores.
Jesus directed this parable at the Pharisees, to whom He was speaking just prior to sharing these words. Verse 19 mentions a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen. “This purple dye was obtained from the purple fish, a species of mussel or murex [and] it was very costly,”(3) and the clothing was made from “Egyptian linen.”(4) These words describe the clothing that the Pharisees wore. Their “robes cost anything from $40 to $50; an immense sum in days when a working man’s wage was about 12 cents a day.”(5) In describing the luxurious robes of the Pharisees, Jesus was attacking their way of life.(6) The Pharisees lived “high on the hog,” so to speak, and criticized the poor. They thought of themselves as being more righteous, as they saw their wealth as a blessing from God and they saw poverty as a curse.
In verses 20-21, we read that a beggar, named Lazarus, was laid at the gate of a rich man and had sores upon him. “Since he lay at the gate, we [can] gather that he was crippled or made helpless by his illness. One symptom of his illness was a body covered with sores, a condition not unusual in people who subsist on an extremely deficient diet and live in unsanitary conditions.”(7) Similar to how they viewed poverty, the Pharisees saw illness as a curse; and they looked down on the sick. They also failed to consider that his poverty might have been due to his sickness, as he would have been unable to work. Jesus was illustrating that neither wealth nor poverty, health nor illness, are a blessing or curse from God. He said in Matthew 5:45, “For [God] maketh His sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.”
Neither a person’s financial status or health condition determines his or her righteousness. Righteousness is a matter of the heart. There are rich people who are going to hell, but there are also rich people who are going to heaven. The same applies to poor people and those who are sick. Status and health don’t mean anything in the eyes of God. The Pharisees wanted to look good in the eyes of the people around them. They wanted others to think of them as holy and blessed by God; but to the Lord, they were nothing. They fooled the people around them, but they didn’t fool God. They couldn’t earn their way into heaven through status, health or good deeds. Ephesians 2:8-9 says, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast.”
Commentator Gary Davenport says, “Lazarus is the only character in any of the parables who is given a name. The name is the Latinized form of Eleazar and means ‘God is my help’.”(8) Lazarus was a poor man, but from his name we can see that he relied on God for everything he had. The Pharisees, on the other hand, relied on their position and political status to make it. Lazarus relied on God for his provision, while the Pharisees relied on themselves. If they were to admit it, they had no use for God.
In Matthew 16:26, Jesus asked, “For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” True riches are not found in wealth, but in Christ. If we do not have a relationship with Jesus, then we will definitely lose our soul. The Bible clearly says, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23), and “The wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23) – spiritual death in the flames of hell for all eternity. Many who fail to confess Christ are afraid that should they get saved, they’ll have to give up something from this world – and it’s true that there are sacrifices to be made. But Jesus calls us to make a choice between Him and the lusts and passions of this life, and if we fail to choose Christ then we will die a spiritual death.
The Reality of the Afterlife (vv. 22-26)
22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died, and was buried. 23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 24 And 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. 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. 26 And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.
These verses stress the reality of the afterlife and judgement. Notice in verses 22-23, that after both Lazarus and the rich man died, that there is a contrast made between the two. Lazarus was taken to a place called Abraham’s bosom, while the rich man was buried and woke up in hell.
In Abraham’s bosom, Lazarus came into the presence of the Patriarchs – mighty men of God. Abraham’s bosom is equivalent to Paradise, which is where one of thieves on the cross went to be with Jesus. We read in Luke 23:43 that “Jesus said unto him, verily I say unto thee, today shalt thou be with Me in paradise.” One explanation for Paradise is that it is simply another term for heaven. Baptist Commentator A. T. Robertson says, “To be in Abraham’s bosom is to the Jew to be in Paradise . . . Abraham, Isaac and Jacob are in heaven and welcome those who come.”(9) He backs this up with Matthew 8:11, in which Jesus said, “Many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven.”
So, being in Abraham’s bosom, Lazarus was in heaven. So, what is heaven like? First of all, the term “bosom” implies comfort. Verse 25 specifically states that Lazarus was comforted there; and according to verse 24, it is a place that’s free from the flames of hell. In contrast, the rich man was in hell. If you look at verses 23, 24, 25 and 28, “the word ‘torment’ is used four times in this account, and it speaks of definite pain. This is the same word that is used for the doom feared by the evil spirits [in Mark 5:7] and the judgments God will send on an unrepentant world [in the book of Revelation] (cf. Revelation 9:5; 11:10; 20:10).”(10) Also, note, in verse 24, how the rich man asked that a drop of water be placed on his tongue because, as he cried out, “I am tormented in this flame” – so, hell is also a place of flame; not to mention extreme thirst.
Let’s look at another description of hell. Mark 9:44 describes hell as the place “where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.” The word “hell,” in Mark 9:44, comes from the Greek word Gehenna. The word Gehenna is derived from the place name of the Valley of Hinnom in Jerusalem, which was a gigantic garbage dump. Worms crawled around in the garbage, and methane fires burned there incessantly. Anyone who does not know Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord must endure for all eternity the fires of hell where their flesh will continually burn and be eaten by worms perpetually. For a person who doesn’t have salvation, the afterlife is no life at all. It is eternal, never-ending death and pain – and it’s also a reality.
Another important thing to note in this parable is how “there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence” (v. 26). The word “gulf” comes from the Greek word chasma, which is a chasm or gaping opening. It is “an old word from chaino,” which means “to yawn,”(11) and sounds like our English word canyon. This great gulf reveals a distance too vast to cross, and represents separation from God. Isaiah 59:2 says, “Your iniquities have separated between you and your God.” Hell also represents separation from others, and eternal loneliness. C. S. Lewis said, “Hell is made up of people who live at an infinite distance from each other. Surely this is a graphic picture of the result of the loss of God in our life.”(12)
So, why did they wind up in either heaven or hell? In verse 25, we read that “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 rich man received good things though extortion and shady dealings; meaning, the abundance he had in life was the result of sinful choices. On the other hand, Lazarus received evil things as he chose to do what was right. In Matthew 5:10, Jesus said, “Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Jesus basically said that if we live in such a way that we do what is right and honorable in the sight of God that we will be persecuted for it. That’s what happened to Lazarus, but He was rewarded with heaven in the end.
But here’s what we need to understand. Here’s the take-away. Those who have chosen to live for themselves and practice sin are individuals who have rejected Christ. Those who choose to live righteously are those who know Him as Savior and Lord, and have dedicated their life to Him. This parable is not about going to heaven for good works versus going to hell for bad works. It's not about works at all! Our works simply reveal our heart. Our works reveal what truly matters in eternity, which is this: Do we know Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord of our life?
We Must Personally Choose Christ (vv. 27-31)
27 Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father’s house: 28 for I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. 29 Abraham saith unto him, they have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. 30 And he said, nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. 31 And he said unto him, if they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.
In these verses, the rich man prayed that Lazarus would be sent to warn his brothers so they wouldn’t suffer the same fate. “He did not say, ‘I’m glad my brothers will also come here. We’ll have a wonderful time together!’ Occasionally you hear a lost person say, ‘Well, I don’t mind if I go to hell. I’ll have a lot of company!’ But there is no friendship or ‘company’ in hell! Hell is a place of torment and loneliness. It is not an eternal New Year’s Eve party at which sinners have a good time doing what they used to do on earth.”(13) When our life is over, we will have to face the consequences of how we have lived. Have we stored up treasure in heaven or on earth? Have we placed our faith and trust in Jesus Christ or in the devil? After we die, there are no second chances. We had better make a decision to live for Christ while there is still time!
In response to the man’s prayer that Lazarus be sent to warn his brothers, “Abraham saith unto him, they have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them” (v. 29). His brothers had the Scriptures to convict them of sin, and to reveal that Jesus is the Messiah and Savior. Granted, the Scriptures may have come by the mouth of a priest; nevertheless, they still had access. In the Bible, we read in Psalm 19:1, “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth His handywork.” Romans 1:20 says, “For the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse.” We too have the Scriptures, and if we fail to believe what they say, then we’re out of luck – and without excuse.
In verses 30-31, the rich man said that his brothers would surely believe if a man were to come back from the dead. It would be a miracle; and therefore, they would have to believe! In Matthew 12:39-40, Jesus said, “An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas: for as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so, shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” Jesus was referring to the miracle of His resurrection; coming out of the tomb as Jonah had come out of whale’s belly.
This particular Lazarus was not resurrected; yet, Jesus was! But how many people reject the miracle of Christ’s resurrection? Abraham said it correctly when he stated, “If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead” (v. 31). If you fail to believe in the Word of God – something written on paper that can be touched and handled – then how can you believe in Someone rising from the dead over 2000 years ago; one who cannot even be seen in physical form today? Hebrews says, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen . . . Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God” (Hebrews 11:1, 3) – and I’ll add that it is through faith that we believe unto salvation and receive eternal life (Romans 10:10).
Now, this passage makes an important point about warning people of the dangers of hell, as the rich man asked that Lazarus be sent to testify to his brothers. The problem here was in wanting them to believe in Christ because they had seen a dead man walking. The problem was in bringing Lazarus back from the grave. There is no problem in simply bearing testimony. In this passage, Abraham said “let them hear Moses and the prophets,” or rather, let them hear the Word. We read in Romans chapter 10, “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (v. 17). “How shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?” (v. 14). Sometimes it takes one who bears testimony, in order for someone to hear the Word and believe; so, it’s imperative that we warn the lost of the dangers of hell and share with them the message of salvation in Jesus Christ.
Time of Reflection
What we see in this parable is that the only way we can be worthy of entering into God’s kingdom is through Jesus. We are not righteous just because we appear to be. We may go to church and claim that we are “religious,” but that’s not going to save us. We are not righteous just because we have things that seem like material blessings from God. If we are rich in worldly possessions, but not rich towards God, then those worldly possessions prove nothing. Some people, like the Pharisees, believe that since they have numerous possessions, or health and well-being, that God is blessing them and that they are right with God; meaning in right standing or having righteousness. But if a person does not know Jesus Christ, then he or she is simply not right with God; and you’ve got to be right with God in order to go to heaven!
Let’s not be fooled into believing we can get to heaven in any other way than through Jesus Christ. Again, let me share with you Ephesians 2:8-9: “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast.” If we do not know Jesus then we will have to face the reality of the flames of hell. So, I want to close by asking a simple, yet important, question: “Do you want to escape the flames of hell? Do you want to be saved?” If so, then here’s what you need to understand. If you want to escape hell, then you need to receive Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord or your life.
NOTES
(1) Michael P. Green, Illustration for Biblical Preaching (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1997), p. 186.
(2) Ibid., p. 185.
(3) A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament, vol. 2 (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1930), p. 220.
(4) Ibid., p. 221.
(5) William Barclay, “The Gospel of Luke,” The Daily Study Bible (Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 1956), p. 221.
(6) Gary Davenport, “The Rich Man and Lazarus,” a sermon preached at West Broward Church of Christ. Taken from the Internet July 2000 at http://www.c-concepts.com/wbroward/parables26.htm.
(7) William E. Hull, “John,” The Broadman Bible Commentary, vol. 9 (Nashville, Broadman, 1970), p. 132.
(8) Davenport.
(9) Robertson, p. 222.
(10) Warren Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 1 (Wheaton, Il: Victor Books, 1989), p. 242.
(11) Robertson, p. 223.
(12) Green, p. 186.
(13) Wiersbe, p. 242.
