Affluence and the Afterlife

This week has be a great experience with VBS. Our Director explained to the volunteer team early on that her choice of curriculum was driven to help the children of our county place their trust in the one true God.

Since none of us have ever been to the afterlife, we also are exposed to many false ideas of what happens after death.

Today’s text, a lesson told by someone who HAS experienced the other side of death, teaches us some essential values that should shape or lives on this side of the grave and our destiny on the other side.

In addition to the 16 commentaries on Luke that I have been consulting for this series, I also found a helpful preaching archive from D.A. Carson in March of 2012 that is a wonderful sermon on this passage. After this sermon if you still want more observations, you can find it by searching for “the Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus”

Transition: Following last week’s parable of a dishonest manager, Jesus tells another parable about a man who selfishly mishandles his wealth. The story describes…

A Drama of Differences (19-23)

Dress

1. Purple – expensive textiles

2. Fine Linen – under garments that were not even seen, but worn next to the skin for comfort.

a. This is not your Fruit of the Loom or Hanes undershirt.

b. This word only appears and in Rev 18-19 where the fine linen of Babylon royalty is exchanged for the linen worn by those who follow Christ from Heaven to rule in the end times.

c. Bussos (Fine Linen) will be exchanged for Basanos (Torment)

3. Sores—bedsores and blisters

Dwelling

1. Behind walls and a gate

2. Outside the gate – Lazarus didn’t sit at the gate, he was laid at the gate.

Unlike those who begged at the market or temple as people wandered by, the act of laying a disabled person at the home of a wealthy person had the social significance that the wealthy person was now expected to care for this individual. It would have impacted the landowner very little as usually a servant would be assigned to care for the sick person at the gate.

a. Instead of this man acknowledging the humanity of Lazarus and doing the humane thing by sending servants to see what was needed…

b. Only the guard dogs acknowledged Lazarus’ presence and this would not have been welcome. The lick of a dog would have been a reminder of how coyotes deal with carcasses they find in the wild.

c. At least one commentator (Keener in IVPBBCNT) suggest that Lazarus’ death (v.22) was a direct result of the Rich man’s neglect—allowing Lazarus starve to death.

Diet

1. Feasting sumptuously – Every meal was a celebration of all that he had accumulated. Just as his underwear was not ordinary, his diet was not hamburgers and hot dogs. It was so special that this is the ONLY occurrence in the Bible of this word sumptuously. However a similar word is found in Acts 26:13 to describe the brightness of the Sun.

2. The opulence of this feasting could be compared to the impression a person would have walking through a certain gold-plated tower in NYC. [And so that I don’t get accused of only picking on one politician], It is like the reaction that many Americans had when a certain politician in an attempt to be relatable showed a $24,000 Freezer filled with $12 per pint ice cream.

3. Desired to be fed with what fell – (Dog food)

In a day before pets, the dogs of an estate would have been working (guard) dogs. Before Purina or Simmons the only feed for the Dobermans and Rottweilers would have come from the leftovers of the Feast. Or if these dogs were not trained guard dogs, they would have been the strays who rummage the garbage for survival.

“Dives” (name)

1. The Rich man is never named. Centuries later the Bible was translated into Latin, and from the Latin word for wealthy some traditions call this rich man Dives. Since the proper name is not given in Scripture and Divesis too close to Dave for my comfort, I’ll refer to him today as Richard, with no intent to connect him to anyone else named Richard. Just remember that even if I refer to him as Richard, in the story he was anonymous and could be referring to ANY person with arrogant self-sufficiency.

2. Lazarus was a Greek adaptation of the Hebrew name Eleazar, meaning “Whom God helps”

3. Eleazar was the name of Abraham’s servant (Gen 15) who would have received his estate had Ismael or Isaac not been born. It would have been a famous name in the minds of those who knew Jewish history. The contrast between anonymous Richard and famous beggar whom God helps cannot be overstated.

4. Think of it as any who try to rely on themselves vs. those who ask for and receive the Lord’s help.

Death

1. Richard’s burial (v.22) is contrasted to Lazarus’ death without burial.

2. A greater contrast could not exist between the anonymous end of Lazarus’ earthly life and the rich man who received full burial rites [costly anointing and wrapping of the corpse, days of hired mourners, marked sepulcher, and public memorial]

3. Keener writes, “Lazarus, having neither relatives nor charitable patron, did not receive [a funeral], whereas the rich man would have received great eulogies[i]”

Transition: These men have lived as inequitably as one could imagine. A secular academic book by Walter Scheidel proposes that violence and catastrophes are the only forces to level this type of inequity. But the Bible says that DEATH is the great leveler; because Hebrews 9:27 states that it is appointed for [all men] to die once then face judgment. Yet v.24 reveals not a leveling, but a reversal.

A Discussion of Privilege (24-31)

3 “Richard” statements and 3 Abraham replies

“Richard” is still self-focused (24-26)

1. By calling on “Father Abraham” (3x), the man is playing the race card. As I mentioned a couple of weeks ago, most Jews in Jesus’ day presumed all Jews go to Heaven unless they did something horrendous—and I mean “Hitler kind of horrendous.”

2. Even after death he still presumes to be entitled to special treatment with no regard for the way he neglected Lazarus.

3. He doesn’t ask to leave the torment, he realized there is no 2ndchance.

4. He shows no remorse for the way he lived. He has no concern for any others in torment with him. He still believes, even in Hell, that he deserves special treatment.

5. A chasm has been fixed. It isn’t a new chasm, it is just another expression of the chasm that has existed between sin and holiness since the creation.

6. Abraham points out the comfort that Lazarus has received and instructs, “not only can you not cross from there to here, but none can cross from here to there.”

“Richard” views Lazarus as doing His bidding (27-29)

1. The rich man still refuses to acknowledge that Lazarus is honored and rewarded by God as a guest. He still sees Laz as a servant to be commanded.

2. Richard is not concerned about anybody other than his own family, who presumedly are living the same way he did.

3. Abraham speaks of the sufficiency of the Word of God to bring repentance.

Today many people are looking for new revelation, new signs and new wonders. But the Scriptures (even before the resurrection has taken place) are sufficient to bring regeneration.

“Richard” knows Best (30-31)

1. Hell is not filled with sorry people. It is filled with people who are allowed to fully live out their rebellious inclinations and choices. It is not filled with those who willingly acknowledge God, but those who are forced by their circumstances to admit that He truly is the Righteous judge.

2. Even after Richard has found the consequences of his selfishness, he has the arrogance to argue with Abraham. He still refuses to admit that God knows best.

3. As Jesus is telling this story, He has already revealed that He is on His journey to Jerusalem and He knows what will happen there and that He will rise from the dead and that people will still refuse to accept the Gospel.

4. To this day there are people who know the Easter account, yet still try to get to Heaven by their own doing.

Transition: Allow me to draw from the Drama and the Discussion…

4 Details Too Important to Miss

Life Continues in 2 Destinations

1. There is no mention of a “safe zone” were people maneuver to from one level to the next after time or dependent upon 2nd chances, or the prayers, or baptism by those left on earth.

2. There is no mention of ceasing to exist. Both the one who is comforted and the one in anguish are consciously aware of their state.

Biblical Repentance follows Self-awareness

1. The person who is unaware of his lostness, may not be inclined to receive the gift of salvation.

2. Accomplishments in this world (wealth, fame, influence) may blind us to our need for grace.

3. Too many people have convinced themselves that “I’m no worse than the next guy, so I’m okay”. But what if the next guy isn’t okay either?

If nothing else, this pandemic has illustrated that a person can be contagious even without any symptoms.

4. Comparing yourself to another sick person offers no benefit.

5. When we truly recognize our brokenness (what the Sermon on the Mount calls being poor in spirit), we are positioned to confess and receive the help that only God offers.

Biblical Truth is better than Isolated Experience

Too many movies and books have been written based upon near-death experiences or abnormal phenomenon.

1. The Word of God that has been preserved through the centuries and translated into more languages than any other literary work is more authoritative than any dream or vision you may have.

2. The face of Jesus on a tortilla, the shape of a face on the side of a glass building where the lawn sprinkler left water minerals, the person whose capillaries burst on their palms do not add or take away from the credibility of God’s revelation to man that has been recorded from the breathing out of His very Spirit.

3. The Witness of Scripture is sufficient to reveal the plan of God.

Disregard for others is Contemptible

1. Even though there is no indication that IF the rich man would have fed Lazarus, that he would have somehow merited a pass into Heaven.

2. His lack of concern for Lazarus was just an indication of a deeper problem.

3. Yet, to disregard another image-bearer (even into eternity) deserves contempt by the angels and saints in Heaven as well as all god-fearing men on earth.

Conclusion:

The rich man in Jesus’ parable lived selfishly and falsely believed that his earthly comfort would only be multiplied in the world to come, but apart from the help that God gives [imparting the righteousness of Christ to your account], all of us are bound to get the reward for our selfishness and experience the same torment. The good news is that God DOES extend help to any who admit their sin, believethat Jesus paid the penalty for that sin, and confess Him as their new Lord.

This lesson also challenges each of us to consider our own selfishness in this life toward others”

1 John 3:17 ESV:2016

17 But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him?

Compared to other countries, if you have a roof over your head and eat at least 1 meal a day, you are wealthier than over half the people in the world.

Does your love extend to them?

We are surrounded by people who are just as deluded as the man in today’s story—living only for themselves with a misconception of what they are headed for after death.

To apply 1 Jn 3:17 a little differently, let me leave out one word and see what you think.

But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him?

By “have the goods” I mean if anyone knows the gospel, has the antidote, yet closes his heart.

Do we love them enough to share the gospel?

Song of Response #447.. “Freely, Freely”

Benediction: Hebrews 13:16 (ESV) — Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.

[i]Craig S. Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1993), Lk 16:22–23.