The Rich Man & Lazarus | Luke 16:19–31

Welcome to Ontario Community Church, where we are encouraging, equipping, and engaging lives for Christ.

! I'm Pastor Patrick Daly, and each week I share sermons that balance the grace and love of Jesus Christ with the truth of the Word of God.

Together, we'll explore Scripture using observation, interpretation, and application.

This helps us discover practical ways to live out our faith every single day.

Let's dive in together into God's Word.

It's good to be back after being on, taking some time with my family over in Turner, Oregon.

This is the second time that we've done it, and it's really a great time to just take a step back,

to reflect, to pray, to focus on what really matters.

Spending time with family, time with the Lord, and just asking God,

how can I continue to connect with you and to have a deep and intimate relationship with you?

Sometimes we forget that when it comes to our relationship with Christ,

it's an ongoing relationship.

It's an ongoing relationship to communicate with the Lord through prayer,

asking God to speak to us,

to lead and to guide us in our lives,

in decisions,

to cast our cares upon Him,

to think and consider His Word,

the promises that the covenants that have been made,

the prophecies that have been fulfilled.

It is all connected.

that God not only has worked in the past,

but He is continuing to work in and through our lives every single day.

And to consider how precious life is,

and how every moment is but a gift from God.

I'm reminded how Scripture says that every good gift comes from above.

And God gives so many blessings.

He gives us so much,

especially the greatest opportunity for us to respond

to salvation

for eternal life.

Recently, I've been,

when I was on vacation,

I did hear, unfortunately,

some bad news of some personal friends that I had known.

One of my very close friends

passed away in military service.

And another friend, I guess you could say,

recently divorced.

And it was just back to back hearing the news.

And I'm like,

I want to offer this to God.

And I want to pray for the brokenness,

the hurt.

I don't know the scope of what was going on,

especially when you're very close to them

or semi-close to them.

You don't know all the intricacies,

but you can certainly pray for people.

And I bring all of that up

because it goes to show,

as we're going to go in this parable,

how important it is for us to consider our mind

and to consider our heart.

There is so much of Scripture

that is concerned with,

what is your posture towards the Lord?

In other words,

do you have a hardened heart

or do you have a softened heart towards the Lord?

How has God worked in your life recently?

When was the last time that you have seen

or experienced transformation in your life?

Or God stirring your heart

or molding you through experiences?

Because God continues to work through us.

And when we think about it,

it is important for us

to have that relationship,

to establish, to begin the relationship with Christ

and to continue it.

It's much like any sort of friendship

or any sort of relationship

that we have with people.

You don't just call your friend,

you know, once and then never call again.

You visit.

You take time.

And that's how important it is

for our relationship with the Lord.

And I want us to open our Bibles.

Go ahead and turn to page 1040.

We're going to turn to Luke chapter 16.

Luke 16 · chapter mention

And it's important for us to understand

this parable.

As we've gone over in many weeks,

we've gone over the teachings,

the parables of Christ

that has a lot of symbolic language.

These parables are simple,

but yet they can be so convicting.

They can be so deep

and they can move us.

So the gospel of Luke chapter 16,

Luke 16 · chapter mention

I want us to go specifically

to verses 14 through 15,

which is right before the parable

of the rich man and Lazarus.

This helps us understand the scene here

of what Jesus,

who Jesus is speaking to and why.

So it says,

the Pharisees who were lovers of money,

that's very important,

heard all these things,

or hearing about the teachings,

the parables of Christ,

and they,

what did they do?

They ridiculed him.

And he said to them,

you are those who justify yourselves

before men,

but God,

what?

Knows your heart.

For what is exalted among men

is an abomination in the sight of God.

So this is after

when Christ is teaching

about wealth,

about stewardship,

and it's addressing

the attitudes towards money.

That what was leading up to here.

When we go over

to the rich man and Lazarus,

there's some important things

that we should take to note.

When we go,

let's just go over to verse 19.

There was a rich man

who was clothed in purple

and fine linen.

Well, just right there,

when you see the color purple,

that is someone

who is of great wealth.

Now,

we may not,

some of us are wearing purple

here today.

I'm not going to pick on you here.

But,

back in the day,

the color purple

was a very rare color.

It was a,

something that only the,

those wealthy people

were able to have.

That's important to know.

Clothed in purple,

and we can understand

in fine linen,

right?

Certain materials

that people wear.

And this man,

he feasted

every single day.

So,

this guy is living it up.

He's got a good life.

Or,

at least it appears so.

Goes on then

in verse 20.

So,

you first have

the first individual,

the rich man,

wealthy,

purple clothed,

and feasting.

Lavishly,

right?

Then,

verse 20.

It's important.

It says,

at his gate.

At his gate

was laid

a poor man

named Lazarus,

covered with sores.

Now,

church,

is this the same Lazarus

that was raised

from the dead?

No.

And it's important

to identify that.

And we'll,

you'll see why

in the text.

So,

Lazarus is a

common name.

And what's interesting

about it

is that

the word

Lazarus

means

God helps.

It's a beautiful name

when you think about it.

So,

that's important

for us.

So,

he's covered

with sores.

When you think

of that kind

of

someone who

has sores,

even nowadays,

we can think

you kind of want

to stay away

from them.

I mean,

if we're being honest

here,

you kind of don't

want to catch

what they have.

But anyone

that had

sores over,

right,

leprosy

or whatever

disease it was,

was not viewed

upon very highly

back then.

And they were,

unfortunately,

the outcasts

of society.

You didn't want

to be around them.

Verse 21,

he desired

to be fed

with what fell

from the rich

man's table.

It's very interesting

to note that's

the very similar

language where

you have the woman

who is

saying,

talking about

scraps that

fall down

from the table

and the dogs

want that

if you remember

that.

So it's

interesting.

It goes,

who desired

to be fed

with what fell

from the rich

man's table

so he's hungry.

Unlike this

rich person

who has more

to eat

and you can

get this image

of scraps

falling on the

ground.

They're just

eating and

eating and

they just,

you know,

can't wait

to sip their

drinks or

whatever,

right?

You get that

kind of image

and this

guy is at

the gate

and he

just wants

a little

bit.

Okay?

So,

moreover,

even the

dogs came

and licked

his sores.

Now,

sometimes we

can read

this and we

can have

more of a

literal reading

where it

says,

okay,

the dogs

literally are

coming over

and licking

the sores.

There are

some scholars

that would

say that

there is

an underlying

lesson that

even the

dogs being

represented as

Gentiles would

give care and

compassion to

Lazarus more

than this

rich man

who is

Jewish,

who has a

hardened

heart.

There is

that kind

of distinction

there,

but you can

come to your

own conclusion

on that.

I just think

it's very

interesting,

nonetheless,

that dogs

have been

viewed upon

as Gentiles.

But in this

case,

we can just

look at it

as just

normal dogs.

So we

don't have

to over

complicate

that.

So the

dogs came

and licked

his sores.

So what

happened?

Verse 22,

what happened

to the poor

man?

He died.

What happened

then?

He was

carried by

the angels

to Abraham's

side.

The imagery

of that,

of angels

carrying anyone

is just,

that's very

beautiful.

And you

can think,

you can

conclude

that this

poor man,

this Lazarus,

was seeking

the Lord

and knew

the Lord

at some

capacity,

at least

to the

point where

angels would

gather him

up.

That's

beautiful

language to

think of.

I mean,

I want to

be carried

by angels,

you know?

But nonetheless,

it's still

very beautiful

to see.

So what

happens then,

church?

The rich

man,

what?

Was he

alive and

well?

He was

died and

buried.

And where

did he

end up?

In Hades.

Being in

torment,

he lifted

his eyes

and saw

Abraham far

off and

Lazarus at

his side.

It's important

to note that

there's a lot

of language

that describes

heaven and

hell.

And just

to kind of

give you a

broad sense

here,

back then,

to be in

Hades was

to be in

the underworld,

as it were.

And it

appears that

somehow they

are able to

see one

another,

despite one

being in

more of

paradise,

and the

other being

in torment.

So that's

kind of an

interesting thing

to see here.

that in

Hades,

being in

torment,

he lifted

his eyes

and saw

Abraham.

So you

have to

remember,

Christ is

speaking to

the Pharisees.

He's speaking

to a

Jewish audience

in this.

So,

let's see

here.

Far off to

his side,

verse 24,

he called

out,

Father Abraham,

have mercy

on me,

and send

Lazarus to

dip the

end of

his finger

in water

and cool

my tongue

for I

am in

anguish

in this

flame.

It is

hot there.

Just to

dip your

finger to

get a little

cooling,

I mean,

that is

pretty hot

in there.

And so,

look,

two different

people,

two different

deaths,

right?

Lazarus dies,

he's carried

by angels,

the rich man

is died,

he dies,

and is buried

and finds

himself in

torment.

It's

more of

descriptive

language of

what we

would call

Gehenna,

so to

speak.

And the

rich man

is begging

Abraham for

mercy.

Well,

Abraham replies

and says,

child,

remember that

you in your

lifetime received

your good

things,

and Lazarus

in like manner

bad things,

and now he

is comforted

here,

and you

are in

anguish.

That's

interesting.

Verse 26,

besides all

this,

between us

and you,

a great

chasm has

been fixed

in order

that those

would pass

from here

to you

may not

be able,

and none

may cross

from there

to us.

So you

can't cross

over.

When we

think of

heaven and

hell,

when we

think of

torment and

comfort,

there is

no crossing

over,

at least

that's what

is being

described

here within

the parable.

So Abraham

is explaining

there is a

chasm between

comfort and

torment,

and there's

no crossing

possible.

So that's

important for

us to know.

And he

said,

then I beg

you,

Father,

to send

him to

my father's

house.

It's

interesting to

know,

I was

reading,

there's one

commentary

about this

specific

parable,

and I

thought it

was very

interesting.

He is

thinking,

despite being

in torment,

he's saying,

send this

guy who

died over

to speak

to my

family on

my behalf.

So he

still has

this hardness

of heart,

so to speak.

He's so

focused,

he's not

even caring

about Lazarus.

Does that

make sense?

He's not

recognizing,

like,

okay,

there's this

other guy

here that

just died,

and yet,

I need you

to send

him over

to my

family.

That's

interesting.

It's the

same kind

of mindset,

not having

really a

care for

Lazarus in

there,

and I

just thought,

that's

very true,

that's

very

interesting.

I beg

you,

Father,

to send

him to

my

father's

house,

for I

have

five

brothers,

so that

he may

warn

them,

lest they

also come

into this

place of

torment.

Well,

at least

he's

caring for

his

brothers

here.

At

least he

has the

care

for

them.

But

Abraham

said,

what does

it say,

church?

They have

what?

Moses and

the

prophets.

Let them

hear them.

And he

said,

no,

Father

Abraham,

but if

someone goes

to them

from the

dead,

they will

repent.

And he

said to

him,

if they

do not

hear

Moses and

the

prophets,

neither

will they

be convinced

if someone

should rise

from the

dead.

Interesting.

They,

the Jewish

people,

had Moses,

they had

the prophets,

they had

the law

to show

them

the Lord,

to draw

close to

the Lord,

and yet,

even despite

someone raising

from the

dead,

there are

still going

to be

people who

do not

believe.

I've

always found

it very

interesting,

and maybe

you can

identify as

well.

Imagine

being

back in

biblical

times and

seeing some

of the

signs and

wonders that

happened.

The parting

of the Red

Sea,

for example.

Right?

Or Christ

walking on

water.

It's just

two miracles

right there.

And yet,

there were

still some

that did

not believe.

Like,

in my

mind,

if I see

anything,

if I see

someone walking

on water,

I'd be

kind of

fascinated.

If I see

the feeding

of the

5,000,

wouldn't

you be

impressed by

that?

But yet,

despite

all of

that,

there are

still

people

back

then

that

did

not

believe.

Even

someone

being

raised

from the

dead,

there are

still

people

who

will

reject

the

Lord.

That's

shocking.

I mean,

I've never

been able to

just get

myself to

think,

like,

if I

saw a

miracle

right in

front of

me

happen,

I'm

not

interested.

Can you

imagine?

But yet,

there are

people that

are that

way.

And it's

important for

us,

where God

has worked

in and

through our

lives,

or maybe

he hasn't,

pray that

God will

soften your

heart and

change your

mind to

recognize

who

Christ

is.

Recognizing

the power

of Christ's

miracles,

the ministry

of Christ,

all of

these things,

the things

that we

find in

Scripture.

Now,

here's the

thing,

there's a

lot of

us in

the world

that we

want to

psychoanalyze

and come to

understand how

and why

and where

and when

things happen.

I want to

understand how

the Red

Sea was

parted,

so I can

understand it.

Well,

there are

some things,

even in the

scientific community,

even in

academic pursuits,

that we just

do not

understand.

And that's

okay.

It's okay to

not know

how,

we know that

God split

the Red

Sea,

we know that

God raised

the other

Lazarus from

the dead,

but it goes

to show that

God has far

greater

power than

our

understanding.

We try to

understand so

much,

don't we?

God is

beyond our

understanding.

Trust in the

Lord with

all of your

heart and

lean not on

your what?

Your

understanding.

But yet we

try to lean on

our understanding.

We try to

understand things

that don't

make sense.

God is

so,

let them

hear.

It's

important for

us to

learn from

this about

how important

life is.

Now,

I don't want

you thinking

that having

money is

evil.

I don't want

you thinking

that being

poor is

holy.

it's all

about the

what?

The heart.

Are there

not wicked

people who

are rich?

Are there

not?

All right,

right?

Can the

same argument

be made?

There are

people who

are wicked

that are

poor.

Of course.

It has

so.

It doesn't

matter your

socioeconomic

status.

But what

is interesting

is that very

often,

specifically in

parables,

you have

what appears

to be

successful,

what appears

to be good.

The Lord

is comparing.

Look at

this poor

beggar.

This guy

with sores

and the

dogs are

licking his

sores to

give him

some sort

of comfort.

And yet,

he's being

transported by

angels.

If you

remember the

parable of

the Pharisee

and the

tax collector,

that was

very different.

Actually,

it's the same.

It's very

similar.

Two

completely

contrasting

people.

If you

remember that,

the Pharisee

and the

tax collector,

the Pharisee,

he,

the tax

collector was

justified before

the Lord,

but not

the Pharisee,

logically,

that does

not make

sense.

Logically,

the rich

person should

make it to

heaven.

Logically,

the religious

person that

follows the

rules and

is keeping

everything to a

T should

make it.

person.

Let's think

about how

our world

works.

You perform

well,

you get a

promotion.

You perform

well,

you make it

on the

honor roll.

It's very

logical when

it comes to

that.

But when it

comes to

things of

the Lord,

matters is

your heart.

the softening

of your

heart.

I think I've

mentioned it

before about

the story of

the Grinch,

right?

Where his

heart was so

small,

right?

And,

spoiler alert,

his heart

grows,

right?

Signifying a

change of

his heart.

Well,

I know that's

just a movie,

but when we

think of the

Lord,

there is

change that

happens within

our heart.

Going from

hardness of

heart to

a softening,

the ability

to love,

to live and

love like

the Lord.

So,

things to

take note

is,

yeah,

the connection

with the

Pharisee and

the tax

collector and

even the

rich fool.

And,

certainly,

this parable

can be very

challenging for

us because

it's addressing,

well,

what happens

after death?

You know,

only light

reading,

right?

But it's

important for

us,

nonetheless,

to read and

to study

scripture to

understand it.

And this

leads us in,

okay,

what can we

learn from

this?

Number one,

church,

our actions

reveal our

heart.

So,

the rich man

was neglectful.

He revealed a

hardened heart

by not having

kindness and

compassion and

care for the

person right

outside his

gate.

do you

know anyone

who is right

by your

gate?

That's a

hard question

to ask.

But,

certainly,

consider someone

who might be

at your own

front door

needing help.

And,

faith is

then shown

through

transformation.

Having a

compassionate

heart.

That's what

this is about.

Having a

changed mind

and a

changed heart.

the second

thing then,

church,

what does

it say?

Eternal life

exists.

That's pretty

self-explanatory

when we have,

at least for

the Jewish

understanding,

those who

end up in

torment and

those who

end up in

comfort.

Much like how

we understand

heaven and

hell.

So,

there is

life after

death.

In this

parable,

speaking of

being comforted

or being

tormented.

It's important

for us to

note then

that we

have decisions

to make

in this

life which

goes to

show how

important it

is for us

to seek

the Lord,

to know

the Lord,

to grow

in Him,

and to

continually

be

transformed.

Because,

if you

think about

it,

responding

to the

gospel

message,

you know,

only has

eternal

consequences,

but you

should respond

accordingly.

It's kind

of the

biggest

decision

you'll

ever

make,

you know.

The third

thing then

is scripture

is sufficient

for salvation.

What does

that mean?

It's that

God's word

gives us

a guide

to

understanding

salvation.

Okay?

To

understanding

salvation

and newness

of life.

And it's

also important

that even

when we

think of

miracles

and signs

as wonderful

and as

beautiful as

they are,

we have

to think,

do those

signs and

wonders

change our

hearts or

our minds

towards the

Lord?

And then

that leads

us to,

what do we

do about

this?

All right,

you have

this parable

about two

people,

right?

You have

the rich

man and

you have

Lazarus.

The one

parable that

mentions a

specific

individual.

That's

interesting

because you

have the

Pharisee and

the tax

collector,

right?

You have

the widow

and the

unjust

judge.

You don't

have specific

names here,

but here

you do.

That's very

interesting.

So you

have these

two people,

Lazarus,

the rich

man,

both die

and they

both end

up in

different

places.

one appears

to have

it all,

but yet

loses,

and the

other doesn't

have much

in gains.

But in

order to

understand

this,

it goes

back to

the heart.

And so,

what do we

do about

this?

Well,

the first

thing is

to respond

to Christ's

invitation

for you.

As we

partaken

of communion,

we do

this in

remembrance

of Christ's

sacrifice

for us.

There are

some people,

there are

so many

people in

the world

who do

not know

the Lord.

And it's

important for

us to

share in

the gospel

message,

the death,

burial,

and resurrection

of Jesus

Christ.

That Jesus

is the

way,

the truth,

and the

life,

and we

ourselves

have got

to respond

to it

first and

foremost.

Believe

in the

Lord and

be saved.

So

recognize

that you

need

the Lord

in your

life.

You need

Jesus

Christ.

And

respond

to that

invitation.

The second

thing then,

upon being

saved,

being saved

by grace

through faith,

is to

live your

new life

being

transformed.

Being saved

by grace

through faith,

making a

decision for

Christ,

is the

greatest

decision you

can make,

and it

is the

beginning of

your new

life in

him.

To continue

to be

molded,

to become

more like

Christ.

I don't

know about

you,

but the

very notion

of becoming

like Christ

is an

incredible,

it's an

incredible

journey.

Because Christ

is way better

than I'll ever

be.

I want to

be like

him.

I don't

want to

be like

the old

me that

was some

punk.

Okay?

I don't

want to

be that.

I want to

be more like

that which

is holy.

I want to

be closer

to the

Lord.

And we

think we

should think

of how

important it

is for

transformation,

for holiness,

right?

Continuing on

the path.

Now,

here's the

thing.

We should

all be on

a path of

growth.

And what

that growth

looks like

is unique

to you.

How God

works in

and through

your life,

that is

specific

between you

and the

Lord.

God,

we are

all a

work in

progress.

Amen?

So we

are saved

by grace.

We are a

work in

progress.

And that

should mold

us.

As we

are being

molded,

we should

then in

turn be

moved to

act.

And this

is very

important.

There's a

lot of

books and

media

courses out

there that

will tell

you that

we got a

lot of

head

knowledge,

right?

But we

have to

live out

what we

have

learned.

And so

when it

comes to

things of

scripture,

the things

of the

Lord,

God

transforming

our lives,

we have

got to

be molded

and go

out and

share in

the life,

love,

and truth

of Jesus

Christ.

So share

God's

word,

share grace

and truth

to others.

The love

of Jesus

Christ to

the misfits

of society.

Who do

you know

who is

a leper?

It doesn't

have to be

a literal

leper,

mind you.

Who do

you know

is like

the Lazarus

who is

at the

gate,

needing

help?

Right?

That's where

we have

the love

aspect.

Then we

have the

truth

aspect.

Knowing

that Christ

is the

way,

the truth,

and the

life,

and knowing

that we

are blessed

to have

this Bible,

that we

continue to

grow on

an individual

level,

but also

on a

collective

level.

So,

share God's

word,

his grace

and truth.

It's all

about you

living and

loving like

the Lord

every single

day.

Now,

I'm not

saying you

have to

go out

and wave

signs all

day.

It is

being an

ambassador

for Christ

in the

words that

you speak

and the

actions that

you do.

Some of

you,

you may

be

attending

college,

you may

work at

a specific

job,

but you

might have

met someone

and you

knew they

were a

Christian.

You couldn't

explain it,

then later

you find out

they are a

Christian.

How you

perform your

work,

how you

conduct

yourself,

how you

are continuing

being molded

and letting

the light

of Christ,

just like

that song,

this little

light of

mine,

I'm gonna

let it

shine.

And we

let it

shine for

others to

see we

are to

be salt

and light

for our

community,

for our

neighbors,

for our

friends,

for our

families,

being

examples,

being present

with others.

That is for

us to

think and

to consider.

Live and

love like

Christ.

Live your

faith.

Don't sit

on the

sidelines.

If you

remember the

children in

the marketplace,

right?

those spoiled

children who

just were not

doing anything

in times of

joy and in

times of

sorrow,

they didn't

participate.

Don't be

like those

children in

the marketplace.

Actively

participate in

the world

around you.

You'll be

surprised at

how your

influence can

affect someone

else.

A simple

smile,

a simple

act of

kindness,

words of

encouragement,

the ministry

of presence,

just sitting

with someone

through a

hard time.

Praying for

someone.

Calling someone

on the phone,

how you

doing?

I'm not

doing so

well.

How can I

pray for

you?

And just

listen.

Hear them

out.

That's part

of what we

are called

to do as

Christians.

So share

in the

gospel,

share in

your story.

Live and

love like

Christ.

And in

closing,

Jesus

challenges

us to

examine

our hearts.

Consider

this parable.