![]() ![]() That is a strange phenomenon, as for the most part we have the same source affirming both heaven and hell. Yet, at the same time, most of those polled both in and out of the church denied the existence and reality of hell. Most of these people, both in the church and outside of the church, asserted their belief in the existence and reality of heaven. ![]() One result of that survey stood out in bold relief. Religious people, nonreligious people, Catholics, Protestants, self-proclaimed evangelicals, old people, young people, men, women-people from all kinds of diverse backgrounds were questioned about a multitude of theological affirmations. Recently, I saw the results of an extensive survey of a cross-section of people in America. But this is Your Word, oh God, and Your Word is truth, so give us that truth in this hour. Even in our redeemed state, there are times that we desperately wish Jesus never told this story. ![]() Every fiber of our being recoils in horror at the content of this parable. Our Father and our God, send help, for we desperately need it to have ears to hear this teaching from our Savior. “Then he said, ‘I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father’s house, for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.’ Abraham said to him, ‘They have Moses and the prophets let them hear them.’ And he said, ‘No, father Abraham but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ But he said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.’” And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us.’ “Then 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.’ But Abraham said, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things but now he is comforted and you are tormented. And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. Moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid at his gate, desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table. “There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day. It is found in Luke 16:19–31, and I would ask the congregation please to stand for the reading of the Word of God: Nevertheless, this parable comes to us from the lips of the Lord Jesus Christ. Now we have the parable of Dives and Lazarus, which of all the parables of Jesus is probably the most difficult for us to accept. The beginning of this chapter contains Jesus’ parable of the unjust steward, which is perhaps the most difficult of Jesus’ parables to interpret. This morning we will continue with our study of the Gospel According to Saint Luke. ![]()
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