The Four Flames Of Hell

Luke 16:19-31 -- “There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:” “And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,” “And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.” “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;” “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.” “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.” “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.” “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.”

l. INTRODUCTION -- THE BOOK OF LUKE

-When we look at the book of Luke as a whole unit, one discovers that some of the main interests that the writer focuses on are the teachings of the Lord on riches and poverty.

-Some of the people touched by poverty are found within the pages of Luke.

He doesn’t attempt to cover their meager ways.

He doesn’t attempt to make them something they are not either.

He simply presents them as they are, and as the Savior entered their lives.

The Centurion’s Servant who was ill -- ch. 7

The Widow of Nain -- ch. 7

The Woman who had the Alabaster Box of Oil -- ch. 7

The Demoniac of Gadara -- ch. 8

The Woman with the Issue of Blood -- ch. 8

The Household of Jarius -- ch. 8

The Good Samaritan -- ch. 10

-Then in Luke 14, one finds a chapter rife with the lessons that come to the “haves” and “have nots.”

The Lord teaches lessons of humility.

He speaks of honored seats and points of exaltation but also of points of abasement.

-In Luke 15, one finds the poverty of the small shepherd who lost one sheep and was willing to risk all to save it.

•One finds the poverty of the woman who lost a single coin and turned over her world looking for it.

•One finds the poverty of the man who lost one of his sons.

•If the shepherd had been a large rancher, nothing would be lost over one sheep.

If the woman would have had plenty, nothing would have been lost over one single coin.

If the man would have had a small heart, he would have forgotten the lost son.

But all of them were steeped in the ways of the lowly.

Therefore their small losses were much more highly valued.

-Then, and only in the book of Luke (Luke 16), the Lord starts with the shady story of a crooked manager who shrewdly used his master’s money to buy friends for himself after he lost his job.

The moral of this sordid tale struck the hearts of the Pharisees because they were covetous and lovers of money. . . . . they scoffed at Him (16:14).

Then He concludes Luke 16 with the most troubling tale of all, the rich man and Lazarus.

ll. THE RICH MAN AND LAZARUS

A. Life’s Greatest Loss

-Within this riveting story that the Lord would give of the Rich Man and Lazarus, one finds lodged within the greatest gain of all, which is Heaven.

But one also finds the greatest loss of all, the soul of a man.

-Each of the Evangelists (Mathew, Mark, Luke) thought it important enough to mention the words of the Lord:

Matthew 16:26 -- “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?”

Mark 8:36 -- “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?”