Wednesday, September 11, 2024

The Parables of Jesus Series

Tonight’s Study – Session 33: The Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus

Introduction: The Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus contains the account of a very rich man who lived a life of extreme luxury. Laid outside the gate of this rich man’s house, however, was an extremely poor man named Lazarus who simply hoped “to eat what fell from the rich man’s table.” The rich man was completely indifferent to the plight of Lazarus, showing him no love, sympathy, or compassion whatsoever. Eventually they both died. Lazarus went to heaven, and the rich man went to hell.

The Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus is only found in the Gospel of Luke.

Let’s Look at the Passage where this Parable is Found

“There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day. But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid at his gate, desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover, the dogs came and licked his sores.

 So it was that the beggar died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and was buried. And being in torments in Hades, he lifted-up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. “Then 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 in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted, and you are tormented.

 And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us.’ “Then he said, ‘I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father’s house, for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.’ Abraham said to him, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.’ And he said, ‘No, Father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ But he said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.’” (Luke 16:19-31)

 Verse by Verse Look at The Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus

Verse 19

The rich man’s attire (clothed in purple – a sign of royalty) was a clear sign of his wealth. Also, the fact that he fared sumptuously signified that he lived in luxury.

Verse 20

The Lazarus described here was clearly not the same Lazarus in John 11 (who died at a later time). This beggar was the only character in any of Jesus’ parables ever given a name. Some therefore speculate that this was no imaginary tale, but an actual incident that really took place. Either way, Christ employs it in the same fashion as all His parables, to teach a lesson. In this case for the benefit of the Pharisees.

Verse 21

The mention of table scraps, sores, and dogs made this poor man appear repulsive in the eyes of the Pharisees. They were inclined to see all such things as proof of divine disfavor. They would have viewed such as person as not only unclean, but also despised by God.

Verse 22

-Abraham’s bosom – This same expression (found only here in Scripture) was used in the *Talmud as a figure for heaven. The idea was that Lazarus was given a place of high honor, reclining next to Abraham at the heavenly banquet.

And I say to you that many will come from east and west, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 8:11)

*A compilation of ancient teachings regarded as sacred and normative by Jews from the time it was compiled until modern times and still so regarded by traditional religious Jews.

Verse 23

The suggestion that a rich man would be excluded from heaven would have infuriated the Pharisees; especially the idea that a beggar who ate scraps from his table was granted the place of honor next to Abraham.

In Hades – Hades was the Greek term for the abode of the dead. In the *LXX, it was used to translate the Hebrew word Sheol, which referred to the realm of the dead in general, without necessarily distinguishing between righteous and unrighteous souls. However, in the New Testament usage, “Hades” always refers to the place of the wicked prior to final judgment in hell. The imagery Jesus used paralled the common rabbinical idea that Sheol had two parts, one for the souls of the righteous and the other for the souls of the wicked – separated by an impassable gulf.

*The Greek translation of the Old Testament. It was later called by the Latin term Septuagint.

Verses 24

Christ pictured Hades as a place where the unspeakable torment of hell had already begun. Among one of the miseries featured here is an unquenchable flame.

Into the fire that shall never be quenched (Mark 9:45b)

Verse 25

Another misery that Jesus associated with Hades is the accusing conscience fed by undying memories of lost opportunity.

Verse 26

The third misery that Jesus taught would be in Hades was the permanent and irreversible separation from God and everything good.

Verse 27

The rich man retained a condescending attitude toward Lazarus even in hell, repeatedly asking Abraham to “send” Lazarus to wait on him (cf. v.24). The flames of hell do not atone for sin or purge hardened sinners from their depravity.

He who is unjust, let him be unjust still; he who is filthy, let him be filthy still; he who is righteous, let him be righteous still; he who is holy, let him be holy still.” (Revelation 22:11)

Verse 28

The rich man obviously had family members (5 brothers) who were lost and headed to this place of torment themselves.

Verse 29

They have Moses and the prophets – The Old Testament Scriptures spoke eternal truth to those who had ears to hear and an open heart to receive.

Verse 30

The rich man discounted the power of Scripture and instead counted on what many want today instead, the experiential.

So, then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (Romans 10:17)

Verse 31

Neither will they be persuaded – This speaks powerfully of the singular sufficiency of Scripture to overcome unbelief. The gospel itself is the power of God unto salvation.

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and for the Greek. (Romans 1:16)

Since unbelief is at heart a moral, rather than an intellectual problem, no amount of evidence will ever turn unbelief in to faith. But the revealed Word of God has inherent power to do so.

For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12)

Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures. (James 1:18)

Conclusion: The Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus is one of the strongest and clearest teachings in the Bible about heaven and hell. Sadly, many pastors shy away from uncomfortable topics such as hell. Some even preach “universalism” – the belief that everyone goes to heaven. Jesus never taught universalism in any size, shape, or form.

This parable also illustrates that once we cross the eternal horizon, that’s it. There are no more chances. The transition to our eternal state takes place the moment we die (2 Cor. 5:8). Each person will either spend eternity in heaven based on their faith and trust in Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of their sins and the salvation of their soul or spend eternity in hell separated from God due to their rejection of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of their sins and the salvation of their soul. Hades is the “holding place” for the one who has died in their sins. Once there, they will await The Great White Throne Judgment and will be consigned to hell (the lake of fire) for eternity (Revelation 20:11-15).

Third, this parable teaches that wealth and riches can very easily blind people to their need for salvation. Like many these days who buy into the “prosperity gospel,” the rich man wrongly saw his material riches as evidence of God’s love and blessing. Likewise, he, like the Pharisees believed that the poor and destitute were cursed by God. The ground at the foot of the cross of Christ is level and the same for the rich and the poor. Salvation is a gift that cannot be earned or bought, it must be received by faith.

Lastly, since true believers in Jesus are blessed spiritually and materially, we should be quick to share with those who have a genuine need. We are to be good stewards of what God has given us to bless others and be always ready to share the good news of Christ and see souls saved. We pray and desire that those we share with would believe on Jesus and have eternal life like Lazarus and not trust their riches and reject Christ like the rich man who died and was eternally separated from God in hell.

Next Week, Session 34 – The Parable of the Unprofitable Servants