The Rich Man And Lazarus

Luke 16:19-31

Our Gospel reading for this week tells the account of two men whose lives were so different and opposite while they lived, and continued to take opposite and different paths after each of their deaths.  The account also parts the curtain, showing very briefly a glimpse into the afterlife. Let’s take a look at this account from Luke that Jesus told His listeners.

As we look into this account we see two men who were completely different.  The first was a rich man who had it all. He had anything and everything that he could want.  The other man was named Lazarus who was homeless, had nothing, and was ill. The one thing that the rich man did not have was a saving relationship with God.  However, Lazarus did put his faith in God, and that would make all the difference. Both men died, and the tables were turned. Now the rich man finds himself in hell with nothing, and Lazarus is with God (vs. 22-23).

The term “Abraham’s bosom” was a phrase that was also used in the Jewish Talmud, and was used as a figure for heaven.  “Hades”, translated from the Hebrew “Sheol”, was the realm of the dead. In New Testament usage it always referred to the place of the wicked prior to their final judgment in hell.  Jesus, when speaking of Hades, described it as a place where the torments of hell had already begun. Some of those torments included unquenchable flames, an accusing conscience, and permanent and irreversible separation from God and everything good.  Jesus never indicates that heaven and hell are a fantasy or figures of speech. Heaven is real, and so is hell.

The rich man was in torment, in terrible anguish and agony, and all of his riches were useless after his death.  They could not buy heaven. The Pharisees and religious leaders of Jesus’ day, and even some today, believed and taught that wealth was a proof of one’s righteousness.  Jesus’ teachings, including this account, taught otherwise. This startled and really angered the Pharisees. The thought of someone poor and sick being in heaven was abhorrent to them.

The rich man was selfish with his wealth.  He must have known and seen poor Lazarus begging for food.  He must have known that Lazarus was sick, yet he did nothing to help him, to bring a little comfort to his life, or pay for some medical care.  The rich man was hard-hearted. How do we react when we see the homeless? Are we judgmental about how they came to that condition? Are we proud and self-righteous?  Do we complain to city officials to get them out of our neighborhood? Remember where both the rich man and Lazarus each ended up.

As the account continues, the rich man asks Abraham to send Lazarus to warn his brothers to be sure not to end up where he was (vs. 27-28).  He felt they would believe if someone would come back from the dead and brought a message. This was strictly forbidden to happen. Jesus said that we have the Word of God (vs. 29-31).  If people will not accept that, they will not accept anything. When Jesus rose from the dead, most of the Pharisees and religious leaders of the people refused to believe. Jesus also would not condone or approve of any type of spiritism, including seances or calling back of the dead.

God has provided us with His Word to be the most powerful testimony about Jesus and the afterlife.  He has spoken through the Bible about the Messiah, warning about judgment, and admonishing us to care for the poor.  If the rich man’s brothers would not heed that, how could a miracle change their minds? Jesus performed miracles, including raising from the dead.  He, Himself, rose from the dead, and the religious leaders still refused to believe.

Unbelief is a moral rather than an intellectual problem.  No amount of evidence will ever turn unbelief to faith. However, the Word of God does have the power to do so.  It, alone, is sufficient. It is the power of God unto salvation (Romans 1:16). Spiritual matters need to be taken care of before one dies.  Since we never know when that will be, that should be now.