The Rich Man and Lazarus

Series Review

1-2: Series Introduction

3-7: Christ Before Bethlehem - pt.1-6 (The Pre-Incarnate Christ)

9-10: The Incarnate Christ - pt.1-2 (The Birth of Christ)

11. Learning from a 12 Year Old

12. The Jesus We Know Not (Years of Silence)

13. The Baptism of Christ

14. Having Victory Over Temptation (The Temptation of Christ)

15. The Call to Follow (Calling the First Apostles)

The TEACHINGS OF CHRIST - The Sermon on the Mount

16. A Disciples Progression (The Beatitudes)

I. Their Inward Conflict (v3-6); II. Their Outward Charity (v7-9): III. The Inevitable Cost (v10-12)

17. The Salt of the Earth (Mat. 5:13)

I. The Preamble (Mat. 5:1-12); II. Purposes for Salt; III. Pictures of Salt: IV. The Production of Salt; V. A Precaution Given

18. The Light of the World (Mat. 5:14-16):

I. The Facts of Light; II. The Function of Light; III. The Focus of the Light (v15-16)

19. The Correct View of the Law by Christ (Mat. 5:17-48)

I. The Satisfaction of the Law: II. The Strengthening of the Law: III. A Summary of Christ’s Teachings on the Law: Christ Has Satisfied the Law for Us; We are Subject to a Higher Standard; We should Live More Righteous, not Less

20. Standards to Pursue - pt.1 (Mat. 6:1-18)

I. Secretive Philanthropy (v1-4); II. A Sincere and Submissive Prayer Life (v5-15) III. Subdue the Flesh (v16-18)

21. Standards to Pursue - pt.2 (Mat. 6:19-34)

I. Seek Heavenly Treasures (v19-24); II. Submit Yourselves to God (v25-34)

22. Kingdom Mindedness - (Mat. 7:1-12)

I. Sound Judgments; II. Seeking God’s Guidance; III. A “Self” Centered Attitude

23. The Conclusion - (Mat. 7:13-29)

I. Behold the Choice (v13-14); II. Beware of False Guides (v15-20); III. Beware of False Assurance (v21-23); IV. Be Mindful of your Foundation (v24-27)

The PARABLES of Christ

24: The Sower, the Seed and the Soil (Mat. 13:1-9)

I. The Sower; II. The Seed; III. The Soil

25: Recovering the Lost (Luk. 15)

I. The Manner of Becoming Lost; II. The Method of Recovery; III. Morals to Remember

26. What the Samaritan Teaches Us (Luk. 10:25-37)

I. The Preamble II. The Parable: A Principled Application; A Personal Application; A Pictured Application

27. One Wedding to Attend (Mat. 22:1-14)

I. The Point for the Pharisees; II. The Portrayal of the Servants; III. The Problem of One

28. A Radical Contrast (Luk. 18:9-14)

I. The Regard of One (v11-12); II. The Remorse of Another (v13); III. Righteousness Revealed by Christ (v14); IV. Righteousness Revealed Through Christ

29. A Mighty Lesson from an Unjust Steward (Luk. 16:1-13)

I. The Illustration; II. The Implication

30. What Are You Doing with your Talents? (Mat. 25:14-30)

I. The Roles; II. The Reception; III. The Responsibilities; IV. The Result; V. The Reckoning

Introduction

Today we have a different lesson.

We have been studying the parables of Christ but there is a horrifying truth about this passage of Scripture that often gets lost. The fact of the matter is this is not a parable at all. This is a true story Jesus is telling.

There are differences between this story and other parables which Jesus told.

He (nor the Bible) prefaced it as a “parable”

As He often did

Historical figures:

Jesus gives us not only the name of the beggar (Lazarus) but also, Abraham is a participant in this story.

Not only that, but it describes a conscience state of these specific individuals

This alone separates it from any other parable Jesus told

Specific family circumstances

The rich man didn’t have ‘brothers’, but FIVE brothers - which are still living

No symbolism

Unlike the “soil, seed, talent, etc”, these people are not used or spoken of in symbolic language

Church, this truth makes this the most terrifying passage in all of Scripture.

That being said, there’s also some things described in this passage that are Revelatory. They either set, or solidify truths that help us understand future passages.

Before we get to the meat of the passage, we’re going to look first at these Revelations

I. Revelations

A Separation

Everyone doesn’t go to the same place.

All paths DON’T lead to God and all people DON’T go to heaven.

We’ll look more to this later.

There is a Separation

A Unchangeable Gulf (v26a)

Between these two groups, Abraham declares that there is ‘a great gulf fixed’.

Fixed (def) set fast, confirmed, stablished, steadfastly set

The gulf - this ‘great gulf’ is unchangeable. It’s not moving, it’s as far as from the east is from the west.

It is firmly fixed between the sheep and the goats.

Not only is it Unchangeable, but it’s unsurpassable

An Unsurpassable Gulf (v26b)

There is no getting across it.

I’ve often wondered just how far apart this ‘great gulf’ is. We’re not told exactly, but we know that it’s far enough for man not to be able to cross, but close enough to where you could converse between the two and see what’s transpiring on the other side.

(Ill.) The longest recorded long jump is 29’ 5-3/4” (wind assisted). That’s from me to the back center pew. Theoretically, in man’s peak ability, with everything working for them, one could jump that far - but no farther.

However wide the gulf was, one thing we do know - it was wide enough for no one to get from one side to the other.

It is an unsurpassable gulf

A Sightline

Something we’ve essentially established is that one could see the other.

The rich man saw and was able to identify Abraham & Lazarus

Can you imagine being in torments and seeing paradise just over yonder?

The rich man was able to see Lazarus and Abraham - for a time, because something is revealed later in Scripture that sets this story and the Scriptures in order.

There’s a Snatching Away

A Snatching Away

We’ve established two distinct places, and a great gulf between them.

We’ve established that these are places that people go when they die - to one or the other.

We’ve also established that this is a historical story that Jesus is telling - taking place before His death, burial and resurrection.

Now I hope to help you understand some significant truths that this teaches us.

Some time after this passage, Jesus would ride into Jerusalem on a donkey - on the 10th day of the first month. He would be in the temple for the next three days, then in the early morning hours of the fourth day, He’d be taken in the garden, tried and then Crucified early not long after day break.

As Jesus was Crucified, two others were crucified with Him. Concerning them, we read this: Luke 23:39–43 “And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.”

Jesus told him that that day, he would be with Jesus in PARADISE - take note, He didn’t say “Heaven”.

Jesus would be Crucified, His body lay dead for 3 days & nights, then early on the first day of the week, we see this interaction with Mary: (Read Joh. 20:11-17)

Notice: Jesus has been dead for 3 days, yet had “not yet ascended to the Father”

Prior to Christ, God gave the Tabernacle. It had 3 main sections, the outer court, the Holy place and the “Holy of Holies”. Of the last, the Bible tells us: Hebrews 9:7–8 “But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people: The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing:”

Jesus also said: John 3:13 “And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.”

After Christ died, something significant happened: Mark 15:38 “And the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom.”

This signifying that Christ’s Sacrifice had made it possible for sinful men to be in the presence of God.

But this was shut up to man until then. This goes for those who died before Christ.

But we also know that those who died IN FAITH prior to Christ, was deemed righteous by Faith in the Coming One: Hebrews 11:13 “These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.”

So if these died IN FAITH, but they couldn’t go into the presence of God, where did they go? Paradise, which at that time was on the other side of the gulf from Hell.

So if Jesus died, was in the grave for 3 days, yet didn’t go to the Father, what was He doing?

Paul tells us later on in: Ephesians 4:8–10 “Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)”

That phrase “led captivity captive” means “He took captive those who had been captives” - it’s a picture of a King returning from battle in triumph with captives in his procession!

During His death, Jesus descended to paradise, proclaimed victory (1Pet. 3:18-20), then Raised from the dead, revealed Himself unto the disciples and would ascend unto Heaven having shed the atoning blood entering in VICTORIOUS with the saints of old taken from paradise, and now in the presence of God Almighty!

This is why we now can say:

2 Corinthians 5:8 “We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.”

Now something to consider is the fact that, if Jesus led that captives in Paradise unto Heaven, then those in Hell cannot see nor speak to them anymore.

These are distinct things that this story reveals unto us in light of the rest of Scripture.

We see Revelations, lastly, I want to look at the Reality

II. The Reality

Other than explaining some great truths on a grand scale, I want us to bring it back to the reality for these two men, Lazarus & the rich man.

Two Decisions

The rich man made a decision that was different from the one Lazarus made.

We’re not told the specifics concerning each of them, but from the remainder of Scripture, we know what these decisions are:

The Rich man had need of nothing. He was invested in this world. He didn’t feel as though he needed a Saviour, so he wasn’t looking for one.

Lazarus suffered in this world, because this world wasn’t the one he was living for or focused on. He was invested in the next - which would have meant that he was looking for Christ.

Church today every soul will make a decision concerning Jesus Christ. Either:

They will understand they're a sinner, and… Look to Jesus for their salvation.

OR

They will excuse their sin, and… Reject Jesus

These are the only two options. It's this decision that determines, theoretically, what side of the Gulf you were on.

Two Decisions

Two Deaths

Both of these men died. Just like every one of us will

It doesn't matter how rich you are.

It doesn't matter how popular you are.

It doesn't matter how well liked you are.

Every soul that breaths right now, will cease to at some point.

There are two deaths

Two Destinations

There are only two.

A vital verse in Scripture is found in: Hebrews 9:27 “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:”

Jesus did speak of this fact (not this specific instance)

Matthew 25:31–33 “When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.”

(The wheat & tares) Matthew 13:30 “Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.”

Matthew 7:13–14 “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.”

Just as we see in our story, there are two different destinations. In that day it was paradise or Hell, today, it’s Heaven or Hell.

One of Comfort

This today is Heaven.

It’s a place where there’s:

No more death

No more tears

No more sorrow, sickness or pain

No more parting

1 Corinthians 2:9 “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.”

That means, if you can consider something great and wonderful - it’s even better than that!

There’s one of comfort - but then there’s one of torments

One of Torments

Hurting

Every type of pain that you could imagine is present.

Physical - he felt the flames, he suffered and desired a drop of water

Mental - he had regret, sorrow & concern for his brothers

Emotional

He experienced more hurt than you can possibly imagine.

Haven’t Forgotten

the Rich man remembered Lazarus’ life and his own

(Ill.) How many of you have ever expressed “If I’d only…” I know in times past, I’ve experienced that, but nothing that particularly bother me today. I’m glad that the mistakes that I have made, have been forgiven and I need not concern myself with them now.

But imagine having one of those that haunts you… forever.

(Ill.) Imagine you’re here today, and you don’t know that you’re going to Heaven. And at the close of service, you feel the Holy Ghost speaking to your heart to go to the altar and get saved. But, pride prevents you from going. Sometime later - later today or 10, 20, 50 years from now you leave this world - and you lift up YOUR eyes in Hell, and your mind goes back to this day & this hour… and you consider that you were 30 feet from Salvation… all you had to do was lay your pride aside and come to the altar. BUT YOU DIDN’T DO IT! That thought takes up a permanent place in your mind. You can’t get past it, you can’t forget it.

I shudder to think how many people will be in that boat!

You haven’t forgotten - and there’s no help

No Help

Just as Abraham and Lazarus couldn’t offer this rich man any relief, there would be no relief for those in Hell.

There is no help - and there is no hope

No Hope

At the onset of our story, the Rich man had hope:

He wasn’t aware of the gulf

He had Abraham and Lazarus in sight

He was able to talk to them

But by the end, he had no hope.

Today, when someone goes to Hell, they don’t see the others there anymore, they’re in Heaven. All they have is darkness, pain…

…and time.

Conclusion

I began this message by making the statement that this is the most terrifying passage of scripture there is. Now I hope you see why I say that.

I wonder if there will be any of you that will remember this day for all eternity.

Ether, is a day of rejoicing that brought you into the fold or a day of regret, for you were 10, 20, 30 feet from salvation and turned it down?