(Bible references from ESV unless otherwise noted)
God seeks the lost and rejoices at their safe return.
He is no fool to give what he cannot keep, to gain what he cannot lose.
Use your resources to impact lives.
The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard all these things, and they ridiculed him. —Luke 16:14
They don’t like him talking about money.
The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard all these things, and they ridiculed him. And he said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God.” —Luke 16:14-15
They are wicked because they are justifying their own wickedness.
It’s taking something you know is wrong and instead of submitting your life to truth, you change “truth” to fit your life.
The Law and the Prophets were until John; since then the good news of the kingdom of God is preached, and everyone forces his way into it. But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one dot of the Law to become void. —Luke 16:16-17
God’s word doesn’t change.
Everyone who divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery, and he who marries a woman divorced from her husband commits adultery. —Luke 16:18
Jesus is going to address the non-compassionate use of accumulated wealth.
And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores. —Luke 16:20
Lazarus means “God helps.”
…who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores. —Luke 16:21
The rich man won’t feed him, but the dogs feed on this poor man.
There’s a cultural assumption. The rich man is blessed by God and Lazarus is despicable.
Lazarus at Abraham’s Bosom
The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. —Luke 16:22
Abraham’s bosom is where the righteous are gathered when they die.
Thanatology is the study of death.
The rich man also died and was buried and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. —Luke 16:22
And 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.” —Luke 16:24
He is now needy and he wants Lazarus to serve him.
Death seals judgment.
But Abraham said, “Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish.” —Luke 16:26
Judgment is eternal.
And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, —Hebrews 9:27
Death creates an unbridgeable gap.
And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us. And he said, “Then 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.” —Luke 16:26-28
Scripture is enough.
But Abraham said, “They have 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.” 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.” —Luke 16:29-31
Big Idea
God’s people are compassionate with the use of their accumulated wealth.
Study Guide
The parable from this week’s sermon has a lot of pieces and it can be easy to get caught up in those other story elements and miss the point. Recap in your own words the point of this parable.
Jay’s Big Idea was God’s people are compassionate with the use of their accumulated wealth. What does compassionate mean? Look it up if you need to. Spend time with your group making this abstract word a concrete concept.
How comfortable are you with your personal finances? How comfortable are you with talking about your “accumulated wealth”?
God’s Word pushes us to live sacrificially in several places and this parable pushes us to live sacrificially specifically with money. Are you willing to listen to this call? In what ways are you doing so? In what ways do you find this call challenging?
How can you individually be compassionate with the use of your accumulated wealth? How can your group be compassionate with the use of your accumulated wealth?