“Rich Mam, Poor Man, Heaven and Hell”

Article for September 28, 2025

Luke 16:19–21 19[Jesus said:] “There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. 20And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, 21who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores.

Not all rich people are bad and have already received their just reward.  Jesus however did say in Luke 18:25 it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of the needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.  However, if the rich man is helping the poor and treating the poor as equals then maybe there is much more reward to come to them in what we call the afterlife. 

Look at our world, not just the United States of America, but the whole world.  How much compassion do we spread and how much more do we look down our noses at others?  Some will say there is a lot of compassion shown throughout the world.  Others might say there is some compassion but how can one show enough compassion to everyone?  We can never show enough, never do good enough, never love enough, but we need to keep trying.

There are rich people whose suffering seems trifle to us.  There are some who look at our suffering and say it is a trifle amount compared to their grievous suffering.  Lazarus suffers not just being poor but also having open sores that dogs lick.  Not to heal Lazarus but to see if he is worth eating.  This Lazarus is suffering greatly and is begging hopelessly for help.

The rich man just ignores this poor man at his gate in hopes that he will either go away or maybe die and be carried away.  Not that what I said is written in stone but that this might give us some understanding to the conversation between the rich man and Abraham.

Luke 16:22–24 22The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried, 23and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. 24And 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.’

The only reason for the rich man to be in Hades would be that he was not a man of faith.  I say this less you do not think Jesus died for all our sin.  This rich man did not believe in God and lived his life for himself and did not share his wealth with those in need.  It wasn’t as if the rich man did not know that Lazarus was at his gate asking or begging for food, but that the rich man was so into his indulgence that he did not want to be bothered by such trifle begging of a poor sick man.

May I remind you, we, sitting here today are in the top 8% of richest people in the world.  It might not seem like we are rich to some, and it might seem like we are rich to a few.  This is not a sermon to get you to tithe more, though that might be helpful if you look at our budget.  No, this is actually a sermon on how one can enjoy their riches by helping others.  You know, Jesus said love one another.

The tables have turned, and the rich man is walking in the shoes of the poor man Lazarus.  It is too late, but the rich man is now the beggar who will now be ignored.  The rich man suffers and knows he cannot cope with this suffering and worse there is not a soul who can help him.

Luke 16:25–26 25But 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. 26And 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.’

We will all inherit eternal life.  Some will have their heaven for as long as they live on this earth, and some will inherit heaven because of their faith.  Ask yourself, do you want your heaven now or can you wait until Jesus comes to take you to where He is?  The rich man will inherit eternal life in hades or in other words eternal death.

Would that the chasm could separate us from the poor and the needy now in this life.  not really a good thought.  A chasm of sorts unfortunately does exist.  The chasm is made up of the uncaring and the walls we try to put up in hopes that it will protect us from dealing with the poor and needy. I am not talking about President Trump’s wall; I am talking about the invisible wall we all try to build so we do not have to see the poor and needy around us. 

Luke 16:27–29 27And he said, ‘Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father’s house— 28for I have five brothers—so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.’ 29But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.’

Look at how this rich man talks to Abraham, as if Lazarus is just a servant, to wait on the rich.  Is this the rich man still trying to hold on to his wealth and status, does he not see even now he has met his due reward?  Yet, the rich man tries to have heart to save his rich brothers and now begs for their lives.  This rich man is in eternal death and cannot see beyond his rich nose. 

Abraham, who was before Moses, is telling the rich man that his brothers need to listen to the words written down by Moses.  In other words, Moses is the law and the first line of following God.  the Prophets are the second line of their faith as they write about all the tragedies the Jews brought upon themselves.  These are scripture to learn from and the telling of the gospel to come.

Luke 16:30–31 30And he said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ 31He said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.’”

      Jesus was risen from the dead, and still there are those who brush it off as some fairytale for children to wish for.  But here it is, Jesus died on a criminal’s cross, a cross meant for the ruthless, the bad, and all sinners. 

Jesus’ resurrection is meant for those who follow and believe in that Jesus died so that salvation will reign.  This is for the true repentant, believer, and follower of Jesus.  Jesus is telling us all to follow His gospel, to be forgiving, help the poor and needy, and do not ask for anything in return.  For the gospel is this, you are forgiven your sins and rewarded with an eternal life with Jesus who lives beyond the chasm and prepares a place for you in the kingdom of God.  Amen.

Written by Pastor Curtis A. May