The Rich Man

Introduction:

The Text Indicates that This is A Real Story

It is not introduced as a parable (Lk.12:16; 13:6; 14:7; 15:3)

A Specific Name is Given - “A poor man named Lazarus”

Even If It Is A Parable The Lessons Learned from This Passage Remain the Same

Caldwell - “It does not seem important to decide whether this is a parable or factual narrative, however, because doing so does not alter the significance of Jesus’ message”

1. The Description of The Man

Extremely Rich Man

“Rich”

“Clothed in Purple and Fine Linen” (Esther 8:15; Mark 15:17, 20)

“Fared” or “Feasted Sumptuously Every Day”

Nothing Wrong With Him Being Rich

Selfish Man

God expect the rich to share what they have been blessed with - 1 Tim.6:17-19

He knew who Lazarus was - Luke 16:24

Unsympathetic and Without Compassion

1 John 3:16-17

Colossians 3:12 - “tender-hearted” or “compassionate hearts”

Loved Money

Notice a Reoccurring Message in Luke 16

Luke 16:13 - “You cannot serve God and money”

Luke 16:14 - “Pharisees, who were lovers of money”

1 Timothy 6:10  - “the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil”

2. Lessons Learned From The Rich Man

All Men Die, Rich or Poor

Luke 16:22

We All Have an Appointment With Death - Heb. 9:27

You Can’t Buy Off Death - Ps. 49:10;16-20

Death is the great equalizer

Death Is Not The End of Life, But A Transition To The Next

Luke 16:23

There is More to Me Than A Body (Gen. 1:26; 2:7; Ecc.12:7; 2 Cor.4:16; Jas. 2:26)

The Spirit of Man Lives on After Death (Matt.22:32; Luke 23:46)

There Is A Life To Come (Mark 10:30)

It’s To Late For Personal Evangelism

luke 16:27-31

Open doors are shut at death (Col. 4:3)

Don’t wait until death to become urgent about someone you love who needs the gospel

You Can Go From Comfort To Suffering or Suffering To Comfort

Luke 16:24-25

What you have in this life is not necessarily what you will have in the next

It is Terrible to Be Lost - (Mk.9:42-50; 2 Thess.1:8-9; Rev.14:11)

There Is Rest for Those Who Have Lived Right (Heb.4:10-11; Rev.14:13)

Will Be Conscience After Death

Luke 16:23ff

We “See”, “Say”, and “Remember” In Hades

Once We Die your Destiny Is Fixed

Luke 16:26

Many False Doctrines Refuted By This Passage

Doctrine of Purgatory

Doctrine of Baptism for the Dead

Doctrine of Reincarnation

Judged for What We Do “IN THE BODY” - 2 Cor.5:10

Message That Loved Ones Would Like To Send

Luke 16:27-28

Some Let a dead family member determine - not obey

If your loved one is lost - Would love to send you a message lest you be lost like they are

Danger of Riches

It is not wrong to be rich, but there is a danger in riches - Matt.19:23

The Danger is that We Trust in Riches Instead of God

1 Timothy 6:17; Prov.28:11

Prov.30:7-9

Mercy Must Come from Us in This Life Before It Comes From God in the Next

Luke 16:24

It is the Merciful That Receive Mercy

Matthew 5:7

James 2:13

God Saves Through the Scriptures

Luke 16:30-31

The Scriptures Are All Sufficient for Salvation

Romans 1:16

James 1:21

2 Thessalonians 2:13-14

Some Will Not Be Convinced Regardless of What They See or Hear

If His Brothers Would Not Hear the Words of Moses They Would Not Listen if One Came Back From the Dead

Acts 4:16; John 11:45-48; John 12:9-11