The Rich Man and Lazarus
19 “There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. 20 At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores 21 and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.
22 “The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. 24 So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’
25 “But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. 26 And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’
27 “He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my family, 28 for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’ 29 “Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’ 30 “‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’ 31 “He 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.’”
22 “The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. 24 So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’
25 “But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. 26 And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’
27 “He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my family, 28 for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’ 29 “Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’ 30 “‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’ 31 “He 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.’”
The story found in Luke 16 of the Rich Man and Lazarus the beggar (this Lazarus is not the same as the brother of Mary and Martha whom Jesus raised from the dead in John 11) is very instructive in several ways. While it is not as often discussed as some of the more widely known Gospel stories, it, nonetheless, carries three very important messages:
This event is coming right on the heels of Jesus giving the Pharisees grief over their love of money. You see, the Pharisees, and many others of the time, equated wealth with being blessed and therefor righteousness. Would God bless the undeserving? If they're rich they must be good people...right? Jesus didn't go for it...in Luke 16 He says...
14 The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all this and were sneering at Jesus.15 He said to them, “You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of men, but God knows your hearts. What is highly valued among men is detestable in God’s sight."
Now the Pharisees had long since been plotting to kill Jesus due to His following growing by the day. Remember, these were the power guys...the money guys. Like the famous saying...”always follow the money”...sure, they put on the front of being all religious and like that...Jesus didn't think much of them ...and said so on several occasions...but never behind their backs, as they were prone to due like some old batch of gossipers talking about whose addicted to pain killers, or who is running around...not Jesus...He was perfectly willing to stand up and say what needed to be said...even though He knew it would get Him killed in the most gruesome manner ever done to anyone before, or since...That's why He came to earth...now...back to our story...
The first verse tells us a great deal about the Rich Man....we know that he had a lot of money...in those days if you were dressed in purple...you had some bucks! This guy wore fine linen and ate in luxury every day (emphasis added)...so we know R.M. was "flush"...
In the second verse we are introduced to Lazarus a guy not just down on his luck...way past that...he is miserable! Bless his heart...the verse tells us that every day this poor guy has to be brought out and laid down on this really rich man's porch...(the Greek word used here translates to porch)...he was laying at the guy's front door in hopes of getting some crumbs, scraps, whatever he could get, that might fall off the rich man's table...
now think about that...they weren't going to let Lazarus come inside and crawl around under the table looking for a few morsels...oh, no...those scraps, crumbs, etc. would have likely been swept out of the door...and hopefully close enough to Lazarus that he could get to them before the dogs...oh, yeah...the dogs...well, as if things weren't already bad enough for our hero what with the disgusting, oozy pustules that he had all over his body...the dogs made his misery that much worse as they would come by and lick his sores...likely not helping the healing process...you have to feel for him and his state of misery.
Things get a lot better for Lazarus in the 22nd verse when we find that both he, and the Rich Man have died and that Lazarus was carried by the angels personally to Abraham...a very big deal...we also see that the verse pretty blandly states that the Rich Man died and was buried...not much else to say, I guess...
As you can see from the 23 verse things are not going well for the Rich Man at all...in fact...they could not be any worse...there is nothing....nowhere...nada...worse than hell! You do not want to go there!
The Scripture never says that the Rich Man was bad...I believe what Jesus is trying make us understand is that when He Blesses us with “stuff”...money...power...etc., that we need to remember that it is His stuff that He lets us enjoy while we are here on earth...the stuff isn't meant for us to idolize, love, or use just to enrich ourselves...help somebody when you can...you Bless them...which Blesses the Lord...He Blesses you...it's a good system...
Anyway, I digress...the point is...the Rich Man probably stepped over this poor man on numerous occasions and nothing in the Scripture shows that he ever felt any compassion, or tried to help Lazarus in any way...What if Jesus had done things this way? We would all end up like the Rich Man...condemned to an eternity of pain and agony in hell...We simply cannot live as though the only thing that matters is me and what I've got. It cost the Rich Man his soul.
Back to the story...in hell...the Rich Man is in extreme torment...obviously, having never been in such a predicament...and used to having much money and power...he looks around for someone to do something for him...in this case...any kind of relief!
- wealth, fame, things will not get you into Heaven
- we have a responsibility to help those in need, especially those whom God has Blessed with great resources, though we all have a responsibility to one another.
- you do not want to go to hell!
This event is coming right on the heels of Jesus giving the Pharisees grief over their love of money. You see, the Pharisees, and many others of the time, equated wealth with being blessed and therefor righteousness. Would God bless the undeserving? If they're rich they must be good people...right? Jesus didn't go for it...in Luke 16 He says...
14 The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all this and were sneering at Jesus.15 He said to them, “You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of men, but God knows your hearts. What is highly valued among men is detestable in God’s sight."
Now the Pharisees had long since been plotting to kill Jesus due to His following growing by the day. Remember, these were the power guys...the money guys. Like the famous saying...”always follow the money”...sure, they put on the front of being all religious and like that...Jesus didn't think much of them ...and said so on several occasions...but never behind their backs, as they were prone to due like some old batch of gossipers talking about whose addicted to pain killers, or who is running around...not Jesus...He was perfectly willing to stand up and say what needed to be said...even though He knew it would get Him killed in the most gruesome manner ever done to anyone before, or since...That's why He came to earth...now...back to our story...
The first verse tells us a great deal about the Rich Man....we know that he had a lot of money...in those days if you were dressed in purple...you had some bucks! This guy wore fine linen and ate in luxury every day (emphasis added)...so we know R.M. was "flush"...
In the second verse we are introduced to Lazarus a guy not just down on his luck...way past that...he is miserable! Bless his heart...the verse tells us that every day this poor guy has to be brought out and laid down on this really rich man's porch...(the Greek word used here translates to porch)...he was laying at the guy's front door in hopes of getting some crumbs, scraps, whatever he could get, that might fall off the rich man's table...
now think about that...they weren't going to let Lazarus come inside and crawl around under the table looking for a few morsels...oh, no...those scraps, crumbs, etc. would have likely been swept out of the door...and hopefully close enough to Lazarus that he could get to them before the dogs...oh, yeah...the dogs...well, as if things weren't already bad enough for our hero what with the disgusting, oozy pustules that he had all over his body...the dogs made his misery that much worse as they would come by and lick his sores...likely not helping the healing process...you have to feel for him and his state of misery.
Things get a lot better for Lazarus in the 22nd verse when we find that both he, and the Rich Man have died and that Lazarus was carried by the angels personally to Abraham...a very big deal...we also see that the verse pretty blandly states that the Rich Man died and was buried...not much else to say, I guess...
As you can see from the 23 verse things are not going well for the Rich Man at all...in fact...they could not be any worse...there is nothing....nowhere...nada...worse than hell! You do not want to go there!
The Scripture never says that the Rich Man was bad...I believe what Jesus is trying make us understand is that when He Blesses us with “stuff”...money...power...etc., that we need to remember that it is His stuff that He lets us enjoy while we are here on earth...the stuff isn't meant for us to idolize, love, or use just to enrich ourselves...help somebody when you can...you Bless them...which Blesses the Lord...He Blesses you...it's a good system...
Anyway, I digress...the point is...the Rich Man probably stepped over this poor man on numerous occasions and nothing in the Scripture shows that he ever felt any compassion, or tried to help Lazarus in any way...What if Jesus had done things this way? We would all end up like the Rich Man...condemned to an eternity of pain and agony in hell...We simply cannot live as though the only thing that matters is me and what I've got. It cost the Rich Man his soul.
Back to the story...in hell...the Rich Man is in extreme torment...obviously, having never been in such a predicament...and used to having much money and power...he looks around for someone to do something for him...in this case...any kind of relief!
in eternal torment...satan's agents see to that...
In verse 24 we see the Rich Man apparently still thinking that he has influence now as he did while alive calls out to Abraham...note the way he addresses Abraham as “Father Abraham”, this is a sign of respect for a man whom God called Righteous. He calls upon Abraham to “send” Lazarus to provide him with comfort due to R.M.'s predicament. R.M. Never takes into account that Lazarus is listening to this also, treating him as just another of the many of the lesser class people that he either ordered around, or had, ordered around during his life on earth. He still believes that he deserves special treatment due to his previous high position during his life. R.M. States that he is in “agony” in the fire. He wants pity from Abraham although he had none on Lazarus (and maybe many others) when he was alive. The word fire (flame in the KJV) comes from the Greek word phlox with the word pur means a flame of fire (for eternity).
Then R.M. gets a real dose of the reality of his desperate situation when Abraham informs him that the good times and things that he had while alive are gone forever, now replaced by...(here are some of the words used in the Bible to describe hell) “torment, eternal torment, torture, acute pain, physical disease.
Then R.M. gets a real dose of the reality of his desperate situation when Abraham informs him that the good times and things that he had while alive are gone forever, now replaced by...(here are some of the words used in the Bible to describe hell) “torment, eternal torment, torture, acute pain, physical disease.
Abraham also reminds R.M. of what Lazarus went through during his life (as if R.M. didn't know)...this reversal of roles becomes worse as Abraham explains to R.M. that not only is Lazarus not coming to lessen R.M.'s torture but that Lazarus has before him an eternity of the joys of Heaven. Abraham's direct statement of “...now he is comforted and you are in agony”, must have hit especially hard as the permanence of R.M.'s residence in hell...as Abraham put it so matter of factly. Abraham further informs R.M. that his condition will never change for the better and that he isn't going anywhere...ever!
R.M.
finally shows some sign of compassion when he asks Abraham to “send Lazarus” to warn his brothers to change their ways or they will end up in the same situation. Unfortunately, this spate of compassion never found its way to Lazarus when he needed it.
Once again in a very matter of fact manner Abraham states that it would be a waste of time to send Lazarus (or anyone else) to warn the brothers as they already have been warned through the words of Moses (in the Torah) and the Prophets. Jesus then makes reference to His future when he states that they wouldn't even listen if someone did come back from the dead to warn them.
R.M.
finally shows some sign of compassion when he asks Abraham to “send Lazarus” to warn his brothers to change their ways or they will end up in the same situation. Unfortunately, this spate of compassion never found its way to Lazarus when he needed it.
Once again in a very matter of fact manner Abraham states that it would be a waste of time to send Lazarus (or anyone else) to warn the brothers as they already have been warned through the words of Moses (in the Torah) and the Prophets. Jesus then makes reference to His future when he states that they wouldn't even listen if someone did come back from the dead to warn them.
How many people (yourself?) have received this warning and yet do not pay heed? God is a Righteous God and will not allow any vile or sinful thing to ever enter Heaven. This means that no one that is not saved by the blood of Jesus will ever enter the Kingdom of God. If you do not end up in Heaven, you will end up in hell! There is no place else...no purgatory...no just going away...Heaven or hell only.
Is that you? Have you ignored the Law, the Prophets, and Jesus the Christ? To die without the Salvation of Jesus is to be guaranteed an eternity with the Rich Man and all the others who have not heeded the warning.
This painting was nearly as difficult to paint as was the previous one depicting Heaven, and for the same reason, in contrast. Now, I don't know if don't know if hell looks like this painting or if there are devils standing by to further punish and humiliate those sentenced to eternity there. One thing that I do know is that there is nothing worse than being condemned to hell...and, remember, God does not condemn us....we condemn ourselves when we do not accept Jesus as our Savior. While may feel that God is unjust by allowing all who do not follow Jesus to go to hell, He gives us a whole Book of reasons to give our lives to the only One who can Save. In the words of Jesus in Matthew 25 He warns about the Final Judgement.
Matthew 25:31-46 (NIV, ©2011) The Sheep and the Goats 31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. 34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ 40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ 41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.
42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’ 44 “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’ 45 “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’ 46 “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”
Just as Heaven is impossible to paint due to how incredibly wonderful it is (“no eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived, the Glory that awaits” 1 Cor.2), hell is just as incredibly terrible as Heaven is indescribably wonderful. Saying that you don't believe in God, Jesus, Heaven, hell doesn't mean that they don't exist...anymore than saying you don't believe in gravity would allow you to jump 30 feet into the air...gravity is still there no matter what we say...Jesus and His Salvation are real too...and they are both there for you...Don't wait for tomorrow to change...once your heart stops beating, that is it...you don't know that you even have a tomorrow. Won't you take this opportunity to turn your life over to the Lord? Put your trust in Him and you will be saved.
18 "For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." 1 Corinthians 1
Is that you? Have you ignored the Law, the Prophets, and Jesus the Christ? To die without the Salvation of Jesus is to be guaranteed an eternity with the Rich Man and all the others who have not heeded the warning.
This painting was nearly as difficult to paint as was the previous one depicting Heaven, and for the same reason, in contrast. Now, I don't know if don't know if hell looks like this painting or if there are devils standing by to further punish and humiliate those sentenced to eternity there. One thing that I do know is that there is nothing worse than being condemned to hell...and, remember, God does not condemn us....we condemn ourselves when we do not accept Jesus as our Savior. While may feel that God is unjust by allowing all who do not follow Jesus to go to hell, He gives us a whole Book of reasons to give our lives to the only One who can Save. In the words of Jesus in Matthew 25 He warns about the Final Judgement.
Matthew 25:31-46 (NIV, ©2011) The Sheep and the Goats 31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. 34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ 40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ 41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.
42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’ 44 “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’ 45 “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’ 46 “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”
Just as Heaven is impossible to paint due to how incredibly wonderful it is (“no eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived, the Glory that awaits” 1 Cor.2), hell is just as incredibly terrible as Heaven is indescribably wonderful. Saying that you don't believe in God, Jesus, Heaven, hell doesn't mean that they don't exist...anymore than saying you don't believe in gravity would allow you to jump 30 feet into the air...gravity is still there no matter what we say...Jesus and His Salvation are real too...and they are both there for you...Don't wait for tomorrow to change...once your heart stops beating, that is it...you don't know that you even have a tomorrow. Won't you take this opportunity to turn your life over to the Lord? Put your trust in Him and you will be saved.
18 "For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." 1 Corinthians 1