THE RICH MAN AND LAZARUS

Very often a passage of Scripture yields surprising new truth to the person who approaches it as if for the first time, even though he may have been familiar with its language for many years. The primary point of a text may in the end prove to be along a different track from the familiar use made of it, or even the popular use. This is the case with the story found in Luke 16:19-31 of the Rich Man and Lazarus, a story which brings the hearer today to a point of personal decision in a startling and vivid way.

Body

I. THE STORY ITSELF: RECITE IT WITH EXPLANATORY COMMENT.

   A. "Lazarus" is a form of "Eleazar," which means "God helps."

   B. The rich man is often called "Dives," from the Latin word meaning "rich."

   C. "Hell" in the story represents simply hades, the realm of the dead, from the Greek word meaning "unseen."

   D. The dogs are street dogs such as inhabit the Eastern cities. They would compete with Lazarus for scraps thrown from the rich man's table.

II. VARIOUS LESSONS IN THE STORY.

   A. This is the other side of the story told in verses 1-13. Here the bad use of money is illustrated. This is not the primary point, however.

   B. We learn here, incidentally, the outcome of covetous persons (see the setting, verse 14).

   C. We learn that there is a reversal of roles very often in the afterlife (see the setting also, verse 15). This is not the chief point either.

   D. In Luke's Gospel the story is probably intended to contrast the poor Christians and the proud, legalistic Jews. This would be in keeping with the setting at the time Luke's Gospel was written, and may have been one of its purposes.

III. THE PRIMARY LESSON OF THE STORY IN ITS CONTEXT.

   A. The context sets the stage for the story.

        1. The Pharisees derided (turned up their noses) at Jesus' teaching (verse 14).

        2. Jesus says that their righteousness is phony, and God knows it (verse 15).

        3. Yet the days in which they were living were truly crisis-days and urgent times in God's purposes (verse 16; see also Matthew 11:12,13).

        4. Jesus did not come to destroy God's law but to fulfill it (verse 17).

        5. And fulfillment called for heart-righteousness, not external legalistic performance, such as they did with the laws concerning divorce (verse 18).

        6. At this point Jesus tells the story of the rich man and Lazarus.

   B. The lessons to be learned by a contextual understanding of the story.

        1. Men who do not hear God's revealed Word will not "listen" to a miracle or even a dead man. "They do not need to be enlightened, but persuaded." (See verse 31.)

        2. How urgent it is to hear and do God's Word now, for the time will soon be gone forever when one may do so! (Verses 27-29.)

        3. This is especially true in regard to Kingdom preaching; there are no games with God or Christ! When a man is confronted with the claims of Jesus and the call for repentance, he either responds in faith or disbelief. There is no other alternative, and there is no escaping the decision. To procrastinate is to decide for unbelief.

Conclusion

The Pharisees mocked at the words of Jesus, trusted in themselves and their reputation among the people, and lightly dismissed the call of Jesus to repentance and true righteousness. Men may behave the same today, and most of them do. The story of Lazarus and the rich man, while perhaps teaching other incidental lessons (though a Scripture should not be pressed beyond its contextual and obvious meaning), is intended to call men up short, to impress on them the urgency of obedience and faith in the present moment. Decide now to hear Jesus, to respond to Him in faith and love now - and each moment that you have life and opportunity. The time is coming when opportunity will be a thing of the past.

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