Reversal of Fortune

Larry Johnson

Reversal of Fortune • Sermon • Submitted 7 months ago • Presented 7 months ago

Luke 16:19–31

Hell

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Introduction:

Luke 16:19–31 CSB

19 “There was a rich man who would dress in purple and fine linen, feasting lavishly every day. 20 But a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, was lying at his gate. 21 He longed to be filled with what fell from the rich man’s table, but instead the dogs would come and lick his sores. 22 One day the poor man died and was carried away by the angels to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 And being in torment in Hades, he looked up and saw Abraham a long way off, with Lazarus at his side. 24 ‘Father Abraham!’ he called out, ‘Have mercy on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this flame!’ 25 “ ‘Son,’ Abraham said, ‘remember that during your life you received your good things, just as Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here, while you are in agony. 26 Besides all this, a great chasm has been fixed between us and you, so that those who want to pass over from here to you cannot; neither can those from there cross over to us.’ 27 “ ‘Father,’ he said, ‘then I beg you to send him to my father’s house— 28 because I have five brothers—to warn them, so that they won’t also come to this place of torment.’ 29 “But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; they should listen to them.’ 30 “ ‘No, father Abraham,’ he said. ‘But if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’ 31 “But he told him, ‘If they don’t listen to Moses and the prophets, they will not be persuaded if someone rises from the dead.’ ”

Now

In I Talk Back to the Devil, A.W. Tozer reminds us:

"Money often comes between men and God. Someone has said that you can take two small ten-cent pieces, just two dimes, and shut out the view of a panoramic landscape. Go to the mountains and just hold two coins closely in front of your eyes--the mountains are still there, but you cannot see them at all because there is a dime shutting off the vision in each eye."

It doesn't take large quantities of money to come between us and God; just a little, placed in the wrong position, will effectively obscure our view.

Then

-Jesus tells a parable about a Manager who acted shrewdly in preparing for the future.

-The Master in this story commended the Manager for acting in a way the would secure his future.

-Jesus then tells us some key kingdom principles in (v.10-13)

Luke 16:10–13 CSB

10 Whoever is faithful in very little is also faithful in much, and whoever is unrighteous in very little is also unrighteous in much. 11 So if you have not been faithful with worldly wealth, who will trust you with what is genuine? 12 And if you have not been faithful with what belongs to someone else, who will give you what is your own? 13 No servant can serve two masters, since either he will hate one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”

-(v.14) “Now the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, were listening to all these things and were scoffing(blow someone off) at Him” Luke inserts this odd statement right after telling this story about the manager who made provision for his future. Luke understood who Jesus was directing this story at. Look at Jesus statement in (v.15)

Luke 16:15 CSB

15 And he told them, “You are the ones who justify yourselves in the sight of others, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly admired by people is revolting in God’s sight.

(v.15) Self Justification in front of the eyes of men. The Pharisees would blow trumpets, when they came to the Temple to give their offerings. They wanted everyone to see what they gave. They believe all of their financial success came from the God as a award for their pious life.

(v.15) Jesus tells them: When men praise you for what you give, and honor you for how much money you have It sickens me!!!

-It is within this landscape that Jesus tells a story starting in (v.19)

I. The Rich Man’s State

Luke 16:19–21 CSB

(v.19) “Now there was a rich man, and he habitually dressed in purple and fine linen” That word “dressed or clothed” is an imperfect verb meaning that it is past tense. That is important because Jesus is making a point in this first sentence. He is telling us a lot about this Rich man’s personality. The CSB does a great job of translating this verb. They translate that first sentence like this “There was a rich man who would dress” Why would Jesus bring attention to this simple fact. He wanted the hearer’s to know that this is Rich man that never dressed down. This was a Rich Man that had money and wanted you to know it, This was a Rich man that flaunted his wealth. This wasn’t a subtle rich man who dressed in Levi’s. This was a Man who wore expensive clothes everyday.

What did he wear??? and what did he do everyday???

(v.19) “He dressed in purple and fine linen, joyously living in splendor every day” Purple was the color of royalty, so Jesus might say this man wore the robes of Kings everyday, and the Material was fine linen. He is describing Egyptian Cotton used to mummify the Pharaoh’s of Egypt. Only the best for this man.

(v.19) “Joyously living in splendor every day” Jesus tells us that this man did not have a care in the world. He lived over the top and he wanted the world to know it. That word “splendor or sumptuously; means bright or shining.” Jesus is using very descriptive words to describe a man who was rich and wanted everyone to know about it.

Saints let’s call this man “Money Maywheather”

In Contrast to him there was another man in this story

(v.20) “And a poor man named Lazarus” This is very interesting for Jesus to do this. This is the only case in a parable that Jesus used the name of one of the characters. This has led many scholar’s to speculate that Jesus was telling a real story in this case. There is another theory and that Jesus is still telling a parable, but he strategically used the name “Lazarus” to make a point. Lazarus name means “the God who helps” Jesus is giving worth and honor to a man who has been beat up, bruised, battered and marginalized his whole life.

(v.20) “was laid at his gate” this verb “laid” is in the passive meaning that he did not lay himself, but he was laid there by someone else. This leads me to believe that Lazarus was an invalid, and that he could not move from the Gate of this rich man. He probably sat him right outside the gate so that every time he left his property he would seen poor ole Lazarus. Lazarus also had ulcers, or open wounds. These could possible be bed sores from an elongated time of sitting in one place for a long time.

(v.20) “and longing to be fed with the crumbs which were falling from the rich man’s table” You will remember that in his life the Rich man fulfilled his every desire, but look at Lazarus he “longed” just to get the crumb to fill his hungry belly. During this time Rich Folks at a large meal would used the uneaten pieces of bread to wipe their hands then throw it on to the floor for the dogs to eat it. The Rich Men and his family thought more of the dogs than they did Lazarus, a man made in the image of God.

(v.20) “even the dogs were coming and licking his sores” notice the conjunction “even” this conjunction says “if all those other things working against Lazarus weren’t enough” look what happened to him now. Lazarus did not have enough strength to fight off the dogs that licked his wounds. These were not cute little house dogs, very few people keep house dogs, because they were consider to be unclean by the Jews. These are scavenger dogs just as hungry as Lazarus looking for something to eat.

Transition Statement-Lazarus is in bad shape, but the Rich Man is living on top of the world, then the story turns quickly

II. The Rich Man’s Fate

Luke 16:22–24 CSB

22 One day the poor man died and was carried away by the angels to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 And being in torment in Hades, he looked up and saw Abraham a long way off, with Lazarus at his side. 24 ‘Father Abraham!’ he called out, ‘Have mercy on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this flame!’

Luke 16:22 NIV

22 “The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried.

(v.22) “Now the poor man died” the NIV catches the essence of this word “The Time Came” meaning that it was time for relief to come to Lazarus situation. Saints this might be the most sobering phrase in the bible “when the time came!” sometimes we forget Death is inevitable. But its’ coming! it’s coming for everyone! we ought to live like we know this!

(v.22) “Now the poor man died and was carried away by the angels to Abraham’s bosom” Jesus is lifting the veil a little bit now so that we can see beyond the grave. This text refutes the false belief of “soul sleep” which says the folks stay in a state of sleep until the final judgement. It is clear from this text that the soul leaves the body after death. Notice where he took him. “Abraham’s Bosom” This is strange language to us. Let me take you to another text to bring some insight:

John 13:23–26 CSB

23 One of his disciples, the one Jesus loved, was reclining close beside Jesus. 24 Simon Peter motioned to him to find out who it was he was talking about. 25 So he leaned back against Jesus and asked him, “Lord, who is it?” 26 Jesus replied, “He’s the one I give the piece of bread to after I have dipped it.” When he had dipped the bread, he gave it to Judas, Simon Iscariot’s son.

(v.23-26) During Passover as they were sharing a meal it says that John leaned on Jesus bosom. You will remember that they ate in a circle leaning on their side. So the person in front of you could lean back into your chest to have a private word with you during a banquet. And seats closest to the host were the most honorable.

(v.22) This gives us a better understanding of what was going on. The Angels brought Lazarus to a banquet and sat him right next to Abraham. He was brought to place where all of his desires were meet physically, spiritually and emotionally. He was no longer the beggar in the street, but the honored guest at a heavenly banquet.

Sidenote: This was not just because he was poor. It was because of his relationship to Christ. I want to make sure people don’t ascribe poverty with righteousness.

In Contrast to Lazarus the Rich Man also had to come face to face with the inevitable.

-(v.22b-23) “and the Rich man also died and was buried” Jesus is intentionally bringing attention to the inevitable fate of both men, no matter how well or how hard each of their lives were.

-(v.23) “In Hades he lifted up his eyes, being in torment, and saw Abraham far away and Lazarus in his bosom” The Rich man was not in a soul sleep waiting for judgement his location has already changed.

a. Location- “In Hades” this the abode of the dead. This word could be used in a neutral sense to describe a place for the wicked and the righteous. a holding place for final judgement. In the OT it was called “Sheol” Or it could be just a place for the wicked while they await final judgement.

Two interpretative theories:

Pre-resserection: Hades corresponds to the Hebrew word for Sheol. I holding place for the dead both wicked and righteous.

Pre-resserection: Hades describes a resting place for the soul’s waiting for final judgement.

I have been thinking about this passage and my former interpretation. I believed the Hades did not house both the wicked and righteous based in this text in Luke:

Luke 23:39–43 CSB

39 Then one of the criminals hanging there began to yell insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” 40 But the other answered, rebuking him: “Don’t you even fear God, since you are undergoing the same punishment? 41 We are punished justly, because we’re getting back what we deserve for the things we did, but this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” 43 And he said to him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

-(v.43) Jesus tells the thief that today he shall be in paradise because of his repentance and acceptance of Christ. That word Paradise is different than Hades.

So my conclusion based on these verse left me to believe that everything in this story is parabolic meaning the story was not meant to convey any real meaning about the afterlife it was simply a story to teach about making money your God. This conclusion was largely driven by commentaries. The commentaries are pretty consistent that Hades didn’t house both the wicked and righteous and Jesus was simply trying to tell a story.

I no longer think that. I believe this portion of the narrative is real pre-resurrection. Prior to Jesus being resurrected both the wicked and Righteous were housed in the same place called “Sheol in the OT” and “Hades in the NT”

The person who pursues money thinks that riches will solve his problems, when in reality, riches will create more problems! Material wealth gives a dangerous, false sense of security, and that feeling ends in tragedy.

Warren W. Wiersbe

All OT saints were saved by faith in a future messiah. But their expiation or absolution from sins had to fully completed by the Death, Burial and resurrection of Christ. I think Ephesians picks up on this in Ephesians 4:7-8

Ephesians 4:7–8 CSB

7 Now grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. 8 For it says: When he ascended on high, he took the captives captive; he gave gifts to people.

During Jesus ascension he took captive captive. Meaning Jesus picked up some people called “captive” these are people who were in a place they were stuck at. Where were they stuck at. Maybe these were all the OT saints still in Hades waiting for the resurrection.

This interpretation allows to interpret this parable according to the plain meaning of the text rather than spiritualize everything in the parable.

(v.23) “being in torment, and Saw Abraham far away and Lazarus in his bosom” The Rich man is in immediate torment, and during this torment he looked far away and saw the Beggar that he saw every day laying at his front gate. It is important that you remember Jesus telling a story to convey a point to the wicked Pharisees. Meaning that Jesus can add facet to this narrative to drive home a point. The text says “The Rich Man looked up and saw Lazarus laying on Abraham” in this narrative Jesus may be giving the Rich Man a glimpse of Paradise to make his point. This connection between the two abodes in Hades is no longer true. Hades now is simply an abode for the wicked awaiting judgement.

Principles for the afterlife: the Rich man remembered Lazarus. This tells us the wicked will not have their memories wiped. In Hell you will have to live with yourself and all your regrets that you can nothing about. This reality caused The Rich Man to despise Lazarus even more.

Review

Saints this is a doctrine that we can’t equivocate on. Hell is a real place with real consequences.

There are biblical scholars and preachers who do not believe in a real hell or who teach “soul sleep”

When the Time comes! Saints all of us have an appointed time it is imperative that we live like it.

OPEN THE DOORS OF THE CHURCH

Part II

-I. The Rich Man’s State

-II. The Rich Man’s Fate

Saints this is a doctrine that we can’t equivocate on. Hell is a real place with real consequences.

There are biblical scholars and preachers who do not believe in a real hell or who teach “soul sleep”

When the Time comes! Saints all of us have an appointed time it is imperative that we live like it.

Luke 7:36–39 CSB

36 Then one of the Pharisees invited him to eat with him. He entered the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. 37 And a woman in the town who was a sinner found out that Jesus was reclining at the table in the Pharisee’s house. She brought an alabaster jar of perfume 38 and stood behind him at his feet, weeping, and began to wash his feet with her tears. She wiped his feet with her hair, kissing them and anointing them with the perfume. 39 When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “This man, if he were a prophet, would know who and what kind of woman this is who is touching him—she’s a sinner!”

Do you see the disdain the Pharisees had for the common folks? Why such animus?

we are going to find out right now

Transition Statement-There has been a location switch for both the Rich Man and Lazarus. The Rich went from Birmingham to Hades, and Lazarus went from cass corridor to Paradise. This reality caused The Rich Man to despise Lazarus even more.

III. The Rich Man’s Hate

Luke 16:24–28 CSB

24 ‘Father Abraham!’ he called out, ‘Have mercy on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this flame!’ 25 “ ‘Son,’ Abraham said, ‘remember that during your life you received your good things, just as Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here, while you are in agony. 26 Besides all this, a great chasm has been fixed between us and you, so that those who want to pass over from here to you cannot; neither can those from there cross over to us.’ 27 “ ‘Father,’ he said, ‘then I beg you to send him to my father’s house— 28 because I have five brothers—to warn them, so that they won’t also come to this place of torment.’

-It is important that before we dive into this point that we do a little background work to try and understand the mindset of a Pharisees to the beggar, sinner, lame, or leper.

Luke 18:9-10 help

Luke 18:9 CSB

9 He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and looked down on everyone else:

(EXP)(v.9-10) Luke tells us the purpose of this next parable: This parable is written to those “who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and viewed others with contempt” So that we don’t speculate who these two people are we need to read (v.10)

Luke 18:10 CSB

10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.

(v.10) This text tells us who are the participants of (v.9)

a. A Pharisee-he is the one who trusted in his own righteousness and good works.

b. A Tax Collector-he is the known sinner with issues; he is the one that the Pharisees looked on with “Contempt”

(v.9) Contempt-To despise someone or something on the basis that it is worthless or of no value.

Where does this type of hate come from? Does the OT authorize this type of hate towards the lame, blind, poor, and destitute?

-Moses came to MT Gerazim “The MT of Blessing” and MT Ebal “The MT of Curses” and he split the 12 tribes up into groups of 6 each stood on one MT and read these chapter out loud.

Deut 28:1-2 help

Deuteronomy 28:1–2 CSB

1 “Now if you faithfully obey the Lord your God and are careful to follow all his commands I am giving you today, the Lord your God will put you far above all the nations of the earth. 2 All these blessings will come and overtake you, because you obey the Lord your God:

-(v.1) The Lord in this verse is setting the parameters for a covenant. In Theology we call this a bilateral covenant. Meaning that both parties have a part to fulfill. We would say that he is about to give them some conditional promises.

-(v.2) He is about tell them about all the blessing that will come upon them as they obey him. The Condition are in:

deut 28:9, & 14-15 help

Deuteronomy 28:9 CSB

9 The Lord will establish you as his holy people, as he swore to you, if you obey the commands of the Lord your God and walk in his ways.

Deuteronomy 28:14 CSB

14 Do not turn aside to the right or the left from all the things I am commanding you today, and do not follow other gods to worship them.

Deuteronomy 28:15 CSB

15 “But if you do not obey the Lord your God by carefully following all his commands and statutes I am giving you today, all these curses will come and overtake you:

What are the blessings?

deut 28:4 help

Deuteronomy 28:4 CSB

4 Your offspring will be blessed, and your land’s produce, and the offspring of your livestock, including the young of your herds and the newborn of your flocks.

-(v.4) Human Fertility, and Animal Fertility

Deut 28:7

Deuteronomy 28:7 CSB

7 “The Lord will cause the enemies who rise up against you to be defeated before you. They will march out against you from one direction but flee from you in seven directions.

-(v.7) All your enemies both physical and bodily will flee your presence. This is promise of long fruitful life.

Deut 28:11-14 help

Deuteronomy 28:11–14 CSB

11 The Lord will make you prosper abundantly with offspring, the offspring of your livestock, and your land’s produce in the land the Lord swore to your ancestors to give you. 12 The Lord will open for you his abundant storehouse, the sky, to give your land rain in its season and to bless all the work of your hands. You will lend to many nations, but you will not borrow. 13 The Lord will make you the head and not the tail; you will only move upward and never downward if you listen to the Lord your God’s commands I am giving you today and are careful to follow them. 14 Do not turn aside to the right or the left from all the things I am commanding you today, and do not follow other gods to worship them.

(v.11) “The Lord will make you abound in prosperity”

(v.12) “The Lord will open for you his good storehouse, the heavens,” The Lord will supernaturally work through your obedience to bless everything you put your hand to

(v.13) “The Lord will make you the head and not the tail” meaning you will not be a nations slave or bondservant. I will bless you so much you will be a lender never a borrower.

What were the curses?

deut 28:18 help

Deuteronomy 28:18 CSB

18 Your offspring will be cursed, and your land’s produce, the young of your herds, and the newborn of your flocks.

-(v.18) Poverty:

a. Cursed; Few children or no Children

b. Cursed; the produce of your ground

c. Cursed; your herd and young of your flock

Deut 28:21-22 help

Deuteronomy 28:21–22 CSB

21 The Lord will make pestilence cling to you until he has exterminated you from the land you are entering to possess. 22 The Lord will afflict you with wasting disease, fever, inflammation, burning heat, drought, blight, and mildew; these will pursue you until you perish.

(v.21) “The Lord will make the pestilence cling to you” That word in the text “pestilence” is disease or sickness. “Until He has consumed you from the land where you are entering to possess it” Incurable disease that ravage the body until you die.

(v.22) “The Lord will smite you with consumption and with fever and with inflammation” Notice that it says “The Lord will smite”

-The assumption was that if someone had an incurable disease or was stuck in poverty that they had made God mad and that their condition was a punishment for their failure to keep the condition of this bilateral covenant.

-The Pharisees look at their bank books and notice that they were well off and comfortable, and all common people suffered from poverty, sicknesses, and pain. So they drew the conclusion based on their own success that God must be pleased with them because he blessed them with so much excess, and that those other people must be cursed.

-There is a problem with this conclusion; There are many OT scriptures that refute this conclusion:

Deut 15:7-11

Deuteronomy 15:7–11 CSB

7 “If there is a poor person among you, one of your brothers within any of your city gates in the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward your poor brother. 8 Instead, you are to open your hand to him and freely loan him enough for whatever need he has. 9 Be careful that there isn’t this wicked thought in your heart, ‘The seventh year, the year of canceling debts, is near,’ and you are stingy toward your poor brother and give him nothing. He will cry out to the Lord against you, and you will be guilty. 10 Give to him, and don’t have a stingy heart when you give, and because of this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you do. 11 For there will never cease to be poor people in the land; that is why I am commanding you, ‘Open your hand willingly to your poor and needy brother in your land.’

psalm 82:3-4 help

Psalm 82:3–4 CSB

3 Provide justice for the needy and the fatherless; uphold the rights of the oppressed and the destitute. 4 Rescue the poor and needy; save them from the power of the wicked.”

If the poor where there because of their own financial failures why would God tell the children of Israel to rescue them?

Notice he said provide them Justice! He says this because their society like ours favors the rich and punishes the poor.

Luke 12:33-34

Luke 12:33–34 CSB

33 Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Make money-bags for yourselves that won’t grow old, an inexhaustible treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. 34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

(v.33) The Lord talking to those who have excess, and tells them to sell some of their possessions and give to charity. Those that need it.

But Lord didn’t you say in Deut 28 that if a person is needy and destitute it is because they have been cursed by you, I am a little confused?

deut 28:1-2

Deuteronomy 28:1–2 CSB

(EXP)(v.1) “The Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth” This covenant is a National Covenant not an individual Covenant. Meaning that as country when you do these things I will bless the whole country. That does not mean that you will not have poor people within your country, or that you will not have sick people within your country, or that some of your woman won’t be barren. It means that God will bless your country in such a way that even your poor will be taken care of because those that have should helping those that don’t have. Proverbs 28:27 shuts it down

proverbs 28:27

Proverbs 28:27 CSB

27 The one who gives to the poor will not be in need, but one who turns his eyes away will receive many curses.

-This is Solomon saying to disregard the poor, marginalized, struggling and afflicted will cause curses to come upon you.

-Final Conclusion: You cannot always make the direct conclusion that a person physical condition, financial condition, or emotional condition came as a result of their sin. God allows some of these people to remain in this condition, so that those who aren’t in this condition can reach out and help them. These folks are necessary to our sanctification.

-Now let’s check back on “The Rich Man” now that we have a greater understanding about where is contempt came from for Lazarus.

luke 16:24-28 help

Luke 16:24–28 CSB

(v.24) “And he cried out and said, “Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus” Even in Hades under constant agony and pain he has still not come face to face with his own pride. Look at how he addresses “ send Lazarus” he still see him as a beggar on the street beneath him. As if Lazarus was there to serve him. This leads us to two conclusion:

a. The purpose of Hell is not rehabilitation but Wrath/Justice.

b. Repentance is heart issue, it is the natural response of the convicting power of the HS. The HS in Hades is not drawing men to salvation. Meaning in Hades you will still not be able to rightly see your sin. You will stay in a constant state of excuse and justification for your situation. Listen to Revelation 9:20-21 speak about the pride in people heart

rev 9:20-21 help

Revelation 9:20–21 CSB

20 The rest of the people, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands to stop worshiping demons and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone, and wood, which cannot see, hear, or walk. 21 And they did not repent of their murders, their sorceries, their sexual immorality, or their thefts.

(v.20) after plagues from heaven have take out over 25% of the Earth’s Population and all kinds of supernatural cataclysmic judgement have fallen on the earth; look at folks attitudes:

a. did not repent of the works of their hands(meaning the their lifestyles)

b. did not give up their gods of money

c. did not give up their possessions.

d. did not repent of their violent ways

-When a men/woman repents it is a divine miracle. It is a spiritual resurrection wrought by the HS of God.

Luke 16:24–25 CSB

(v.24) You will notice the Rich man addresses Abraham as Father. and then in (v.25) Abraham responds calling the Rich Man “Child” This was done by Jesus to cut the Pharisees right in their heart. For them being a (ethnic) child of Abraham was all that was needed to be in paradise. Even Abraham in the text calls him “Child”. Abraham was basically saying yes you are my ethnic child, but you are not my spiritual child. Just being Jewish is not enough to inherit eternal life. One must come through the cross to obtain eternal life.

(v.25) In this 4th contrast the Abraham tells the Rich Man “remember” this is powerful because Abraham is reminding the Rich Man of the opulent and extravagant way in which he lived, but Lazarus begged at your gate surviving on the bare minimum.

a. Lazarus “being comforted”- present passive verb. Meaning that he is continually being comforted/satisfied, And you

b. The Rich Man “you in agony”-present passive verb....meaning that he is continually in agony, and his agony is the result of consequences from his earthly journey.

What does Abraham tell the Rich Man to do in (v.25)?

-He tells him to remember. This lets us know that a part of the suffering in Hell is not just physical pain, but emotional regret that word “Agony” can mean both physical pain or emotional pain it is used interchangeable in the NT. Earlier in (v.23) The Rich Man talked about being in Torment in Hades. That word refers primarily to physical pain. The word in (v.25) refers to Agony. Once the Rich Man caught a glimpse of Lazarus and remember the many times he could have helped him. That regret/remorse crawled up on top of him without relief. In the world when he felt remorse he could just throw another party, to help forget it, but in Hades his memory will be vivid, and will remind him of all the missed opportunities.

Let’s not forget this parable is for the listening Pharisees, who are currently in Hades now having not repented when Jesus told this story. This story will resonate in their memories for eternity without relief.

Although people mistakenly believe that, at worst, when they die they will cease to exist, the fact is that not only will they continue to exist, but they will be able to remember the good things they received on earth, the blessings God poured out upon them, the patience God showed to them, the many opportunities He gave them to turn to Him. Therefore, I suggest that one of the most horrendous aspects of hell is the memory people will have of the times they could have received the free gift of salvation, but chose to harden their hearts instead. [Courson, Jon: Jon Courson's Application Commentary. Nashville, TN : Thomas Nelson, 2003, S. 382.]

Transition Statement-This leads me to give at least 3 conclusion about Hades from the parable:

a. Hell is conscious torment(v.24) “he lifted up his eyes, being in torment” Meaning you will experience this pain at the levels of man: Body, Soul & Spirit. You will be fully aware of the bodily pain, as well as emotional pain of regret/remorse and unable to change it. Your mental faculties will still be in tact. As a matter of fact your memory will be as sharp as it was when you were a kid, because you will also have an eternal body. As well as the bitter, dark, and toxic feeling of hating God, but not being able to do anything about it. vis a vis (Repentance) which brings emotional rest.

b. Hell is a place of unsatisfied desire(v.24) “have mercy on me, and send Lazarus so that he may dip the tip of his finger in the water and cool off my tongue” This tells us that his bodily function in Hades functioned just like his body on earth, with all the desires that come from our humanity. Thirst, Hunger, Love, validation, Relationship, and Sexual Intimacy. Not only that it will be heightened because there will be nothing there to distract you from them. On Earth we can sometimes get distracted and not realize we are hungry, or thirsty, or starving for attention from the opposite sex, because we keep busy doing other things. There will be no distraction in Hades/or the Lake of Fire.

Notice the grammatical imagery Jesus uses: His description of The Rich Man thirst matches the thirst that Lazarus(v.21) experienced on Earth. Both of them so desperate that just a Morsel of something would bring 1 sec of satisfaction.

c. Hell is eternal & unchangeable-(v.26) In response to the Rich Man request in (v.24) for Water Abraham tells the Rich Man in (v.26) Lazarus cannot come over there because “there has been a great chasm fixed” That word “chasm”means- “yawning” it found only this one time in the NT. it is “a deep, unbridgeable valley or trough between two points” Two pt. needs to be made about this reality.

a. fixed-perfect, passive verb-perfect is a completed pass act with continual effects. Passive means it was put there by something or someone else. Meaning this “Chasm” was put here in the past and it continual remains eternal, and it was put here by God himself.

b. Unchangeable-Notice that Abraham says that there will not be any traveling or exchanging of location. Your eternal destiny is final without any second chances. There will be no negotiating at this point. That is what makes death so bad(unchangeable).

Some may asked: Doesn’t that punishment seem extreme and inappropriate?

Sovereignty: He is the potter and we are the clay: meaning when the smoke clears:

“how does a finite being ultimately hold accountable a infinite being by our current understanding of justice.”

Our current understanding of justice is based on what we know and what we can prove(this is limited understanding). That is why we can’t stop crimes we simple catch people afterwards.

Romans 9:18-23(Help)

Romans 9:18–23 CSB

18 So then, he has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy and he hardens whom he wants to harden. 19 You will say to me, therefore, “Why then does he still find fault? For who resists his will?” 20 On the contrary, who are you, a human being, to talk back to God? Will what is formed say to the one who formed it, “Why did you make me like this?” 21 Or has the potter no right over the clay, to make from the same lump one piece of pottery for honor and another for dishonor? 22 And what if God, wanting to display his wrath and to make his power known, endured with much patience objects of wrath prepared for destruction? 23 And what if he did this to make known the riches of his glory on objects of mercy that he prepared beforehand for glory—

2. Sin: Since rejection of Christ is an eternal sin, then logically wouldn’t God be well within his rights to give you a eternal consequence that matches an eternal sin. If God has sent people your way to invite you to spend eternity with himself in his kingdom, and you decided to not take him up on his invitation, then why would you be mad when you don’t get to go to the wedding.

Romans 6:23 CSB

23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

This parable has four contrast that Jesus wants you to focus on: He wants to magnify the absolute absurdity of a lame beggar lying in the bosom of the most revered Jew(Father Abraham) while a proud, successful, externally righteous Pharisees rots in hell. No one listening to this story would have thought that Lazarus would have made it in before the Rich Man.

a. The Rich man lived in paradise, Lazarus lived in the slums

b. Lazarus was carried to Abraham Bosom, and the Rich Man woke up in Hades

c. On Earth Lazarus bodily & emotional desires were not filled, The Rich Man’s bodily and emotional desires were satisfied beyond measure

d. In the afterlife: All of Lazarus desire were continually satisfied, and the Rich Man desires were eternally left unsatisfied.

Application

External success is a poor indicator of spiritual maturity.

Hades/Hell is not restorative, it is retributive(straight revenge)

Repentance is not possible in Hell because the HS is not actively convicting the hearts of those in Hell(meaning any remorse or sorrow in hell is all false)(P-Diddy Apology)

Hades/Hell is a: Conscious, Unsatisfying, Fixed place of Judgement.

transition statement-The Rich Man had one more request

IV. The Rich Man was to Late

Luke 16:27–31 CSB

27 “ ‘Father,’ he said, ‘then I beg you to send him to my father’s house— 28 because I have five brothers—to warn them, so that they won’t also come to this place of torment.’ 29 “But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; they should listen to them.’ 30 “ ‘No, father Abraham,’ he said. ‘But if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’ 31 “But he told him, ‘If they don’t listen to Moses and the prophets, they will not be persuaded if someone rises from the dead.’ ”

-(v.27) “and he said, “Then I beg you, father, that you send him to my father’s house” Notice who the one that is “begging” now. But even in his begging he still doesn’t recognize his sin. His sin is not being rich, his sin is believing that his riches exalted him above all others. Now he is calling Lazarus “him” when he speaks to Abraham he uses proper titles of respect (Father) but when he see. “that you send him to my father’s house” Just this phrase proves that there had been no real change had happened. His heart was still cold and harden even though he is being tormented. Remember Hades/Hell---Is not redemptive nor rehabilitative. It is justice.

-(v.28-29) “for I have five brothers, in order that he may warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment” The Rich Man says can you get word to my family that they need to change or they are going to end up here as well.

-(v.29) “But Abraham said, They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.” This is powerful statement by Abraham, now what was saying in this verse: Abraham was saying that there was enough convincing evidence in the OT to tell your brothers what to do. You see the Pharisees always desired another sign.

deut 18:15-18 (help)

Deuteronomy 18:15–18 CSB

15 “The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own brothers. You must listen to him. 16 This is what you requested from the Lord your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly when you said, ‘Let us not continue to hear the voice of the Lord our God or see this great fire any longer, so that we will not die!’ 17 Then the Lord said to me, ‘They have spoken well. 18 I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers. I will put my words in his mouth, and he will tell them everything I command him.

Daniel 12:1-2 (Help)

Daniel 12:1–2 CSB

1 At that time Michael, the great prince who stands watch over your people, will rise up. There will be a time of distress such as never has occurred since nations came into being until that time. But at that time all your people who are found written in the book will escape. 2 Many who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake, some to eternal life, and some to disgrace and eternal contempt.

-(v.29) Abraham told the Rich Man that there is enough evidence from the prophets to convince your brothers…The Prophets of the OT testament prophecy that there will come a final prophets who will save the people from their sins, but that he will also judge those who reject him.

-This gives us another facet of Hell---For eternity you will never have any of your prayer request answered.

-(v.30) “But he said, No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent!” In desperation the Rich Man pleads with Abraham. The Rich Man believes that if Abraham sends back Lazarus from the grave, someone they know, that they would most certainly repent! This is a key point even the Rich Man recognizes that his sin is not being rich, but allowing his riches to exalt him above his fellowman. His hope is that when Abraham sends back Lazarus to the earth the brothers would realize there poor treatment of Lazarus, and the repent.

-(v.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” Abraham taught the Rich Man a key critical concept when it comes to God and his revelation. Why should God reveal more about himself if your brothers are not even listening to things that have already been revealed to them in the OT. The Rich Man did not understand this basic principle when it comes to God. The more you respond to his revelation the more specific he will reveal himself to you.

The writer of Hebrews says it best:

Hebrews 11:6 (Help)

Hebrews 11:6 CSB

6 Now without faith it is impossible to please God, since the one who draws near to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

Conclusion

-Regret-to express sorrow, despair, or anguish over a pass mistake, disappointment, or missed opportunity.

-Some of us have non-serious regrets. These are regrets that we have about decision we made in the past, but we were able to recover relatively fast from them and they did not seriously alter our future.

-Some of us have some serious regrets. These are the regrets that haunt us everyday. They are not so easy to recover from. They haunt us everyday.

---You hear Momma say “Leave that girl alone” but you keep going now you are connected to her because you have children together

—Daddy told you to stop drinking and now you can’t keep a job because of you alcohol abuse, and drug abuse.

---Your Parents told you to stop playing around in class and sit down and study....You didn’t listen and now you can’t find a job that makes enough money to take care of your family.

---Grand-momma told you to “forgive that person that wronged you, but you didn’t listen and now you have felony.

---Those are all horrible situation, but I have seen people even recover from some of these mistakes.

----But Salvation is a decision that

----Pastor Johnson every week gives the simple gospel

a. Admit

b. Believe

c. Confess

----But you never make a decision to serve the Lord and then like “the Rich Man also died and was buried.” the inevitable comes.....

Let me read you the death bed confession of life long unbelievers:

Thomas Paine:

“I would give worlds if I had them, that The Age of Reason had never been published. O Lord, help me! Christ, help me! . . No, don’t leave; stay with me! Send even a child to stay with me; for I am on the edge of Hell here alone. If ever the Devil had an agent, I have been that one.”

Sir Francis Newport,the head of an English infidel club: “You need not tell me there is no God for I know there is one, and that I am in His presence! You need not tell me there is no hell. I feel myself already slipping. Wretches, cease your idle talk about there being hope for me! I know I am lost forever! Oh, that fire! Oh, the insufferable pangs of hell!”

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Robert Ingersoll: “O God, if there be a God, save my soul, if I have a soul!” (Some say it was this way: “Oh God, if there be a God, save my soul if I have a soul, from hell, if there be a hell!”)

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Voltaire: “I am abandoned by God and man; I will give you half of what I am worth if you will give me six months’ life.” (He said this to Dr. Fochin, who told him it could not be done.) “THEN I SHALL DIE AND GO TO HELL!