LUKE LESSON 41

     We will begin this lesson in Luke 16:19  "There was a certain
rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared
sumptuously every day:"

     This rich man was very rich. It appears from the scene above that
he was sure to use his money for his own personal wants. He seemed to
be pampering himself by buying himself fine clothes and eating all
sorts of delicate foods. In I Timothy 6:18 "That they do good, that
they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to
communicate;" I Timothy 6:19 "Laying up in store for themselves a good
foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal
life." You see a rich person must not hang on to his riches for
themselves, but must be quick to help others in need. That does not
seem to be the case with this rich man above. He seemed to be thinking
just of himself.

     Luke 16:20 "And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which
was laid at his gate, full of sores,"

     Here is a picture of a person exactly opposite of the rich man.
Lazarus laid at his gate, because begging was the only way he had of
getting enough to live on.

     Luke 16:21 "And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell
from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his
sores."

     We see, here, the rich man had opportunity. It is strange that
the rich man was not named and the beggar was. Two separate
dictionaries give two different meanings to Lazarus name. Perhaps this
can shed some light on why Lazarus' name was mentioned and not the
rich man's. Lazarus means "God help, or God helped". The other meaning
was "helpless". This tells us a lot more about Lazarus. He is unable
to help himself and God has heard his cry and helped him. It is not
uncommon in the Old Testament for names to bring a hidden message to a
Scripture, but we see more clearly from this name, the man Lazarus in
this Scripture. We see, also, that Lazarus was not asking much, just
the crumbs. He had no one to doctor his sores so the dogs licked them.

     Luke 16:22 "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;" Luke 16:23 "And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in
torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom."

     Why is Abraham mentioned here? Possibly because he is the father
of the faithful. I love the part that said the angels came and carried
him to Abraham's bosom. We see the love and care God has for His son.

     It is quite a different story with this selfish, self-centered
rich man who had eyes for no one's problems and had spent all his time
and money on himself. Hell is not a beautiful scene. There is no need
to go into all the horrors. It is important to not go there under any
circumstances. It appears from this that those in hell can see those
in heaven which makes their torment worse.

     Luke 16:24 "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 fact that this rich man calls Abraham father tells us that he
was of Hebrew decent. He was some of those who thought they would go
to heaven just because they were Abraham's children and grandchildren
in the flesh. In Luke 3:8, we read that were not to depend on being an
ancestor of Abraham to get them to heaven. Of course, those in heaven
have no desire to go to hell, even for the purpose he mentioned here.
There is a great gulf fixed. They could not go, even if they wanted
to. We do see from the Scripture above that hell is a place of torment
and fire.

     Luke 16:25 "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."

     We must notice here that Abraham does not deny that this rich man
is a descendent of his. He calls him son . Abraham reminds him that he
had opportunity to help Lazarus and he didn't.  Had this rich man used
his money and prestige to help this poor beggar, then both of them
would have been in heaven together.

     Luke 16:26 "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."

     Really these people who are in hell have been put there by the
Lord. They had no control over going back and forth. They made their
choice on earth; and once doomed to hell, there is no escape. The same
thing applies to those who make heaven. The way we live here on earth
determines our final resting place. We must choose Jesus and His ways,
if we are to make heaven.  If we do not choose Jesus, then we are
automatically on the side of Satan and will go to hell.  The decision
is here on the earth before you die.  There is no changing your mind
after you die.  Good and evil are miles apart here on earth, but even
further in eternity.

     Luke 16:27 "Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that
thou wouldest send him to my father's house:" Luke 16:28 "For I have
five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into
this place of torment."

     I do not know anyone on the earth that I desire this type of
torment to come to. Perhaps, that is why I am trying to write these
Bible studies, to let people know before it is too late about heaven
and hell. One of the most dangerous false doctrines going around today
would have you and me believe that there is no literal heaven and
hell, that they are just of the mind. Don't you believe it! Hell is
real as this rich man found out too late. He finally realized there is
no help for him, now he wants some one to go and tell his brothers. He
believes if maybe they could hear from someone who actually had died,
they would believe. Some people believe that that is why a number of
people who were medically dead were revived, to tell us what they saw
on the other side.  His concern is for his five brothers.  They are
rich, too, and he wants to make sure they don't do the same sin that
got him in this terrible place.

     Luke 16:29 "Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the
prophets; let them hear them."

     By this he is saying, they have an equal opportunity to accept or
reject the teaching of God. We said before, by the foolishness of
preaching men are saved. That is the very reason God sent Moses and
the prophets. That was their job to deliver the people; not only from
physical bondage, but spiritual, as well.

     Luke 16:30 "And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went
unto them from the dead, they will repent."

     This speaks prophetically here. because Jesus will rise from the
dead. He does appear to them 40 days and nights after His
Resurrection. He does tell them, and all others who will listen even
unto our day, in His Word. Will they repent?

     Luke 16:31 "And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the
prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the
dead."

     Those who have hardened their hearts will not believe Moses'
words in Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. They
will not believe God's only begotten Son, Jesus, though He rose from
the grave. There is your answer. The have chosen the world and its
riches over God.




















                          Luke 41 Questions

1.  How was the rich man dressed?
2.  How did he fare in this world?
3.  What did the rich man use his wealth for?
4.  In I Timothy 6:18-19, what should a rich person do to please God?
5.  What was the beggar's name?
6.  What visible sickness did He have?
7.  How did Lazarus make a living?
8.  What did Lazarus desire to be fed with?
9.  What does the name Lazarus mean?
10. Who carried the beggar to Abraham's bosom?
11. Where did the rich man go when he died.
12. What did the rich man see?
13. Why is Abraham possibly mentioned in this heavenly scene?
14. What does the rich man call Abraham?
15. What did he want Abraham to do?
16. What does the name the rich man called Abraham tell us about his
    nationality?
17. In Luke 3:8, God wanted them not to depend on what to get them to
    heaven?
18. What did Abraham remind the rich man of?
19. By what name did Abraham address him?
20. What is fixed between heaven and hell?
21. Who is the only one who has control over who goes where?
22. When do we still have control over where we go?
23. When he sees there is no hope for him, what does he ask Abraham to
    do?
24. How many brothers does he have?
25. What is one of the most dangerous false doctrines of our day?
26. Who did Abraham tell him they should listen to?
27. Who is intended by someone from the dead who went to them?
28. What books in the Old Testament did Moses write?
29. Name some of the prophets.