Sermon Notes,
March 1 7, 2019 AM
Rich Man / Poor
Man
Steve W. Reeves
stevewreevessermons.blogspot.com
INTRODUCTION:
A
Saddam Hussein, the former president of Iraq, lived a life of luxury, opulence
and prestige. During his years in power Saddam was extremely rich and powerful. He
ruled his country as an iron fisted dictator. He amassed a fortune from the sale of oil.
He built lavish palaces furnished with rare treasures. He was the epitome of wealth
and power. At the end of his life, however, he was a fugitive from justice. When he
was captured by United States troops he was hiding in a hole. He was wearing filthy
clothes and looked more like a homeless person than the former ruler of a nation. He
was very different from the proud picture of power he once displayed.
B. In Luke 16:19-31, Jesus told the story of a man who was much like Saddam Hussein
in terms of his wealth and riches.
1. This is the last in a series of stories Luke records in which Jesus was speaking to
a crowd that included people of contrasting situations.
2. There were people who were rich and propel who were poor.
3. There were people who enjoyed good health and people who were sick and needy.
4. There were people who were religious and people who had no religion.
5. In His masterful way, Jesus told a story that spoke directly to the heart of every
individual. It indicted those whose lives were filled with prestige and pride while it
comforted those who were ostracized and outcast.
a. Earlier in Luke 16:1- 9 Jesus told the story of the unjust steward. One of three
parables told by Jesus dealt with the subject of wealth.
b. In verse 13 Jesus said, “No servant can serve two masters; for either he will
hate the one and love the other, or else he will be devoted to one and despise
the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.”
c. There was always a reason for the parables Jesus told. You need to understand
the meaning of this story within the broader context of Luke 16.
C. The parable of the “Rich Man and Lazarus,” is a story of contrasts between a rich
man and a poor man.
1. The poor man became rich while the rich man became poor.
2. The poor man had been on the outside while the rich man was on the inside. As
the story progresse s the poor man ends up on the inside while the rich man is left
outside.
3. The poor man had no food while the rich man dined lavishly. In eternity it was the
poor man who sat at a banquet while the rich man could not find a drop of water.
4. The story began with a poor man who had immense needs and a rich man who
had no needs. It ends with the poor man having no needs and the rich man having
immense needs.
5. The poor man had only the company of dogs while the rich man was surrounded
by dignitaries. After death the poor man was surrounded by dignitaries while the
rich man cried out in isolation.
D. The story is comprised of three scenes. Scenes one and three are contrasting
scenes separated by the common reality of death.
I. SCENE 1 – RICHES AND RAGS
A. This scene introduces us to the two primary characters in this story.
1. The rich man is described in verse 19, “Now there was a rich man, and he
habitually dressed in purple and fine linen, joyously living in splendor every day.”
a. Over the years theologians have named this man, “Diodes” (the Latin word for
wealth).
b. He was habitually clothed in purple cloth, the sign of royalty and wealth. You
may recall that Lydia mentioned in Acts 16:14-17, was a seller of purple from
Thyatira.
c. He wore fine linen. Common people wore undergarments that were scratchy
and uncomfortable. Only the rich could afford undergarments made of
Egyptian cotton woven into fine linen.
2. The poor man was named Lazarus.
a. Lazarus is the only character in a parable told by Jesus with a name. This
has led some people to speculate that this was a true account. Given its
location at the end of a series of parables I find this doubtful. Whether it is or
is not does not affect the meaning of the story in any way.
b. “Lazarus” is a familiar Biblical name meaning “God is my help” (see Exodus
6:25’ Leviticus 10, Numbers 20, 26, 27). ,
c. He was laid at the gate of the rich man. The word “laid” means “thrown.” He
was not treated gently but was tossed aside.
d. What a pitiful sight Lazarus was. He wore clothing that was tattered and torn.
He smelled bad. He was sickly and his body was covered with sores.
e. He longed to eat crumbs from the rich man’s table. Those who were wealthy
used white bread to wipe their hands on after the meal. This bread was then
thrown out to be eaten by the dogs. This is what Lazarus had to eat. .
B. Day after day Lazarus sat by the rich man’s gate. The rich man did not even notice
him as he walked past going and coming.
1. It is easy for us to become blind to the needs of people.
2. Several years ago Wyatt Jones led a prayer in which he asked God to help us
see the needs of people we meet on a daily basis. He referred to the young,
single mother working for a minimum wage at the department store. The people
who have disabilities, the elderly, the homeless and downtrodden.
3. In the 1920’s the Central church of Christ in downtown Nashville, Tennessee,
made a concentrated effort to reach out to people in need. They had a dental
clinic and medical clinic in their building to care for the poor. They
had a home for young women who needed a place to stay while they worked in
the city. Later, the built a dormitory for young men. They provided care for
children while their parents worked.
C. There is no indication that the rich man in this story attained his wealth by
dishonest means. It was not ill gotten gain. The rich man’s liability was not in what
he did but in what he failed to do. He failed to see the need of someone at his front
door.
II. SCENE 2 – REALITY AND REVERSAL
A. Luke 16:22 reminds us of a stark reality. “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.”
1. Death came to both of these men.
2. The bodies of the poor were often buried in common graves or even thrown into
the city dump. The rich man’s friends mourned his passing and gave him a
proper burial.
B. Death is not a respecter of persons.
1. It comes to the rich and poor alike. Hebrews 9:27 reminds us, “It is appointed
unto man once to die and after this the judgment.”
2. Job said, “Man, who is born of woman,Is short-lived and full of turmoil.
2 “Like a flow er he comes forth and withers. He also flees like a shadow and
does not remain.”
3. James asked, “What is your life but a vapor that appears for a little while and
then vanishes” (James 4:13-14).
C. Death comes to the wealthy and the poor. It comes to the old and the young. It
comes to those who are prepared and those who are unprepared.
III. SCENE 3 – REWARD AND REGRET
A. Beginning at death there was a huge reversal in the roles of these two men.
1. From the time of his death Lazarus received comfort.
a. The angels came and carried Lazarus into the presence of Abraham.
b. Abraham was the father of the faithful, the recipient of God’s great promise.
There could be no greater honor for a Jew than to be in the presence of
Abraham.
2. The rich man went into torment.
B. Although I do not believe the purpose of this story is to give us a definitive picture
of heaven or hell it is important to notice some of the characteristics of the torment
faced by the rich man.
1. He was conscious of his state of torment. He longed for Abraham to send
Lazarus to dip his finger in water and tough his tongue so that he might have
some relief.
2. He was aware of his surroundings and of the state of others. He saw Lazarus far
off being comforted by Abraham. He knew of his brothers and their lost
condition.
C. What a startling reversal of roles. It was the man who was considered acceptable
by society who suffered rejection by God and the one who was rejected and
scorned by society that was welcomed by God.
CONCLUSION:
A. The parable concludes with the rich man making a desperate plea, “Send Lazarus to
my brothers. Surely they will believe if someone from the dead comes back.”
Abraham responded, “They have Moses and the prophets, let them hear them.”
B. You may be waiting for a “religious experience.” You may be waiting for something
spectacular as a sign from God. Such a sign never came to the rich man. He went into ternity unprepared.
1. Are you prepared for eternity?
2. You are if you have put on Christ in faith, repentance and baptism. You are ready if
you are living faithfully for God regardless of your wealth or poverty.
invite you to come to Christ today.
