Parable of Rich man and Lazarus

Parables of Jesus

Parable of Rich Man and Lazarus (Lk16:19-31) Lesson 27 5/8/24

End of the journey

We are on the last of parables, what a journey this has been over the last 28 weeks. from

* Parables on the kingdom:

* To parables about discipleship

* To growth in the kingdom, in discipleship parables and then

* Finally to warnings and rewards parables.

In our last section we have seen the importance of being ready for the return of Christ and the finality of it, you will see it one more time in our last parable today

Introduction to this parable:

* Open your bibles to Lk16:19-31, we will get there in a few minutes

* This parable gives us a glimpse into life after our physical death. Jesus paints the picture in this parable.

* This parable is unique in several aspects.

* One, some take this not as a parable but an actual historical event due to the specifics given (rich man, life before, Lazarus, life before)

* Also there is the fact stated that “they had Moses and the prophets.”

* Lazarus here should not be confused with Lazarus the brother Mary and Martha, the Lazarus that Jesus called out of the tomb.

* Another unique point this parable has not setting given, no introduction nor is there a conclusion, so it could have been given anytime during Christ’s ministry. But, because of the content it fits nicely right here in the warnings and reward section of our study.

* Third, there is little question regarding the purpose and the meaning of the parable. The purpose does not change if it is a a parable or if it is real.

Soul sleep: There are many people who believe in “soul sleep” this is that the soul sleeps outside of the body until the day of resurrection and that the soul is not conscience. Those who hold to this view point attest that this is a parable only and not real so the soul sleep is not discounted.

* Jesus never misrepresented facts in the parables. So, Jesus must be affirming that there is consciousness in the afterlife according to Womack a,d there is feelings of bliss or agony being experienced.

Luke 16:19–31 NASB95

19 “Now there was a rich man, and he habitually dressed in purple and fine linen, joyously living in splendor every day. 20 “And a 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 the poor man died and was carried away by the angels to Abraham’s bosom; and the rich man also died and was buried. 23 “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 so 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, so that those who wish to come over from here to you will 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—in order that he may warn them, so that they will not 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, they will not be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead.’ ”

* Taylor in his book, “Parables of our Savior” links this parable to the parable of the shrewd manager (unrighteous steward)

* Both deal with money, people who love money and the link to the Pharisee’s read Lk16:14

* Jesus points to the futility of riches again in using a rich man. This is the third time we have in the parables we have seen riches discussed. One point in this is that riches can make you loose focus on what is important.

* This parable is another example how riches can lead you to be self-centered and uncaring for others.

* This parable like many is filled with contrasts

* Rich man lavishing in wealth (v.19) vs. Lazarus the poor beggar is covered in sores begging for crumbs of the rich man’s table (vv.20-21)/

* Rich man died and was buried vs. Lazarus who it just says he died.

* The rich man more than likely had a very public funeral and Lazarus a paupers grave.

* Next the rich man died and sent to Hades vs. Lazarus who died and was carried to Abraham’s bosom.

* Forth, there is the contrast of the attitudes in the afterlife, the rich man becomes the beggar.

* Now it would appear they are both Jews; identified as “Abraham our Father.”

One more quote from Taylor again before moving on:

“Probably no one of the Saviour’s parables needs to be so cautiously handled as this of the rich man and Lazarus.” Womack chooses not be take a critical position on this but to learn from the parable so can live the parable.

Explaining the text:

This parable brings to light the severity of life, death is immanent and how you live your life now impacts where you live your next life.

Barclay: “This is a parable constructed with such masterly skill that non one phrase is wasted.” - again remember there is no introduction, no conclusion, just the parable. (Commentary on Luke, Pg. 213)

James Montgomery Boice: “In all the Bible I do not believe there is a story more stirring or more disturbing that that of the rich man and Lazarus.” (Parables of Jesus, pg.210)

Womack: “So certain in the reward and punishment that humanity will experience as a result of how we live on earth. There are several words in this parable that should be discussed.” - - - I will briefly touch on them.

* Rich man, who is a certain rich man, described even (v.19). In the description dressed in purple this was often one who was of royalty.

* Lazarus, whose name means “God is my help.”

* Covered in sores: This from the Greek is “being full of sores.” It is more than likely true that the man was carried there and left outside the gate to beg, to beg for the very crumbs from the table.

* Hades (Hell in the NIV). this is the “realm of the dead” Death seals our eternal condition, and for the rich man he was in pain. Hell means “eternal place of punishment.”

* Abraham’s bosom: It is not defined but described as a place of comfort, peace, could be a waiting place for the righteous souls until the final judgment. (my view is different, but that is not the point of this parable).

Purpose and Application:

Now Kistemaker in his commentary that Womack references says this: “The parable of the rich man and Lazarus may be viewed as a drama in two acts and a conclusion. The First scene is the presentation of life and death on earth. The second portrays heaven and hell, and the conclusion is given in the form of implicit application.” (from Parables of Jesus, pg. 236).

Now onto some purpose and application.

* It does not matter how much you have, but how you use it. - - - we have seen this in several of the parables; our live does not consist of the abundance of the things we have.

* Taylor: “Riches test character in one way, poverty tests it in another.”

* Our eternal reward depends upon how we have used what we have to become what we are.

* Death permanently determines your eternal destiny

* Verse (26) tells us there is a “great chasm fixed” between hades and Abraham’s bosom, not able to cross over.

* One must repent before death for at death it is too late your eternal destiny is set.

* Womack: “there is no time for us to waste in making our decision about God -- and we will make a decision. It may not be the right one, but we will decide to either accept or reject Jesus Christ.”

Learning to live the parable:

Again turning to Kistemaker “The Lesson Jesus taught is timeless, it is the abiding rule of listening to God’s Word obediently and thankfully.” (from Parables of Jesus, pt 245)

* The rich man was living in the moment, living for the life he had right then with no consideration of eternity. He lived not knowing his death was immanent. No warning, for we do not know the number of our days, only the Father does. The rich man’s sin was not that he was rich, God gives the riches. It was not that he wasted the riches or gained them without hard work. The sin was that he failed to use the riches that God entrusted to him for the benefit of his fellow men. and for the the glory of God who gave him the riches in the first place.

* Second, “the inexcusableness of the rich man.” We cannot claim “ignorance” for our failure to obey the gospel or not knowing God. God has made Himself known for man is without excuse. The rich man chose to live in his wealth.

* Third: The riches man’s punishment. It was painful and it was eternal. We cannot truly imagine what spiritual punishment really will be, what hell will be like, except the verse that gives us a glimpse into hell and it is not pretty. While most believe in a great life after death, many do not believe in hell, or torment after death. This parable teaches there is!

* Forth, This story suggest that there will be a recognition of persons and states of being in the next life. The rich man recognized Lazarus when looking across the chasm. Abraham recognized the rich man. The rich man remembered Moses and the prophets. He remembered his brothers back home and wanted Lazarus, or someone to be an emissary of salvation to them.

* Womack points out that any kind of “universalism” purgatorial cleansing, or second chance is ruled out. There is a great chasm, and no way to cross from one to the other.

A few more things to mention before we end this series and this parable.

* We get a real look at the afterlife by the One who knows it, Jesus. We know He cannot lie, He will not mislead, so there is an afterlife and after this life there is no opportunity to change.

* Womack: Love is honest, but sometimes very tough. This parable honestly reveals to us the fate of those who neglect God.” It is not pretty; it is not desirable.” Appearances can be deceptive, it was really Lazarus that had everything eternally speaking and the Rich man was really poor.

* Finally, God will not send a special vision from the afterlife, from the world of the dead. They had Moses and the Prophets, we have the full counsel of God, we must accept the message of Jesus Christ while we still can, for tomorrow may be too late.

(Sum it up; close w/prayer)