Jesus: Creator, Savior, Lord and King #53 Jesus The Rich Man And Lazarus - Luke 16:19

 

Jesus: Creator, Savior, Lord and King #53
Jesus The Rich Man And Lazarus - Luke 16

Introduction: 

Have you ever heard of or read Dante's Inferno? It is a fictitious account of a man who goes to hell to find his lost love. It gives a vivid, over blown, florid description of going through hell.

Dante passes through the gate of Hell, which bears an inscription with the phrase "Abandon all hope, ye who enter here". Dante is guided through hell by the blind Roman poet Virgil, who also wrote an epic poem about Hades. At the door to hell, Dante and Virgil hear the anguished screams of the uncommitted, those souls who in life took no sides, made no choice and tried to avoid both heaven and hell and were only concerned not with eternity but only with the here and now, not with sin or redemption but their only concern was for themselves in the present.  Their indecision brings them not to neutrality, not to nothingness but to hell. The place they did not have time or the inclination to think about was always directly before them.

According to Dante hell has 9 concentric rings, one above the other descending from least punished in the first ring down to the most tormented in the 9th ring. The 1st circle is Limbo, the second Circle is Lust, 3rd is  gluttony, the 4th is greed, the Fifth, Anger, Sixth Circle is Heresy, the Seventh is Violence, Eighth is Fraud, the ninth circle, the last deepest, and most severe, is also where Judas and Satan are and it is the circle of betrayal and treachery. In each ring people are given punishments that fit their sin, in one ring people swim in human excrement, in a more severe ring they eternally burn in molten lava.

It is classic literature very wordy, ornate and often dense. I listened to it years ago as an audiobook, but that didn’t make it that much easy to get through. It is meant to be a morality tale, a very long, very Catholic parable to warn those alive what could await them after death. It is interesting, a work of literary art but of course it is fiction. It is very creative, but purely imaginary.

This morning we will be in Luke 16, the story of the Rich man and Lazarus. It is also about a trip to hell and there are some who believe that it also is made up, a fictitious morality tale to serve the same purpose as Dante’s Diven Comedy.  So before we get to the story itself lets take some time to remember what a parable is in the New Testament as told by Jesus.

Is it a parable?

The word parable means to lay along side. It comes from the same word in Greek that we get our word parallel from. The word παραβάλλω, / parabállō, signifies a placing of two or more objects together, usually for the purpose of a comparison. – ISBE. We usually say that a parable is an earthly story that teaches an heavenly truth for that is the way Jesus, the most famous of all parable teachers used it. The parable was not invented by Jesus, but it was used extensively and perfected by Him during His earthly ministry. Wouldn’t it have been amazing to hear Jesus tell personally the parable of the Good Samaritan, the Sower and the Seed or Prodigal Son? Like the song says, “I can only imagine.”

So is the story of the Rich Man and Lazarus a parable? Lets consider these facts. 1st no other parable by Jesus ever names its characters. Yet here we have two characters and one of them is very well known, Lazarus the beggar who dies and Abraham, the father of the Jewish people and of all people of faith.

2nd no other parable is takes place outside of the earth, yet this story takes us into hell itself. Instead of an earthly story about heaven we have a story about hell and paradise. Yet, parables are earthly stories that illustrate a heavenly or spiritual truth. They are not spiritual stories about spiritual truths.

To me it seems very obvious this is not a parable. The only reason some would say it is a parable is because it is place by Luke with a series of parables, the lost sheep, the lost coin and the lost son of Luke 15 and the parable of the unjust steward in Luke 16. But Luke often gathers events and stories under themes for his gentile readers so its placement by itself is not enough to call it a parable. Instead it is a narrative description of a lost soul, the Rich Man. It is an account of hell by the One who created heaven and hell and is best qualified to describe it to us on earth. This is a true documentary told by the Lord. And because it is real, we should give our rapt attention to it, for the story of the rich man and the poor beggar is a portend of our own end of life story.

Lazarus

Earthly Poor but Eternally Rich

Jesus gives us three characters in his account, the rich man, the poor beggar and Father Abraham. Lets begin with the beggar, Lazarus.

Lazarus - His name in Greek is Eleazar, which means “God is my help.”  A very fitting name in this story as most of the Biblical names are.

We don’t know why Lazarus is a beggar. Was he born in abject poverty and could never escape it’s power. Was he born crippled, blind or deaf, did he suffer and accident and become that way? Was he perhaps a soldier who had been wounded in war and now could not walk due to his wounds. We don’t know but now he cannot earn a living by any other means than by begging. All we know is what the Jesus tells us.

Luke 16:20-22 And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, 21 And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. 22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom:

Lazarus is carried twice in Jesus account, first he is carried by men and laid at the rich man’s gate to beg for crumbs and then when he dies he is carried by the angels into Abrahams’s bosom. It was the custom for centuries that when the wealthy had a feast, the poor and hungry would gather outside their homes and wait for the leftovers.

WA Criswell gives us more insight into why Lazarus was laid at the gate, “…in that day they did not use spoons and knives and forks at the table, so for a napkin those that were breaking bread together, eating together, would wipe their fingers on bread and then throw it out the door. And that’s what is referred to when it says that this poor man Lazarus was want to eat the crumbs from the rich man’s table:  he ate those pieces of bread that were used as a napkin to clean the fingers and hands of those who were eating, and they were flung outside, and he picked them up and ate them.”

 That is the same reason that the dog were there as well, they also were beggars and they would also wait for the scraps to be thrown out the door. Jesus takes note of the dogs in this account, one of the few times dogs are mentioned in the Bible, Moreover, Jesus says, the dogs licked his wounds. This note by Jesus tells us that the dogs, an unclean animal, a scavenger not much better than a vulture, showed more mercy to Lazarus than did the rich man and his friends at the feasts.

While waiting for the crumbs, the leftovers, the bread used by the rich to wipe their greasy fingers on, the beggar, forgotten by all but the dogs, dies. We don’t know who took care of his physical body, but we do know God sent His angels for his immortal soul.

Rich Man

Earthly Rich but Eternally Poor 

Our second character in Jesus’ story isn’t named, he is simply described as a rich man. The word rich man in Latin is DIVES, depending on what internet site you use it is pronounced Dee Ves or Dee Wis. In the Greek it would be “plousios. I like Greek more than Latin, so  we are going to call the rich man “Plousios” rather than “Dee Ves”

Plousios, Jesus says, Luke 16:19 was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day. Plousios lives in what we would call a mansion. He is clothed in purple, the most costly and expensive color of the ancient world, in the middle ages only royalty could wear it, in Jesus day only the extremely wealthy could afford it. It was made from the glands of a spiny sea snail called the murex. It had to be gathered and crushed by hand to extract the color.  But that was nothing to Plousios, he was rich enough to afford the color purple and use it to dye the fine linen that he wore whenever he wanted. Jesus says of Plousios, he fared sumptiosly. The Greek word uses for fared is where we get our word euphoric and the word sumptuous is Lampros where we get our word lamp. The rich man’s life was shining, bright and he went through life euphorically.

Plousios the rich and Lazarus the destitute have nothing in common during their life but the share this one commonality they both must die. Rich or poor there was no escaping that final end that claims all souls. Jesus says the rich man also died and was buried. No burial that we know of for Lazarus, his body was probably dumped in a common grave along with all the other beggars who died then and now. No one came to his funeral except for the angels.

The rich man was probably placed in a expensive tomb along side the bones of his ancestors. His family would have come to the funeral. There would be professional mourners and musicians hired to loudly cry and play sad, mournful songs. All the city would know Plousios, the rich man, had died.

But, only the dogs missed Lazarus.

Abraham

Earthly Father of God’s Eternal Children

Now we come to Abraham. This is the one person in the story that we know best. Abraham is the first patriarch. God had covenanted with Abrham to make his descendants like the sand of the sea and the stars of the sky. He is the father of the Jewish nation and the father of all the children of God.

Now Jesus tells us something more, before the death and resurrection of Jesus, the souls of the faithful, the righteous, the believers in God’s promise of a redeemer are in Hades, that is the word used here for Hell. Luke 16:23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

Plousios is in hell, in torment and yes he is awake and conscious. He looks far off in the distance and he sees into a place, which is also in Hades called Abrham’s bosom. In the rich man’s part of Hades, there is torment but in Lazarus part of Hades, which simply means the abode of the dead, there is comfort.

Now before we try and figure out what this place is, it is more important to understand why Lazarus is in a place of comfort and the rich man is tormented in flame as Jesus said. And oh, he is truly tormented, listen to his words, Luke 16:24 And 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.

Listen to Abraham’s reply in Luke 16:25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.

I couldn’t help but think of that something that a missionary to the death row inmates in Huntsville once saved from the pulpit, “For the saved life on this earth is our hell, it is as bad as it can get but for the lost life on earth is their heaven and that is as good as it will ever get. Earth is our hell, but for the lost this is their heaven.  

That in essence is what Abraham is telling Plousios, the rich man. Your heaven is now past, and Lazarus’s hell is now past. His heaven is now and your hell is now and for eternity.

It is now Plousios who is the beggar and such is his torment in the flames of hell that he begs Abraham for Lazarus to come and bring just a single drop of water on the end of his finger and let it drop into his mouth to cool raging, unending torment. Such is that torment that even one tiny drop of water would mean everything to him now, just as a crumb of food would have meant everything to Lazarus. This man who had the finest clothes, the best wine, the more wonderful food, is now reduced to begging for just a drop of water on his tongue.

What a description of the suffering of Hell, Jesus gives to us. It is not overblown and wordy like Dante’s Inferno it is but one short phrase, and it fills our imagination with how bad hell must be. If one drop of water is the greatest desire of someone in hell, how terrible must be the suffering of the damned.

But why is he here? It’s not because he was rich, for there are many rich in the Bible. Abraham was counted wealthy as were Isaac and Jacob. King David and his son Solomon were wealthy. Solomon so rich that the Bible says gold was counted as silver and silver as the stones on the street. Josephus who gave his own tomb to Jesus was called a wealthy man. No it was not riches that put Plousios in hell or poverty that placed Lazarus in Abraham’s bosom.

What was the difference? It something that we don’t find in the story, but we can find elsewhere probably best in the book of Romans chapter 4 where Paul talks about Abraham and faith.

Romans 4:1-5 What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found? 2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. 3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. 4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.
5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

Romans 4:16-25 Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all, 17 (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were. …23 Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; 24 But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; 25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.

We don’t know when but somewhere in the miserable life of Lazarus he put his faith in God and called out for mercy and God in grace saved him, not from a life of pain and hardship on earth, no, but God saved him from his sin and saved him to a life eternal in the comfort and joy of forgiveness.

Plousios did not call out he did not put his faith in God, perhaps as Jesus said, It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man enter into the Kingdom of heaven. We don’t have the details of these two men’s life only the final summary and final destination. One is comforted in God’s promises of faith through Abraham at first but then fully and finally through Jesus Christ, the Saviour of all who put their faith in His sacrifice upon the cross.

The Five Brothers

 Eternal Plea for An Earthly Intervention

The story ends with a conversation between Plousios and Abraham. It is a pitiful, heart wrenching plea for the rich man’s family. After Abraham tells Plousios that Lazarus will not come relieve his torment, the rich man asks …

Luke 16:27-31 27 Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house: 28 For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. 29 Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. 30 And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. 31 And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.

This is another reason why this can’t be a parable, but must be a true story. Why would Jesus use the name of his friend and soon to die and be resurrected friend Lazarus in a parable. The only reason this name would be used is because it was truly the name of a poor beggar know by Jesus who actually died.

The rich man, who is now the beggar is denied a drop of water, there is no relief from the torment of hell, then he pleads for Lazarus to be resurrected and sent to his family, his five brothers and to tell them, to warn them or what awaits them upon their own death. Once again his begging is unrewarded. Abraham says “they have Moses and the prophets.” This was the way that the Old Testament scriptures were referred to. Abraham was telling him they have the word of God. They need to hear the salvation that is proclaimed in God’s word to them.

Jesus speaking to the Pharisees, more rich men in his time said, John 5:39-40 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. 40 And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.

The rich man says, ‘No, father Abraham, but if only someone would raise from the dead and go to them, then they would repent.” But Abrham’s word is the hard reality of faith and truth, ‘If they won’t hear the Bible now in their lifetime, then neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.’

The irony and the truth of Abraham’s words is with us everyday in this present world, Jesus did rise from the dead. He proved his promises were true, proved He was Lord of Lords and even the conqueror of death itself and yet millions still don’t believe.

If they will not believe God’s word then they will not believe even if one rose from the dead. True then still the sad truth today. Some people say if only God would give me a sign, if only God would make himself known, if only God would talk to me personally. And the answer to that if is this supernatural book. God has given a sign, thousands of them, recorded right here. God has made himself know, just open these pages and He will reveal himself. God is more than willing to speak to you personally, Listen as His voice rings from his revelation book.

God is Speaking

Isaiah 1:18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD:
though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow;
though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

Isaiah 43:25-26 I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins. 26 Put me in remembrance: let us plead together: declare thou, that thou mayest be justified.

Matthew 11:28-30 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

You have the scriptures, what you do with them is what will make the difference between you joining Plousios in torment or Lazarus in paradise.

Conclusion

What happened to the Bosom of Abraham?

You might wonder what became of Abraham’s bosom, because in the rest of the New Testament those who die are in the paradise of heaven with the Lord, not in Abraham’s bosom. What Jesus describes in Luke 16 seems to be a place in Hades that existed until Jesus’ death on the cross and resurrection from the tomb. A place of waiting until the price for mankind’s sin was paid for on the cross. Once Jesus paid that price then those who believed looking forward in faith were taken from Hades, the abode of the dead where they were comforted and removed to the full joy of heaven, where one more powerful and loving than Abraham now comforts them.

Look at what Ephesians 4:6-10 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. 7 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. 8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. 9 (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? 10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)

 Look also at 1 Peter 3:18-20 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: 19 By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison; 20 Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.

And consider this in Matthew 27:51-53 And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; 52 And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, 53 And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.

Now we won’t take time to try and explain everything about Heaven, Hades, Hell and the bosom of Abraham. It is enough to know that when Jesus rose from the grave he carried, in his power over death, those captured by death and took them with him back into glory.

Isn’t that all we need to really understand? That Jesus has the power to take us with Him into paradise. That perhaps like Lazarus when we die He will send the angels to gather our soul into their arms and carries us into heaven to be with our savior.

Then we can says as Paul 1 Corinthians 15:54-57 Death is swallowed up in victory.  O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? -- The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.  But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.