THE RICH MEN & LAZARUS
(Message by Tanny Keng)
1. Rich Men
a) Luke records two parables that Jesus told about rich men — the parables of The Rich Man and Lazarus, and The Rich Fool. These two parables have the same subject — a man who was rich.
b) Both parables explore how the rich man was so wrapped up in himself that he thought neither about how he might help others less fortunate, nor about the state of his own soul after death. These parables encourage us not to trust in uncertain riches.
c) Here is one of the two parables that shows the very great value of the kingdom of God, and that in God's kingdom those who appear weak and downtrodden in this world may have a high standing before God, whereas those who seem powerful may be despised by God, for God looks at the heart, not at the outward man. These truths are the latter of the the seven themes of the parables that Jesus told (Luke 12:13-21, Luke 16:19-31).
2. The Rich Man And Lazarus
Luke 16:19-31
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, 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. 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.’ 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.’ 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.’ 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!’ 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."
a) Most parables are set entirely in this world and this life only. This parable is unique because some of its scenes take place in the world of the dead.
b) Luke 16:19-21 introduces two of the three characters. First there is a rich man, and then in contrast a poor man. The rich man lived in sumptuous splendor. The poor man Lazarus, lay sick and miserable —a beggar at the rich man's gate, hoping for some small mercy, yet ignored. Jesus shocks us with his description.
c) Luke 16:22-23 bringa another shock. Death. There's a sudden change of scene and circumstance. Lazarus and the rich man are no longer in this world. They have been transported into the realm of the dead. Nothing is the same. Now Lazarus enjoys the tender care of angels, the intimate companionship of his ancestor Abraham, and in place of misery he is comforted. The rich man is now tormented by flames and knows agony instead of the comforts he once enjoyed.
d) Luke 16:24-26 shows that the rich man was not in this state to learn a lesson. He was not there for purging or rehabilitation. Too late for that now. He was there to face the worst. Abraham talks to him tenderly but offers him no hope, pointing out that a great chasm separates the place of torment from the place of bliss; and "None may cross".
e) Luke 16:27-31 is a sequel. Incredibly the rich man shows concern for others. He doesn't want his brothers to end up where he is. So he pleads that Lazarus, for whom he never did a thing, might run an errand for him. Would he rise from the dead and frighten the brothers out of their wits so that they repent before it is too late? Again Abraham offers no hope. No special treatment for the rich. They have Moses and the Prophets. They have the word of God. They have ears. No more is necessary, and no more would do any good.
f) The story of rich man and Lazarus shows us the value of God's kingdom and the need to enter it while we have life and opportunity. It shows us that worldly power and glory give no hope of eternal glory, and worldly riches no right to treasures in heaven. Lazarus weak and downtrodden, was really strong and splendid. The rich man rich and powerful was really destitute and weak. His outward man was an illusion. The inner person cared nothing for justice and mercy and faith, and therefore was nothing. God looks on the heart and its fruits. By this God determines which side of the great uncrossable gulf a person deserves to be.
g) One more thing we might notice in this parable. The poor man is given the name Lazarus and the rich man is given no name at all. This subtly signifies that God knows those who are his and their "names are written in the book of life" (Philippians 4:3, Revelation 21:27). The rich man had his earthly splendor, but his name was not written in the book of life. Lazarus was destitute of good things in this world, but God knew him by name and wrote Lazarus into the roll of the citizens of the kingdom of heaven. Hopefully God will grant you some small pleasures and possessions in this world, even let you prosper. However that is not what matters. You know what matters. Therefore see to it quickly.
The End ...
1. Rich Mena) Luke records two parables that Jesus told about rich men — the parables of The Rich Man and Lazarus, and The Rich Fool. These two parables have the same subject — a man who was rich.
b) Both parables explore how the rich man was so wrapped up in himself that he thought neither about how he might help others less fortunate, nor about the state of his own soul after death. These parables encourage us not to trust in uncertain riches.
c) Here is one of the two parables that shows the very great value of the kingdom of God, and that in God's kingdom those who appear weak and downtrodden in this world may have a high standing before God, whereas those who seem powerful may be despised by God, for God looks at the heart, not at the outward man. These truths are the latter of the the seven themes of the parables that Jesus told (Luke 12:13-21, Luke 16:19-31).
2. The Rich Man And Lazarus
Luke 16:19-31
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, 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. 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.’ 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.’ 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.’ 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!’ 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."
a) Most parables are set entirely in this world and this life only. This parable is unique because some of its scenes take place in the world of the dead.
b) Luke 16:19-21 introduces two of the three characters. First there is a rich man, and then in contrast a poor man. The rich man lived in sumptuous splendor. The poor man Lazarus, lay sick and miserable —a beggar at the rich man's gate, hoping for some small mercy, yet ignored. Jesus shocks us with his description.
c) Luke 16:22-23 bringa another shock. Death. There's a sudden change of scene and circumstance. Lazarus and the rich man are no longer in this world. They have been transported into the realm of the dead. Nothing is the same. Now Lazarus enjoys the tender care of angels, the intimate companionship of his ancestor Abraham, and in place of misery he is comforted. The rich man is now tormented by flames and knows agony instead of the comforts he once enjoyed.
d) Luke 16:24-26 shows that the rich man was not in this state to learn a lesson. He was not there for purging or rehabilitation. Too late for that now. He was there to face the worst. Abraham talks to him tenderly but offers him no hope, pointing out that a great chasm separates the place of torment from the place of bliss; and "None may cross".
e) Luke 16:27-31 is a sequel. Incredibly the rich man shows concern for others. He doesn't want his brothers to end up where he is. So he pleads that Lazarus, for whom he never did a thing, might run an errand for him. Would he rise from the dead and frighten the brothers out of their wits so that they repent before it is too late? Again Abraham offers no hope. No special treatment for the rich. They have Moses and the Prophets. They have the word of God. They have ears. No more is necessary, and no more would do any good.
f) The story of rich man and Lazarus shows us the value of God's kingdom and the need to enter it while we have life and opportunity. It shows us that worldly power and glory give no hope of eternal glory, and worldly riches no right to treasures in heaven. Lazarus weak and downtrodden, was really strong and splendid. The rich man rich and powerful was really destitute and weak. His outward man was an illusion. The inner person cared nothing for justice and mercy and faith, and therefore was nothing. God looks on the heart and its fruits. By this God determines which side of the great uncrossable gulf a person deserves to be.
g) One more thing we might notice in this parable. The poor man is given the name Lazarus and the rich man is given no name at all. This subtly signifies that God knows those who are his and their "names are written in the book of life" (Philippians 4:3, Revelation 21:27). The rich man had his earthly splendor, but his name was not written in the book of life. Lazarus was destitute of good things in this world, but God knew him by name and wrote Lazarus into the roll of the citizens of the kingdom of heaven. Hopefully God will grant you some small pleasures and possessions in this world, even let you prosper. However that is not what matters. You know what matters. Therefore see to it quickly.
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