(03/03/19) Jeremiah Cua
​The Lord Reveals to Us the Cries from Hades
— The sons of light, the stewards of God, please pay attention

Scripture: ​Luke 16:19-31

Outline:

Introduction (Luke 16:1-18)

1. The Lord praised “the sons of this age” – The unrighteous steward was wise to manage the worldly matters.
2. The Lord sighed – “The sons of light” are not as wise as “the sons of this age”.
— have not made friends!
3. The Lord wished that his stewards would manage the riches that He entrusted to them, and be able to make friends in this age, to store the true wealth in the eternal dwelling. (The Kingdom of Heaven and the New Jerusalem), to enjoy the true riches forever.
4. The Lord spoke to the Pharisees who sneered at Him: God knows your self-righteous heart. (Luke 16: 14-18)
In Matthew 23:13-26, The Lord rebuked the teachers of the Laws and the Pharisees with the seven woes.
5. God gave us the Laws and the Prophets to lead us to Christ, so we can be justified by faith. (Galatians 3:24)
6. Where will the believers stay, who has slept in the Lord before His return?

The Lord reveals the cries from Hades (Luke 16:19-31)
–The cries of the rich man and Lazarus (The meaning of Lazarus is – the helpless one, but helped by God)

A. Their living conditions while alive (Luke 16:19-21)
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 (original meaning: those dogs) came and licked his sores.

1. Both the rich man and Lazarus are the descendants of Abraham
2. The rich man owned much wealth, he lived in luxury everyday.
3. Lazarus had sores all over his body, he begged for a living.

a. But he believed and followed the words of Moses and the prophets. (ref. 29-31)

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.’”

b. He also received help from God.

4. The rich man allowed Lazarus to stay outside of his luxurious gate for a long time, so he could eat the crump that fell down from his table. Even the dogs (assumed that also includes the rich man’s dogs) came and licked his sores, let the dogs accompanied him.

Yet, the rich man did not take a further step to receive Lazarus to be his friends…
—The Lord did not accuse the rich man of his unrighteousness, but He sighed that the rich man did not do his best to become Lazarus’ friend.

B. The two men experienced different treatment when they were in Hades

1.
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. (ref. 22-23)
Lazarus received God’s help, he was comforted to be at Father Abraham’s bosom. But the rich man and other people suffered much agony in the flame.

2.
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.’” (Ref. 24-31)

The rich man cried out to Father Abraham: Plead to receive a little bit of water to cool down his tongue, also ask to send messengers to warn his five brothers who were still living, yet his requests were turned down

3. The silent cry of Lazarus: All my worries and pain have gone, and now I am comforted in my Father Abraham’s bosom.

The Lord called to the Sons of Light who are living in this world: God’s stewards must pay attention to the cries from Hades

1. The rich man’s cry –By God’s grace, take the opportune time to be a wise steward, to make friends according to what God entrust to us. So during the days in Hades, we have friends that welcome us, to receive the comfort in Abraham’s bosom, also, from the Kingdom till the eternal dwelling, we will receive everlasting rest.

2. To listen to the silent cry of Lazarus (Ref Hebrews 13:17)
17 Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority,…. Let them give their account with joy….

— Be a wise steward, to make friends, so there will be friends welcoming you.
(starts from the paradise in Hades, continues in the Kingdom, then ends in the eternal dwelling)

Speaker: Jeremiah Cua; Interpreter: Eleanor Ng