Preparing for Eternity - Luke 16:19-31

The story we are studying today has been debated about whether or not it is a parable.  The scripture does not state that it is specifically a parable.  However, it does seem to follow the same format of a parable - that of a story being told to teach a truth.

Yet it is quite possible that this story actually occurred and Jesus drew from His knowledge of all things to give us this story.  Either way - the truths taught by this story are true and very important for us to understand.

The main truth this parable teaches us is:

Big Idea: The result of spurning God’s grace is tragic.

Jesus begins this story by introducing a very good guy and a very bad guy.  The good guy is Lazarus, who is a very poor man and terribly afflicted with sores all over his body.  He is a godly man, for when he dies he is received into Heaven.

The bad guy is a filthy rich man who lives a life of ease and luxury.  He evidently knew Lazarus, for when in Hell he asked Abraham to have Lazarus bring him a drop of water.

He knew the terrible plight of Lazarus, yet never offered to help him.  Instead, the wild dogs that roamed the streets were the only ones to try to comfort Lazarus - and that by licking his sores.

Cannot you feel the injustice?  Each of us have probably suffered some injustice - no matter how slight - sometime in life.  We feel like we can identify with Lazarus.  We champion the underdog.

But before we go on a tirade of anger against the selfish, rich man, I want to ask a question:

Discussion: Is it sinful to be wealthy?  Why or why not?

Discussion: Does being poor make you a Christian?  Why or why not?

Discussion: Why does the Bible often make a close connection between the poor and the godly?

Discussion: Lazarus lay outside the the rich man's gate. The rich man's sat inside eating a gourmet banquet. Was the rich man responsible for not helping Lazarus, even though he was separated by some distance from Lazarus?

Discussion: What was the rich man’s sin?

(He had made money/self his god.  He had not shown love to and/or concern for others.)

I believe the rich man’s basic sin was setting up money and/or self as god in place of the one true God, however, I also see a strong implication in this story that his sin included his lack of concern and love for others.

Read Luke 16:25

John Maxwell, a leadership expert, says that his father taught him as a boy, “Either you can play now and pay later or you can pay now and play later.  Either way, you must pay.”

The first result of spurning God’s grace, as taught in this parable, is:

1. A wasted life, vv. 19-21.

In verses twenty-two through twenty-three, we read that when Lazarus died, he went straight to Heaven and when the rich man died, he went straight to Hell.  Some people have suggested when people die, they do not go either straight to Heaven or straight to Hell.

Discussion: What are some other explanations for what happens after death?

Discussion: Why do many wish to believe neither Heaven nor Hell is an immediate destination for one’s soul?

Picture what Hell must be like, if you can.  Try to feel the torment that those who are in Hell feel.  It almost seems cruel for Abraham to deny Lazarus a drop of water.  I mean, just one drop of water?!

Discussion: Why are those who are in Hell not granted any relief from the suffering there?

Note that it is Jesus - the one people like to describe as good, loving and kind - who paints this awful picture of Hell.

Discussion: What do you think is the most important lesson about Hell that Jesus teaches us in these verses?

(I see three awful truths: there is no intermediary state between death and hell, there is no mercy for those in hell, there is no escape from hell.)

The second result of spurning God’s grace, as taught in this parable, is:

2. An eternal death, vv. 22-26.

The Beacon Bible Commentary is almost sarcastic about the rich man’s concern for his brothers, characterizing as a “missionary spirit.” (BBC, p. 568)

Discussion: How would you characterize the rich man’s concern for his brothers?

We know God loves all people and is not willing that any should perish.

Discussion: Why does Abraham refuse to provide a special warning for the rich man’s brothers?

(God has provided us a means for salvation; we must avail ourselves of it.  Fear of hell alone is not a satisfactory motive for salvation. (BBC, p. 568))

Discussion: How would you describe the influence this rich man had on his brothers?

The third result of spurning God’s grace, as taught in this parable, is:

3. An evil legacy, vv. 27-31.

The result of spurning God’s grace is tragic, is it not?  I was taught in preaching classes to turn negative statements into positive ones.  For instance, I preached Sunday from 1 John 2 - “Do not love the world.”  I turned that around to say, “The world is not worthy of your affection.”

Turning negatives into positives - that is taught as good preaching style.  Yet it is interesting how negative the Bible is at times.  It is intriguing that Jesus, the master teacher, taught such a negative story as the parable of the rich man and Lazarus.

The result of spurning God’s grace is tragic: a wasted life, an eternal death, and an evil legacy.  There’s not much positive here.

I hope this story serves to remind us of the importance of living a godly life, even though it may not seem “worth” it at times during this life.

I think, however, that the most appropriate application of this lesson to our lives, may be to pray for our loved ones who are even now spurning God’s grace.  If they do not turn and repent soon, their lives will be a tragedy of what could have been - should have been.  Let us pray for God’s grace for our loved ones.

Prayer: