The Rich Man And Lazarus

(Based on a message preached at New Hope Baptist Church, Fulton, MO on 9-24-2023. This is not an exact transcription.)

Introduction: The closer we get to the Lord’s coming, the less, I think, we hear about Hell. You might be surprised to hear what some people have to say about Hell: some think Hell doesn’t exist; others, that sinners will be destroyed or “burned up” and not face everlasting punishment. Still others believe that they get a pass because of their ancestors or heritage. Seems pretty clear to me they must not have been paying attention to Jesus and what He had to say about Hell.

Our text this morning comes from Luke’s gospel, chapter 16; beginning with verse 19:

Luke 16:19-31, NASV: 19“Now there was a certain rich man, and he habitually dressed in purple and fine linen, gaily living in splendor every day. 20 And a certain poor man named Lazarus was laid at his gate, covered with sores, 21 and longing to be fed with the crumbs which were falling from the rich man’s table; besides, even the dogs were coming and licking his sores.

22 “Now it came about that the poor man died and he was carried away by the angels to Abraham’s bosom; and the rich man also died and was buried. 23 And in Hades he lifted up his eyes, being in torment, and saw Abraham far away, and Lazarus in his bosom. 24 And he cried out and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool off my tongue; for I am in agony in this flame.’

25 “But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that during your life you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus bad things; but now he is being comforted here, and you are in agony. 26 And besides all this, between us and you there is a great chasm fixed, in order that those who wish to come over from here to you may not be able, and that none may cross over from there to us.’”

27 “And he said, ‘Then I beg you, Father, that you send him to my father’s house—28 for I have five brothers—that he may warn them, lest they also come to this place of torment.’

29 “But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.’ 30 “But he said, ‘No, Father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent!’ 31 “But he said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be persuaded if someone rises from the dead.’”

<Opening prayer>

1 The comparison between the two men

In the context, the previous couple of chapters, Jesus has been discussing a number of items with the disciples and with the religious leaders of the day. This last group didn’t seem to think very much of what Jesus said and they let him know it. That didn’t stop Jesus from telling them what they needed to hear, though.

And what they needed to hear was something that they probably didn’t expect. Jesus was about to tell them, and us by extension, some of the clearest explanation of life after this life that anybody had ever heard. Of course, before this, there was some information known in the Old Testament, such as David knowing he would meet his and Bathsheba’s child after he died (2 Samuel 12:21-23). Job knew that one day he, in his flesh or body, would see God (Job 19:25-27) and the writer of Psalm 71 also knew that God would raise him “from the depths of the earth (Psalm 71:20)” at a future time (implied).

Even so, there was not much revealed in the Old Testament about the everlasting punishment waiting for those who died in their sins. Isaiah had mentioned something about this at the end of his book (Isaiah 66:24). Some people, of course, had heard Jesus preach about Hell (Mark 9, for example) but that may have been before this episode took place. At any rate, the listeners were about to hear something for the first time.

That something was a story that had to speak to everyone listening to Jesus. He jumped right in, as it were, and mentioned something that most people of that day were familiar with: death. Jesus told them about two men, representatives of all humanity, one might say, and first gave a comparison and/or contrast between these two men.

He first mentioned a rich man who “habitually” or regularly wore purple and fine linen. Now, I’m wearing a purple shirt today, but that doesn’t mean much except that purple is an affordable color of fabric these days! In those days, though, purple was some of the most expensive stuff available. Somewhere I read that the color “purple” ranged from true violet to deep blue to a very deep red” but no matter the hue or color itself, there was only one way to get it. That was to find a certain, specific shellfish and crush the shell to get a purple-ish dye. Then the fabric would be dyed, later sold, and a few people would be very happy indeed!