January 17, 2016
Evening Service

Luke 16:24-31

 

            In this mornings lesson I made an attempt to explain why I believe, according to the Scriptures, that the soul is not immortal.  In this parable of the Rich Man, and Lazarus, Jesus used the uncertain, to stir up their minds, through fear, to use their wealth to help the poor.  This is the idea of this parable.   I want to read to where we stopped this morning.

Luk 16:19-31  There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:  (20)  And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,  (21)  And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.  (22)  And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;  (23)  And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 

·         This is not a good picture, if you are the rich man. 

·         The people that Jesus is speaking to are a lot like Christians today..  Only they did not have the ready access to the Scriptures that we do today.  They only knew what the Rabbis where telling them.  The Pharisees would no doubt emphasize one thing, and the Sadducees another.  This Scripture comes to mind;  Heb 2:15  And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

·         Because it was not clear on what happened after death, they were afraid, and this is what Jesus is using to make them think on the seriousness of using their money well.

·         I do not believe that Jesus’ purpose is to show what happens after death, but the importance of using our finances well.

Now let’s go on:

(24)  And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. 

·         The torments of the flame!! 

HELL = Representing two distinct words: Gehenna and Hades (Greek), Sheol (Hebrew). Gehenna) is strictly "the valley of Hinnom" (Jos_15:8; Neh_11:30); "the valley of the children of Hinnom" (2Ki_23:10); "the valley of the son of Hinnom" (2Ch_28:3); "the valley of dead bodies," or Tophet, where malefactors' dead bodies were cast, S. of the city (Jer_31:40). A deep narrow glen S. of Jerusalem, where, after Ahaz introduced the worship of the fire gods, the sun, Baal, Moloch, the Jews under Manasseh made their children to pass through the fire (2Ch_33:6), and offered them as burntofferings (Jer_7:31; Jer_19:2-6). So the godly Josiah defiled the valley, making it a receptacle of carcass and criminals' corpses, in which worms were continually gendering.

A perpetual fire was kept to consume this putrefying matter; hence it became the image of that awful place where all that are unfit for the holy city are cast out a prey to the ever gnawing "worm" of conscience from within and the "unquenchable fire" of torments from without. Mar_9:42-50, "their worm dieth not." implies that not only the worm but they also on whom it preys die not; the language is figurative, but it represents corresponding realities never yet experienced, and therefore capable of being conveyed to us only by figures.

·         There are many O.T Scriptures that refer to hell, and you can’t cover them in a matter of a church service.  This is study for the home, when there is more time.

·         Some have said that Jesus preached more on hell than He did on Heaven.  There again it is something that we can study, and make up our own minds concerning it.

But let’s go on: 

(25)  But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. 

·         You would think that just because one is rich, he deserves to be punished, and just because one is poor, he deserves to be comforted.  This is not what is being taught.

(26)  And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence. 

·         The Rich Man wants a drink of water from Lazarus, but Abraham, who represents God, says “it can’t be done, once you are dead, there is no more dealing with one another.”

·         And this is actually the case.  Once you have died your destiny is sealed.  There are no more chances to get things right.  This is true.

·         The Hebrew writer stated, “Heb 9:27  And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:”

·         However, we know of the final judgment, and there will be weeping , and gnashing of teeth, but no eternal suffering.

·         Rev 20:11-15  And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.  (12)  And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.  (13)  And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.  (14)  And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.  (15)  And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

·         Rev 21:6-8  And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.  (7)  He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.  (8)  But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.   (Their part is the second death, which is total destruction.)

·         Listen to Jesus; Mat 10:28  And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

·         The Sinner’s part in the lake of fire will be total destruction.  The lake of fire is the means, or punishment, this results in total destruction.  NO ETERNAL SUFFERING.

There will be no bargaining concerning making one  more comfortable.  And again, this is not what this parable is all about.  It’s about using what God has given you for His glory.  Whether it is money, or any talent that God has given you for the edification of the church, use it for His glory, and don’t waste it.   Jesus used the fear of the unknown to encourage them to a closer walk with Him.

(27)  Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house:  (28)  For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. 

·         Here again is a picture of a desperate person, who is being tormented by hell fire, and wants God to send Lazarus to his family to warn them not to come into this place.

(29)  Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.  (30)  And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.  (31)  And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.

·         In our day, Jesus tells us, that we have the Holy Bible, Living, accurate, explanatory, Himself, the Apostles, all the testimonies of the O.T., and we must accept what they say, and believe that Jesus is the Son of God, the Messiah, in order to live eternally with God.  “All things that pertain to life, and Godliness have been given unto us.”  Let’s hear them.

ALMIGHTY GOD, HELP US TO SEE THE IMPORTANCE OF USING OUR TALENTS, AND MONIES FOR YOUR GLORY.  AMEN.