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LUKE - Christ, the Savior of the World
A Bible Study Course on the Gospel of Christ according to Luke

PART 4 - JESUS' MINISTRY DURING HIS JOURNEY TO JERUSALEM (Luke 9:51 - 19:27)

23. The Parable of the Rich Man and Poor Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31)


LUKE 16:19-31
19 “There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day. 20 But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid at his gate, 21 desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. 22 So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 24 Then he cried and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.’ 25 But Abraham said, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented. 26 And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us.’ 27 Then he said, ‘I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father’s house, 28 for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.’ 29 Abraham said to him, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.’ 
30 And he said, ‘No, father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ 31 But he said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.’”

Our hearts are shaken by Christ’s description of heaven and hell now and hereafter. The rich man was arrogant. He was clothed in luxurious bright clothes, strutted like a peacock, and was always surrounded by many guests. Nevertheless, he was an ordinary man and had never any great sin. But he had never done good. This was his sin, for he was a steward responsible for all his possessions before God. He made friends of the mammon of unrighteousness (16:1-13), and therefore his heart became hard because of his love for money. He did not see the poor sick man who was laid at the passage leading to his gate.

The name of that poor man was Lazarus, which means “ a man destitute of help”. It also signifies “the help of God”. This poor man was rejected by his relatives and friends because of the incurable sores afflicting his body. They laid him at the rich man’s gate as an appeal to his sympathy. They probably thought that the rich man would look after him, if not out of mercy, at least to get rid of this ugly sight at his gate. But the hardhearted man said to himself, “If I began to help one, then all my house would become a hospital for the sick and a kitchen to supply the hungry.” So he left him alone in his miserable condition. Even the dogs, as if moved by pity, came and licked his sores. Weakened by hunger, he became very thin, and died.

We are all like this rich man who did not commit an evil, but neglected kindness. Our hard heart is our prominent sin. Do you have mercy on the poor, foolish, sick and harmless? Or do you strut as a peacock in your surroundings, seeing nothing but yourself and your problems, and showing no mercy for the poor laid at your gate?

Poor Lazarus died. He was buried with no ceremony. They dug a hole somewhere, and tumbled his body in, without any solemnity. However his name was written in heaven. Then the rich man and his retinue heaved a deep sigh at the death of the unsightly beggar removed from the gate. But soon the prominent rich man died in consequence of his wanton behavior and drunkenness. A pompous funeral with a train of mourners followed his gilded coffin, which was borne aloft. The entire town followed him, but the angels of God did not care about him, for his name was not known in heaven at all. The angels of God carried poor Lazarus immediately into the wide expanses of Heaven, where the faithful dead rest in peace awaiting the glorious resurrection. The rich man fell stripped of all his possessions, into Hades, a place full of fiery smoke, where the evil dead are tormented. Their situations were reversed. What a contrast! Just after the poor man had endured hell on earth, he entered paradise with God, while the rich man who had been rolling in wealth in an earthly paradise entered immediately the torment of flaming hell. We do not read that the poor man was a believer, but his entrance into the rest of God shows that he was justified by faith, which enabled him to bear his sufferings with great patience. However, the rich man had no love, for he had no faith.

What do you know about hell? Because of the need of your soul, Christ lifted some of the lowered veil between you and the other world. So pay attention particularly to the verbs which the rich man spoke after death, and you will observe with fear that the dead can see, think, know, speak, ask, hope, and want. They are not in senseless nonexistence, but they feel, thirst, look for the reduction of severity of their torment, and suffer greatly in the flames. These are not images and superstitions, for Jesus is not a liar, but he is warning you by this revelation, and unveiling to you the mystery of hell that you may be prepared during this life for the afterlife.

The formerly rich man – now poor - saw the formerly poor man – now rich - preserved in God’s rest. “Abraham’s bosom” was a Jewish expression for the happiness of the righteous after death, for Abraham was the father of the faithful, and those of his faith must return to him. The once arrogant rich man who treated Lazarus in the world as less than a dog, is now begging Lazarus for mercy through Abraham. Now observe that Abraham is living. He lives forever in his heavenly being, but he cannot help his lost son, even if asked for help, for there is a great gulf fixed between heaven and hell, an impassable great chasm, so that there can be no communication at all between glorified saints and damned sinners. Whoever falls into hell remains there, and whoever enters heaven abides with God forever.

The torment of those in hell becomes greater, for they see and hear the truth as it is, and recollect the evil things they committed on earth. They also know that they had neglected to do the good. Their intense regret for opportunities lost, when they failed to help the needy is more painful than shame for their offenses. Love alone realizes the others’ distress and helps them. Any shortcoming in carrying out such services is an indication of a lack of love. Where is your proud righteousness? Weep today that you may not weep tomorrow. Study the Holy Bible, that your heart may be filled with love and may prompt you to be merciful to the lost. Then you deny yourself, forget it, and sink into the ocean of the love of God, serving men at every opportunity.

When the desperate rich man knew that the severity of his torment had no reduction, and that he had no hope of salvation, he remembered with fear that he had also failed to inform his five brothers about salvation and the life to come. They were all unbelievers. Now, the reprobate is asking the blessed Abraham to send Lazarus to those brothers who are still living in the world, to warn them so that they may repent and turn.

But Abraham repeated his decisive word once more, declaring that neither heavenly revelation, nor divination, nor contact with the dead could save or reform men, except the word of God alone. No miracle or sentimental yearnings can change your wicked heart except the law and the gospel alone. The testimony of the word of God is powerful and is able to save every wicked lost man.

Dear brother, Study the word of Christ faithfully every day, for it is the unequalled way to change your heart, and turn your future from hell to continuance in heaven. Overcome by prayer your inner refusal to read the Holy Bible, for the word of God fills your spirit like bread which nourishes your body, and the gospel quenches your thirst like cold water.

PRAYER: O Lord Jesus, You are the Prince of Life, giving life with your love to whoever believes in you. We are all dead in selfishness. Put our selfishness to death that we may live in your life, love the needy, and serve them willingly. Forgive our lost good opportunity, which we neglected, fill us with your Holy Spirit, and let your love raise us to your level.

QUESTION 105: How does Jesus explain to us life after death and its consequences?

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