Luke 16 sets two completely different men side by side. Jesus gives a certain rich man clothed in purple and fine linen, faring sumptuously every day, with no real limitations on what he could eat or enjoy. The same text gives Lazarus, a beggar laid at the rich man’s gate, full of sores, wanting just the crumbs that fell from the table while the dogs came and licked him. The contrast could not be stronger. Everybody is different, and these two men prove it.
The Bible says both men died. Lazarus died, and the angels carried him into Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and was buried, and in hell he lifted up his eyes being in torments. Death did not erase the soul, and death did not make everything even in the way men sometimes imagine. The human soul lives forever somewhere, and the Bible gives only two final destinations.
The rich man’s wealth did not make him wicked just because he had money, and Lazarus’ poverty did not save him just because he was poor. The real issue was not purple clothes or sores, firsts and seconds or crumbs. The real issue was where each man stood before God when he slipped out into eternity. Once that happened, the great gulf was fixed, and it was too late to change sides.
Hell is not pictured as a party with old friends. Jesus shows pain, memory, thirst, desire, recognition, and torment. The rich man could see Abraham afar off, could recognize Lazarus, could feel the flame, and could cry out, “Have mercy on me.” But mercy sought for the first time in hell came too late.
The rich man then became burdened for his five brothers. He wanted Lazarus sent back to testify, but Abraham answered, “They have Moses and the prophets. Let them hear them.” The Word of God was enough. Even if one rose from the dead, a heart that would not hear Scripture would not truly be persuaded. Jesus has risen from the dead, and still every person must decide whether the Bible is true before it is too late.
The believer carries a sober responsibility. Family members, neighbors, and people crossed in daily life need more than kindness and friendliness. They need an opportunity to hear the truth, because in hell it is too late to seek truth, too late to repent, too late to request forgiveness, and too late to reach family.
Key Takeaways
- 1. Mercy must be sought today [01:08:56] The cry “have mercy on me” came from a real place of torment, but it came after the great gulf was fixed. Mercy is not less gracious because it has a deadline. God’s patience in this life should not be mistaken for permission to wait forever. Eternity makes delay look like madness. [68:56]
- 2. Comfort can hide eternal poverty [01:00:14] The rich man had his good things in his lifetime, but those good things could not cross the grave with him. Earthly ease can make the soul feel settled when it is actually in danger. Lazarus’ affliction did not have the last word, and the rich man’s abundance did not either. God’s accounting is not finished at the funeral. [60:14]
- 3. Scripture is enough to believe [01:05:06] Abraham did not offer the rich man a special sign for his brothers. He pointed to Moses and the prophets, because God’s Word already carried enough light. Apologetics may help clear brush, but it cannot replace submission to Scripture. A heart that refuses the Bible will explain away even a resurrection. [65:06]
- 4. Death fixes the soul’s direction [54:10] The beggar died, and the rich man also died. Their differences in life were great, but death came for both without asking permission. The grave does not create a second probation or a safer middle place. Death seals what a person has done with God’s truth in life. [54:10]
- 5. Family burdens belong to now [01:03:07] The rich man’s concern for his brothers was real, but it awakened too late. Lost family members are not just difficult conversations to postpone. They are souls moving toward an eternal destination. Faithfulness means giving them an opportunity to hear while the door of mercy is still open. [63:07]
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