Scripture:

Luke 16:22-23　And the beggar died, and he was carried away by the angels into Abraham’s bosom; and the rich man also died and was buried.And in Hades he lifted up his eyes, being in torment, and saw Abraham from afar and Lazarus in his bosom.

I. Two different persons: One is rich; the other is poor.

II. The difference while alive:

  1. The rich man was clothed in purple and fine linen and was making merry and living in splendor every day. To be clothed in purple indicates that he was honorable and wealthy. To be clothed in fine linen indicates that he was living in abundance. Describe how the rich man enjoyed his life.
  2. The poor man was covered with sores and was laid at the gate of the rich man.

III.  The difference after death:

  1. While he was alive, dogs came and licked the poor man’s sores. When he died, he was carried away by the angels. How lonesome he was when he was laid at the gate of the rich man. Yet after he died, he was in Abraham’s bosom. How comfortable and how sweet it was then!
  2. The rich man also died. Not only the poor ones will die, but the rich ones will too. Money cannot buy life. As the poor people will die, so also will the millionaires die. Emphasize the word “also.” No one can escape death.
  3. C    The rich man was buried. The rich man had quite a funeral, but there were no angels coming to carry him, nor was he put into the bosom of Abraham; rather, he was in torment in Hades.

IV. The reasons for the difference:

  1. Their difference was not a matter of being rich or poor, nor was it a matter of enjoying or suffering in their lifetime.
  2. Their difference was a matter of whether they believed in God’s words. The rich man would not believe in the Bible or Christ in his lifetime, so he was in torment in the flame after he died.
  3. Because the rich man did not believe in God’s words, he indulged himself in all kinds of luxurious pleasure and never cared about his future problem in his lifetime. The poor Lazarus believed in God’s words, so he could be careless about his suffering in his lifetime.
  4. Friends, if you do not believe in God’s gospel, if you only care for the present life and never take thought about after your death, how pitiful it is! Please quickly believe in God’s words and believe in Jesus.