The Rich Man and Lazarus
Our text is Lk 16:19-31. Some say this is a parable. It is not a parable. It is a real incident through which Jesus Christ gives us a glimpse into life beyond the grave before his own crucifixion.
The rich man and Lazarus
We know the name of the beggar, but not the name of the rich man. The beggar had a good name, Prov 22:1-2.
The rich man was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day. Sumptuous is extremely costly, rich, luxurious, or magnificent. According to Matt 6:31-33, he should have sought the Kingdom of God first.
The beggar was laid at his gate. So, he was not a panhandler (one who stops people on the street and asks for food or money). He was full of sores. Therefore, he needed food and medical attention. And he was desiring to be fed with the crumbs that fell from the rich man’s table. He didn’t desire the food on the table, the leftovers, or the scraps. He just wanted the fallen crumbs. And the rich man wouldn’t even give him those. The dogs licked his sores.
This rich man could have helped Lazarus and would have never felt the loss in his own wealth. He should have helped, Prov 14:21, 31. Because he didn’t, he forsook his own mercy, Ps 18:25.
The beggar died. His body was buried wherever the indigent are buried. And the rich man died and was buried (with pomp, no doubt). Their bodies were in the grave. Their spirits went back to God, Ecc 12:7.
Abraham’s Bosom
Lazarus was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom. The rich man was in hell. He had no pomp after his death and no angels to carry him. What your “seeing” down there is their souls. Lazarus and Abraham were separated from the rich man by a great gulf fixed, v.26. Things down there are very different than things up here.
There are two places in the heart of the earth. We know because Jesus went there, Matt 12:40. But he rose from down there after three days and nights, Acts 2:27-31. While in the heart of the earth, he preached to those in Abraham’s bosom, 1 Pet 4:6, and those in hell, 1 Pet 3:18-19. And when he rose, he took those in Abraham’s bosom with him to heaven, Eph 4:8-10, Matt 27:51-53. He also took the keys of hell and death with him, Rev 1:18.
It’s called Abraham’s bosom probably because Abraham is heir of the world, Rom 4:13, and because he was the one with the promised seed who believed in the resurrection, Heb 11:17-19.
Hell
People who die without righteousness go there, instantly. Notice these descriptions. Torments. It’s a real place of torment, v.28. Hot (cool my tongue). Flame, it’s fire. Neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence. Once there people never get out until hell is cast into lake of fire, Rev 20:14-15, and they go into the lake of fire for ever, Rev 21:8.
The Souls of Men
Notice what you learn about our souls. He lifted up his eyes, v.23, and seeth, he could see. Torments, he could feel. He recognized Abraham and Lazarus. v.24 he cried, so he had a mouth and a voice. He spoke. The tip of his finger, he had hands and fingers. Cool my tongue.
Thus the soul looks just like the body. It’s a person without a body. The invisible man. So, the body is in the grave, the spirit goes back to God, and the soul is either in Abraham’s bosom or hell. After Christ’s resurrection, the souls of saved people go directly to heaven, 2 Cor 5:6-8.
Unanswered Prayers
Send Lazarus to me, v.24. Abraham couldn’t send him because of the gulf. And he wouldn’t send him because of v.25. The rich man was crazy to think that he would receive mercy FROM Lazarus when he showed no mercy TO Lazarus, Jas 2:13
Send Lazarus to my brethren, v.27-28. The time to be concerned for your eternity and your family’s eternity is while you’re alive and can do something about it. Abraham said, “They have Moses and the prophets”, v.29, Jn 5:45-47. You must believe the words of God.
The rich man said, “Nay”. And pleaded that if “one went unto them from the dead, they will repent”. And Abraham replied, “If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead”, v.31.
This is true, Jn 12:10-11. The Pharisees were planning to kill Lazarus (Mary and Martha’s brother) after he rose from the dead. And they lied about the resurrection of Jesus when the watch reported what they had seen. They weren’t going to believe though ‘two’ rose from the dead.
Conclusion: if you have not yet believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, you’re on your way to an eternity in hell. Now that you have heard the truth from the scripture, won’t you believe? Like this rich man, it will be too late to repent once you are in hell.
To study the previous lesson, click on The Unjust Steward.