A Tale of Two Men: The Eternal Difference
Luke 16:19-31
Text:
Luke 16:19-31
“There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores…”
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I. Earthly Status Is Not Eternal Security
Jesus paints a vivid contrast:
• The Rich Man: clothed in purple (royalty), dined like a king, lived in ease.
• Lazarus: poor, hungry, covered in sores, longed for scraps, unnoticed.
This isn’t a parable about riches being evil—
but about how a life of comfort can blind us to the needs of others.
Key Point:
God doesn’t measure a life by its wealth, but by its heart.
Earthly status can deceive us into thinking we are eternally secure when we’re not.
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II. Death Comes for All - And Brings a Great Reversal
“The time came when the beggar died… The rich man also died and was buried.”
Lazarus dies unnoticed—but is carried by angels to Abraham’s side.
The rich man dies with likely a fancy funeral—but finds himself in torment.
Jesus reminds us that death is the great leveler,
but it’s not the end—it’s the door to eternity.
📖 Hebrews 9:27
“It is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment.”
Key Point:
Our destination is not determined by what’s in our bank accounts,
but what’s in our hearts.
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III. Hell Is Real - and So Is Regret
“In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up…”
The rich man could see… feel… remember…
but could not escape.
He had:
• Memory - “Father Abraham, send Lazarus…”
• Desire - “I am in agony in this fire!”
• Remorse - “Warn my brothers…”
But no relief, no second chance, no bridge across the gulf.
Key Point:
Hell is not a place people get sent because God is mean—
it’s where people go when they reject God’s mercy.
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IV. The Time to Respond Is Now
“They have Moses and the Prophets, let them listen to them.”
The rich man wants a miracle to convince his family.
Abraham replies:
“If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets,
they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.”
Jesus is prophetically pointing to Himself:
He would rise, but still many would not believe.
Key Point:
God has already given us all we need—His Word, His Spirit, and the Gospel.
The time to respond is today.
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V. Final Application: What Does This Mean for Us?
- Examine your heart - Are you trusting in wealth, status, or comfort instead of Christ?
- See the Lazaruses around you - Who is at your gate that you’re ignoring? Compassion is not optional.
- Live with eternity in mind - The rich man thought only of today—Lazarus was prepared for forever.
- Share the truth while there’s still time - Don’t wait for miracles. Be the voice that calls others to repentance.
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Closing Illustration
Imagine two funerals:
One has gold-plated caskets, long speeches, and hundreds in attendance.
The other has none of that.
But in eternity, only one is celebrated in heaven.
Jesus teaches us to live not for applause here, but for reward there.
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Closing Prayer
Father, thank You for the truth of Your Word.
Help us to see past the temporary comforts of this world
and live with eternity in our hearts.
Give us compassion for the suffering,
urgency for the lost,
and a deep love for Your truth.
May we not be like the rich man—
blind, self-absorbed, and unrepentant—
but like Lazarus, trusting in You no matter what this life brings.
In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.