April 24, 2025 Morning Devotional

Morning Devotion: Read Luke - The Rich Man and Lazarus

Luke 16:19  There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: 20  And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, 21  And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. 22  And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; 23  And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 24  And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. 25  But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. 26  And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence. 27  Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house: 28  For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. 29  Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. 30  And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. 31  And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.

This passage is not a parable; Jesus is relating a true account about a rich man and Lazarus the poor man.

The rich man died and ended up in hell. This is the destiny of all who have not trusted in the wonderful shed blood of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

This account teaches us several things.

1. There is a place called hell. It is a place for the departed unsaved dead.

Where is hell? Hell is in the centre of the earth. Notice the rich man lifted up his eyes. That means hell is down.

Jonah saw hell. Jonah 2:2  And said, I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the LORD, and he heard me; out of the belly of hell cried I, and thou heardest my voice.

Jonah 2:6  I went down to the bottoms of the mountains; the earth with her bars was about me for ever: yet hast thou brought up my life from corruption, O LORD my God.

Isaiah wrote about hell. Isaiah 5:14  Therefore hell hath enlarged herself, and opened her mouth without measure: and their glory, and their multitude, and their pomp, and he that rejoiceth, shall descend into it.

Isaiah 14:9  Hell from beneath is moved for thee to meet thee at thy coming: it stirreth up the dead for thee, even all the chief ones of the earth; it hath raised up from their thrones all the kings of the nations.

Isaiah 14:15  Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.

When Jesus was speaking with the scribes and Pharisees he said they were destined for hell. These are the unsaved religious crowd.

Matthew 23:33  Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?

2. The authority of heaven and hell is Jesus Christ, He is the righteous judge.

Luke 12:5  But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.

Jesus said in Revelation 1:18  “I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.”

At the great white throne judgement Jesus will execute sentence.

Revelation 20:13  And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. 14  And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

The wonderful message over this entire issue is this; Jesus is the one who saves and gives everlasting life. Those who place their faith and trust in Jesus have everlasting life. Those who do not place their faith and trust in Jesus have everlasting death as evidenced by the rich man in this passage.

The choice is still yours,

Pastor Cook