The Rich Man & Lazarus

Luke 16:19-31 The Rich Man & Lazarus

Luke 16:19–21 (ESV) — 19 “There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. 20 And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, 21 who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores.

Illustration: RG LeTourneau known as “God’s businessman” was an inventor of over 300 patents in earth moving technology, during world war II, 70% of earth moving machines in the world were designed by LeTourneau. Yet as a businessman, he wanted to do more for Jesus and asked his pastor if he would better serve as a missionary, the pastor responded that Jesus wants businessmen too. By 1938, LeTourneau was a millionaire times over, and with his wife Evelyn, made the decision to give 90% of their personal income to Gospel missions, while living on the remaining %10. He was known for saying, “Its not how much money I give to God, but rather how much of God’s money I keep for myself.”

what we VALUE is often what we WORSHIP.

I understand that the licking of Lazarus’ sores gave him relief and eased his pain. This reminds us that the silent, unspeaking animals felt compassion for him and they helped him and cared for him more than the humans. He was naked without medical attention other than what he received from the dogs. This demonstrates that the rich man did not notice him or give him attention at all. Thus when we compare the rich man’s condition to that of Lazarus, we see that the first was clothed in purple, and linen. The second was naked and covered with sores. The first luxuriated every day with a banquet while the second longed fro scraps of bread. The first had many servants ready to satisfy all of his needs and the other had no servants other than the dogs. - Arab Biblical Scholar.

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

Revelation 20:13–15 (ESV) — 13 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. 14 Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. 15 And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

Luke 16:24–26 (ESV) — 24 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.’ 25 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. 26 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.’

Even the blood of Abraham will not save you from your sins, it must come from Christ ALONE.

YOUR WEALTH BECAME YOUR GOD. YOUR COMFORT BECAME YOUR WORSHIP.

Luke 16:27–31 (ESV) — 27 And he said, ‘Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father’s house— 28 for I have five brothers—so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.’ 29 But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.’ 30 And he said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ 31 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.’ ”

John 11:25–26 (ESV) — 25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?”

John 11:38–46 (ESV) — 38 Then Jesus, deeply moved again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it. 39 Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, “Lord, by this time there will be an odor, for he has been dead four days.” 40 Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?” 41 So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42 I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me.” 43 When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.” 44 The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.” 45 Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what he did, believed in him, 46 but some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done.