THE TALE OF TWO BEGGERS
Two beggars - one begged in this life, the other begged in the next life.
One asked for mercy in this life, the other asked for mercy in the next life.
One received mercy the other did not.
Luke 16:19-31
There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: [20] And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,
[21] And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.
[22] And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;
[23] And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
[24] And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.
[25] But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.
[26] And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.
[27] Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house:
[28] For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.
[29] Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.
[30] And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.
[31] And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.
“There was a certain rich man”:
So by Jesus saying “a certain rich man” there was actually a rich man that this happened to.
I want you to understand that this account really happened.
The rich man was clothed in purple and fine linen.
So we understand that he dressed well.
And that he fared sumptuously everyday.
So we know he ate well everyday
So the rich man dresses well and eats well.
Now there's a certain beggar named Lazarus
Not only do we have a certain beggar, Jesus says, but Jesus gives his name as Lazarus.
We understand that Lazarus laid at the rich man's gate.
We know that he was full of sores.
We also understand according to verse 21 that Lazarus desired to eat the crumbs that fell from the rich man's table.
He did not want to eat at the rich man's table he just wanted the scraps.
He did not want the rich man's clothes.
He did not want the rich man's house.
All he wanted was what the rich man would throw away.
The dogs licked his sores.
The rich man probably could have put some sort of medicine on the sores.
Now in verse 22 the beggar dies.
He is carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom.
The rich man also dies and they bury him.
In verse 23 we know the rich man is in hell, we know that he is in torments.
We know that he can see Lazarus in Abraham's bosom.
In verse 24 the rich man is asking for mercy.
There is no mercy in the afterlife.
There is only mercy in this life.
If you died right now where would your destination be?
So we understand that the rich man now becomes the beggar.
He begs for mercy.
He asked that Lazarus just dip the tip of his finger in water to cool his tongue.
He begs that Abraham will send Lazarus to his father's house and tell his five brothers about this place of torments.
He also said in verse 24 that he was tormented in flames.
Ten sources of torment to the lost:
1.Remorse and despair in seeing the righteous and godly whom they have despised now clothed in glory, immortality, eternal life, and all the bliss of God (Luke 16:23)
We understand at the time that Jesus gave us this story that these two places were separated by a great gulf.
We know that the rich man could see across the gulf.
2. Abhorrence of the very evil that they know has damned their souls and put them in torment (Luke 16:25)
The sin that one loved in this life, they will hate in eternity.
3. Eternal desire for the good that would have freed from torment (Luke 16:25)
What we mean by eternal desire for the good is part of one's torment; is to now have a desire that would have caused them to escape this place of torment.
4. Memory of lost opportunities in life that could have caused them to be with the redeemed (Luke 16:25)
5. Regret over deeds committed and which can never be recalled (Luke 16:25)
6. Absolute hopelessness of escape from eternal misery or alleviation from the least degree of suffering (Luke 16:26)
7. Eternal separation from loved ones or from the redeemed which they can see beyond an impassable gulf (Luke 16:23-26)
We need to remember that this is true at the time that Jesus gave us this story.
We understand that Jesus took those that were in paradise to heaven with him.
I do not know if they can see into heaven. I also do not know they can't.
I do know that they are in a spiritual realm.
8. Regret over their bad example in life that has caused friends and loved ones to be damned (Luke 16:27-31)
9. Ever deepening remorse for not listening to the Word of God and for not spending their time, talents, and money to propagate it, so that many others could escape torment (Luke 16:29-31)
10. Last, fire and brimstone (Luke 16:23-31; Matthew 25:41,46; Rev. 14:9-11; Rev. 20:11-15; Rev. 21:8; Isaiah 66:22-24)
Now I want you to understand that these torments go on year after year, month after month, day after day, second after second.
There will never be a time when someone that is in hell will have any relief.
There is no five year sentence in hell.
There is no ten years sentence in hell.
There is no getting out in 20 years.
When one is sent to hell because of his or her rejection of Jesus and His ways.
And not turning from his or her sins.
They will be in torments forever and ever.
Every second of every day of every month of every year.
Never will there be a second of relief from this torment that's in hell.
That means second after second after second to be in horrible pain forever and ever.
In verse 25 Abraham said to the rich man to remember in his lifetime he had good things.
The torment of remembering.
Also Abraham told the rich man to remember about the evil that Lazarus had received in his lifetime.
Remember Lazarus laying at your gate desiring to eat the crumbs from your table?
The torment of remembering.
Now Lazarus is comforted and you are tormented.
In verse 26 Abraham tells the rich man there is a great gulf between us and no one can pass over on either side.
In verse 27 and 28 the rich man asks Abraham to send Lazarus to his father's house.
To warn his five brothers of this place of torments.
God has sent someone to warn you today of this place called hell. A place of eternal torments.
In verse 29 Abraham told the rich man they have Moses and the prophets, let them hear them.
Moses and the prophets all are connected to God's Word.
Hear one of God’s prophet’s today.
Receive Jesus and be carried to heaven some day.
Or you can reject Jesus and go to this place of torment.
As ministers across this world today preach God's Word, hear them.
In verse 30 the rich man said they would not believe the word but they would believe one that came from the dead.
The rich man thought that if one came back from the dead his brothers would repent.
Abraham on the other hand believed if they would not hear Moses and the prophets they will not be persuaded if one rose from the dead.
So we begin to understand if one does not believe the Word of God, they will not believe a miracle.
Believe the word of God this day.
There were two beggars.
Which one will you be?
Message from
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July 2007
Bro. Lawrence Bradford
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