A Lesson about Heaven and Hell

Before we look more closely at this parable I think it is important to set the stage. At this point in Luke, as well as in Jesus earthly ministry, we have seen many confrontations between the Pharisees and our Lord. Jesus has given many warnings to his followers, and anyone that was listening, the Pharisees were corrupt. These men, who were probably the most biblically oriented religious leaders of their time, completely missed the point of the Law and epitomized what Jesus was warning about. We can find numerous times where Jesus publically and repeatedly said so. “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy” or “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!” Jesus had open contempt for the Pharisees and there “religion.” I am sure this was shocking to those listening and infuriating to the Pharisees. The Pharisees were walking billboard for the ceremonial parts of the law. The literally walked the walk and talked the talk, but Jesus made it very clear that theirs was a false religion and never once saluted their efforts. Jesus bluntly made it clear that their righteousness was not sufficient to merit heaven (Matthew 5:20) and their religion was the fast lane on the highway to hell (Matthew 23:32; Luke 20:47) . In the passage we will read in a second here, Jesus is summing up everything he has ever taught or preached about the Pharisees, the law, the gospel, and true righteousness. With that in mind lets read Luke 16:19-31

English Standard Version Chapter 16

19 “There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. 20 And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, 21 who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores. 22 The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried, 23 and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. 24 And he called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.’ 25 But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish. 26 And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.’ 27 And he said, ‘Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father’s house— 28 for I have five brothers—so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.’ 29 But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.’ 30 And he said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ 31 He said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.’ ”

Did you know that Jesus spoke more about Hell than anyone else in the bible?

Why do you think some people are surprised that most of what we know about hell comes from Jesus?

What does it say about Jesus that He would talk so much and so graphically about hell?

What can we learn about hell from this parable?

What point is Jesus making in telling this parable?

Why do you suppose the rich man doesn’t repent of his sinful attitudes?

Lets look at the story Lazarus, whom Jesus raised from the dead. What was the result of that miracle?

Caiaphas and the priests from that day on, plotted to put Jesus to death.

How did this resurrection miracle not convince the High Priests that Jesus was who he said he was? Why did they react the way they did?

What place does hell have in the preaching and teaching of our church?

What place does hell have in your personal testimony or witnessing?

Why is it important to teach clearly about the horrors of hell?

How do you personally respond to teaching about hell? Does it frighten you? Offend you? Draw you closer to Christ? Push you away?

Why is it important to understand that hell is a place of everlasting affliction?

There are many people that believe that hell is place of temporary suffering or total annihilation. Given the teaching of Scripture, why do some people nonetheless prefer to believe that hell is a place of temporary suffering or complete destruction?

How does this teaching affect you personally? Will it affect anything you do?

There were two big points that I want you to take away from tonight.

We need to understand what the bible says about Hell so we can be diligent in encouraging others to repent of their sins.

I wanted us to reflect on the sufficiency of scripture. You have heard the phrase Sola Scripture, Scripture Alone, before. That the bible contains the sole message necessary for someone to come to faith in Christ. But we also need Tota Scriptura, literally Scripture wholly, or another saying it is every part of scripture. We need the whole counsel of God and we need to preach the whole counsel of God even though we the parts we find difficult or the parts that make us feel uneasy. People need to understand their death in sin, need of a savior and the hope that is given at the cross. But they also need to know what that hope is saving them from as well.