LORD’S DAY, MARCH 4
Luke 16:19-31
Matthew 13:24-43

“…shall cast them into a furnace of fire:
there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.”

JESUS’ DESCRIPTION OF HELL

Our Lord related this true story and Luke was careful to place this narrative not after a parable for this is not one. Jesus mentioned an unnamed rich man who lived flamboyantly. He had all a person could ever want in this world. On the other hand, Lazarus a beggar was laid at his gate seeking help. The rich man did not lift a finger to show compassion to Lazarus who was just asking for crumbs. The rich man was so greedy and unwilling to share.

Then both the rich man and Lazarus died. Lazarus was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom, a description of the place for those who have faith in Jesus Christ, for Abraham was the friend of God. The rich man arrived in hell and in torment. He began to beg for mercy, a virtue he lacked while on earth. Now he understood how Lazarus suffered asking only a little sympathy of him. In hell, people regret those times when God gave them not one but many chances to repent yet they kept themselves hardened. “And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth” (Matt 13:42). There is a great gulf fixed between heaven and hell.

The rich man in hell became a zealous evangelist. He pleaded for his brothers to be warned of the torments and misery in hell. He desired that his brothers would come to believe in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour. Abraham told the rich man that they already had the inspired and preserved Word of God to read and to believe. There was no need to send Lazarus for even if one was resurrected from the dead, they would never believe. Jesus did rise bodily from the dead but until today people still reject Him and the good news of salvation. The story highlights the only way to escape hell: believe in the Word of God that reveals Jesus as the only Saviour of mankind.

THOUGHT: Do I believe in the Jesus Christ of the Scriptures?
PRAYER: God our great Saviour, I thank Thee for Thy perfect Word that shows me that Jesus Christ is the only Saviour of mankind!