June 24 – Reaping God’s Justice

Sunday School Lesson

June 24

Reaping God’s Justice

 

Devotional Reading: Luke 6:20-26

Background Scripture: Luke 16:19-31; John 5:24-30

Luke 16:19-31

¹⁹ 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Key Verse

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.—Luke 16:25

Lesson Aims

After participating in this lesson, each learner will be able to:

1. Relate the primary details in Jesus’ story of the rich man and Lazarus.
2. Explain what this passage teaches about caring for those who are poor materially and/or spiritually.
3. Help implement one specific improvement to his or her church’s benevolence ministry.

Introduction

1. Noblesse Oblige?

Western culture has long emphasized that those of greater wealth have a duty to be generous with those less well off. The French phrase noblesse oblige has been used for centuries to refer to this sense of obligation. The phrase means “nobility obliges.” It expresses the idea that those with privilege are obligated to be generous with those less privileged.

We commonly hear people express this sense of obligation. They say that they must “give back” because they have been blessed beyond what they need or want. They want to “pay forward” what they have received, to show themselves grateful for their abundance.

These are virtuous impulses. We encourage them, and we admire them. But from the perspective of the gospel of Jesus, some adjustment is required. Jesus showed His followers that godly generosity springs not simply from our realization that we are abundantly blessed, but from our sense of our own need. The idea of noblesse oblige may permit me to think of myself inappropriately as different from the person in need. The gospel in general and today’s text in particular reveal, however, that I am really in the same position as the person in need.

What Do You Think?

How can you protect yourself from the defective aspects of noblesse oblige thinking?

 Points for Your Discussion

To avoid having a condescending attitude

To avoid failure to sense your own need

Other

1. Lesson Background

The story in our text comes at the end of a series of parables found in Luke 15 and 16. The series begins with the Pharisees and scribes complaining about Jesus’ practice of feasting with sinners (15:1, 2). Jesus responded by telling three stories of things lost and found—a sheep, a coin, and a son. At the end of each of those three stories is a celebration that what was lost has been found. Expressed or implied in each case is comparison with the rejoicing of God and angels over sinners who repent (15:7, 10, 32). In contrast, the Pharisees and scribes failed to celebrate what God
celebrated. They were indifferent to God’s generous grace; they did not share God’s character.

The dialogue continued with the Pharisees scoffing at more of Jesus’ teaching because in their covetousness they loved money (Luke 16:14). Jesus replied that these religious leaders were trying to make themselves appear to be righteous, concealing hearts that harbored a condescending pride that is the opposite of what God values (16:15). Apparently not long afterward, Jesus told the story in our text.

Some Bible students question whether this account should be considered a parable. As evidence, they point out that in no other parable does Jesus give a name to one of the characters. Regardless of what position one holds on this question, the impact that the story was intended to have on Jesus’ detractors is unmistakable (Luke 16:15).

1. Inequity in Life

(Luke 16:19-21)

1. Living in Luxury (v. 19)

^19a. There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen.

The story begins with a brief description of a certain rich man, who is unnamed in Scripture. There is a tradition that his name is Dives. This probably comes from a Latin word for “rich,” which was mistaken to be a personal name in the Middle Ages.

How to Say It

HoseaHo-zay-uh.

LazarusLaz-uh-rus.

noblesse obligeno-bless uh-bleezh.

PhariseesFair-ih-seez.

VitelliusVih-tell-ih-us.

He is described briefly in a way that lets us know that he is substantially wealthier than all but a few others around him. In the ancient world, clothing of any kind is expensive because it involves time-consuming manual labor at every stage of production. People with surplus wealth, however, can afford even more expensive clothing—clothing that allows them to display their abundance publicly. Purple dyes are especially rare, so purple clothing is notably expensive (compare Acts 16:14; Revelation 17:4; 18:12, 16). Linen cloth is more comfortable and desirable than something made of cheaper wool, so fine linen is also prized and expensive (see Ezekiel 27:7).

^19b. And fared sumptuously every day.

Most people in the ancient world use a majority of their income or labor to obtain subsistence-level food. But the wealthy can use their abundance for more costly, exotic food and drink. They approach their meals not as needed nourishment but as a way to indulge themselves. The rich man of this story enjoys all these benefits of his wealth. His actions bespeak an attitude of entitlement.

Who’s Entitled?

History supplies a large number of public figures noted for their demands, vices, and peculiar habits. Consider Herod the Great, the king of Judea when Jesus was born. His infamous deed of massacring infants (Matthew 2:16) is only one of his many deranged actions. He was so unpopular among his subjects that he arranged for some prominent Jewish men to be executed when the time of his own death would come, to ensure that sorrow rather than joy would be expressed! Fortunately for them, Herod’s son did not carry out this order.

Or how about the Roman emperor Vitellius, who loved to eat? While feasting during his three or four daily meals, all accompanied by drunken revelry, he regularly vomited so he could eat more. Delicacies were brought from hundreds of miles to satisfy his gluttonous habits.

But the powerful and wealthy are not the only ones with demanding expectations. Just look how often the word entitlement is used in our culture! Most of us desire recognition and status as well. But we must be careful to reject the world’s seductive pull and maintain our relationship with the one who denied His own rightful, entitled place. In doing so, He showed us true servanthood (Mark 10:35-45; Philippians 2:5-8).

—C. M. W.

1. Suffering in Squalor (vv. 20, 21)
2. And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores.

The second man provides a complete contrast to the first. His name, Lazarus, is a variation on the name Eleazer, meaning “God will help.”

But God’s help seems absent from his life. He is a beggar, unable to obtain what he needs to survive. He seems too weak to walk, so someone has to carry him to the gate that guards the rich man’s luxurious home. His destitution is visible in every way. His body, covered in sores, makes him unclean and repulsive to others, and certainly in a miserable condition (compare Job 2:7, 8).

^21a. And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table.

The poor man isn’t picky. All he desires are the scraps from the rich man’s table—stuff that the rich man isn’t going to eat anyway. But there is no indication that the rich man offers even that small gesture, which would cost him nothing. Lazarus is ignored, left to starve and suffer alone.

^21b. Moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.

The poor man’s only apparent relief ironically comes from the dogs that lick his sores. But even that is a disgraceful condition, one associated with uncleanness and the stench of extreme misery.

God has called His people Israel to be generous to the poor (Deuteronomy 15:7-11). He had generously called Israel out of Egypt and brought them into the promised land (15:15; 24:17-22). To fail to be generous in turn is to deny the generosity of God. The rich man of Jesus’ story has sadly founded his identity, security, and pleasure in his wealth rather than in God’s provision (see Proverbs 18:11).

What Will You Do?

Some time ago, I was approached by a person asking for a handout as I exited my car at a shopping center. It took me by surprise, but I managed to scrounge up a few small bills. After a lavish display of appreciation, she turned and headed toward another arriving vehicle. As I continued on my way, I noticed an onlooker sitting in a nearby vehicle. The look on his face and the shake of his head expressed his disdain at what he’d just witnessed—calling into question the poor person’s genuineness and my gullibility at giving to her.

Such occasions may indeed cause us to pause and wonder about the sincerity or actual need of a person appealing to our generosity. We experience it frequently: someone holding a sign at an intersection, solicitations by phone or mail, people approaching us on the street, etc. It is easy to distrust any request if at some time we have been duped by tricksters. Also, we do not want to violate 2 Thessalonians 3:10: “If any would not work, neither should he eat.”

It’s tempting to use the question “What would Jesus do?” as a guide, as Charles Sheldon proposed in his 1896 classic In His Steps. There’s a lot to be said for using that question as a model. But there is also a limitation as we realize that we cannot do everything Jesus did. He fed thousands miraculously (Matthew 14:13-21; 15:29-38). Although we cannot match that, we can all do something (Mark 9:41). One of the church’s earliest benevolence efforts was tainted with wrong motives (Acts 4:32-5:11), but that didn’t stop the willingness to help.

—C. M. W.

1. Justice in Death

(Luke 16:22-26)

1. Reward and Punishment (vv. 22, 23)

^22a. And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom.

Jesus chooses to depict the beggar’s status after death in terms drawn from a popular Jewish conception of God’s people in the afterlife. The Old Testament says remarkably little about life after death. But by Jesus’ time, many Jews have developed the belief that God’s faithfulness and justice mean that He must bring His people to a place of blessing beyond death.

One way of depicting this future is to draw on Old Testament passages that depict God’s promised future as a great banquet (Isaiah 25:6-8; compare Luke 13:23-29). That image is present here. Because people in Jesus’ time commonly eat in reclining positions gathered closely around low tables, a person at a banquet often reclines against the chest of another guest. For Lazarus to be positioned at Abraham’s bosom echoes such a situation. This represents a complete reversal of the beggar’s condition.

^22b. The rich man also died, and was buried.

The rich man apparently dies at about the same time as Lazarus. We can imagine a rich person’s lavish funeral and burial in a family tomb, but these mean nothing to the bigger picture of the story. The man’s wealth does not spare him from the fate common to all. Despite vastly different lifestyles, the earthly outcomes of the rich man and Lazarus are one and the same: they both die.

What Do You Think?

In what ways should remembering our mortality affect how we live without becoming fatalistic?

Points for Your Discussion

Regarding use of time

Regarding use of money

Regarding relationships we choose to have and choose not to have

Other

23. And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

The rich man’s lavish burial is not reflective of his condition on the other side of the grave. Whereas he enjoyed nothing but the good life while on earth, now he is in hell . . . in torments. The Greek word behind the translation hell occurs nine other times in the New Testament; context always indicates an undesirable place—a place of abandonment or condemnation (see Matthew 11:23; 16:18; Luke 10:15; Acts 2:27, 31; Revelation 1:18; 6:8; 20:13, 14).

Perhaps the rich man’s worst suffering is mental in nature as he realizes that the afar off distance of Abraham means exclusion from the blessings of God’s people. His condition is now reversed from what it was before.

1. Request and Reply (vv. 24-26)
2. 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.

As the rich man speaks, we notice that he addresses not the poor man but Abraham, not the one he knows to be of low estate but the one who had also become rich (Genesis 13:2). The request is to send Lazarus as a servant to relieve his suffering, if only with the slightest drop of water.

Thus we see in this request a blend of newfound humility and long-established haughtiness. The rich man seems to accept the justice of his condition, asking only for the slightest relief. Yet he still speaks as one accustomed to commanding. He has more to learn.

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.

Abraham makes clear the justice of the new reality. The two men’s conditions after death represent reversals of their conditions in life. The rich man had the capacity and the responsibility to see that the poor man was treated with compassion, but the rich man willfully neglected that responsibility.

So what the rich man did not do, God now does. The poor man reclines in comfort. The rich man, transported from luxury to abject misery, longs for even the tiniest drop of water that might come from the poor man’s hand, just as the poor man, in his earthly torment, had longed for the slightest crumb from the rich man’s table.

What Do You Think?

What more can our church do to help its members maintain a proper awareness of the reality of God’s retributive justice?

Points for Your Discussion

In proactively addressing the issue before false ideas arise (see page 340)

In reactively addressing the issue after false ideas are already causing trouble

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.

If verse 25 leaves any doubt regarding the permanence of the reversal, this verse removes it. While one lives on earth, crossing status lines between riches and poverty is possible. But after death there can be no going back and forth between the place of blessing and the place of punishment. The barrier in this reality is pictured as a great gulf that separates the two. Not only is the rich man unable to reach the company of Abraham, Lazarus cannot cross to provide relief, even if he wanted to.

The message is that the opportunity for repentance and receiving mercy remains open while life lasts. And there is no guarantee that everyone will get 70 years of life (compare Psalm 90:10). Reading today’s text carefully, we realize that the rich man expresses no repentance despite his torment; a similar attitude is seen in Revelation 6:15-17.

III. Warning in Writing

(Luke 16:27-31)

1. Anguished Plea (vv. 27, 28)
2. Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father’s house.

The rich man realizes that it is too late for him to change his surroundings. So he turns his attention to others, specifically the members of his own family. Perhaps they can avoid the misery that he now experiences. Notice that the rich man does not ask that either he himself or Abraham go; rather, the rich man asks that Lazarus be sent as a servant to those who live in privilege. This presumes that Lazarus would even want to go!

28. For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.

The rich man’s five brethren who remain alive are presumably as wealthy as he was. The rich man assumes that they are as unaware as he was of their need to (1) repent and (2) work for distributive justice so that those having the greatest need are provided with resources to meet those needs. Perhaps something can be done to warn them.

1. Adequate Proof (vv. 29-31)
2. Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.

Abraham’s reply is terse. The man’s brothers already have sufficient witness to their responsibilities, in the form of Moses and the prophets. In Jesus’ day, the sections of the Old Testament are seen as three in number: the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms (see Luke 24:44). The first section is the first five books of the Bible; the second consists of books bearing names of prophets as well as several historical books such as Joshua and Kings; the third includes not only the Psalms as such, but also every book not included in the other two categories.

The first two of the three divisions are sufficient for communicating God’s just requirements. The man’s brothers should already know what the Scripture calls them to do (Leviticus 19:10; etc.).

What Do You Think?

How can you safeguard yourself against things that interfere with your hearing God’s Word?

Points for Your Discussion

During your initial preparations for the day

As you endure ungodly talk

In how you manage your time

Other

30. And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.

The rich man knows that his brothers, like him and like so many before him, do not heed the message of the law and the prophets. Living as if God has provided no witness of His will, they are as heedless of their responsibility as their late brother had been.

But the rich man hopes that a spectacular intervention will help. Perhaps if someone from the deadwill show up to warn the brothers, then they will listen. After all, who could resist a message from a dead person who has been restored to life?

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.

The story ends abruptly with these grim words from Abraham. The rich man is informed that he has wrongly assessed what his brothers need. The witness of Moses and the prophets is formidable. They testify to the mighty deeds of God and their implications. They offer God’s rich promises, but promises that are conditional.

To ignore the requirements of the promises is a symptom of a hard heart, of a human will that refuses to align with God’s will. Even if someone were to return from the dead, those who do not listen to God’s Word now will not listen then. Thus the story reaches its climax as it points in a veiled way to the resurrection of Jesus.

Conclusion

1. Who Were “the Needy” Then?

Jesus’ opponents fancied themselves to be experts in the Law of Moses and the books of the prophets. They sought to apply those laws zealously to every aspect of life.

In that process, however, they lost sight of the God who gave the law. They became deaf and blind to His initiatives. Standing before them was the greatest of God’s prophets—and more. He stood head and shoulders above Moses and the prophets. God was present in the world as He has not been before. In Jesus all the law and the prophets come to fulfillment.

Yet many Pharisees and scribes did not see this. Their love of power and wealth left them insensitive. So when Jesus rose from the dead, many still did not believe. Those who looked down on the poor could justify their attitude by misreadings of texts such as Proverbs 13:18; 20:4; 24:33, 34; etc. In ignoring the physically needy, they missed seeing the most spiritually needy: themselves.

1. Who Are “the Needy” Now?

When we see need around us, what comes to our minds? Gratitude that we are not in their situation? Memory of what it was like to be in need? A sense of annoyance? A sense of responsibility? A sense of opportunity? A mixture of these?

Jesus’ story reminds us that regardless of our circumstances, we are all people in need. Before we label someone else as “needy,” we first ought to see ourselves that way. We are not self-sufficient. Even as we live as responsible, productive citizens, we do not make it on our own. We depend on God for everything, especially eternal life. One day we will stand before Him either to receive that great gift or to be consigned to eternal ruin for rejecting it. Today’s text offers a solemn call to listen and repent now, before it’s too late.

What Do You Think?

If an unbeliever dismisses “before it’s too late” as a scare tactic, how would you respond?

 Points for Your Discussion

Responses that agree, at least partially, with the unbeliever

Responses that disagree with the unbeliever

1. Prayer

Gracious and loving Father, we confess that we depend completely on You for life, both present and eternal. Open our eyes to our own need. Open our hearts to the needs of others. Make us Your instruments of mercy, never growing weary in giving that reflects Your generosity. We pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

1. Thought to Remember

To meet a needy person, look in the mirror.

 

KID’S CORNER

Refusing to Listen Results

June 24, 2018

Luke 16:19-31

 

Luke 16:19-31

(Luke 16:19) “Now there was a rich man, and he habitually dressed in purple and fine linen, joyously living in splendor every day.

In this parable by Jesus, a rich man in purple and fine linen could indicate the man was of a royal family. To eat “sumptuously” meant he ate far more than he needed to maintain good health and he had plenty to share with others. The rich man could also be a political or religious leader who ignored those he considered far beneath him socially, politically, racially, or religiously. Jesus indicated in the parable that he was a Jewish rich man, because he knew of father Abraham and he called him father Abraham when he saw him with Lazarus. Though he paid no attention to Lazarus when they both were alive, when he could have helped him, he recognized Lazarus too.

(Luke 16:20) “And a poor man named Lazarus was laid at his gate, covered with sores,

In religious circles and elsewhere, some people thought that rich people were wealthy because God blessed them and approved of their behavior, and poor or sick people were poor or sick because they lacked faith or were suffering the punishment of God for their sins. Some religions still teach these ideas. The Book of Job considers this way of thinking: Job’s comforters insisted that he was being punished by God and that was why he was suffering and had sores. If someone thinks the poor are being punished by God, then they may also think they have no responsibility to help them or to help them would be contrary to God’s will. The Book of Job and this parable of Jesus refute this false thinking regarding the causes of suffering and riches. Lazarus was both poor and sick, but God was not punishing him for his sins; rather, Lazarus joined father Abraham in heaven and the rich man could not.

(Luke 16:21) and longing to be fed with the crumbs which were falling from the rich man’s table; besides, even the dogs were coming and licking his sores.

Lazarus was so destitute and suffered from such neglect that Jesus did not indicate that Lazarus ever had the courage to beg or ask anyone for help, especially the rich man. He longed to eat the garbage from the rich man’s table, but the rich man probably used his garbage to feed his dogs. The dogs showed some interest in Lazarus, but the rich man showed none.

(Luke 16:22) “Now the poor man died and was carried away by the angels to Abraham’s bosom; and the rich man also died and was buried.

When those who trust God die, angels come to carry them to heaven. Lazarus trusted God as his only source for what he needed in this life, and God honored his faith in him. God expected the rich man to care for Lazarus, but he did not; so, when he died he was simply buried – no angels came for him.

(Luke 16:23) “In Hades he lifted up his eyes, being in torment, and *saw Abraham far away and Lazarus in his bosom.

Jesus taught that heaven and hell are two separated destinations for those who die physically: a person who dies must spiritually go to one of these two places. Lazarus went to heaven to live with Abraham, who was declared righteous and saved because of his faith in God: Abraham believed God. Lazarus also believed God. The rich man went to Hades, because even though he may have “believed in” God, he did not “believe God” by doing what God commanded. If he had believed God, he would have obeyed God’s law and have cared for the poor—especially his neighbor Lazarus, who the Bible commanded him to love. He would have loved his neighbor as himself, and Lazarus would have been fed well by him and his sores treated. Even if he thought Lazarus was being punished by God, he would have prayed for God’s guidance in how best to help Lazarus make the changes he needed to make so he could help him get well and live right in the future.

(Luke 16:24) “And he cried out and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus so that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool off my tongue, for I am in agony in this flame.’

Probably, the rich man never had a thought about mercy for himself before he suffered in Hades, for he had eaten sumptuously. His behavior toward Lazarus had indicated he had no thought of mercy for those who had desperate needs. However, his conscience may have spoken to him to be merciful when he heard the Scriptures read in the synagogue, but it seems he suppressed that truth and ignored the Scriptures. In Hades, he asked for mercy to be shown to him in a concrete way by having Lazarus bring him a drop of water when he had never given a scrap of food to Lazarus. Perhaps he felt some guilt and knew that he did not deserve to ask for more than a drop of water. Perhaps surprisingly, he did not repent. He did not ask to be forgiven. He did not ask to be taken up to heaven to be with Abraham and Lazarus. Most probably, he recognized that he deserved to exist forever in Hades. He expressed no interest in living with God and Abraham in heaven. He just wanted Lazarus to serve him and relieve his torment a little.

(Luke 16:25) “But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that during your life you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus bad things; but now he is being comforted here, and you are in agony.

The rich man did not directly ask Lazarus for help, which might have been too humbling. Perhaps he thought that Lazarus would have rejected helping him as he had rejected Lazarus on earth; but father Abraham might command Lazarus to help him. In Hades, he did not repent for what he had neglected to do (his sin of omission for not helping Lazarus). With compassion and gentleness, Abraham called him “child” because he was a physical descendant of Abraham, but not a spiritual descendant of Abraham. Abraham reminded him that his suffering was just because he did not love his neighbor or live by faith in God. He had received good things on earth, and he had refused to share those good things with Lazarus. Lazarus had received evil things on earth, but because of his faith in God despite his suffering on earth he was comforted in heaven.

(Luke 16:26) ‘And besides all this, between us and you there is a great chasm fixed, so that those who wish to come over from here to you will not be able, and that none may cross over from there to us.’

God in His grace does not make His children face the question of whether or not they should help those being justly punished in Hades, for God has created a great chasm between those who live by faith in Him and those who refuse to live by faith in Him (love and obey Him because they trust Him and His Word). Even if Abraham and Lazarus had felt moved to try to help the rich man, God has revealed in the Bible that salvation involves what we believe and do on earth in response to His Word, especially whether or not we believe in and love God and also love our neighbor as followers of His Son, Jesus. Furthermore, if the faithless who practice evil by commission and omission were able to enter heaven, they would soon ruin heaven and make others miserable because of their evil, self-centered, and selfish behavior.

(Luke 16:27) “And he said, ‘Then I beg you, father, that you send him to my father’s house—

The rich man did not argue, because he knew that Abraham was right and his sufferings were his just punishment. In Hades, he had no incentive to repent or ask forgiveness, but in Hades he showed some concern for his family because they also lived without any thought of God or the consequences of disobeying God. They had no thought of compassion or of helping others. They did not believe God and they did not live by faith in God.

(Luke 16:28) for I have five brothers—in order that he may warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’

Here again, the rich man did not speak to Lazarus, but he wanted Abraham to send Lazarus on another errand for him (after all, on earth he was an influential rich man and it was difficult for him to change his selfish thinking, especially toward one who had been so far beneath him). He had totally disregarded Lazarus on earth, but now he wanted Lazarus to serve him and those in his family who were just as selfish as him (but had not yet died). He did not ask that his brothers be taught to love God and help the poor, but that they be warned to do something to avoid Hades.

(Luke 16:29) “But Abraham *said, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.’

Abraham replied (and of course these are the words of Jesus in the parable) that those who have the Scriptures need to listen to (or obey) the Scriptures. If someone listens to Moses and the prophets, they will believe God and love God and their neighbors; they will recognize Jesus is the Messiah and believe the words of Jesus. People have all the truth they need in the Bible to live by faith in God, so they have no excuse for not believing God and living on the basis of believing God.

(Luke 16:30) “But he said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent!’

Throughout their lives these rich men had access to the Scriptures and the synagogue teachers who taught from the Scriptures. They knew about father Abraham from the Scriptures, but they had never believed God as Abraham had believed God in a way that moved them to obey God, love God, and love others. The rich man thought if Lazarus went back from the dead and warned them that they would repent. The rich man himself did not repent or ask to be sent back to his brothers (of course, this would not have been permitted either).

(Luke 16:31) “But he said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead.’”

In Jesus’ parable, Abraham replied truthfully that those who will not listen to the Scriptures will not believe God or repent even if they see someone raised from the dead. The first step in saving faith is believing the Bible is true, and they would not listen to Moses and the prophets because they did not actually believe the Bible was true; that what the Bible taught what was real. After Jesus raised His friend Lazarus from the dead, the Jewish leaders still would not believe; instead, they wanted to kill both Lazarus and Jesus. Jesus proved His statement to be true when He rose from the dead, because after His resurrection from the dead the religious leaders who had not listened to what Moses and the prophets had said, but had crucified Jesus, were still not convinced that Jesus was the risen Messiah. They were not even convinced to repent of their sins and do what God commanded in the Scriptures to avoid Hades. Instead, they were more determined than ever to try to silence the apostles and kill some of them too.

 

Refusing to Listen Results

June 24, 2018

Luke 16:19-31

 

 “Abraham said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead’” (Luke 16:31).

In Jesus’ parable of the rich man and the poor beggar named Lazarus, we learn that indeed there is life after death. We also learn that people who die go to live in one of two places, either to Hades or to Heaven. We also learn that when Lazarus died angels came and took him to be with Abraham. Jesus’ parables and preaching give us the good news that God gave Moses and the Prophets and then sent Jesus so those who believe God and their teachings can avoid Hades and go to Heaven. The rich man in Jesus’ parable demonstrated that he did not believe God, Moses, or the Prophets by the way he treated the poor beggar Lazarus. Since he ate sumptuously, he had plenty that he could have loving shared with Lazarus, and he could have shown compassion and paid a physician to care for Lazarus’ sores. The rich man did not believe God or love God, for if he had he would have obeyed God and loved his closest neighbor, Lazarus, who longed to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. His five rich brothers lived selfishly as he had, for he asked Abraham to send Lazarus to warn them, so they could avoid his place of torment. But Jesus’ parable teaches that some people simply will not believe God or the Bible, not even if someone rises from the dead to teach them. For example, after Jesus raised a different Lazarus from the dead, some religious leaders went to plot a way to kill both Lazarus and Jesus.

 

 

Thinking Further

Refusing to Listen Results

June 24, 2018

Luke 16:19-31

Name ______________________________

 

1. Why did the rich man go to Hades after he died?

 

2. Do you think the rich man’s attitude about wealth was the same or similar to everyone else in his family? Give a reason for your answers.

 

3. Do you think the rich man thought he was religious enough and blessed by God so that he was surprised when he began his existence after death in Hades?

 

4. Do you think Lazarus went to heaven just because he was poor? Why might someone think that?

 

5. Why should people repent?

 

Questions for Discussion and Thinking Further

1. Why did the rich man go to Hades after he died? He went to Hades because he did not believe God or have faith in God and the Scriptures. If he had believed God and the Scriptures, he would have shared the good things that he had with Lazarus and other poor people whose needs he could meet. He would have loved God and his neighbor.
2. Do you think the rich man’s attitude about wealth was the same or similar to everyone else in his family? Give a reason for your answers. Yes. He wanted father Abraham to send Lazarus back from the dead to warn his five brothers to repent.
3. Do you think the rich man thought he was religious enough and blessed by God so that he was surprised when he began his existence after death in Hades? Yes. He probably felt that he was doing the right things because all the right things were being given to him and they were his right to possess. He did not believe God and use the right things that were being given to him to bless or help others. He probably felt that because of his religion he would not go to Hades.
4. Do you think Lazarus went to heaven just because he was poor? Why might someone think that? No. Someone might think that because Abraham told the rich man that Lazarus had received bad things in this life that God was being fair to give him good things in the next life. Lazarus went to heaven because he trusted God and believed God despite receiving bad things in this life. The Bible says that we are saved by grace through faith, and during Lazarus’ life he was saved by grace through faith and went to heaven when he died. In the parable, Lazarus did not yet know Jesus was the Messiah. Today, we know more about how someone is saved: by grace through faith in Jesus Christ (see John 3:16).
5. Why should people repent? They have Moses and the prophets who have told them how to live, who have told them the consequences of disobeying God, and who have warned them of the consequences if they do not repent. In addition, they have the teachings and warnings of Jesus, the Son of God and Messiah, who rose from the dead. They have many expressions of God’s love shown to them in this life, so they have many reasons to turn from their sins and love and trust God. People have no good excuse for not believing in God.

 

Refusing to Listen Results

June 24, 2018

Luke 16:19-31

Name ___________________________

 

J H L N K I J H L E Q F R I C

L E X M G Y R U X U L H K H X

I R S H B H W T R D E P A Q A

Q W U U A J R E N A F S R N L

C S R F S D H S L E M Z G U J

N J A P C T E K I A P E P V P

B Y Z S A O D S N X L E D K H

R X A F J R G S E S O M R L X

O V L U O M Y H N W L X T V M

T G I E X E A B I H O B F N F

H L R J O N F H E P C R T R L

E Q H A R T G J A G D O G S A

R N F U D Y Q T O R G J I Z H

S Q S V G S D X G S B A W N V

K F W N H P I B Q J I A R C O

 

Purple

Linen

Luxury

Beggar

Lazarus

Dogs

Angels

Father

Abraham

Hades

Torment

Chasm

Brothers

Moses

Repent

 

True and False Test

Refusing to Listen Results

June 24, 2018

Luke 16:19-31

Name _____________________________

 

Circle the true or false answers. Correct the false statements by restating them.

 

1. Jesus told a parable about a rich man named Lazarus. True or False

 

2. The rich man ignored a poor, hungry, beggar with sores. True or False

 

3. Eventually, the angels came and carried the beggar to Abraham’s side.

True or False

 

4. When the rich man died he was buried and went to Hades, a place of torment. True or False

 

5. When the rich man looked up he saw Abraham and Lazarus, but he only talked to Abraham. True or False

 

6. When the rich man remembered the teachings of Moses, he felt sorry for his sins and repented. True or False

 

7. A great chasm made it possible for Lazarus to take some water to the suffering rich man. True or False

 

8. Abraham told the rich man that his brothers would not listen to Moses and the Prophets even if someone rose from the dead. True or False

 

9. Abraham said that his brothers should believe the teachings of Moses and the Prophets. True or False

 

10. Jesus said that eventually all five brothers went to Hades too.

True or False

 

True and False Test Answers

 Luke 16:19-31

1. False
2. True
3. True
4. True
5. True
6. False
7. False
8. True
9. True

10.False

 

Prayer

Gracious and loving Father, we confess that we depend completely on You for life, both present and eternal. Open our eyes to our own need. Open our hearts to the needs of others. Make us Your instruments of mercy, never growing weary in giving that reflects Your generosity. We pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.