Rich man and Lazarus

Values

Value (Noun) the regard that something is held to deserve; the importance, worth, or usefulness of something. a person's principles or standards of behavior; one's judgment of what is important in life.

What holds value for you?

What holds value for God?

Do your values and God’s line up?

We have previously looked at the unrighteous manner whose shrewdness in handling wordly resources for eternal purposes. This brings us to our passage today and a strong contrast that is put before us.

The main theme of this passage is that our earthly choices reflect our eternal destiny and we need to choose wisely.

Choices matter

Choice of serving God’s values

Luke 16:14–15 NASB95

14 Now the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, were listening to all these things and were scoffing at Him. 15 And He said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves in the sight of men, but God knows your hearts; for that which is highly esteemed among men is detestable in the sight of God.

Luke 16:16–17 NASB95

16 “The Law and the Prophets were proclaimed until John; since that time the gospel of the kingdom of God has been preached, and everyone is forcing his way into it. 17 “But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one stroke of a letter of the Law to fail.

Luke 16:18 NASB95

18 “Everyone who divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery, and he who marries one who is divorced from a husband commits adultery.

Anything stick out to you, anything in particular?

Why the divorce thing here, seems out of place, doesn’t it?

Who were the Pharisees listening too and scoffing, how can you prove your answer?

They were listening and scoffing at Jesus (Lk16:1)

Who is the “those” he is addressing (v.15)?

The Pharisees who were lovers of money (v.14)

What does Jesus say will not fail (v.17)?

One stroke of a letter of the Law to fail.

Now hold onto that thought for a minute we will come back to it.

What is the subject matter of (v.18)?

It is adultery, but more to it than just that, so hold on.

The Pharisees’ reaction

The Pharisees’ loved money and this passage looks at the hypocrisy of things, when you look at God’s standard vs. human standards.

When you look at (v.15) what is detestable to God?

the things highly esteemed by man.

God knows the hearts of men, to some it is a comfort, to others it is a curse.

Do you think that materialism or worldly culture values can influence our spiritual priorities?

Our choices matter.

In (vv.16-18) You can see God’s unchanging law and the Kingdom of God

This section notes that the ministry of John the baptist marks the end of a great aspect of God’s work.

The good news, the new covenant is coming fulfilling the requirements of the Law.

The new work did not ignore or neglect the Law it fulfilled it.

Divorce (v.18), why is this here?

This is being used as a prime example of God’s unchanging law, marriage was meant for all time with few exceptions (Sexual immorality - words of Christ; Abandonment by unbeliever - words of Paul)

It is also here to make man understand that under the new covenant (since ministry of John the Baptist) God still cares about His law and our obedience.

Contrast in life and death

In our passage here you will see the theme covering wealth, compassion, eternal consequences and responding to God’s word for application.

Luke 16:19–20 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,

Luke 16:21–22 NASB95

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.

Luke 16:23–24 NASB95

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.’

Luke 16:25–26 NASB95

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.’

Luke 16:27–28 NASB95

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.’

Luke 16:29–30 NASB95

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!’

Luke 16:31 NASB95

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.’ ”

Anything in particular stick out to you in this portion of our passage?

In (vv.19-21) we see the contrast of the Rich man vs. Lazarus and their life before death, what do you see in it?

Rich man: Habitually dressed in purple, living in splendor every day.

Poor man (Lazarus): was at the rich man’s gate, covered in sores, longing to be fed from rich man’s table by crumbs falling off the table.

In (vv.22-23) we see the contrast of the rich man s. Lazarus in life after death. What contrast do you note in this?

Poor man died and was carried away to Abrahams bosom.

Rich man died and was buried.

Rich man could see in Hades from where he was to where Lazarus was on Abraham’s bosom. He was in torment and Lazarus was not.

The cry out and the response (vv.24-26)

The rich man cries out to Abraham for Lazarus cool off his tongue

Abraham speaks a response of the life the rich man had lived and the life Lazarus had lived

Rich man: when you lived you had good things

Lazarus had bad things. He is being comforted here, while Rich man was in agony.

Abraham speaks of a great chasm between them that cannot be crossed.

The right man begs now and the response (vv.27-31)

What does the rich man beg (vv.27-28)?

Send Lazarus back to my fathers house to warn my brothers.

What does Abraham say in response (v.29)?

They have Moses and the prophets, let them hear them.

Yet he (Rich man) continues to beg (v.30) and response in (v.31), what details do you see here?

Rich man begs father Abraham that they would repent if someone goes from the dead to them.

Abraham responds if they will not listen to Moses and the prophets they will not be persuaded by someone rising from the dead.

Contrasting their lives and deaths: Both men died.

There is no mention of a burial for Lazarus, yet he was honored and carried by angels to Abrahams bosom.

The rich man had the honor of a burial, but no angelic escort or a pleasant destination.

Maybe I should expand on Abrahams bosom, there are several thoughts on this. (Pate)

The idea that in death, the righteous are gathered to the patriarchs in the faith (Gen15:15, 25:8)

Another is the thought of a parent’s love and care, as in (Jn1:18) who is in the bosom of the Father.

The other is the idea of sitting at a place of honor at a banquet as in (Jn13:23)

Lazarus was not saved because of his poverty; the rich man was not damned because of his wealth. Lazarus had true faith in God (implied) and the rich man had faith in his money (implied)

The rich man was not far from Lazarus, he could see him, and he knew Abraham, yet he was a world apart. He was in a place of torment, and Lazarus was in a place of comfort.

So what about Hades, what is it?

Commonly known as the place for disembodied spirits, a place for the souls of man until final judgment.

Hades seems to have the same meaning as “Shoel” the Greek word for “place of the dead.”

Hades is not hell, it is not the lake of fire. That place is called Gehenna.

Hades was a, and some believe still is, waiting place until the day of final judgment (Rev20:11-13)

Though Jesus finished work on the cross there is no waiting for believers who die. they will be with the Lord (2Cor5:6-8). The Lord went to Hades to fulfill scripture (Act2:24-27, 2:31) and Peter states he preached to those who were in Hades (1Pt3:18-19). Jesus let a host of captives free (Eph4:8-9, fulfilling Isa61:1)

Now turning to (vv.24-26) we see the consequences of choices made, we see the rich man’s plea.

First we can see by the plea he is a Jew, a son of Abraham.

The Father of faith could not save him from his choices.

Even in death you can see that the rich man thought of Lazarus as his servant.

Abraham reminded the man he already had his reward, he had the good things in life, but did not share them to prepare for the next part of life (does it bring back to unjust steward to you)?

In death your destiny if fixed, fixed for all time and eternity.

Finally the call to heed God’s word (vv.27-31).

The rich man now understands that importance of heeding God’s word and wants Lazarus to go tell his brothers.

Do you put your faith in you, your works, your riches, or in Christ and His finished work on the cross? Best to heed God’s word now. Live a life that is aligned with God’s word.

Some reflections points and application

Reflect on you, your life, your outlook, do you allow materialism or the culture to influence your spiritual priorities?

How can you prioritize God’s kingdom in your daily life?

Consider how you treat others, are there ways we can be more compassionate toward others?

How am I living in accordance to God’s word?

(Prayer) (Exit)