LISTEN TO GOD’S WORD

Luke 16:19-31

Key Verse: 16:29

“Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets;  let them listen to them.’”

In the previous passage we learned that we have to use worldly wealth to gain friends for ourselves, so that when it is gone, we will be welcomed into eternal dwellings. As managers how to manage worldly wealth is very important. Because it will relate to eternal dwellings, it is the matter of the eternal life in heaven or hell.

Today’s passage is a continuation of Jesus’ teaching about gaining friends with our wealth. Jesus gives an example of two men with different destinies-one went to Heaven and the other to Hell. The rich man in this parable did not listen to Moses and the Prophets who commanded men to love their neighbor, sharing their wealth with others. It is important to hear the words of God and put them into practice in this life. May God help us listen to Jesus carefully!

First, the rich man and Lazarus in this life (19-21)

Look at verse 19. “There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day.” Purple clothes were very expensive and they were the symbol of royalty. In modern-terms, he was like wearing custom-made clothes imported from Italy or South Korea. He was wearing underwear made of fine linen. He was driving the newest BMW. His mansion had a gym for indoor soccer and a swimming pool. This man celebrated life daily with great feasts. He invited all his friends with many fancy parties. He ate delicious food daily. Such was the daily life of comfort that the rich man experienced. He was the envy of all people. Then, what was his problem? This rich man did not realize that his wealth came from God and his life was the gift of God. He did not realize that he was just a manager of God’s wealth. He did not share his wealth to love his neighbor like the beggar Lazarus. He lived only for his pleasures. What are the most important two commands in the Bible? They are to love God and our neighbor. Life is to share and to serve. However, he wasted his life.

Look at verses 20-21. “At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.” In contrast to the rich man stands Lazarus. The Hebrew name “Lazarus” means “God helps.” It is most interesting that Jesus gives a name to this poor beggar, calling him, "Lazarus" meanwhile the rich man’s name was not mentioned. How was his life God helped? To human eyes, Lazarus was nothing but a poor beggar. His body was covered with sores that caused him constant itching. He desperately needed necessary nutrition but he had nothing to eat. Lazarus desired food but only got the embarrassing attention of the rich man’s dogs. Lazarus never speaks in the parable; he suffers alone and in silence. Think about it: the rich man feasts inside, while the poor man lies outside in hope of receiving a few crumbs. By all observations, one would conclude that the rich man is blessed and Lazarus is not. It is true if it is all. The important thing is that the story does not end here but the real story begins from now on.

Second, the rich man and Lazarus in the next life (22-23)

Look at verse 22a. “The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side.” Verse 22 starts, "The time came." The time comes. Indeed, the time for judgment comes for everyone. Here, the story switches settings. Usually, the movie ends when the main actor dies. However, this story continues because death is not the end but a new beginning in the spiritual world. What happened after Lazarus died? The angels carried him to Abraham’s side. Lazarus suffered in poverty, loneliness, and sickness in this life. However, in the next life he was carried to Heaven by the angels. Shakespeare said, “Life is like one summer night’s dream.” When we wake up from our dream in a beautiful summer night, we are in the next world. I feel I was in Susanna’s age last summer. However, in reality now Susanna became my daughter. Compared to eternity in the next life, our life is really short.

We learn that this life is a transitional period to prepare for the next life. Whether we like it or not, death is surely coming to all like a thief in the night at the most unexpected time. Hebrews 9:27 says, “Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment.” All men have had personal appointments with God at the end of their lives. Then, how should we prepare for our next life? Hebrews 11:16 says, “Instead, they were longing for a better country-a heavenly one. Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.” Abraham lived by faith obeying the word of God. As God promised, our Father Abraham was already in heaven. Now Abraham welcomed Lazarus to his side. It is significant that Lazarus was put to Abraham’s side. As we know Abraham is the ancestor of faith. It means people can come to him only by faith. Anything and any achievement in the world does not relate to be with Abraham. Only those who have faith by God’s one-sided grace is considered to be with Abraham. Though Lazarus suffered in this life, he was comforted in the next life. Then what happened to the rich man? Look at verse 22b. “The rich man also died and was buried.” The rich man prolonged his life a little bit longer with the help of many health foods such as red ginsengs, vitamins, omega-3 and so on. He thought he could enjoy his life forever. But he died too. However, there were no angels for him.

Look at verse 23. “In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side.” Death permanently changes everything. He was not rich in hell anymore but he was in torment. The former rich man’s situation stands in complete contrast to Lazarus’ new position. Their status was reversed. His wealth could not buy heaven and he was in hell. He could not carry his water bottles or air conditioner to hell. He left everything behind. Now, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side.

Here we see that there is a hell. Many people say, “God is the God of love and he loves everyone. How could he put people into hell?” However, the Bible clearly teaches us that there is heaven and hell. What separated these two men? Of course, Lazarus’ poor condition did not bring him to heaven. If that is the case, we all should become homeless beggars to get to heaven. His poor life in this world represents of all true Christians who are under sufferings when they live self-denial and self cross life. His faith in God made him live self-denial life and brought him to heaven. On the contrary, the rich man became the center of his life and did not obey God’s word. God will judge each person according to his or her life purpose. If people seek his kingdom and his righteousness by faith, he will send the angels to carry them to heaven. If people ignore God and live selfishly without God, he will send them to hell.  Matthew 16:20 says, "So the last will be first, and the first will be last." The last in the world like Lazarus will be first in the kingdom of God, the first in the world like the rich man will be last in hell. We are people in heaven. Then we can overcome uncomfortable life in this world. We know bad things in this world are ways to lead us to heaven. They cannot hider us but can be blessings for our salvation. May God help us live sacrificial life denying ourselves until we feel like dying on a cross in the hope of the kingdom of God. It is the true life of God’s children and disciples of Jesus in this life. 

Third, listen to Moses and the Prophets (24-31)

Look at verse 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.’” He was a son of Abraham physically and he recognized Abraham. It means our head knowledge about faith and physical conditions are nothing for our salvation. The former rich man never noticed Lazarus on earth, but he appeals to Abraham for Lazarus’ help. The man requests that Lazarus put just a drop of water on his tongue to relieve his anguish from the heat. The pain of hell is well expressed here. But there will be no drops of water for the man. It was too late. Look at verse 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.”

Look at verse 26. “And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.” Between heaven and hell there is a great chasm, gulf. The separation is complete and absolute. Once one’s destiny has been decided, it will not be changed and there is no way out; it is eternal. There will be no second chance when the door is closed. In the end, there will be two kinds of people: those in heaven and those in hell. There will be no escapes from hell. It is really good news for us that there will be no abandonment from heaven.

What was his next request? Look at verses 27-28. “He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my father’s house, for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to the place of torment.’” When he realized the unchanging nature of his eternal destiny, he thought of his brothers. He seems to be the oldest and was probably their role model, the object of their envy. But now he realized that if they followed his lifestyle, they would follow him to hell. So he begged Abraham to send Lazarus to warn them. He thought that if they were warned from the grave they would take it seriously and escape the punishment of hell by any means.

How did Abraham respond? Look at verse 29. “Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’” "Moses and the Prophets" means the Bible, the word of God. God gave his word to listen to and come to know him. In the Bible God reveals himself to men and teaches us all that we need to know to have a personal relationship with him and to inherit the kingdom of God. The word of God is enough. Especially, in the time of New Testament everything is written in detail about Jesus and his redemptive work through his precious blood on a cross. We are so blessed that we come to know Jesus very personally. What matters is whether or not we listen to the word of God as the word of God. Here we learn what kind of attitude we must have toward the word of God. We must listen to the word of God with awesome respect.

What was his final request? Look at verse 30. “‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’” He knew the reality of his brothers who ignored God’s word that his brothers did not like Bible studies. So he wanted to send a sensational warning to his brothers. But it is his human idea. Faith does not come through this way. Faith is the gift of God and it is given through God’s word. The only sign people need to repent of their sins is the word of God.

Look at verse 31. But Abraham said, “If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.” To reject the Scriptures is to reject Jesus, and to reject his teachings is to reject the message of Moses and the Prophets. It is a matter of heart not a matter of a signs. Signs in themselves are of no value if the heart is not right. Only a responsive heart will listen to God’s message and respond to his great works.  For example, there is the resurrection of Lazarus in John’s Gospel. (John 11) It was clear evidence of Jesus’ power as the Son of God. The chief priests could see and touch the evidence. However, it did not convince them to believe in Jesus. Instead, they made plans to kill Lazarus with Jesus to prevent gospel faith from spreading (John 12:10). Believing in the word of God is not a matter of having more evidence or more sensational revelation. It is a decision of faith to accept the authority of the Scriptures and to believe the Bible as it is.

How can people hear the word of God and believe in Jesus? Romans 10:14, 15 say, “How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!’" We need missionary work and 1:1 Bible study. Then when is it a good time to preach the word? The former rich man tried to preach for their brothers in hell but his request was denied. Now is the time to preach the good news. Time is fleeting. Our youth is our wealth and our time is our money. Would you like to share your life and time to invite someone to heaven? Our missionaries go to campus daily to prevent someone from going to hell before it’s too late. May God bless our club registration so that we can have regular Bible studies such as one-to-ones and group Bible studies in a lecture room on campus. In this way, God’s people may come to God through the word of God. 

Jesus promised in John 5:24, “I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life.” What a beautiful promise it is! The only way to overcome the great gulf between heaven and hell is to hear the word and believe in Jesus. Thank God for Jesus who crossed over us from the sea of death into the eternal life through God’s word and his precious blood on a cross!