Lucas 16

Steven Cole · Citado em PreceptAustin

Lucas 16

Cole - Every once in a while I receive in the mail an ad inviting me to sign up for a book or a course on how I can get rich. It may involve someone’s scheme for buying stocks or trading commodities. The guy who is selling the book or the course is playing off the common desire to get rich, preferably with a minimum of effort. But what if we spend our lives climbing the ladder of success only to find out that it’s leaning against the wrong wall? What if we get rich only to discover that we’re really poor? In Lu 16, Jesus tells two parables—the unrighteous steward and rich man and Lazarus—to show that God’s perspective on riches and our perspective are often diametrically opposed. If we want to be truly rich, we need God’s perspective on money.....The entire chapter should make us all stop and think carefully about our attitude toward money. God’s ways are higher than our ways (Is 55:9), especially with regard to money. Since we’re all prone to the world’s ways, we need to think carefully about what Jesus is saying so that we follow God’s way to true riches rather than the world’s way to deceptive wealth and ultimate, eternal poverty. (How to be Truly Rich)

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Cole explains that Jesus "is saying that we can learn a valuable lesson from this pagan scoundrel, who is wiser than many “sons of light,” (Jn 12:36, 1Th 5:5) in that he saw what was coming and he used what had been entrusted to him while he could to prepare for the future. The lesson for us is a faithful steward will use his Master’s money shrewdly to provide true riches for eternity. Jesus is telling us that there is a way you can take it with you, namely, by wisely investing the resources that God has entrusted to you now in things that matter for eternity." (How to be Truly Rich)

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Cole - the unrighteous steward got it right and the sons of light tend to get it wrong. Jesus is saying that unbelievers are often more shrewd in figuring out how to secure temporal wealth than believers are in figuring out how to secure eternal riches. By shrewd, Jesus does not mean dishonest, but rather, as Webster defines it, “clever, discerning awareness; practical, hardheaded cleverness and judgment” How was the unrighteous steward shrewd? In at least two ways. First, he was shrewd in that he seized an opportunity while he still had time to act. He saw the handwriting on the wall: his days were numbered! He was going to get fired. So he quickly went into action, using his authority while he still had time, to get on the good side of his master’s debtors. The application for us is, if we hear of a window of opportunity for the gospel, we should do all we can to seize it while we can. If we hear of a good investment opportunity that is reasonably certain to earn a decent profit and we have the funds to invest, we would probably jump at the chance. In the same way, if we hear of an opportunity for the gospel and God has given us funds to invest, we should go for it. I was so encouraged at the way the church responded to the recent opportunity in Egypt, raising over $16,000 to provide evangelistic materials for the summer outreach! That’s the idea here! Invest in eternity while you can. Second, the unrighteous steward was shrewd in that he used his present resources to provide for his inevitable future realities. He knew that he was going to be fired. While many would have despaired, he went into action, using what he had to provide for his future security. The application for us is, we know that the time is soon coming when the mammon of unrighteousness will fail. (Lk 16:9) We will die or Christ will return, and money won’t do us any good in heaven. But we can use our money now to store up treasures in heaven by making eternal friends through the gospel. Can you imagine the joy someday of meeting someone in heaven who says, “Thank you for giving to the cause of world evangelization! (Because you gave, missionaries came to my country and I got saved.” (Luke 16:1-13 How to be Truly Rich - Bolding added) Wise Christians The people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light. Luke 16:8 Today's Scripture & Insight: Luke 16:1–9 The coronavirus pandemic resulted in canceled schools around the world. In China, teachers responded with DingTalk, a digital app that enabled class to be held online. Then their students figured out that if DingTalk’s rating fell too low, it might be removed from the App Store. Overnight, thousands of one-star reviews dropped DingTalk’s score. (ED: "inventors of evil" - Ro 1:30!) Jesus wouldn’t be impressed with the students shirking their responsibilities, but He might admire their ingenuity. He told an unusual story about a fired manager who on his final day slashed the bills of his master’s debtors. Jesus didn’t praise the manager’s dishonesty. Rather He commended his cleverness and wished His followers would be equally shrewd: “I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings” (Luke 16:9). When it comes to money, most people look at how much they might lose. Wise people look for what they can use. Jesus said giving to others “gain[s] friends,” which provides safety and influence. Who is the leader in any group? The one who pays. Giving also gains “eternal dwellings,” for our willingness to part with our cash shows our trust is in Jesus. Who does Jesus want you to serve today? How might you creatively use your skills, money, or time to bless this person? Jesus, I want to give to others for You. Luke 16:9 And I say to you, make friends for yourselves by means of the wealth of unrighteousness, so that when it fails, they will receive you into the eternal dwellings. BGT Luke 16:9 Καὶ ἐγὼ ὑμῖν λέγω, ἑαυτοῖς ποιήσατε φίλους ἐκ τοῦ μαμωνᾶ τῆς ἀδικίας, ἵνα ὅταν ἐκλίπῃ δέξωνται ὑμᾶς εἰς τὰς αἰωνίους σκηνάς. KJV Luke 16:9 And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations. NET Luke 16:9 And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by how you use worldly wealth, so that when it runs out you will be welcomed into the eternal homes. CSB Luke 16:9 And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of the unrighteous money so that when it fails, they may welcome you into eternal dwellings. ESV Luke 16:9 And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous wealth, so that when it fails they may receive you into the eternal dwellings. NIV Luke 16:9 I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings. NLT Luke 16:9 Here's the lesson: Use your worldly resources to benefit others and make friends. Then, when your earthly possessions are gone, they will welcome you to an eternal home. NRS Luke 16:9 And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of dishonest wealth so that when it is gone, they may welcome you into the eternal homes. YLT Luke 16:9 and I say to you, Make to yourselves friends out of the mammon of unrighteousness, that when ye may fail, they may receive you to the age-during tabernacles. GWN Luke 16:9 Jesus continued, "I'm telling you that although wealth is often used in dishonest ways, you should use it to make friends for yourselves. When life is over, you will be welcomed into an eternal home. NKJ Luke 16:9 "And I say to you, make friends for yourselves by unrighteous mammon, that when you fail, they may receive you into an everlasting home. NAB Luke 16:9 I tell you, make friends for yourselves with dishonest wealth, so that when it fails, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings. MIT Luke 16:9 I instruct you to make friends for yourselves by using the material goods tarnished by injustice so that when such runs out, the friends made might welcome you into everlasting dwellings. NJB Luke 16:9 'And so I tell you this: use money, tainted as it is, to win you friends, and thus make sure that when it fails you, they will welcome you into eternal dwellings. ASV Luke 16:9 And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends by means of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when it shall fail, they may receive you into the eternal tabernacles. DBY Luke 16:9 And *I* say to you, Make to yourselves friends with the mammon of unrighteousness, that when it fails ye may be received into the eternal tabernacles. BBE Luke 16:9 And I say to you, Make friends for yourselves through the wealth of this life, so that when it comes to an end, you may be taken into the eternal resting-places. make friends for yourselves , Luke 11:41; 14:14; Pr 19:17; Eccl 11:1; Isaiah 58:7,8; Daniel 4:27; Mt 6:19; 19:21; Mt 25:35-40; Acts 10:4,31; 2 Cor 9:12-15; 1 Ti 6:17-19; 2 Ti 1:16-18 by means of the Luke 16:11,13 wealth of unrighteousness. Pr 23:5; 1 Ti 6:9,10,17 so that when it fails Ps 73:26; Ecclesiastes 12:3-7; Isaiah 57:16 they will receive you into the eternal dwellings 2 Cor 4:17,18; 5:1; 1 Ti 6:18; Jude 1:21 Luke 16 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Luke 16:1-13 How to be Truly Rich - Steven Cole Luke 16:1-13 Investing Earthly Finances with an Eternal Focus - John MacArthur Related Passages: 1 Timothy 3:8KJV Deacons in like manner must be grave, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre.” UNRIGHTEOUS MAMMON And I say to you - (Lk 11:9, similar to the phrase "I tell you" = Lk 15:7, 10, Lk 18:8, 14) Who is you? His disciples (Lk 16:1). Jesus is giving His disciples an application of this parable. Dear follower of Christ, are you listening? Make (poieo - aorist imperative = "Don't delay to make") friends (philos) for yourselves by means of the wealth (mammonas) of unrighteousness (adikia) - If we took this portion of the verse out of context and stopped right here, we might think that money can buy influence, aka "friends" (as least the fair weather kind!). But we need to read on. Here Jesus discusses money and our attitude toward others. He is encouraging us to use our (HIS) money to make friends, and the context tells us that this does mean NOT "earthly" friends but "heavenly friends" who "will receive you into the eternal dwellings." Use your money, literally, to make friends who are going to welcome you into your eternal home. This is an amazing privilege Jesus is describing! Do we really understand what He is saying? NET Note - The point is not that money is inherently evil, but that it is often misused so that it is a means of evil; see 1 Tim 6:6–10, 17–19. The call is to be generous and kind in its use. Zacchaeus becomes the example of this in Luke's Gospel (Lk 19:1–10). (Ed: And the rich man in Lk 16:19-31 is a negative example of handling unrighteous mammon). This passage reminds me of Jesus' command in the Sermon on the Mount Do not store up (present imperative with a negative - command to stop doing this or do not begin) for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 “But store up (thesauros in the present imperative - make this your lifestyle, only possible as you are enabled by the Holy Spirit!) for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; 21 for (gar = term of explanation - this is a crucial term of explanation) where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Mt 6:19-21+, cf Mt 19:21) Comment: If we are filled with (controlled by) the Spirit Who enables us to obey this command, we can be sure that we are "making friends in heaven!" How are you doing? Don't miss this opportunity of a lifetime! Beware of storing up in your temporal 401K and missing God's unfailing retirement plan in heaven! If you say you believe this truth, than your actions will show it. In short, where your heart is, is the "bank" in which you will put your money! JOSHUA PROJECT - One way to be making countless friends who will welcome you into Heaven is by Praying for People from Every Tribe, Tongue, People and Nation (short discussion of the Biblical rationale). I would highly recommend downloading the mobile APP from the Joshua Project which will send you a daily email (fill out this form) to pray for the unreached people group of the day. The APP is great because it will send a reminder to your phone later in the morning if you were too rushed or forgot to pray for the people group in the morning. On the authority of God's Word, I am confident that if you faithfully, daily pray (no legalism) for these hidden people groups for the rest of your short time on earth, you will be absolutely "blown away" by the "friends" who will welcome you into Heaven some day, for by praying you would have played a small but real role in their acceptance of the Gospel and you will rejoice with them forever and ever. Amen. Peter says that "in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied (epichoregeo) to you." (2Pe 1:11+) Compare similar sentiments expressed by Paul... 1Thess 2:19-20+ For who is our hope or joy or crown of exultation? Is it not even you, in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming? 20 For you are our glory and joy. John

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Cole adds that by the phrase "the mammon of unrighteousness Jesus means money, which the world uses for unrighteous purposes, but which believers can use for God’s purposes." (How to be Truly Rich) Robert Stein on Wealth (mammon) of unrighteousness - This expression does not refer to wealth gained through dishonesty, for in Lk 16:11 we are told to be trustworthy in our handling of the “mammon of unrighteousness,” and one cannot be trustworthy with respect to wealth obtained dishonestly. The expression is idiomatic and refers to “filthy lucre” (cf 1 Ti 3:3KJV) or as the NIV translates it “worldly wealth.” (Ed: as does the Lk 16:11NLT) (See Luke: An Exegetical and Theological Exposition) THOUGHT - Jesus' point is clear and begs a serious, soul-searching question for every one of us who call ourselves disciples -- What are you spending your life on? What are you doing that will last forever? And here Jesus is making the amazing statement that you can use the same unrighteous mammon that the sinful, godless world uses (to accomplish temporal purposes) as a means to invest in God's Kingdom and reap eternal "dividends" (rewards). We won't have money or have need of money in the world to come! Money (unrighteous mammon) is only useful now. How are you using it? There are two choices -- Are you using it with time or eternity in view? You cannot take it with you, but you can send it on ahead so to speak!

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Cole - Faithful versus unrighteous: Be faithful, not unrighteous, in financial matters. The first contrast, in verse Lu 16:10, is between “the one who is faithful” and “the one who is unrighteous.” Jesus is saying, “Do not be unrighteous as the steward in the parable was, but be faithful stewards,” as those who will give an account to the Master. There are two crucial concepts here: A. The concept of stewardship: God owns it; I manage it. Implicit in Jesus’ teaching, both here and elsewhere, is that God owns everything and we are stewards or managers of what He has entrusted to us. We are stewards of our time, our abilities, and our possessions and money. In the parable, the steward was squandering his master’s possessions (Lu 16:1). There is much debate over whether his action of reducing the bills of his master’s debtors was illegal or legal. Some argue that his master had cleverly violated the Jewish laws against charging interest, and that the steward was rectifying the situation and putting the master in the awkward position of going along with the adjusted bills or else openly being guilty of charging interest. Others say that the steward was giving up his own commission on the sales. Others say that the steward was stealing from his master. We can’t know for sure, but it seems to me that the steward was not doing anything illegal or the master would have prosecuted him. And yet, while staying within the letter of the law and acting within the authority given to him, the steward was not acting in his master’s best interests, but in his own. Even though the master lost a lot of money through the steward’s actions, he grudgingly had to praise him for his shrewdness. But the fact is, although shrewd, the steward was still unrighteous or unfaithful because he was using his master’s money for his own selfish ends, not for the master’s profit. One of the key concepts of being a steward is that the steward does not own what the master or owner has entrusted to him. He merely manages it for the owner’s purposes. If the steward begins to act as if he owns it, spending the owner’s resources for his personal betterment rather than for the owner’s benefit, he is an unrighteous, not a faithful, steward. The principle of stewardship is a fundamental concept of Christian living. When you keep it in focus, it radically affects how you live. Paul says, “It is required of stewards that one be found trustworthy,” or faithful (1Co 4:2). To be faithful as a steward, you must keep in mind at all times that you do not own your money; God does. You do not own your car; God does. You do not own your house; God does. You do not own your own life; God does. To forget or ignore God’s purposes and to live as if what we have is ours to use for our purposes is to abuse our stewardship by being unfaithful. Now I am going to make a radical statement. I believe that the concept of tithing has fostered the erroneous notion that ten percent belongs to God and the rest is ours to use as we please. Many pastors teach tithing because if Christians would give just ten percent of their incomes to the Lord’s work, giving would increase dramatically. I once calculated at my church in California that if our church families were only earning welfare-level incomes and tithing, our church income would increase significantly. Statistics vary slightly, but polls show that American evangelicals give far less than ten percent. Conservative Protestants give about three or four percent, which is about twice as much as members of mainline denominations. But before you congratulate yourself, the Mormons give an average of six percent, with 30-45 percent of Mormons giving ten percent of their pre-tax income! Also, polls show that the more people make, the less they give as a percentage of their income. The more you earn, the more tempting it is to spend it on yourself, rather than to give to the Lord’s work. But I am arguing that the concept that ten percent belongs to the Lord and the rest is yours to use as you please is not biblical. One hundred percent belongs to the Lord. The New Testament standard for giving is not ten percent, but “as the Lord has prospered you” (1Co 16:2). If under the Law, ten percent was required, then under grace, ten percent should be the bare minimum, unless you are in dire straits. Even then, the Lord’s purposes (He is the owner), not your purposes, should be your focus in managing what He has entrusted to you. While the Lord allows us to enjoy the bounty of His material blessings (1Ti 6:17), He also wants us to focus on storing up the treasure of a good foundation for the future by being generous and ready to share (1Ti 6:18, 1Ti 6:19). To give sporadically on impulse or to give a pittance with no view to eternity is not to be a faithful steward. B. The concept of accountability: Some day I must give an account to God for my stewardship. Every business manager knows that the owner will be checking the books to see how things are going. If the business has been earning a profit for the owner, then the manager may get a raise. But if the manager has been skimming off the profits to finance his new yacht and his Mercedes, he’s going to be in trouble when the books are examined. The idea of accountability is inherent in the concept of management or stewardship. Crucial to being a good steward is understanding the owner’s purpose for his business. In the world, the purpose usually is to make all the money you can. But what is our Master’s purpose? Jesus tells us in verse Lu 16:9: “Make friends for yourselves by means of the mammon of unrighteousness; that when it fails, they may receive you into the eternal dwellings.” Mammon comes from an Aramaic word meaning riches. By “the mammon of unrighteousness,” Jesus means money, which the world uses for unrighteous purposes, but which believers can use for God’s purposes. Jesus means that just as the unrighteous steward used his master’s money to make friends for himself, so that when he got fired they would welcome him into their homes, so we should use our Master’s money to make friends for ourselves in heaven. Some commentators interpret “they” to refer to God and the angels, but I think it refers to the friends who have become Christians because of our faithful stewardship. When earthly riches fail, as they surely will when we die, we will have friends in heaven who are there because we gave to the cause of world evangelization. Each of us must ask ourselves the sober question, “Am I managing the resources God has entrusted to me with a view to giving an account some day in light of His purpose of being glorified among all the nations through the spreading of the gospel?” God is a generous and gracious Father, who gives to us not only enough for our basic needs, but also for our enjoyment. So, it is not wrong to enjoy many things beyond the bare essentials. But, if we grasp the concept of faithful stewardship and accountability, our focus will not be on our own financial success, but rather on the financial “success” of God’s enterprise, namely, the gospel. (How to be Truly Rich) Luke 16:11 "Therefore if you have not been faithful in the use of unrighteous wealth, who will entrust the true [riches] to you? KJV Luke 16:11 If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? who will entrust the true riches to you Luke 12:33; 18:22; Pr 8:18,19; Ephesians 3:8; James 2:5; Rev 3:18 Luke 16 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Luke 16:1-13 How to be Truly Rich - Steven Cole Luke 16:1-13 Investing Earthly Finances with an Eternal Focus - John MacArthur EARTHLY STEWARDSHIP AND ETERNAL REWARDS Therefore if you have not been faithful (pistos) in the use of unrighteous wealth who will entrust the true (alethinos) riches to you - This is really Lk 16:10 stated another way. It's still about faithfulness and how you handle your (His) money. Unrighteous wealth is the same phrase we saw earlier (the mammon of unrighteousness) and refers to earthly money and possessions. The point is if you have not been faithful in handling the mammon of unrighteousness, Jesus asks why should you be entrusted with true riches which refers in context to eternal riches, eternal reward.

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Cole says that how we handle our money "is the litmus test by which God tests us to see if we can handle true riches, namely, souls. If we are faithful in managing the money God gives us for His purposes, He will entrust eternal souls into our care. We will have eternal rewards in heaven, even if we don’t have much in terms of earthly possessions....The ironic thing is, you are 100 percent certain to lose all the money you accumulate on this earth—it will fail (Lu 16:9). You are 100 percent certain to keep all the rewards you lay up in heaven—they are your own (Lu 16:12), secure where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in to steal (Mt 6:20). And yet, most of God’s people major on laying up money on earth and minor on laying up treasure in heaven! Puritan Thomas Adams put it, “To part with what we cannot keep, that we may get that we cannot lose, is a good bargain. Wealth can do us no good, unless it help us toward heaven.”" (How to be Truly Ric) (Ed: Thomas Adams' quote sounds like Jim Elliot's famous quote - "He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.") John

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Cole - God versus Mammon: Choose your Master! In verse Lu 16:13, Jesus draws the third contrast, that we either can serve God or mammon (money), but not both. So we must make a basic decision as to our choice of masters. Clearly, the unrighteous steward was living for money, but disciples of Jesus should be serving God. It is a delusion to think that you can own money. That is not one of the choices. Either God owns you, including your money, or your money (mammon) owns you. Those are the only choices. Most of us would like to think that there is some middle ground, where we can mostly serve God, but also keep one foot in worldly wealth. We’re like the guy who said, “They say it’s better to be poor and happy than rich and miserable. But couldn’t something be worked out, such as being moderately wealthy and just a little moody?” But Jesus draws the line in the sand and makes us ask, “Who is my Master: God or mammon?” It is sad that the world can point the finger at those who claim to be servants of Christ, but who really are serving mammon. They are the ones who get all the press. But many of God’s servants have been faithful to serve Him, not mammon. ILLUSTRATION The story is told that one day Cardinal Sadolet, a high-ranking Roman Catholic official who had tried to coax Geneva back to Rome, passed through Geneva incognito. He wanted to have a look at the famous Protestant reformer, John Calvin. He stood in front of the simple house on Canon Street. Did the famous Calvin live in this little place? Even the bishops of Rome in that day lived in mansions surrounded by wealth and servants. Archbishops and cardinals lived in palaces, like kings. Sadolet knocked and was dumbfounded when Calvin himself, dressed in a plain black robe, answered his own door. Where were the servants? Here was the most famous man in the whole Protestant church, living in a simple house, answering his own door! When Calvin died, Pope Pius IV said of him, “The strength of that heretic came from the fact that money was nothing to him.” (Thea Van Halsema, This Was John Calvin [Baker], pp. 164-165). That’s not a bad testimony from an enemy! May it be said of us all! ILLUSTRATION - Years ago, on the TV game show, “Let’s Make a Deal,” the contestants were told to choose between a prize that was visible to them or another prize that was concealed behind a curtain. Often the visible prize was quite nice—perhaps a new stereo or TV set. The audience would always urge the contestant to go for the prize behind the curtain. But sometimes the unseen prize would turn out to be some impractical gag gift, like 10,000 boxes of toothpicks. The contestant would groan as he realized he just traded a beautiful prize for something useless. At other time, however, the prize behind the curtain would be something of far greater value, such as a new car. If the contestant chose the visible prize of a new stereo and forfeited the unseen new car, you could feel with him the awful sense that he made a very foolish decision. The difference between that game show and reality is this: God has promised that what is hidden behind the curtain is so much better than what you can see now that there is no comparison. “Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, and which have not entered the heart of man, all that God has prepared for those who love Him” (1 Co 2:9). The question is, will you believe God and live by faith in His promises? Will you give up temporal riches that you will lose anyway by investing them in His kingdom, with His promise that you will inherit eternal riches that you will never lose? It’s a sure-fire way to get rich—truly rich! It’s not that you can give enough to get into heaven. Heaven is God’s gift, freely available through the death of Christ who paid the penalty for the sins of all who will receive Him. If you think that any amount of good works will get you into heaven, you do not understand the gospel. You can get into heaven only by acknowledging that you are a sinner and trusting in Christ as your Savior from sin and judgment. But if you have received God’s gift of eternal life, you must live with God as your Master, not mammon. You need to ask yourself, “Am I living as a faithful steward, shrewdly using the resources God has entrusted to me to lay up treasures in heaven? Or, have I slipped into squandering God’s resources for my own purposes, losing sight of the fact that eternity is quickly approaching?” I urge you to learn the lesson from this scoundrel: Invest your Master’s money in that which will pay eternal dividends. (How to be Truly Rich) Ray Pritchard offers some practical thoughts on these two masters… It’s not wrong to own a bicycle, even a nice one, but it’s wrong if your bicycle owns you. It’s not wrong to own a big home, a summerhouse, a motorcycle, nice clothes, fine jewelry, an expensive sound system, a fishing boat, or any of the other marks of success in modern life. None of those things is inherently evil. You can enjoy them as long as you understand that everything you have belongs to God, and the things you have are only temporarily loaned to you by the Lord. It’s not wrong to own nice things, but you are in a dangerous place when those nice things own you. How do you know when something “owns” you? § When you need that “thing” as a major source of happiness or fulfillment in your life. § When you can’t imagine living without it. § When you get angry at the thought of losing it. § When that possession is the first thing you think about in the morning and the last thing you think about at night. § When you find yourself thinking about it in every spare moment. § When you are gripped with fear at the thought of losing it. § When you find yourself bringing it up in almost every conversation. § When you get upset if someone else touches it or comes near it. § When you plan your schedule around it. § When you enjoy that “thing” more than being with family and friends. § When others warn you about your attachment to your possessions. § When worries and concerns about your possessions crowd out the joy in your life. … When you know deep in your soul that something you own has started to own you, give it away. Find someone who needs it and give it to them. Don’t make a big deal about it. Just give it away. You will be free, and someone else will be blessed. And your heart will start to sing again. (Matthew 6:19-34 The Treasure Principle) ILLUSTRATION - The conflict between two masters is seen in the story of a middle-aged man who seriously courted two women at the same time. This is not a good idea at all. This man's hair had begun to turn gray. One of the women he was courting was young, and the other was well-advanced in years. The elder woman, ashamed to be courted by a man younger than herself, made a point, whenever her admirer visited her, to pull out some portion of his black hair. The younger woman, on the contrary, not wishing to become the wife of an old man, was equally zealous in removing every gray hair she could find on his head. Thus, it came to pass that between them both, he soon found that he had not a hair left on his head. The lesson here is if you court two women at the same time, you'll get scalped! In a nutshell the idea is you cannot serve or devote yourself to two different loves or lords. (Mattoon Treasures from the Scriptures) ILLUSTRATION - Money or mammon can get such a grip on a person's life that he will do almost anything to get it. For example, just when you thought advertisers had made use of every available location, another prime spot for advertising has been identified. Andrew Fischer recognized his forehead was going to waste. Fischer, a Web page designer, decided to auction off the empty space to the highest bidder on e-Bay. Amazingly, Fischer attracted a great deal of interest. The snoring remedy, SnoreStop, rented the blank space above his eyes. SnoreStop's CEO commended Fischer as "a man who clearly has a head for business in every sense of the word." Renting out his forehead as a billboard for 30 days earned Fischer $37,375. Beloved, don't get yourself into a position where you will do sinful, embarrassing, or foolish things just to make a buck. Don't let material things become your master. A castle can only have one king. Make sure that king is the Lord Jesus Christ. (Mattoon Treasures from the Scriptures) Contentment No one can serve two masters. —Matthew 6:24 A gripping photograph of an old woman sitting in a pile of garbage made me ponder. She was smiling as she ate a packet of food she had foraged from the garbage dump. It took so little for the woman to be satisfied. There is much talk about a struggling economy and the cost of living going higher. And many are getting increasingly anxious about their livelihood. Is it possible to heed our Lord Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 6:25, “Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on”? Our Lord was not saying that we don’t need to work, that we don’t need to eat, or that we shouldn’t bother about how we dress. He was warning against those things becoming so important that we become slaves of money instead of trusting Him. “No one can serve two masters,” He said (v.24). Hidden in the hollow of His blessed hand, Never foe can follow, never traitor stand; Not a surge of worry, not a shade of care, Not a blast of hurry touch the spirit there. —Havergal Money serves us well if we receive it as God’s provision. The“What Then?”Test Riches are not forever. —Proverbs 27:24 From the 16th century comes a story of a probing conversation between an ambitious young man and a devout Christian named St. Philip Neri. The youth said to him excitedly,“My parents finally agreed to my studying law!”Philip asked simply,“What then?” He replied,“Then I shall become a lawyer!“And then?” pursued Philip.“ Then I shall earn lots of money, buy a country house, get a carriage and horses, marry a beautiful woman, and lead a delightful life!”he responded. Again Philip asked,“And then?“Then . . .”The young man began reflecting for the first time on death and eternity. He realized that he had not acknowledged God in his plans and was building his life on temporal values. The point of this story is not that riches are wrong. But if they become our central goal, we are ignoring eternity and trusting money, not God. Jesus said it’s impossible to love both money and God (Matthew 6:24), and He warned,“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, . . . but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven”(vv.19-20). Shall the great Judge say, when my task is through, That my soul had gathered some riches too? Or shall at the last it be mine to find That all I had worked for I had left behind? —Anon. The true measure of our wealth is the treasure we have in heaven. The Money You cannot serve both God and money. Matthew 6:24 Early in my career while doing work that I saw as more of a mission than a job, another company offered me a position that would give a significant increase in pay. Our family could surely have benefited financially from such a move. There was one problem. I hadn’t been looking for another job because I loved my current role, which was growing into a calling. But the money . . . Lord, help us not to see the obstacles but to see what You are teaching us. I called my father, then in his seventies, and explained the situation. Though his once-sharp mind had been slowed by strokes and the strain of years, his answer was crisp and clear: “Don’t even think about the money. What would you do?” In an instant, my mind was made up. The money would have been my only reason for leaving the job I loved! Thanks, Dad. Never confuse temptation with opportunity. INSIGHT: One of the most remarkable aspects of today’s reading is the harmony our Lord maintains between a heavenly perspective and the practical issues of daily life. He uses examples in nature to show how our heavenly Father tenderly cares for animal and plant life. Since we are of far more value than they are, Christ counsels us to trust Him to care for us one day at a time (v. 34). GARBAGE IN THE SALAD- If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Galatians 5:25 - Our Christian walk should square with our Christian talk! Many who know the Lord as Savior are not ready for the life of full surrender and discipleship which is necessary for true joy, victory, and fruitfulness in the Christian life. They love to dabble in the world while still clinging to Christ for salvation. As a result they live defeated lives and their testimony is almost worth-less. It was Jesus Himself who declared, "No man can serve two masters" (Matt. 6:24). Paul says: "If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit!" After what Jesus has done to redeem our soul, can we do anything' less than obey this admonition if we truly love Him and wish to bring others to His side? Many years ago the Home Life Magazine published the following illustration: One day as a mother was scraping and peeling the vegetables for a salad, her daughter came to ask her permission to go to a worldly center of amusement. On the defensive, the daughter admitted it was a questionable place, but all the other girls were going, and they did not think it would actually hurt them. As the girl talked, suddenly she saw her mother pick up a handful of discarded vegetable scraps and throw them into the salad. In a startled voice she cried, "Mother, you are putting the garbage in the salad!" "Yes," her mother replied, "I know; but I thought that if you did not mind garbage in your mind and heart you certainly would not mind a little in your stomach!" Thoughtfully the girl removed the offending material from the salad, and with a brief, "Thank you," to her mother, she went to tell her friends she would not be going with them. Earthly pleasures vainly call me, I would be like Jesus; Nothing worldly shall enthrall me, I would be like Jesus! —J. Rowe You must separate yourself from the fellowship of the world, or the world will separate you from the fellowship of God! Luke 16:14 Now the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, were listening to all these things and were scoffing at Him. KJV Luke 16:14 And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided him. Now the Pharisees, who were lovers of money Luke 12:15; 20:47; Isaiah 56:11; Jer 6:13; 8:10; Ezek 22:25-29; 33:31; Mt 23:14 were scoffing at Him Luke 8:53; 23:35; Ps 35:15,16; 119:51; Isaiah 53:3; Jer 20:7,8; Heb 11:36; Heb 12:2,3 Luke 16 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Luke 16:14-18 Scoffing or Submitting? - Steven Cole Luke 16:14-15 Why False Teachers Mock the Truth, Part 1 - John MacArthur Luke 16:14-16 Why False Teachers Mock the Truth, Part 2 - John MacArthur Related Passages: Luke 15:2 Both the Pharisees and the scribes began to grumble, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.” Luke 8:53 And they began laughing at Him, knowing that she had died. Luke 23:35 And the people stood by, looking on. And even the rulers were sneering at Him, saying, “He saved others; let Him save Himself if this is the Christ of God, His Chosen One.” Psalm 2:4 He who sits in the heavens laughs, The Lord scoffs (ekmukterizo) at them. Psalm 22:7 All who see me sneer (ekmukterizo) at me; They separate with the lip, they wag the head, saying, The Worship of Mammon Evelyn De Morgan PHARISEES SCOFF AT JESUS' TEACHING ON MONEY AND MASTERS Now the Pharisees (pharisaios) , who were lovers of money (philarguros) were listening to all these things - They were listening not to learn from Jesus the Master Teacher, not to hear and heed the Word of God, but to ridicule Jesus, the Living Word and Lord of the Universe! The missed Jesus' warning call in Luke 14:35+ and failed to have ears to truly hear! Jesus had just described two masters, God and mammon. He had hit a nerve and pressed a "Hot Button" of the Pharisees! Since all money in Jesus' day was coinage with no paper money, one could say they were lovers of coins. The Pharisees were the prototypical hypocrite - they pretended to be lovers of God. In fact they were lovers of money, who worshiped at the altar of the god Mammon depicted above in gold with a firm grip on a gold money bag! One can see them scoffing at Jesus' "exclusive" statement that a person can serve only one master, either God or gold! These "gold-diggers" would definitely be offended by this dogmatic declaration! They were deceived and did not recognize that their love of mammon precluded their love of Messiah, and thus shut them out of the Kingdom of God. Beware of the eternal danger inherent in the love of money! This axiomatic truth begs the question - What/Who do you love? John was very clear in his first letter when he issued a strong command Do not love (present imperative with a negative = stop doing this or don't start loving) the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves (present tense - continually) the world, the love of the Father is not in him (ED: NOTE THE PRINCIPLE - LOVE OF THE WORLD PRECLUDES LOVE OF GOD, cf Lk 16:13). 16 For (term of explanation) all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. 17 The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does (present tense - speaking not of perfection but of the general direction) the will of God lives (abides) forever. (1 John 2:15-17+, cf James 4:4+) Jesus teaches that one can be "religious" and covetous. In fact, the most covetous men are sometimes the most religious, as were the Pharisees perhaps the most religious sect that ever lived. Paul has an apt description for these religious hypocrites... For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ, whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things. (Php 3:18-19+) Steven Cole introduces his message on Lk 16:14-18 with these comments - A “Frank and Ernest” cartoon shows the perpetual bumblers standing at the Pearly Gates. St. Peter has a scowl on his face. Ernie is smiling innocently, but he’s wearing a T-shirt that says, “Question Authority.” Frank is whispering to him, “If I were you, I’d change my shirt, Ernie.” (See cartoon from Bob Thaves, 10/4/95 - see another cartoon on Questioning Authority) Americans generally aren’t inclined toward submission to authority, even when that authority is God. Like Ernie, we could easily end up at heaven’s gates wearing a “Question Authority” T-shirt! But that’s not an advisable thing to do! Our text deals with the authority of Jesus, although the flow of thought is difficult to track. At first it seems like a disjointed bunch of verses. Lu 16:14 mentions the Pharisees’ scoffing at Jesus’ teaching about money, but then the rest of the verses don’t deal with the subject of money at all. The final verse of the section (Lu 16:18), on divorce, seems totally foreign to the context. Probably what we are looking at is a condensed version of what originally was a longer discourse. The transitions are missing, which makes it more difficult to pick up the flow of thought. But the overall theme has to do with the authority of Jesus and God’s Word versus the self-proclaimed authority of the Pharisees, who are rejecting Jesus and God’s Word. They would have protested that they kept the Law, but Jesus brings in the word about divorce to show them an example of how they only keep the Law when it fits with what they want to do. When it doesn’t fit, they invent ways to dodge it. Thus while the outcasts (Lu 15:1-note) are flocking into the kingdom, the Pharisees will be cast out, condemned by the very Law they proclaimed to follow. To paraphrase and give the flow of thought in Lu 16:14-18, Jesus is saying, “You Pharisees pride yourselves on keeping the Law, but God knows your hypocritical hearts. What you’re missing is that the old dispensation came to a climax in John’s ministry, since he introduced the good news of the coming of God’s king and kingdom. Ironically, while you are scoffing at Me and My kingdom, the very ones you despise—the poor and the notoriously sinful—are stampeding to get in. When I say that there has been a transition from the Law to the Gospel, I don’t mean that the Law is set aside. Rather, it has been fulfilled in Me. For example, I uphold the true intent of God’s Law regarding divorce and remarriage, but you Pharisees neatly set it aside with your liberal interpretations.” So the issue is Jesus’ authority versus the self-proclaimed authority of the Pharisees, who were scoffing at Him. The message for us is Since God’s kingdom comes in the person of Jesus, we must submit to His authority, not scoff at it. (Luke 16:14-18 Scoffing or Submitting?) (Bolding added) POSB - The religionists and others standing before Jesus could not believe what they were hearing. ⇒ Jesus was saying that a man’s energy and effort in seeking and looking after money was wrong, that a man could not seek money and at the same time keep his mind and thoughts upon God. It was impossible to concentrate on both. Jesus was demanding total allegiance, all of one’s mind and thoughts, energy and effort. Those who heard Jesus knew exactly what He was saying. ⇒ Jesus was saying that a man must not give himself to seek the comfort and ease and pleasures and possessions of the world. ⇒ Jesus was going against the philosophy of the world, a philosophy that had even permeated religious circles: that money and possessions are a sign of the blessings of God. (Borrow Luke Commentary) John MacArthur introduces his sermon on this section noting that "One of the real paradoxes of religion is this: that those who are the greatest enemies of God are those who are the most religious. One would assume that the more religious you are the closer to God you are; the more religious you are the more favorable to God you are; the more religious you are the more God would approve of you. But just the opposite is true. The archenemy of God is false religion. The most vile and violent enemies of God are those who reject His truth and substitute anything else. Those who will suffer the severest eternal punishment in hell are those who have rejected the truth and embraced a false religion. It is an ironic reality that those who are the recognized representatives of God are actually filled with the greatest contempt for God and will receive from God the severest judgment. Sad to say, but true, that the religious leaders of Israel fit into this category. The Pharisees were the religious leaders of Israel. They had the people. The temple practices were operated by the Sadducees but they were the religious liberals, and didn't have strong influence with the people. Basically they ran the power structure in Jerusalem, but the leaders of the people in the synagogues scattered throughout the nation of Israel were the Pharisees. It was their system that was basically propagated, believed and embraced by the populace. (They are Jesus') archenemies, the instruments of Satan. (Why False Teachers Mock the Truth, Part 1 ) It is notable that the Pharisees were of the same ilk as the false disciple Judas who even pilfered the money box (Jn 12:4-5, 6) and then betrayed Christ for 30 silver coins, ironically the price of a slave (Ex 21:32+)! Then one of the twelve, named Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests, and said, "What are you willing to give me to deliver Him up to you?" And they weighed out to him thirty pieces of silver (argurion). And from then on he began looking for a good opportunity to betray Him. (Mt 26:14-16)

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Cole says the Pharisees "gave a lot to the Temple, but their giving was done to impress men, but it didn’t impress God who looks on the heart. They were living for greed, not for God." He adds that 'You don’t have to be rich to fall into the trap of loving money. Many who lack money love it just as much, if not more, than those who possess a lot....Greed is often mentioned in the Bible in the same breath as sexual immorality (Eph 5:5; Col 3:5), and yet it is far more tolerated in the church than sexual sin is. We tolerate TV preachers who flaunt their wealth and luxurious lifestyles, until they fall into sexual sin. But we should be just as intolerant (how’s that for a politically incorrect word!) of greed as we are of sexual immorality. As Jesus warns (Lu 12:15), “Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions....If you struggle with greed (and most of us do), I’ll tell you a simple way to combat it: Give away everything except what you need to live on. That’s what Jesus told the rich young ruler (Lu 18:22). Giving is the antidote for greed. So any time you’re struggling with a greedy heart, sit down and write out a big check to the Lord’s work. Go through all the junk in your house and give it to the church missions yard sale. Try it and you’ll feel free inside! (Scoffing or Submitting?) Mattoon - Men's lives would be drastically changed if they would grasp the truth that God knows and sees everything (and that HE OWNS EVERYTHING)! (Treasures from the Scriptures)) We see this truth repeatedly in the Scriptures in 7 (cf 1 Ki 8:39, Acts 1:24) But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7) “As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a whole heart and a willing mind; for the LORD searches all hearts, and understands every intent of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will let you find Him; but if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever.(1 Chr 28:9) "For (THIS term of explanation EXPLAINS 2 Chr 16:8b) the eyes of the LORD move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His. You (KING ASA) have acted foolishly in this. Indeed, from now on you will surely have wars." (2 Chr 16:9) The eyes of the LORD are in every place, Watching the evil and the good. 11 Sheol and Abaddon lie open before the LORD, How much more the hearts of men! (Pr 15:3,11) And they prayed, and said, "Thou, Lord, who knowest the hearts of all men, show which one of these two Thou hast chosen (Acts 1:24) Paul alludes to the human motivation for external religion in Galatians 6:12 writing that... Those who desire to make a good showing in the flesh (THEY WANTED THE APPROVAL OF MEN) try to compel you to be circumcised (JUDAIZERS, WHO LIKE THE PHARISEES TAUGHT A WORKS BASED RIGHTEOUSNESS), simply so that they will not be persecuted for the cross of Christ

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Cole - Jesus represents a new phase in God’s program. What the Law and the Prophets proclaimed and promised found fulfillment in the person of Jesus Christ. John the Baptist was the transitional figure, with a foot in both eras. He was the messenger, prophesied by Malachi, who prepared the way of the Lord. Jesus is that Lord in human flesh, the long-promised Messiah, born of the seed of the woman, who came to crush the serpent’s head (Ge 3:15-note). But Jesus makes it clear that even though a transition has taken place, it did not nullify or set aside the Law. (Scoffing or Submitting? ) NET Note adds that "There is no verb in the Greek text; one must be supplied. Some translations (NASB, NIV) supply "proclaimed" based on the parallelism with the proclamation of the kingdom." The New Jerusalem paraphrase has "'Up to the time of John it was the Law and the Prophets; from then onwards, the kingdom of God has been preached, and everyone is forcing their way into it." Jesus is not saying that the Law was destroyed, for in Christ Himself the Law was fulfilled (Mt 5:17-note). In fact the very next passage Luke 16:17 makes it clear that Jesus was not saying the Law was canceled (cf Paul's assessment of the Law "holy...spiritual...good" = Ro 7:12, 14, 16-note). Jesus made a similar statement about the Law in His Sermon on the Mount “Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. 18 “For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished (PARALLELING Lk 16:17). 19 “Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 “For I say to you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. (Mt 5:17-20+) Until John; since that time - Luke uses similar markers of time "from this time: and "from now on" in Lk 1:48; 5:10; 12:52; 22:18, 69. Notice that here we find two time phrases (until, since that time - see importance of querying expressions of time) which mark "a shift in era, from law to kingdom." (NET Note) In context since that time refers to the time of John the Baptist's ("John the Immerser's") coming. One can look at the ministry of John the Baptist (who prepared the way for Messiah) as the "dividing line" between the Old Testament and the New Testament. To reiterate, this statement DOES NOT mean that the OT ceased with John the Baptist. In fact what Jesus is showing in a sense is the "seamless connection" between the OT and John's ministry which did herald the onset of a new era. Guzik on since that time - (the time ending with John ministry) the good news of a new covenant is presented, with an order that is different than the law yet it fulfills the law. (Luke 16)

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Cole - Jesus refers to these as “forcing” their way into the kingdom. This is a difficult phrase, in that the Greek verb can be either middle or passive voice. If it is passive, it could be translated, “Everyone is urged insistently into it” (Darrell Bock, Luke [Baker], 2:1349-1354, argues for this view). But most commentators argue for the middle voice, which views the subject as participating in the results of the action. Here it means that each person takes the initiative to press his way into the kingdom. I believe that contextually this is the better view. “Everyone” does not refer to every single person in Israel, but rather to the great multitude of sinners who were flocking to hear Jesus and respond to His message of grace (Lu 15:1), in contrast to the few Pharisees who were responding. Jesus is saying to the Pharisees, “While you guys sit around scoffing, the very people whom you despise are stampeding into the kingdom!” The phrase, “forcing his way into it,” implies that salvation requires strong desire, firm resolution, and earnest effort and focus to obtain it (Jonathan Edwards develops these points in his sermon, “Pressing into the Kingdom of God”). You must not be indifferent and passive when the salvation of your soul is at stake! If you are not saved, nothing in life should matter to you more than how you can get saved. You won’t accidentally get saved while you devote yourself to everything else under the sun, but never devote any effort to understanding spiritual matters. While we are not saved by our efforts, but only through faith in the blood of Jesus, the mark of a person who has come to genuine saving faith is a subsequent life of increasing submission to the Lord Jesus Christ. (Scoffing or Submitting?) (Bolding added) Earlier Jesus had issued a command to strive in the context of salvation and some see it as a parallel to Lk 16:16 which describes everyone forcing their way into the Kingdom of God. Luke 13:24 (see commentary) “Strive to enter through the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able.

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Cole - The second sin (of the Pharisees) that Jesus confronts the Pharisees with was divorce. God’s Word states that He hates divorce (Mal 2:16-note). He declared from the beginning that a man and his wife become one flesh, implying a lifelong union. But because of the hardness of men’s hearts, God permitted (not mandated) divorce (Dt 24:1-4 - see What does Deuteronomy 24 teach about divorce?). Many of the Pharisees, however, had taken God’s permission for divorce in difficult situations and turned it into virtual approval for divorce for almost any reason. There were two main Pharisaic schools. Rabbi Shammai’s school held that divorce was allowable only on the grounds of immorality. Rabbi Hillel’s school allowed divorce for many reasons, including something as trivial as a wife burning the meal. Given the hardness of men’s hearts, it is not surprising that Hillel’s school was quite popular! But Jesus clearly sided with Shammai’s school. (Scoffing or Submitting?) In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus declared “It was said, ‘WHOEVER SENDS HIS WIFE AWAY (apoluo), LET HIM GIVE HER A CERTIFICATE OF DIVORCE’ (Jesus is quoting Dt 24:1); 32 but I say to you that everyone who divorces (apoluo) his wife, except for the reason of unchastity (porneia), makes her commit adultery (moicheuo); and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery (moicheuo). (Mt 5:31-32-note) Everyone who divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery - Bock emphasizes that "This saying in Luke is not designed to be a detailed presentation of Jesus’ view of divorce; it merely sets out the most basic standard as an illustration of the moral tone Jesus desires. More complete biblical statements on divorce come in Deuteronomy 24:1–4, Malachi 2:16, Matthew 5:30–32, 19:1–12, Mark 10:1–12 and 1 Corinthians 7:8–16. Jesus’ point here is that he sees the marriage commitment as intended to be permanent." Divorces (630)(apoluo from apó = marker of dissociation, implying a rupture from a former association, separation + luo = loose) means to dismiss or send away from. So the idea of divorce is to let a wife go free or release her (Mt 5:31, 32; 19:3; husband in Mk 10:12). Apoluo is never used in the marriage context with the meaning of just to separate (as the term is commonly used today) or to break an engagement, but always means full fledged divorce. Apoluo in Luke and Acts - Lk. 2:29; Lk. 6:37; Lk. 8:38; Lk. 9:12; Lk. 13:12; Lk. 14:4; Lk. 16:18; Lk. 23:16; Lk. 23:17; Lk. 23:18; Lk. 23:20; Lk. 23:22; Lk. 23:25; Jn. 18:39; Jn. 19:10; Jn. 19:12; Acts 3:13; Acts 4:21; Acts 4:23; Acts 5:40; Acts 13:3; Acts 15:30; Acts 15:33; Acts 16:35; Acts 16:36; Acts 17:9; Acts 19:41; Acts 23:22; Acts 26:32; Acts 28:18; Acts 28:25; Commits adultery (3431)(moicheuo from moichós = an adulterer) means to be unfaithful to one's marriage vows speaking of sexual intercourse with someone who is married to another. In some uses moicheuo can also be a figure of speech (Re 2:22) as in the Old Testament where "adultery" described unfaithfulness to God especially through the practice of idolatry (which in the NT equates with greed and in essence is anything that comes between you and God). Commits adultery is in the present tense in both of the uses in Lk 16:18. Moicheuo - 16x in 13v - Matt. 5:27; Matt. 5:28; Matt. 5:32; Matt. 19:18; Mk. 10:12; Mk. 10:19; Lk. 16:18; Lk. 18:20; Jn. 8:4; Rom. 2:22; Rom. 13:9; Jas. 2:11; Rev. 2:22 Bob

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Cole - Jesus makes it plain that there are two eternal destinies, heaven and hell. Heaven is pictured in the parable in the common Jewish symbolism as a Messianic banquet (Lu 13:28-29). At a banquet in that culture, the guests reclined at the table in such a manner that you could lean back upon the breast of the one near you to engage in intimate conversation. Lazarus is pictured at the banquet next to Abraham, the father of the faith, enjoying rest, comfort, and fellowship, delivered from the trials he had known in this life. While we won’t be eating perpetually throughout eternity (although that might be heaven for some!), that is the picture here to show us that it will be a place of eternal rest and enjoyment. Whatever heaven is like, you can be sure that it will not be boring! The idea of sitting on a cloud strumming a harp forever and ever doesn’t sound very exciting! But Paul says that we will judge angels (1Co 6:3). While we don’t know all that God has prepared for those who love Him, we do know that He will give us meaningful and fulfilling activity. I believe that God has given us the most enjoyable activities on this earth as a little foretaste of what heaven will be like. We will be free from all sin and the devastating consequences of sin, both our own sins and the sins of others against us. God Himself will dwell among us and there will be no mourning or crying or pain (Rev 21:3-4). Heaven will be infinitely better than the best life that you can imagine on this fallen earth! (A Great Chasm Fixed Luke 16:19-31) Ray

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Cole - The basis of a fixed destiny: Repentance and faith in the testimony of God’s Word. A superficial reading of the story might lead you to conclude that a person who is rich and comfortable in this life goes to hell, while a person who is poor and miserable goes to heaven, to even things out. But that would contradict other Scriptures, and even in the story itself, the wealthy Abraham is in heaven. The rich man’s problem was not that he was rich, but that he did not repent of his sin of squandering his riches on himself and begin to use them as God would have him to do, to make friends for eternity. The rich man knew that his brothers needed to do what he had not done, namely, to repent and to be persuaded to believe the message of Moses and the Prophets (= Scripture; Lu 16:30-31). The apostle Paul summarized his preaching as “solemnly testifying both to Jews and Greeks of repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ” (Ac 20:21). Repentance and faith are two sides of the same coin. You cannot have one without the other. Repentance is a change of mind that results in a turning of the whole person from sin to God. Saving faith is to trust the testimony that God has borne concerning His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, who offered Himself as the penalty for our sins. A person who has truly believed in Christ as Savior will live a life of repentance and growth in godliness. The fact that this rich man never showed concern for Lazarus, even though he had to walk past him every day, is ample evidence that his faith was an empty profession. He had never repented of his selfishness. The rich man may have protested: “How was I to know that I should take care of this poor man at my gate?” (1). God’s Word is a sufficient witness to lead a person to repentance. When the rich man asks Abraham to send Lazarus to warn his brothers, Abraham replies that they have what they need to repent, namely, Moses and the Prophets. But the rich man protests, saying in effect, “That’s not enough. They need something more spectacular, something miraculous. Send them a man risen from the dead to preach to them and then they will repent.” But Abraham insists that Scripture is a sufficient witness. If they won’t believe Scripture, they won’t believe if someone rises from the dead. Sometimes when you’re witnessing, the person will say, “If I could just see a miracle, I’d believe.” That is just a smokescreen. The Bible bears witness of many miracles, first and foremost the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. There is sufficient evidence to believe the apostolic witness of the resurrection. If a person won’t read and believe the Bible, then he has a deeper problem, namely, a moral problem. (2). Repentance is a moral issue, not an intellectual one. The rich man had known what God’s Word says about concern for the poor and needy. But he chose to ignore this hurting man on his doorstep. In effect, he is blaming God for not giving him sufficient witness: “If You had just sent someone from the dead to warn me, I wouldn’t be in this place!” But the fact is, he did not want to inconvenience his comfortable lifestyle in order to care about this poor man. Invariably, when you’re sharing the gospel and a person raises an intellectual problem, it is not the true problem. One way I deal with this is to ask the person, “Are you saying that if I can provide a reasonable answer to that problem, you will repent of your sins and trust in Christ as Savior and Lord?” The answer almost always is, “Well, there are other issues, too.” I’ll say, “Great, make me a list and I’ll see if I can find reasonable answers. Then will you become a Christian?” Repentance isn’t the result of having all your intellectual questions answered. Repentance and faith in Christ hinge on the recognition that you are a sinner and that you need a Savior. We need to make it clear to people that if they die without repenting of their sins and trusting in Christ, they are fixing their eternal destiny in hell, not in heaven. Thus, there are two and only two eternal destinies. The basis for a person’s eternal destiny is fixed by his choices in this life. 3. It is possible to be deceived about our eternal destiny by present outward appearances. One key to understanding this parable is Lu 16:15, “that which is highly esteemed among men is detestable in the sight of God.” In the eyes of men, the rich man was successful and Lazarus was a loser. The rich man lived well and enjoyed the finest things in life. Lazarus was a miserable wretch, with the dogs licking his sores. But the irony is, Lazarus was eternally rich and the rich man was eternally bankrupt. It is interesting that the rich man is left unnamed (sometimes he is called “Dives,” but that is the Latin word for rich man). In this world, he was probably well-known, renowned for his wealth like the Kennedy family or Bill Gates. But nobody would have known the poor man’s name, much less cared about it. But in God’s sight, the rich man is left unnamed and the poor beggar is named. Lazarus means, “God has helped,” and truly God had helped him because he had come to salvation. The point is, it’s easy to be deceived by present outward appearances into thinking that you or someone else is well-off because of career success. But if you are not rich before God, laying up eternal riches in heaven, you are really bankrupt in the worst sense of the word. Don’t be deceived into pursuing financial success at the expense of your soul! Those who believe God’s Word live in light of eternity as stewards who will give account to God, using the wealth God provides to make friends for eternity. Conclusion A Sunday school teacher told his class the story of the rich man and Lazarus and then asked, “Now, which would you rather be, boys—the rich man or Lazarus?” One boy replied, “I’d like to be the rich man while I’m living and Lazarus when I die.” Wouldn’t we all! But, of course, it doesn’t work that way. You can’t live for selfish pleasure in this life, disobeying God’s Word, and expect to live with God in heaven when you die. But, the good news is, when you repent of your sins and live in obedience to Jesus Christ, you find great pleasure, both for time and eternity, no matter what your earthly circumstances. As Jesus said, “Whoever wishes to save his life shall lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he is the one who will save it” (Lu 9:25). Two very different destinies lie before you, with a great chasm fixed between them. I urge you, choose life by choosing to follow Jesus Christ. Discussion Questions Have we reacted against hellfire preachers by under-emphasizing the terrors of hell? How would you refute biblically: Universalism? Annihilationism? Purgatory? How would you answer a person who said, “I think that God is cruel if He torments people for eternity in hell”? A person might argue that Jesus is teaching here that we are saved by our good deeds. How would you refute this biblically? What are the implications for witnessing of the fact that repentance is a moral issue, not an intellectual one? Luke 16:19-31 A Great Chasm Fixed Brian Bill on Playing With Fire (from his sermonLuke 16:19-31 What Happens When You Die?) A recent poll reveals that 89% of Americans believe in Heaven while 73% believe in Hell. When asked where they think they will go when they die, 3 out of 4 think they will go to Heaven while only 2% believe they will end up in Hell. Why is it that most of us think we’ll go to Heaven when we die? The rich man was surprised and shocked that he ended up in a place of torment. I’m afraid that he won’t be alone. Let me summarize what we can learn about the afterlife from Luke 16. 1. The dead are still alive. Both Lazarus and the rich man survived their own funerals. We think this is the land of the living but it’s really not. This is the land of the dying. When we die, we wake up to spend eternity in either Heaven or Hell. 2. The dead retain their personalities and their essential character. Lazarus is still Lazarus and the rich man is still the rich man. Even in Hell the rich man could see, hear, feel, recognize, remember, speak, reflect, plead, suffer, and think ahead. There was only one thing he couldn’t do. He couldn’t get out. 3. Death marks the final separation between the saved and the lost. Once in Heaven, always in Heaven; once in Hell, always in Hell. No one can pass from one place to another. 4. Hell is a place of personal suffering. Three times Jesus mentions the torment, suffering, and agony of the rich man. Hell is where God’s wrath is poured out. The Bible speaks of a fire that never burns out, a place where the worm does not die, a place of darkness and gloom where there is continual weeping and gnashing of teeth. That reminds me of the evangelist who was exhorting people to flee from the wrath to come. “I warn you,” he thundered, “that there will be weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth!” Suddenly an old woman in the gallery stood up and said, “Sir,” she shouted, “I have no teeth!” To which he replied, “Madam, teeth will be provided!” 5. Those in Hell cry out for help that will never come. Contrary to popular opinion, Hell is not a place of one big long party with all of your buddies. None of the rich man’s “prayers” were answered nor could they be. The rich man who is still in Hell today knows at least three things: There is no way out for him. People can avoid Hell if they put their faith in Jesus. Someone needs to warn people about the danger they are in. If what I have just said is true, then you must do whatever it takes to make sure you go to Heaven and you must make sure at all costs that you do not go to Hell. I should go to Hell because that is where I belong. But, I am going to Heaven because Jesus Christ died on a cross for me. He took my punishment so that I could go free. Friend, God has done everything necessary for you go to Heaven. His creation reflects His handiwork. He’s given you the Bible, Christian friends, and multiple opportunities to get on the road to Heaven. God has posted an enormous stop sign on the road to Hell and the sign is in the shape of a cross. If the road to Hell is paved with good intentions, the road to Heaven is paved with the blood of Christ. Let me say it clearly. You don’t have to go to Hell. God has provided a way of escape for you. But even God’s way of escape will do you no good unless you reach out and take it. If you ignore Jesus, there is no hope for you. God doesn’t have a Plan B for those who reject his Son. The Road to Heaven Illustrated In a recent interview with Fidel Castro, he was asked if he spends time pondering his own death. Here’s how he answered that question: “I have never thought much about that because I don’t attach much importance to what happens after I die” (WORLD, 3/31/01). This sounds exactly like something the rich man would have said before he died. In an effort to be as clear as I possibly can be, I want to conclude this morning by walking you through some action steps from Luke 16. I’ve always liked new inventions. I read about a new product recently that sounds fascinating. The LifeClock ticks off your remaining time on earth in hours, minutes, seconds -- and even tenths of seconds. All you have to do is enter in some data and the clock begins the countdown. I went on their web site this week and found out that based on my age and lifestyle, I’m going to live until I’m 84! I don’t think this invention will be a best-seller because most of us don’t want to be reminded of how much time we have left. It’s even hard for us to say the word, “death” or “dead.” Have you ever noticed that instead we use phrases like “passed away,” “departed,” “no longer with us,” or “passed on”? Death is an ugly word, isn’t it? I know some of you have experienced death recently. Perhaps someone close to you has died and you’re still reeling from the impact. Like an unwelcome intruder, death has made a rude entrance into your family or friendships. I hurt with you this morning -- and God certainly feels your pain. The problem with death is that it’s almost always unexpected. Even when a doctor says that someone is about to die, death still has a way of ambushing us. I’ve been in a few hospital rooms when someone has died -- and it’s always abrupt, even when a family is somewhat prepared for it. Death was certainly a surprise for those 25 people who were dancing at a wedding reception in Jerusalem when the floor suddenly gave way and they all died. Job 18:14 refers to death as the “king of terrors.” I don’t think the rich man in our story thought much about dying. He was too busy with life, too caught up in this world to even think about the next one. Lazarus, on the other hand, probably thought about death every day. He wondered if he would even wake up the next morning. The clock was ticking for both of them. Even though only one of them was cognizant of the seconds slipping away, they both were moving closer to eternity each day. I’ve been to quite a few funerals in my life – in fact, I’m doing one this afternoon. It might surprise you to know that the Bible says that it’s actually a good thing to go to a funeral. Ecclesiastes 7:2 says, “It’s better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting, for death is the destiny of every man; the living should take this to heart.” In other words, it’s more profitable to go to a funeral than to go to a party. At least when we’re at a funeral, we’re forced to think about what will happen to us when we die. If the truth were known, many of us unconsciously think that we can beat the odds. This verse is teaching that it’s better to read the Obituary section of the paper than it is to read the Sports page. God says that it’s more profitable to be reminded of death’s reality than it is to just fill our lives with entertainment. I don’t know about you, but I now read the Obituary page. My dad always says that he reads it to see if his picture is there! I sometimes read about people to see what they accomplished in life. Now that I’m middle aged, I always look to see how old people are when they died. There are a lot of people on this page who were over the age of 70 when they died. Others died in the prime of their life. Man, I wonder if they were ready to go... As I’ve talked to people, I’ve discovered that most of us have different ideas -- or different plans we’re following that we think will get us to Heaven. The first plan is the Good Works plan. If you just do a lot of good things, if you help enough people, then God will let you into Heaven, right? The problem with this approach is that it’s never good enough. No matter how hard you try, you’re still going to come up short. It’s important to try to live a good life, but God says that it’s not enough. Even when we try to do good, Isaiah 64:6 says, “all our righteous acts are like filthy rags.” Being good is never good enough. The other plan is called the “Why Worry?” plan. I know that some of you believe that everyone goes to Heaven when they die. I’ve heard it at almost every funeral I’ve been to. It goes something like this: “Well, this was too bad but at least we know she’s in a better place now.” I certainly understand the sentiment and can appreciate the grief that people experience, but this statement reveals an underlying belief that many of us have -- that when people die, they just go to Heaven. Let me ask you a question: how do you know someone goes to Heaven when they die? Jesus made it very clear that there is a place called Heaven and a place called Hell. And, most people avoid the narrow road that leads to Heaven. Matthew 7:13-14: “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” Many are on the road that leads to destruction. After we die we’ll have to give an account for our life. When we stand before God, there will be no secrets. Everything will be made known. Those who have lived only for themselves, and had no room for God in their life will be like the rich man who is in torment in Hell. Only those who put their faith and trust in Jesus Christ will go to Heaven when they die. A payment has to be made for sin. A sentence must be carried out. Because of our sins we all deserve to go to Hell. But, Jesus died in our place on the Cross. He died to bridge the gap between a holy God and sinful people. Those who admit their sinfulness and transfer their trust to Christ by receiving Him into their life, will go to Heaven. Those who do not, will spend eternity in torment. The Bible is clear. Hebrews 9:27 says that, “…Man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment.” There’s no getting around the fact that judgment follows death. Friends, the “Why Worry?” plan and the “Good Works” plan are both fraught with problems. There will be a time of judgment [hold up gavel]. And because of this, some of you do need to worry because your good works aren’t good enough. The rich man was not only suffering the pain of Hell, he was devastated by the fact that his family members were going to end up in the same place. He wanted the former beggar to go and warn his loved ones about the reality of Hell. What the Bible is saying is that there are no free rides to Heaven. You don’t get there automatically or by cashing in your frequent flyer miles. It’s not easy to get into Heaven because you need to have the right paperwork. When we first went to Mexico five years ago we had to have our passports or a valid birth certificate to cross the border. We needed proof of our nationality and of our birth. In order to get into heaven, we need a certificate that declares that we’ve been born…again. Jesus has already filled out the paperwork when He died on the cross as payment for your sins. In order to have your certificate validated you need to receive what Jesus has done on your behalf. Don’t be like the family of this rich man. They were busy with their lives and their own concerns. They were too wound up to slow down and listen to what God has to say in the Bible. They were too preoccupied to receive their birth certificate to Heaven. When Beethoven was on his deathbed, he shook his fist at Heaven and reportedly said, “I need more time. I need more time!” Friend, when it’s time to go, it’s time to go. Let me ask you a personal question. What will happen to you when you die? You only have two options -- if you have a second birth, you’ll go to Heaven. If you don’t, you’ll have to face the judgment of God, and you’ll then spend eternity in Hell. There’s no halfway house. No second chances. If you don’t take steps in this life to get ready to die, it will be too late once you die. I remember seeing a tract once with the title, “What you have to do to go to Hell.” When you open it up, the inside was totally blank. You don’t have to do anything to go to Hell…just continue as you are. What must I do to go to Heaven? Acts 16:31 is clear: “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved.” Do nothing and be lost. Trust Christ and be saved. Once you receive your birth certificate, your name will be recorded in God’s book of life. Then, you can await that glorious day when your name will be called -- and you’ll cross the border to Heaven. In the Twinkling of an Eye – Jeff Williams Three weeks ago I was invited to go to the hospital and talk to a man who wanted to get himself ready to die. He had been fighting some serious health problems and he knew that he was at the end of his life. He wanted to get right with God before it was too late. As I sat next to him I shared the story of the two thieves on the cross. When they were first hung on the cross the Bible says that they both were hurling insults and blasphemies at Jesus. As the day went on however, one of them stopped and began to talk to Jesus. He recognized that Jesus had done nothing wrong and he wanted Jesus to remember him when He came into His kingdom. Jesus then spoke words of grace and love to this criminal when he tenderly replied, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.” I told my friend that it didn’t matter how he had been living. It didn’t matter how many times he had been to church. What mattered was what he was going to do with Jesus. I then explained how I became a Christian and then walked him through what he needed to do if he wanted to be cross the border into heaven. With tears in his eyes he prayed and asked Jesus to save him from his sins as he put his faith and trust in Him for salvation. By the time he was done, we were both crying. I’ll never forget what happened next. After I shared some Scripture with him to let him know that he was now ready to die and gave him assurance that he would be in Heaven, I went out into the hallway to talk to his daughter. While we were talking a lullaby starting playing over the hospital sound system. They do that whenever a baby is born to let everyone know that a new life has come into the world. I turned to this man’s daughter and said, “They’re playing that song for your dad in celebration of his new birth!” My friend died early Thursday morning and I can tell you with full assurance today that he’s now in heaven with Abraham and Lazarus, worshipping the one who alone is worthy of our praise. What Will Happen When You Die? SOME LAST WORDS FROM SAINTS AND SINNERS Borrow Lockyer's book - Last words of saints and sinners - THIS IS A FASCINATING BOOK TO READ! ALTAMONT, renowned writer and agnostic of a past century, was an ingenious and accomplished infidel whose fascinating brilliance captivated the youth of his time and destroyed any religious faith they had. At his end, his smitten conscience cried: "It is fit Thou shouldst thus strike this murderer to the heart. As for a Deity, nothing less than an Almighty could inflict what I now feel. Remorse for the past throws my thoughts on the future; worse dread of the future strikes them back on the past. I turn and turn, and find no ray. Didst Thou fell half the mountain that is on me, Thou wouldst struggle with the martyr for his stake, and bless heaven for the flame that is not an ever-lasting flame, that is not an unquenchable fire. My principles have poisoned my friends; my extravagance has beggared my boy; my unkindness has murdered my wife!; And is there an-other hell? Thou blasphemed yet indulgent God, hell is a refuge if it hide me from Thy frown."' ANTITHEUS, another infidel whose last words were so laden with remorse and despair, gave this despairing, final cry: "You must not let me die! I dare not die! Oh, doctor, save me if you can! My mind is full of horror, and I am incapable of preparing for death. As I was lying sleepless in my bed this night, the apparition of my friend presented itself before me, and unfolding the curtain of my bed, stood at my feet looking earnestly upon me for a considerable space of time. My heart sank within me, for his face was ghastly, full of horror, with an expression of such anguish as I can never describe. His eyes were fixed upon me, and at length, with a mournful motion of his head, `Alas! Alas!' he cried, 'we are in a fatal error,' and taking hold of the curtain with his hand shook them violently and disappeared. This, I protest to you, I both saw and heard. And look! Where the print of his hand is left is blood upon the curtains." EDWARD GIBBON (1737-1794), the noted English historian whose Decline And Fall Of The Roman Empire remains the greatest history of all times, was unfortunately another infidel who died without the consolations of the Gospel. What a bleak end was his as he said to those at his bedside: "This day may be my last. I will agree that the immortality of the soul is at times a very comfortable doctrine. All this is now lost, finally, irrevocably lost. All is dark and doubtful." THOMAS HOBBES (1588-1674), was a noted English political philosopher whose most famous work was Leviathan. This cultured, clever skeptic corrupted many of the great men of his time. But what regret was his at the end of the road! What hopelessness permeated his last word: "If I had the whole world, I would give it to live one day. I shall be glad to find a hole to creep out of the world at. About to take a leap in the dark!" CAPTAIN JOHN LEE, who was executed for forgery, was an-other who sought to do away with God, yet in death longed for the assurance and hope of faith: "I leave to the world this mournful memento, that however much a man may be favored by personal qualifications or distinguished mental endowments, genius will be useless, and abilities avail little, unless accompanied by religion and at-tended by virtue. Oh, that I had possession of the meanest place in heaven, and could but creep into one corner of it." OLIVER, a doctor of philosophy, lived the life of an infidel but shortly before his death repented and turned to the Saviour. His final word was one of deep regret: "Would that I could undo the mischief I have done! I was more ardent to poison men with infidel principles than any Christian is to spread the doctrines of Christ." (ED: ARE YOU AS CONVICTED AS I AM?) THOMAS PAINE, the renowned American author and infidel, exerted considerable influence against belief in God and in the Scriptures. He came to his last hour in 1809, a most disillusioned and unhappy man. During his final moments on earth he said: "I would give worlds, if I had them, that Age of Reason had not been published. 0 Lord, help me! Christ, help me! 0 God what have I done to suffer so much? But there is no God! But if there should be, what will become of me hereafter? Stay with me, for God's sake! Send even a child to stay with me, for it is hell to be alone. If ever the devil had an agent, I have been that one." WILLIAM POPE, who died in 1797, is said to have been the leader of a company of infidels who ridiculed everything religious. One of their exercises was to kick the Bible about the floor or tear it up. Friends who were present in his death-chamber spoke of it as a scene of terror as he died crying: "I have no contrition. I cannot repent. God will damn me. I know the day of grace is past . . . You see one who is damned forever . . . Oh, Eternity! Eternity! . . . Nothing for me but hell. Come, eternal torments . . . I hate everything God has made, only I have no hatred for the devil — I wish to be with him (ED: THERE IS NO PARTY WITH THE DEVIL, NO SENSE OF COMPANIONSHIP! HE IS AS DECEIVED IN DEATH AS HE WAS IN LIFE!). I long to be in hell. Do you not see? Do you not see him? He is coming for me." ANOTHER VERSION ON WILLIAM POPE: William Pope was a member of the Methodist Church in England for most of his life. He made a pretense of knowing Christ and served in many capacities. Meanwhile, his wife died a genuine believer. Soon, however, he began to drift from Christ. He had companions who believed in the redemption of demons. He began going with them to a house of prostitution. In time he became a drunkard. He admired the skeptic Thomas Paine, and on Sundays he and his friends assembled to confirm one another in their infidelity. They amused themselves by throwing the Bible on the floor and kicking it around. Eventually Pope contracted tuberculosis. Someone visited him and told him of the great Redeemer. He told Pope he could be saved from being punished for his sins. But Pope replied, “I have no contrition; I cannot repent. God will damn me! I know the day of grace is lost. God has said to such as me, ‘I will laugh at your calamity, and mock when your fear cometh.’ I have denied Him; my heart is hardened.” Then he cried, “Oh, the hell, the pain I feel! I have chosen my way. I have done the horrible damnable deed: I have crucified the Son of God afresh; I have counted the blood of the covenant an unholy thing! Oh that wicked and horrible thing of blaspheming the Holy Spirit, which I know that I have committed; I want nothing but hell! Come, oh devil and take me!” (recounted in Voices from the Edge of Eternity, John Myers, ed. [Old Tappan, N.J.: Spire, 1972], pp. 147–49) He spent most of his life in the church, but his end was infinitely worse than his beginning. Every man and woman has the same choice. You can abide in the vine and receive all of God’s blessings, or you can be burned. It doesn’t seem like a difficult choice, does it? Yet millions of people resist God’s gift of salvation, preferring the superficial relationship of the false branch. (

Lucas 16

Cole - The basis for a person’s eternal destiny is fixed in the present life. The fact of a fixed destiny: A great chasm fixed (Lk 16:26). Abraham says to the rich man in hell that there is a great chasm fixed between those in heaven and those in hell, so that none can cross from one side to the other. Not only does this mean that there is no Purgatory (See What does the Bible say about Purgatory?), it also means that there is no second chance after death. Heb 9:27-note states, “It is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment.” (ED: THIS VERSE ALSO RULES OUT THE POPULAR TEACHING OF REINCARNATION) As someone has said, there are no unbelievers in hell. They just believed too late! In the parable, Lazarus died and the angels carried him to heaven. The rich man died, was buried, and was in hell in the flames. Since it was a parable, designed to illustrate a central truth, Jesus pictures the final outcome without spelling out details about future resurrections of the body. Paul says (2Cor 5:8-note) that for believers, to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. There is no such thing as “soul sleep” while we wait for the resurrection of our bodies at His second coming. The souls of unbelievers go immediately at death into a place of conscious torment to await the Great White Throne judgment when their bodies are raised (John 5:29, cf Da 12:2-note) and thrown into the Lake of Fire (Rev 20:11-15-note). Before death, a person can move from spiritual death to eternal life. But once a person dies, his eternal destiny is fixed. He goes either to heaven or to hell and there is no crossing over from one place to the other after that. There is a great chasm fixed. (Luke 16:19-31 A Great Chasm Fixed) (Bolding added) What Is Hell Like? Rod Mattoon 1. Hell Is a Place of Consciousness - People in Hell are very aware of what is happening to them. Luke 16:23, 24. EDITORIAL COMMENT - MATTHEW 5:29— Is hell the grave or a place of conscious torment? PROBLEM: Jesus refers here to the “body” being “cast into hell,” and the psalmist speaks of “bones” being “scattered at the mouth of hell [sheol]” (Ps. 141:7KJV). Jacob talked about his “gray hairs” being brought down to hell (Ge 42:38KJV; cf. Ge 44:29, 31). However, Jesus referred to hell as a place where the soul goes after one dies and is in conscious torment (Luke 16:22–23). Is “hell” just the grave, as the Jehovah’s Witnesses and some other cults claim? SOLUTION: The Hebrew word translated “hell” (sheol) is also translated “grave” or “pit.” It simply means “unseen world,” and can refer either to the grave, where the body is unseen after burial, or to the spirit world, which is invisible to mortal eyes. In the OT, sheol often means grave, as indicated by the fact that it is a place where “bones” (Ps. 141:7) and “gray hairs” (Ge 42:38) go at death. Even the resurrection of Jesus’ body is said to be from “hell” (i.e., the grave) where it did not see corruption (Acts 2:30–31). While there may be some allusions to “hell” as a spirit world in the OT (cf. Pr. 9:18; Isa. 14:9), “hell” (Gk., hades) is clearly described as a place of departed spirits (souls) in the NT. Angels are there and they have no bodies (2 Peter 2:4). Unrepentant human beings are in conscious torment there after they die and their bodies are buried (Luke 16:22–25). In the end those in hell will be cast into the lake of fire with the devil where they will be “tormented day and night forever” (Rev. 20:10, 14–15). Jesus spoke many times of hell as a place of conscious and eternal suffering (cf. Matt. 10:28; 11:23; 18:9; 23:15; Mark 9:43, 45, 47; Luke 12:5; 16:23). (Norman Geisler - When Critics Ask) 2. Hell Is a Place of Torment and No Rest or Peace at All - There will be no parties in Hell. It will not be fun at all. Luke 16:23, 28, Rev 14:11, Rev 20:10 3. Hell Is a Place of Darkness - Matthew 8:12, 22:13, 25:30; Jude 1:13 EDITORIAL COMMENT - MATTHEW 8:12—Is hell a place of darkness, or is there light there? PROBLEM: Jesus described hell as a place of “outer darkness” (Matt. 8:12; cf. 22:13 and 25:30). By contrast, the Bible says hell is a place of “fire” (Rev. 20:14) and “unquenchable flames” (Mark 9:48-note). But, fire and flames give off light. How can hell be utterly dark when there is light there? SOLUTION: Both “fire” and “darkness” are powerful figures of speech which appropriately describe the unthinkable reality of hell. It is like fire because it is a place of destruction and torment. Yet, it is like outer darkness because people are lost there forever. While hell is a literal place, not every description of it should be taken literally. Some powerful figures of speech are used to portray this literal place. Its horrible reality, wherein body and soul will suffer forever, goes far beyond any mere figure of speech that may be used to describe it. But, it is a serious mistake to take a figure of speech literally. By doing so, one can conclude that God has feathers, since He is described as having wings (Ps. 91:4)! There are other figures of speech used to describe the eternal destiny of the lost that, if taken literally, contradict each other. For example, hell is depicted as an eternal garbage dump (Mark 9:43–48), which has a bottom. But, it is also portrayed as a bottomless pit (Rev. 20:3). Each is a vivid depiction of a place of everlasting punishment. (Norman Geisler - When Critics Ask) COMMENT: Outer darkness means (1) a place removed and (2) a place that is dark. This is a frightening picture! Some assume that darkness is a metaphor for the utter isolation and loneliness of hell. Whether metaphor or literal reality, the use of darkness to describe hell conveys a powerful truth. If you have ever been in a large cavern when the guide turned off the lights, you have a sense of the total isolation that complete darkness brings. A person who is utterly alone needs companionship more than anything else. Mental health professionals call this sense of abandonment ""cosmic loneliness"" and give it serious attention. Jesus' picture of hell suggests that part of its suffering is total, eternal isolation from God and man--a sense of utter hopelessness that will cause great ""weeping and gnashing of teeth"" (Mt 25:30). GOTQUESTIONS: The outer darkness of judgment is accompanied by “weeping and gnashing of teeth.” The “weeping” describes an inner pain of the heart, mind, and soul. The word in the original denotes a bewailing or lamentation by beating the breast in an expression of immense sorrow. The “gnashing of teeth” describes an outward pain of the body. Taken together, the weeping and gnashing of teeth says hell is a place of indescribable spiritual agony and unending physical pain (see Luke 16:23-28). The outer darkness is a place of anguish, heartache, grief, and unspeakable suffering. Such will be the lot of all who reject Christ (John 3:18, 36). Christ is the Light of the World (John 8:12). When one rejects the Light, he will be cast into eternal darkness. Just like the man in the parable, the one who rejects Christ will lose his chance for joy, blessing and fellowship and will be left with nothing but darkness and eternal regret. (What is the Outer Darkness?) See also discussion of "Outer Darkness" below Note on fire that cannot be seen - (In discussion of a "black hole") "This temperature is on the order of billionths of a kelvin for black holes of stellar mass, making it essentially impossible to observe." (Black Hole) 4. Hell Is a Place of Sorrow and Eternal Separation From Loved Ones - Luke 13:28-note; 2 Sa 22:6 5. Hell Is a Place of Hopelessness with No Way of Escape - Matthew 25:46; Luke 16:26 6. Hell Is a Place of Tormenting Memories - Luke 16:27, 28 7. Hell Is a Place of Unfulfilled Desires - Let the evildoer still do evil Rev 22:11-note 8. Hell Is a Place of Fire - Rev 20:14-15; Rev 21:8; Matthew 13:50 9. Hell Is a Place of Worms - Mark 9:48 (ED: MOST WRITERS INTERPRET THIS AS FIGURATIVE, NOT LITERAL WORMS). EDITORIAL COMMENT ON MARK 9:48—Why did Jesus say worms would not die in hell? PROBLEM: Jesus said that hell is a place “where `their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched’ ” (Mark 9:48). But what do everlasting worms have to do with hell? SOLUTION: Jesus is not speaking of earthworms, nor any other kind of animal here. He is speaking about the human body. Notice, He did not say “where the worm does not die” but, rather, “where their worm does not die.” The antecedent of “their” is a human being who sins and dies without repentance (cf. Mk 9:42–47). “Worm” is simply a way to refer to the human “worm,” or shell known as the body. This fits with the context where He is speaking of the parts of the body, such as, “hands” and the “foot” (Mk 9:43–45). Jesus said here that we should not fear the one (man) who could destroy our body, but not our soul, but, rather, to fear the One (God) who could send soul and body into the everlasting flames (Luke 12:4–5; cf. Mark 9:43–48). (Norman Geisler - When Critics Ask) GOTQUESTIONS ON MARK 9:48— Taken at face value, this text is one of the most horrific descriptions of what hell is like. The thought of eternal torment, likened to maggots eating away at a rotting corpse, is undoubtedly ghastly. Hell is so awful that Christ said, figuratively speaking, it’s better to cut off the hand that causes you to sin than to end up in hell (Matthew 5:30). Mark 9:48 does not mean that there are literal worms in hell or that there are worms that live forever; rather, Jesus is teaching the fact of unending suffering in hell—the “worm” never stops causing torment. Notice that the worm is personal. Both Isaiah 66:24 and Mark 9:48 use the word their to identify the worm’s owner. The sources of torment are attached each to its own host. Some Bible scholars believe the “worm” refers to a man’s conscience. Those in hell, being completely cut off from God, exist with a nagging, guilty conscience that, like a persistent worm, gnaws away at its victim with a remorse that can never be mitigated. No matter what the word worm refers to, the most important thing to be gained from these words of Christ is that we should do everything in our power to escape the horrors of hell, and there is only one thing to that end—receiving Jesus as the Lord of our lives (John 3:16). (What is the Worm that Will not Die in Mark 9:48?) 10. Hell Is a Place of Unanswered Prayers - Luke 16:27-31—... 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. 11. Hell Is a Place of Everlasting Destruction - 2 Thessalonians 1:9 What does a person do to go to Hell? Nothing! You are condemned already because you are a sinner. John 3:18—“He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. Your only hope is the Sun of Righteousness, the Son of God. This is the message we are to spread across the world. (Treasures from the Scriptures) ILLUSTRATION - Peter Cartwright, a nineteenth-century circuit-riding Methodist preacher, was an uncompromising man. One Sunday morning when he was to preach, he was told that General Andrew Jackson was in the congregation, and warned not to say anything out of line. When Cartwright stood to preach, he said, "I understand that Andrew Jackson is here. I have been requested to be guarded in my remarks. Andrew Jackson will go to Hell if he doesn't repent." The congregation was shocked and wondered how the General would respond. He was known for being a hot-tempered man. After the service, General Jackson shook hands with Peter Cartwright and said, "Sir, if I had a regiment of men like you, I could whip the world." (Commentary on Malachi) ILLUSTRATION - In Warren Wierbe's "Meet Yourself in the Psalms," he tells about a frontier town where a horse bolted and ran away with a wagon carrying a little boy. Seeing the child in danger, a young man risked his life to catch the horse and stop the wagon. The child who was saved grew up to become a lawless man, and one day he stood before a judge to be sentenced for a serious crime. The prisoner recognized the judge as the man who, years before, had saved his life; so he pled for mercy on the basis of that experience. But the words from the bench silenced his plea: "Young man, then I was your savior; today I am your judge, and I must sentence you to be hanged." One day Jesus Christ will say to rebellious sinners, "During that long day of grace, I was your Savior, and I would have forgiven you. But today I am your judge. Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire!" Luke 16:27 "And he said, `Then I beg you, father, that you send him to my father's house-- BGT Luke 16:27 εἶπεν δέ· ἐρωτῶ σε οὖν, πάτερ, ἵνα πέμψῃς αὐτὸν εἰς τὸν οἶκον τοῦ πατρός μου, KJV Luke 16:27 Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house: NET Luke 16:27 So the rich man said, 'Then I beg you, father– send Lazarus to my father's house CSB Luke 16:27 " 'Father,' he said, 'then I beg you to send him to my father's house-- ESV Luke 16:27 And he said, 'Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father's house-- NIV Luke 16:27 "He answered, 'Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my father's house, NLT Luke 16:27 "Then the rich man said, 'Please, Father Abraham, at least send him to my father's home. NRS Luke 16:27 He said, 'Then, father, I beg you to send him to my father's house-- YLT Luke 16:27 'And he said, I pray thee, then, father, that thou mayest send him to the house of my father, GWN Luke 16:27 "The rich man responded, 'Then I ask you, Father, to send Lazarus back to my father's home. NKJ Luke 16:27 "Then he said,`I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father's house, NAB Luke 16:27 He said, 'Then I beg you, father, send him to my father's house, MIT Luke 16:27 He said, "I ask you then, father, to send him to my father's house, Luke 16 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Luke 16:19-31 A Great Chasm Fixed - Steven Cole Luke 16:19-31 A Testimony of One Surprised to be in Hell, Part 1 - John MacArthur Luke 16:19-31 A Testimony of One Surprised to be in Hell, Part 2 - John MacArthur Luke 16:19-31 A Testimony of One Surprised to be in Hell, Part 3 - John MacArthur Luke 16:19-31 A Testimony of One Surprised to be in Hell, Part 4 - John MacArthur Luke 16:19-31 A Testimony of One Surprised to be in Hell, Part 5 - John MacArthur In Depth Study of Eternal Punishment - on site THE SECOND "PRAYER" FROM HADES And he said, `Then I beg (erotao) you, father (pater) - When is then? When Abraham had just declared there was a great divide across which no one could traverse. This stimulates his second petition. Calling Abraham father indicates the rich man is pleading on the basis of his Jewish heritage. Father (pater) is one who imparts life, bringing into being to pass on the potential for likeness. Sadly, the rich man was only alike Abraham in physical origin (Abraham being the father of the Jews), but in his unrepentant, unregenerate state he was unlike him spiritually and thus unlike him in eternal destinies. Notice that the rich man refers to Abraham 3 times as father (Lk 16:24, 27, 30), emphasizing his Jewish ancestry. The point is that being a Jew doesn’t guarantee Heaven anymore than being a non-Jew guarantees hell.