Series Introduction:

This morning, we will continue our sermon series on the Parables of Jesus. Today, we will explore the Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus, which can be found in Luke 16:19-31. This powerful parable urges us to examine our priorities and how we respond to those in need around us while reminding us of the eternal consequences of our earthly choices.

Scripture Reading: 

“There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man's table. Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores. The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried, and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. 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.’ 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. 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.’ And he said, ‘Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father's house— for I have five brothers—so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.’ But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.’ And he said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’  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.’”

- Luke 16:19-31, ESV

Opening Prayer: 

Heavenly Father, as we gather today to explore the profound lessons from the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, we ask for Your wisdom and guidance. Open our hearts and minds to understand the depth of Your teachings and help us see how these timeless truths apply to our lives today. May this parable not only inform our understanding but also transform our actions, aligning them more closely with Your will. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Introduction:

Jesus' disciples had some harsh words for those who would turn a blind eye to the needs of their brother and sister in Christ. John, the beloved disciple, wrote in his first letter:

 "If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?" - 1 John 3:17, ESV. 

Likewise, James, the brother of Jesus, wrote:

"What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, 'Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,' but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?" - James 2:14-16, ESV.

Both James and John question the authenticity of the faith of anyone who fails to aid those with physical needs. Both consider uncompassionate and stingy individuals as lost, regardless of their proclamations of faith in and love for God. If that seems harsh, know that these disciples only taught what the Lord himself proclaimed in the Parable of Lazarus and the Rich Man. This parable is a solemn warning against the subtle but malignant indifference towards the poor and needy that can infect many in the worshiping community.

The Rich Man's Apathy 

In our parable, Jesus first brings our attention to the life of an unnamed rich man. The details about this man's life are scarce, but we are told:  

"There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day." - Luke 16:19, ESV.

We do not know this man's name, but we do know that this man's life was the epitome of earthly prosperity and indulgence. Cloaked in the finest purple and fine linen, he led a life marked by sumptuous feasting and extravagance. Every day was a celebration of his wealth, a testament to his affluent status. His lifestyle was one of extreme excess, not merely rich but extravagantly so, with every whim and desire fulfilled. He lived like royalty, dining on gourmet cuisine and relishing in the pleasures that his wealth could buy. 

However, this lavish lifestyle was marred by a glaring flaw: his utter neglect and indifference towards Lazarus, a poor man suffering at his very doorstep. 

"And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man's table. Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores." - Luke 16:20-21, ESV. 

Lazarus, a man covered in sores and desperate for sustenance, was forced to beg for scraps from the rich man's table. Despite being a living embodiment of need and suffering, he remained invisible in the eyes of the rich man. The rich man's neglect of Lazarus was not an accidental oversight but a conscious decision to ignore the plight of another human being. This indifference to Lazarus' suffering highlights a profound disconnect between the rich man's wealth and his humanity. Lazarus' presence at the rich man's gate was a testament to his desperate situation. Yet, the rich man showed no sympathy or compassion towards him, choosing instead to enjoy his luxury and ignore Lazarus' cries for help.

Sometimes, when reading the parables, it is worth taking time to reflect, not only on what is said but also on what is not said. How did the rich man come into his wealth? Was he born into wealth? Did he earn it honestly or dishonestly? We are not told. Likewise, we might be tempted to ask how Lazarus fell into such a poor state. Was he born poor, or did he make some poor decisions that led him to financial ruin? Did someone take advantage of him and swindle away his wealth? Was he unlucky or foolish? We are not told. We can only guess, and there might be a reason for that. The absence of context is a way of showing that context does not matter, and that is hard for us to accept. When people are hungry, needy, and hurting, the last question we should ask is, "Do they deserve our help?" The essence of the Christian ethic is "We love because he first loved us" (1 John 4:9, ESV). Since God does not look down on us and say, "Do they deserve my love?" but instead offers it freely to all, should we who have received such an unmerited blessing not be able to do the same for our fellow man? 

Notice that Lazarus would have been content with "what fell from the rich man's table" (Luke 16:21, ESV). Now, our fellow man deserves more than just our scraps. However, the point remains that this rich man could have fed Lazarus without inconveniencing his lifestyle one iota. He threw away more food than Lazarus needed to be happy and well-fed, yet poor Lazarus starved at his gate. 

Sometimes, the problem with our giving is not that we need more to go around but that we waste too much of what we are given. For example, Joel Berg, CEO of Hunger Free America, has calculated that the cost of ending hunger in the U.S. is around $25 billion with wise stewardship of funds. That's a lot of money, but to put that in perspective, consumer spending on non-essential goods and services, which includes things like amusements and entertainment, equals more than $13 trillion in the United States annually. My point is that if we, as a nation, ever decided to rework our priorities and focus on the wise allocation of our resources, we could all but guarantee that no American citizen ever went hungry again. All it would take is giving us a few things that we didn't even need to begin with, or to put it another way, we could easily feed every hungry person in America "with the scraps that fell from our table."

Now, to be clear, the Bible does not condemn wealth or those who possess it. Instead, it offers a nuanced perspective that highlights responsible stewardship and generosity. Wealth is a tool that can be used wisely or poorly. It can be a blessing or a curse. It all depends on the heart of the one who possesses it. Several biblical figures were blessed with material abundance, and their stories illustrate that wealth and faith can coexist harmoniously when wealth is used in service to others and to honor God.

Abraham, revered as the founding father of faith, was known for his substantial holdings in animals, silver, and gold. However, his wealth did not overshadow his unshakeable faith in God. 

Job's story is particularly compelling. Despite being the most distinguished man of his time in the East and blessed with immense material wealth, Job's wealth was not a barrier to his faith. Even when Satan caused him to lose everything, He still was faithful to God. 

Joseph of Arimathea, a wealthy man, humbly offered his own tomb for Jesus' burial. Zacchaeus, a tax collector, found redemption and purpose in his wealth, using it to make restitution and serve others after embracing his faith. The Roman centurion used his resources to support the Jewish community and care for his servants, while Lydia, a successful businesswoman, generously opened her home for the first church in Europe.

For every example of the wealthy being condemned, there is a counter-example of a wealthy person who was faithful in their stewardship and generosity. Wealth and faith are not mutually exclusive and can coexist harmoniously when wealth is used in service to others and to honor God. In the kingdom of heaven, the measure of our lives will not be our earthly wealth but how we use our resources to serve God and others. The rich, like all of us, will one day give an account before God, reflecting on how they stewarded the gifts entrusted to them. 

"From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked." - Luke 12:48, NIV.

One of the early Christian teaches from the fourth century wrote convictingly on this subject:

"Naked, did you not drop from the womb? Shall you not return again naked to the earth? Where have the things you now possess come from? If you say they just spontaneously appeared, then you are an atheist, not acknowledging the Creator, nor showing any gratitude towards the one who gave them. But if you say that they are from God, declare to us the reason why you received them. Is God unjust, who divided to us the things of this life unequally? Why are you wealthy while that other man is poor? Is it, perhaps, in order that you may receive wages for kindheartedness and faithful stewardship, and in order that he may be honored with great prizes for his endurance? But, as for you, when you hoard all these things in the insatiable bosom of greed, do you suppose you do no wrong in cheating so many people? Who is a man of greed? Someone who does not rest content with what is sufficient. Who is a cheater? Someone who takes away what belongs to others. And are you not a man of greed? Are you not a cheater? Taking those things which you received for the sake of stewardship, and making them your very own? Now, someone who takes a man who is clothed and renders him naked would be termed a robber; but when someone fails to clothe the naked, while he is able to do this, is such a man deserving of any other appellation? The bread which you hold back belongs to the hungry; the coat, which you guard in your locked storage-chests, belongs to the naked; the footwear mouldering in your closet belongs to those without shoes. The silver that you keep hidden in a safe place belongs to the one in need. Thus, however many are those whom you could have provided for, so many are those whom you wrong." - Basil of Caesarea. 

I can all but guarantee that we can do more than we think. We may not be able to solve every problem in our nation, but surely, we can lend a helping hand in the name of Jesus to someone in our own backyard.

Lazarus' Faith

Let us turn now to Lazarus, where we see a figure of deep suffering and poverty lying at the doorstep of a man of wealth. Lazarus, whose name means "God has helped," presents an apparent paradox. His dire circumstances seemingly contradict the very essence of his name. However, within this narrative of suffering, there lies an unspoken testament to Lazarus' enduring faith. Although the scriptures do not delve into the specifics of his spiritual life, the eventual elevation of Lazarus in the afterlife hints at an underlying faith in God amidst his earthly trials. Reflecting on Lazarus' journey, we are challenged to examine our own responses to suffering and hardship. Do we hold onto our faith and trust in God, as Lazarus did, even when our circumstances seem to defy His goodness and care? His story invites us to embrace God's eternal perspective, reassuring us that our present trials do not define our ultimate destiny. In the divine economy, the last shall indeed be first: the humble and the suffering will find their solace and honor in God's presence.

In Luke 16:22, we read that the rich man and Lazarus eventually died. Were this parable told merely from our limited human perspective, this is where the story would end, and it would not be much of a parable at all. This is how the story often ends from our perspective. The greedy and powerful die fat and happy, while many innocent people suffer and perish needlessly. The good news is that this is not how the story ends, both in the parable and in our lives. 

"The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried, and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side." (Luke 16:22-23, ESV) 

Lazarus dies in misery and squalor and is transported upon death to "Abraham's Bosom" (Luke 16:22). This term, which has deep roots in Jewish tradition, is a metaphorical expression representing a place of comfort and honor in the afterlife. It is similar to the concept of the heavenly banquet as described in other New Testament scriptures, such as Matthew 8:11, where the faithful are portrayed as reclining at the table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. This imagery of a heavenly feast is intended to convey the joy and contentment that await those who have lived a life of faith and righteousness, and it serves as a source of hope and comfort for believers.

This transformation signifies a complete reversal of Lazarus's earthly life. Lazarus moves from a life of suffering and misery to a place of great respect and repose, where he is among the esteemed ancestors. His newfound position highlights the ultimate reward for his faithfulness and devotion to God, culminating in a glorious eternity.

The New Testament describes Hades as not only the abode of the dead (as in Greek thought) but also a place of punishment for the unrighteous. The rich man, who lived a life of luxury and self-indulgence, now finds himself in Hades, experiencing torment and anguish. This depiction is consistent with other New Testament texts, such as Revelation 20, which also portrays Hades as a place where the unrighteous face the consequences of their actions prior to the final judgment. 

"And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire." - Revelation 20:12-15, ESV.

Now, it is very easy to get lost in the details at this point and "miss the forest for the trees." People want to know about the nature of heaven, hell, and the intermediate state. While this parable offers a glimpse into the afterlife, it serves primarily as a call to live lives grounded in faith, compassion, and righteousness in the here and now. This parable gives us a tiny glimpse of the intermediate state, the period between death and the final judgment and resurrection. Unfortunately for the curious, this tiny glimpse is all that the parable offers. Jesus doesn't dwell extensively on the nature of this intermediate state. Similarly, while the New Testament authors clarified that those who die in faith before the Lord's return are conscious, at peace, and in Christ's presence, the New Testament focus remained on the ultimate hope of resurrection and the establishment of God's Kingdom.

Abraham's Warning

So, what should we learn from this glimpse into the afterlife? 

Firstly, justice will be served in this life or in the next. We live in a day and age where we desire swift justice and retribution. When someone does something wicked, hurtful, or cruel, we want to see them get what's coming to them. For Christians, the good news is that justice will be served whether we see it or not. God is all-powerful, all-wise, all-knowing, and all-good. He sees everything and keeps score so we do not have to. 

That belief is the secret key to understanding the Christian ethic. God will judge so we do not have to. God will avenge us so we do not have to. We can forgive and love because we trust that God will set the record straight: 

Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord." On the contrary, "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head." Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. - Romans 12:19-21, ESV

The world saw a greedy man die fat and content, and a righteous man died sick and destitute, but God rewarded the righteous, and the greedy man now begs for even a drop of grace to cool his tongue. 

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.' - Luke 16:24, ESV.

Have you been wronged, mistreated, abused, or cast down without justice? We can weep together at the pain of this broken world. We can seek justice to the best of our ability. In the end, however, we can have hope and peace to know that even if this unjust world fails to bring justice to us - God will not fail us. 

All the evil in this world will be dealt with in one of two ways. Either the sinner will repent and give their life to Christ, or they will one day stand before a Holy God and give an account for themselves. If they repent, then we forgive them because Christ died for those sins just as he died for our own. If they do not repent, then we forgive them, knowing that God will deal with them as they need to be dealt with. 

The second truth we get from this glimpse into the afterlife is that we only get one life to get right with God.

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. 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.' - Luke 16:25-26, ESV.

There are some faith traditions that believe that after death, you get a second chance at life. Maybe you are reincarnated, or maybe there is some sort of post-mortem state where you can make up for your past mistakes. Make no mistake, this is not what God's Word teaches us. The rich man, upon seeing his fate, wanted to redo his life, but his life had already been lived. Abraham tells him that he had his chance, and though he had many good things in life, he wasted them all. 

Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. - Isaiah 55:6-7, ESV.

You are not guaranteed tomorrow, but today, salvation is available to you. If you have not received the Lord's pardon, let today be the day of salvation. 

The third and vital truth revealed in this glimpse into the afterlife, as illuminated by the rich man's desperate plea for his brothers, is the singular, unrepeatable nature of our opportunity to tell others about God. In Luke 16:27-31, the rich man, confronted with the irreversible reality of his own fate, pleads for a chance to warn his brothers, hoping to spare them the same destiny. Yet, Abraham's response is unequivocal - they already have Moses and the Prophets. The message is clear: the revelation of God through His Word is sufficient. If they will not listen to the Scriptures, even someone rising from the dead will not persuade them.

This exchange underscores a profound truth: our time on earth is not just a journey toward our destiny but an opportunity, a mission to share the knowledge of God with others. The rich man's realization, albeit too late, serves as a poignant reminder for us. Just as the rich man wished for his brothers to hear the truth, we, too, are called to be messengers of the Gospel. The Scriptures are replete with exhortations to seek God wholeheartedly: "If you seek him, he will be found by you" (1 Chronicles 28:9, 2 Chronicles 15:2), and promises like, "those who seek me diligently find me" (Proverbs 8:17), and "you will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart" (Jeremiah 29:13).

Our responsibility does not end with our salvation. The transformation wrought in us by the Holy Spirit, who replaces our heart of stone with a heart of flesh, compels us to action. Once we have embraced the grace of salvation through faith, our lives must become living testimonies of God's goodness and grace. We are called to declare His glory, to share His love, and to spread the message of salvation to all peoples.

This truth brings into focus the mission of every believer - to live a life that glorifies God and to be diligent in sharing the Gospel. For just as the rich man lamented a missed opportunity, we must seize ours, aware that our time is finite but our message eternal. Let us then commit to this mission with fervor and urgency, knowing that through our words and deeds, others may come to find the hope and salvation we have in Christ.

Conclusion

As we contemplate the meaningful lessons from the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, we are urged to respond to the Gospel with a sense of urgency and conviction. This parable serves as a reminder that God's justice is inevitable and perfect and that He will address every wrong and heal every hurt. It emphasizes the irrevocable nature of our choices in this life, prompting us to seek reconciliation with God while we still have the opportunity. Let this moment be a turning point for you, a time to embrace God's grace and forgiveness. If you have been distant from God, let today be the day of your return. If you have been silent about His love, let it be your moment to speak up. And if your heart has been hardened, let it soften now in the light of His unending love and mercy. This is our call to live a life transformed by the Gospel, a life that eagerly shares this hope with others, ensuring that the story of our lives reflects God's redeeming love.

Closing Prayer: 

Lord, as we conclude our time together, we thank You for the insights we've gained from the parable of the rich man and Lazarus. Help us to carry these lessons into our daily lives, to live with compassion, generosity, and a deep awareness of our eternal destiny. May we be mindful of the needs of those around us, stewarding our blessings in a manner that honors You. Guide us to live lives that reflect Your love and grace, sharing the hope of the Gospel with all we meet. In Jesus’ name, we pray, Amen.