• 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.”
RICHES WILL NOT SAVE YOU, AND POVERTY WILL NOT SAVE YOU. Hell will be populated with RICH and POOR people.
This parable is certainly not teaching salvation by RICHES or POVERTY. WHAT IS IT TEACHING?
The parable of Luke 16:19-31, pictures the spiritual difference between BELIEVERS and UNBELIEVERS in this life and in the life to come.
• Like Lazarus in this life, believers in Jesus are poor helpless beggars. They confess that they cannot save themselves and they plead for mercy
• On the other hand, the unbelievers who live only for this life, spend their money on themselves and have no time to do good to others, and would not think of condescending to plead for mercy for anything
In the life to come, we find the unbeliever who refused to plead for mercy will receive no mercy.
This parable draws a sharp comparison between the repentant, suffering believer, and the arrogant, selfish, impenitent unbeliever.
One day the rich man will be poor and the poor man will become rich. This is THE REVERSAL METHOD that one day will be used.
But let’s look at-
II. THE RICH MAN
This parable tells us about two characters.
(A) THIS PARABLE HAS A LOT TO SAY ABOUT THE RICH MAN
We can read this passage of Scripture and develop a mental picture of him and his lifestyle.
For example, we see that:
(1) He certainly does not represent all the rich people.
Look at verse 19, we read, “There was a certain rich man…”
If all the rich were like this, God’s Word would not have said there was a “Certain rich man”.
Illus: Some of God’s choice servants are rich people. They are able to do for the Lord what many folks are not able to do. Thank God for their willingness to use their wealth to promote the work of God, the same way that some that are blessed with talent are willing to use their talent to sing, teach or preach the Word of God.
(2) He lived a life of luxury.
Look at verse 19, we read, “There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day.”
Today, when we look at people, we see that many folks wear different color clothes.
But back during this time they did not have the ability to dye clothing as we have today. Only the rich could afford to be “Clothed in purple and fine linen.”
This is why the Lord speaks of the rich man in this manner, so we might recognize he was truly rich.
But notice something else the Bible said about him, “… And fared sumptuously every day.” This means he had wealth, and he did not mind flaunting it in the face of everyone that knew him.
The Bible says this man lived a life of luxury EVERY DAY.
• He lived in the best
• He wore the best
• He ate the best
He was a man that many looked up to with envy.
But did you know that this is the only heaven that some folks will ever have? They had better enjoy every minute of life they can enjoy, because eternity in hell is FOREVER!
This parable has a lot to say about how the rich man lived his life. But also-
(B) THIS PARABLE HAS A LOT TO SAY ABOUT LAZARUS
We can read this passage of Scripture, and develop a mental picture of him and his lifestyle. For example, we see that:
(1) He was a man of poverty.
Look at verse 21, we read, “And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.”
He was so poor that all he had to eat were the crumbs that fell from the rich man’s table.
(2) He was an invalid.
Look at verse 20, we read, “And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores.”
This man knew a great deal about suffering.
When people have not suffered much in life, it is difficult for them to recognize suffering. But when a person has suffered a great deal in this life, they can recognize suffering when no one else sees it.
Illus: In Columbia, South Carolina, there is a Christian lady by the name of Mrs. Betty Raynor, that has suffered severe pain for much of her life. One day while her pastor was visiting with her, he had a hurt back. When he got up that morning his back was hurting, and he walked stooped over because of the pain in the lower part of his back. But all day long he was able to conceal the pain, and no one even knew about it. He straightened up and walked into the room of this woman who had lived with pain much of her life, with a smile on his face never mentioning the pain in the lower part of his back. After he had visited with her and had prayer for her, he was leaving her room and she said, “Pastor, is your back hurting you?” He said, “Yes, how did you know?” She said, “I thought so because I can recognize pain!”
Often the Lord allows us to suffer so we can help those we come into contact with.
This poor beggar named Lazarus could sympathize with those in the worst of conditions, because he had experienced the same thing himself.
The rich man and Lazarus had lived OPPOSITE TYPES OF LIVES, But now they both shared the same thing.
Look at verses 22, we read, “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.”
Someone said, “Death makes all men equal!”
That is, it does not matter how much a man or woman may have, they are all going to die one day.
• They might be able to afford the best doctors
• They might be able to afford the best of care and medicine
But one day they are going to die just like the poor man dies.
But notice, after death they did not both go to the same place.
Look at verses 23-24, we read, “And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 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.”
One of the terrible things about hell, is people’s memory.
• They will remember the times they heard the gospel
• They will remember the times they put ridiculous things ahead of the Lord
• They will remember those that put the Lord first in their life and how they despised them
• They will remember the times they could have done so much good with their life
Conclusion:
According to this parable, the rich man in hell came to realize that he was doomed. But now for the first time in his life he is concerned about the salvation of his brothers. He did not want them to come to this dreadful place.
Look at verses 27-31, we read, “Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house: For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.”
The rich man in hell was of the persuasion that if one from the dead came back and preached to his five brethren, they would repent. But the Lord told him that if one came back from the dead, still they would not repent if they will not believe Moses and the prophets. And He was right, and I will prove that to you in a few minutes!
There are those today who feel like the rich man had a good argument. And they will likewise say that if someone came back from the dead and preached to the multitudes they would repent.
May I remind you that someone did do this, HIS NAME IS JESUS, AND STILL MEN WILL NOT REPENT.
This parable teaches us that it is not what is on the outside that determines if a man or woman will enter heaven, it is what is on the inside.
Many folks look good on the outside, but sad to say, on the inside they do not look good at all. But there are some who do not look good on the outside, but on the inside they look great.
I. THE REVERSAL METHOD
II. THE RICH MAN
