The Shocking Parable of The Rich Man And Lazarus – Luke 16

The video of the sermon I preached this morning is available here:

By Adrian Warnock
23 August 2009
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These notes are the first part of a set of full study notes that I used during the preparation of this sermon. They contain more material than I could actually preach, particularly in terms of the quotes. But, it demonstrates how helpful I find my Logos Bible Software in preparing. Every quote except one was found using that program, and you will see how some specific ideas either actually came from my reading, or were supported by my reading.

Intro – I had little to say by way of introduction, except to say that this little story we are going to look at together should come with a warning attached. It has the ability to get deep beneath your skin and really bother you! Matthew Henry said it had been designed to wake us up. In it we have the coming together of two of our least favorite subjects, but also Jesus’ favorite subjects – Money or the rich and the afterlife ie heaven and hell. Jesus has so much to say about those subjects and in embryonic form it is all right here in this story. So prepare to hear Jesus at his most offensive to the pride of this age:

Luke 16:19 “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. 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. 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.’ 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.’”

1. The Characters