What The Rich Man Saw From Hell

What the Rich Man

Saw From Hell

(Luke 16:19-31)

19There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:

20And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,

21And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.

22And 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;

23And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

24And 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.

25But 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.

26And 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.

27Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father’s house:

28For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.

29Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.

30And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.

31And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.

Introduction: Here is a text that most Baptist has heard read and told many times in their lives, yet it is a story that is not preached much anymore. In preparing for this message I began to think when is the last time I have heard an entire sermon preached on this subject, and to be honest I could not remember.

God began to deal with my heart concerning this topic this past February. God showed me a man that was standing at the precipice of hell. God stirred my heart like never before. From this experience God began to speak to my heart concerning the subject of hell and how it should affect the believer and just as much affect the church. Ladies and Gentlemen the Church is in desperate need of catching a glimpse of hell. The everyday Christian has forgotten the reality of hell. It is mean and harsh to preach on the subject of eternal damnation. It is more important to make people feel good than to share with them the truth of eternal separation from God.

I pray by looking at our text we will not be stirred but broken, that we will not be touched but changed. It is my prayer that through this sermon we will once again weep for those who are lost and are standing at the precipice of hell.

So what did the Rich Man See from Hell?

1. He Saw Paradise Prepared (vs.22-23)

22And 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;

23And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

John 14:1-3(KJV)

1Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.

2In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

2. He Saw His Present Pain (vs.23-24)

23And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

24And 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.

Matthew 8:12(KJV)

12But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Mark 9:43-48(KJV)

43And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:

44Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.