Rich ManPoor Man

Mountain Life Church/Life Pack/August 17, 2014

Rich Man Poor ManSermon Notes

August 17, 2014I. Jesus’ Discourse with the Religious Big Shots

A. He knew their hearts1. They loved money2. They believed that

riches were a sign that God was blessing them

B. He was attacking their idol of greed1. The preceding context2. The earlier parable3. The sneering of His

audience

II. The Earthly Life of the CharactersA. Introducing the characters

1. The rich mana. Extremely opulentb. Very selfishc. Chooses to be ignorant of Lazarus’ suffering

2. The poor man - Lazarusa. A Beggarb. Diseasedc. His only friends are stray dogs

B. The painful imagery1. The rich man represents Jesus’ audience2. Lazarus represents sinners, tax collectors, the poor, and

even Gentiles

On hearing Him, the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, scoffed at the Lord (Luke 16:14), who then accused them of being self-righteous and trying to press, or force their way into the Kingdom on their own terms (Luke 16:15-16). That is to say, they were counting on their self-proclaimed righteousness to open the door of the Kingdom to them. Jesus plainly declared that the terms of the Law were solid and could not be circumvented. The principles underlying the Mosaic Law express God’s character, and therefore the Law is more enduring than the whole of creation (Luke 16:17). He then revealed their hypocrisy by pointing out that their attitude about divorce and remarriage was not in line with God’s purposes (Luke 16:18; cf. Matthew 5:31-32; 19:3-9).The key to understanding the point that the Lord is making in telling the story of the rich man and Lazarus is found in verses 15 and 16; “And He said unto them, ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God. The Law and the Prophets were until John: since that time the Kingdom of God is preached and every man presseth into it” (Luke 16:15-16).Though their self-justification might gain them favor among men, it would not gain God’s favor because He knew what was in their heart (cf. Jeremiah 17:9-10). The things that men hold in high regard, things that gain them position and respect among men, are disgusting to God. In truth, the love of money reveals a covetous heart that has given its allegiance to “mammon” rather than God (cf. I Timothy 6:10).In the Law and the Prophets, a general term for the Old Testament Scriptures, is found the promise, or proclamation of God’s coming Kingdom on earth, which Israel was waiting for. John the Baptist came on the scene to introduce the Messiah, who would usher in the Kingdom Age, to Israel (John 1:26-34). After being baptized by John Jesus Christ began His public ministry by saying, “The Kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the Gospel” (see Mark 1:9-15).Of course, the Jews, especially the Pharisees, knew that entrance into the Kingdom was conditioned on obedience to God’s Law. To drive home His point about how the money-loving Pharisees were misusing their wealth, to their own peril, the Lord told the true story of the rich man and Lazarus. The rich man wasn’t lost because he had wealth, nor was Lazarus saved because he was poor. This was a matter of the heart with the focus being on the rich man, not Lazarus.

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The Rich Man & Lazarusby W. Edward Bedore, Th.D.

The main point of the story of the rich man and Lazarus is that an individual’s wealth and social standing, or the lack thereof, is not necessarily an indication of that person’s spiritual standing before God. Many of the Jews believed that the fact that they had accumulated wealth that afforded them social status and prominent positions in the religious community proved that they were under the blessing of God. They also thought, according to their logic, that those who were poor were under the curse of God. They no doubt appealed to the promises made to Israel in the Law of Moses concerning the blessings of prosperity for obedience to God’s Law and the curses of poverty because of disobedience, failing to recognize the national rather then the personal nature of those promises (see Deuteronomy 28:1-45ff.; etc.). They were also ignoring the many warnings found in “Moses and the Prophets” that were directed towards the leaders of Israel who selfishly misused their power and wealth (see Isa. 56:10-12; Ezekiel 34:1-4; Micah 3:1-4; etc.).

To challenge their seriously flawed thinking, the Lord Jesus told the parable of the unjust (or dishonest) steward (Luke 16:1-13). The main point of this parable was that the dishonest steward, who represented the Gentiles, was wiser than the “children of light,” a reference to the sons of Israel, who were to be a channel through which God’s light would reach the Gentiles, i.e., the nations of the world (Isa. 42:5-7; 49:5-6; 60:1-3; 62:1-3). The true Light of the World is Jesus Christ Himself (John 8:12), who is the Messiah of Israel. In the prophetic program, the only avenue through which the Gentiles can come to the Light is through the nation of Israel (Isa. 60:1-3; Zech. 8:20-23). The point of this parable was that those who were striving after riches were actually self-serving rather than servants of God. He was calling on them to choose between the two, saying: “No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon [money]” (Luke 16:13). The implication was that those whose priorities were based on accumulating wealth were demonstrating that their hearts were not right with God (cf. Matt. 6:19-21).

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III.The After-Life ConversationA. Jesus turns conventional thinking on its head

1. The rich man was in Sheola. He had not listened to the Law and Prophets (probably

specifically as they prophesied the coming Messiah - Jesus)

b. He had lived a life of self absorptionc. He was unrepentantd. Therefore, riches were NOT a sign of God’s blessing

2. Lazarus was in Abraham’s bosom

B. Sheol and Abraham’s Bosom - the Concepts explained1. Sheol - Before about 500 BC, a place of the dead

a. Everyone went thereb. There was no evil or good ascribed to it

2. Sheol - After 500BC up to Jesus’ timea. A place for sinners, unbelievers, and the Gentilesb. Good Jews went to Abraham’s Bosom

3. Abraham’s Bosoma. A concept popularized by religious thinkers starting

around 500BCb. A place for the righteous before the recreation of the

heavens and the earthc. Paradise

C. The Rich Man in Torment1. Unrepentant and miserable

a. Still sees classes between peopleb. Still sees Lazarus as a servantc. Still spiritually blindd. His request of Abrahame. Please send a resurrected Lazarus back to warn my

brothers2. Request denied

a. Abraham denies the rich man’s requestb. The significance of the name Lazarus

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IV.And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtorsA. Acknowledge my sin and thank God for forgiving me

through Jesus’ sacrifice on the crossB. Forgive and release others for their sins against me

1. Acknowledge that someone sinned against me and hurt me

2. Give the memory of the violation to God3. Cut them loose from all debt they owe me4. Acknowledge that bitterness has NO HOLD on me5. Lavish love on them and pray for God to bless them

V. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evilA. Put on the whole armor of God (Put on the Lord Jesus Christ)

1. The belt of truth (Mentally accept God’s truth over lies I have been hearing)

2. Breastplate of righteousness (Thank Jesus for giving me His righteousness which enables me to boldly enter His presence)

3. Shoes of preparation (readiness) of the Gospel of peace (Take time to digest the scriptures - committing them to memory)

4. Shield of faith (Step out on God’s truth for my situation)5. Helmet of salvation (Thank God that He has saved me

and remember that I am different than the world. Satan has no power over me except the power I give him by believing lies.)

6. Sword of the Spirit (Apply the Word to the lies I hear, and the situations I find myself in today.)

B. Run to the Lord for protection (You are my refuge, my fortress, my God in whom I trust!)1. I set my mind on things above, not on things of the earth2. God has set His love upon me3. He knows my name and will never leave me or forsake

meVI.For Yours is the Kingdom and the power and the

glory foreverA. Make your faith declarationsB. Return to praise

This outline inspired by Henry Blackaby & Larry Lea

Life Group Questions for August 17, 2014

Message = Rich Man Poor Man

Ice  Breaker:    Tell  about  one  of  your  first  experiences  with  someone  poor  or  less  fortunate  and  how  it  impacted  you.  

Read  Luke  16:  19-­‐‑31:

1. What  stands  out  to  you  about  this  parable?

2. How  does  this  parable  sober  you?    Does  it  in  any  way  cause  you  to  sense  that  God  is  just?

3. What  do  you  think  the  rich  man’s  sin  was  that  got  him  sent  to  Sheol?

4. Describe  the  rich  man’s  aCitude  while  in  Sheol.

5. As  a  group,  discuss  what  the  contemporary  definition  of  the  words  “Abraham’s  Bosom”  and  “Sheol”  mean.

6. Does  the  reality  of  a  Hell  cause  you  to  live  differently?    Please  explain.  

7. Have  someone  read  verses  27-­‐‑31  again.  What  do  you  think  of  Abraham’s  answer  to  the  rich  man  about  believing  the  Law  and  the  Prophets?

8. What  specific  message  in  the  Law  and  the  Prophets  do  you  think  Jesus  was  referring  to  in  this  parable?

9. Pray  for  one  another.

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Prayer Guide

I. Our Father in Heaven, Hallowed be Your NameA. Picture Calvary and thank God you can call Him

Father by virtue of the blood of JesusB. Hallow (lift Him above everything in your life) the

names of God corresponding with the five benefits in the New Covenant and make your faith declarations

II. Your Kingdom come, Your will be done (God, what are you doing? How can I (others) get in on what You are doing?)A. Myself

• Give me awareness of how to meet others’ needs today• I choose to take the initiative to love others

B. My family (spouse, children, other family members)

C. My church (pastor, other leadership, faithfulness of people, the harvest)

D. My nation (city, state, and national political and spiritual leaders, the harvest)

III.Give us this day our daily breadA. Believe that God desires to provide for meB. Be specificC. Be tenaciousD. Talk openly about my worries and give them to HimE. Today’s needs - Tomorrow will care for itself

This outline inspired by Henry Blackaby & Larry Lea516

Personal Devotion PagesThe following pages are designed to help you enjoy a regular time alone with God. We have divided up the curriculum to help us grow wherever we are at in our relationship with God and in our knowledge of His Kingdom.

LEVELS: Since we are a Colorado church, we use skiing imagery to communicate the different levels of intensity and time involved in relating to God.

BEGINNER: If you are new in your relationship with God, we encourage you to try the exercises under this symbol:

INTERMEDIATE: If you have walked with God for some time and would like a little more challenge and more time involvement, try the exercises under this symbol:

ADVANCED: These exercises are for people who have walked with God for some time and display maturity in their relationship with Him.

These exercises provide a practical way to encounter God and His truth on a regular basis. There are no rules here. Please don’t hurry through the process. Slow meditation and memorization seems to soak in better than cramming.

Enjoy!

Benefit Sanctify

Spirit

Soundness

Success

Security

NameJehovah-TsidkenuJehovah-M’Kaddesh

Jehovah-ShalomJehovah-Shammah

Jehovah-Rophe

Jehovah-Jireh

Jehovah-NissiJehovah-Rohi

MeaningJehovah our righteousnessJehovah who sanctifies

Jehovah is peaceJehovah is there

Jehovah heals

Jehovah provides

Jehovah my bannerJehovah my shepherd

Day One1. Take  some  time  to  praise  the  Lord  for  who  He  is  and  enjoy  

thanking  Him  for  what  He  has  done  in  your  life  lately.

2. Slowly  read  Luke  16:  19-­‐‑31.

3. What  have  you  heard  God  say  to  you  this  week?    Write  it  down  in  this  space.

Memorize  Psalm  25:  1-­‐‑2.    Ask  the  Holy  Spirit  to  give  you  insight  into  the  meaning  of  this  verse.

Memorize  Psalm  25:  1-­‐‑3.  Ask  the  Holy  Spirit  to  give  you  insight  into  the  meaning  of  this  passage.

Memorize    Psalm  25:  1-­‐‑7.  Ask  the  Holy  Spirit  to  give  you  insight  into  the  meaning  of  these  passages.

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Then the rich man said, “Please, Father Abraham, send him to my father’s home. For I have five brothers, and I want him to warn them about this place of torment so they won’t have to come here when they die.” But Abraham said, “Moses and the prophets have warned them. Your brothers can read their writings anytime they want to.” The rich man replied, “No, Father Abraham! But if someone is sent to them from the dead, then they will turn from their sins.” But Abraham said, “If they won’t listen to Moses and the prophets, they won’t listen even if someone rises from the dead.”

~Luke 16:27-31, NLT

Abraham’s discussion with the doomed rich man should sober any of us who read it. Abraham tells the man that if his brothers don’t believe Moses and the prophets, then they will not believe the message of a man risen from the dead! Apparently, if I cannot humble myself enough to believe the Old Testament, then I certainly wouldn’t believe a miraculous messenger telling me the same message.

What’s interesting is those same Jews saw another guy named Lazarus get resuscitated from the dead in John 11. You should check that passage out and see the reaction of the Jewish leaders. They were even more anxious to kill Jesus after that than they ever had been before! It was as if Jesus was prophesying that they would reject Him after He raised his friend from the dead.

Simple belief in the words of the Bible is what transforms us. When I believe what it says about God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit, He begins to transform my life! Oh God! Bring it on!

Day Five

Repent!

Day Five1. Take  some  time  to  praise  the  Lord  for  who  He  is  and  enjoy  

thanking  Him  for  what  He  has  done  in  your  life  lately.  

2. Read  all  of  Luke  16  today.

3. Take  time  to  pray  God  to  show  you  what  He  is  doing  today  and  ask  Him  how  you  can  get  in  on  what  He  is  doing.  

4. Finish  your  Bible  memorization  today.

Day OneJesus said, “There was a certain rich man who was splendidly clothed and who lived each day in luxury. At his door lay a diseased beggar named Lazarus.”

~Luke 16:19, 20, NLT

In Luke chapter 16, this parable seems to jump up out of the narrative like Mount Hood pops up out of the landscape around Portland. Or, maybe not. Perhaps Jesus tells this parable to His audience made up of lots of religious big-shots in order to further shake them up. Just a few verses above, we find them sneering at his words about faithfulness with money because they were lovers of money. Maybe Jesus is still talking about the selfishness that can capture us when we get consumed with riches. Perhaps He is trying to sober them with this parable.

After reading it, we should all be sobered.

Jesus introduces the unnamed rich man to us first in this parable. He’s filthy rich. He wears the finest of clothing, usually reserved for the ruling class, and he lives in an opulent house, complete with an outer gate. He ate of the finest foods EVERY DAY, which tells us he’s probably a plus size.

No greater contrast could be made than the character of Lazarus, the poor beggar Jesus introduces next. He lays at the gate of the rich man daily, hoping just to get crumbs from the rich man’s table. Where the rich man has only the most influential and wealthy of friends, Lazarus’ only company is the mangy strays who lick his boils and sores. We get the picture - Lazarus is diseased.

Father, speak to me through this parable. Show me where I have neglected You for my own comforts.

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Day Two1. Take  some  time  to  praise  the  Lord  for  who  He  is  and  enjoy  

thanking  Him  for  what  He  has  done  in  your  life  lately.  

2. Slowly  and  carefully  read  Luke  16:  19-­‐‑31  again  today.

3. Who  do  you  relate  to  more,  Lazarus,  or  the  rich  man?  Please  write  down  why  in  this  space.  

4. Pray  for  your  loved  ones  and  family.    Ask  the  Holy  Spirit  to  give  you  specific  requests  for  each  one.

5. Continue  memorizing  and  meditating  on  the  scriptures  for  this  week.

Day FourBut Abraham said to him, “Son, remember that during your lifetime you had everything you wanted, and Lazarus had nothing. So now he is here being comforted, and you are in anguish. And besides, there is a great chasm separating us. Anyone who wanted to cross over to you from here is stopped at its edge, and no one there can cross over to us.”

~Luke 16:25, 26, NLT

As we read this discussion between Abraham and the rich man, we must remember that during his life on earth, Abraham was himself a very wealthy man. The rich man is apparently not assigned to the place of torture just because he was wealthy - otherwise Abraham would be the chief of hypocrites!

The first sentence above conveys the idea that there was no mercy, no sharing with the poor emanating from the rich man when he lived. At the time, there were no napkins, and people ate with their hands. Typically, the wealthiest of people would use chunks of bread to wipe their hands off after eating. Lazarus had sat at the gates hoping the rich man’s servants would throw the scraps to him. That was his greatest hope - to get a scrap of dirty bread!

The story tells us that the man lived in great luxury without any thought of his fellow man. His was a life of self absorbed opulence. I think he begins to recognize this and later hopes that Lazarus would return and tell his brothers to repent of their self centered lifestyles.

Father, give me eyes to see my own selfishness and any focus on comforting myself rather than caring for others.

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Day TwoFinally, the beggar died and was carried by the angels to be with Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried, and his soul went to the place of the dead. There, in torment, he saw Lazarus in the far distance with Abraham.

~Luke 16:22, 23, NLT

This story flies in the face of the contemporary theology of Jesus’ day. The Jews believed that the outward sign of God’s blessing was material wealth. In their worldview, poverty and sickness were laid on people because of sin.

Jesus gets His audience’s attention when He says Lazarus, whose name means God is my help, gets carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man is buried and goes to the place of the dead.

Abraham’s bosom was a paradise where good Jews went after death. Most Jews believed they were destined to go there simply because of their Jewish blood, but also because they were law abiding people. Sheol was the Hebrew place of the dead which carried with it the idea of torment for sinful, or non-Jewish people.

Just imagine the surprised looks on the faces of Jesus’ audience when He said the rich man went to Sheol! And how could a poor, diseased man go to paradise? Jesus flipped everything on it’s lid!

The rich man went to Sheol because he did not believe the Law and the prophets’ message about the Messiah. Jesus continually showed the Jews that He came as a fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets.

What do I believe about the reality of Heaven and Hell?

Day Four1. Take  some  time  to  praise  the  Lord  for  who  He  is  and  enjoy  

thanking  Him  for  what  He  has  done  in  your  life  lately.    

2. Read  slowly  through  Psalm  25.

3. As  you  think  about  the  rich  man  and  Lazarus,  try  to  objectively  look  at  your  life  and  see  how  willing  you  are  to  share  your  resources  with  those  who  are  in  need.

4. Continue  meditating  on  and  memorizing  the  scripture  for  this  week.

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Day Three Day Three1. Take  some  time  to  praise  the  Lord  for  who  He  is  and  enjoy  

thanking  Him  for  what  He  has  done  in  your  life  lately.    

2. Meditate  on  Luke  16:  19-­‐‑31

3. Bring  at  least  three  friends  or  loved  ones  to  the  Lord  and  ask  Him  to  bring  them  to  repentance  and  faith.    Ask  Him  to  show  you  how  you  can  boldly  love  them  and  speak  the  words  of  Jesus  into  their  lives.      

 4. Continue  meditating  on  and  memorizing  the  scripture  for  this  

week.

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The rich man shouted, “Father Abraham, have some pity! Send Lazarus over here to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in anguish in these flames.”

~Luke 16:24, NLT

The painful message of this parable is that not only is there a paradise for those who follow Jesus, but there is definitely a place set aside for those who do not believe in Him. This parable makes Jesus quite edgy. He’s not a sweet little sugar daddy - He’s Lord of the universe and refusing Him has eternal consequences!

As we observe the rich man in Sheol, the first thing we may wonder is if this place is equivalent to what we call Hell. The brief answer is a definite Yes. The man is in agony. It’s hard to read with any level of intellectual honesty.

What makes the parable even more difficult is that we see no humility, no confession of sin, and no remorse for his unbelief. He still sees himself as a man of authority and power, and his only request is to get the no longer sick or poor Lazarus to bring him some water.

Take note of how the socio-economic lines are still drawn between him and Lazarus in the afterlife. Though his eternal destiny is sealed, he still thinks he can throw out orders to a man he sees as inferior. Jesus reveals this about the man to show his hard heart, his stubborn will, and his unrepentant attitude - even after being thrown into a place of torture!

Father, show me the reality of Heaven and Hell. Grant me a passion to help others come to know You!

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