Money Can't Save You!

Money Can’t Save You!

Luke 16:19-31

Sunday, November 9, 2025, 10:30 AM

Emory BC

 

19 “There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day. 20 But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid at his gate, 21 desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. 22 So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 24 “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.’ 25 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. 26 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.’ 27 “Then he said, ‘I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father’s house, 28 for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.’ 29 Abraham said to him, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.’ 30 And he said, ‘No, father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ 31 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.’ ”

 

 

 

Introduction

If you have your Bibles, take them, and find Luke 16:19.  I want to share a message entitled, “Money Can’t Save You!”

 

Here in Luke 16, money has been a common topic.  In Luke 16:1-13, Jesus told us the parable of the unjust steward.  Jesus commended his shrewdness or wisdom in spending money on others and planning for the future.

 

In Luke 16:14-18, Jesus addressed the Pharisees.  Dr. Luke called them “lovers of money,” and Jesus condemned their unrighteousness.

 

Today’s text includes another parable.  However, some don’t think it is a parable but a real-life story about a rich man and Lazarus.

 

I do believe this is a parable, and it is another parable that is unique to Luke.  Contrary to what you may have been taught, it is not a parable that is primarily about end-times or even heaven and hell.

 

The main idea of this parable is about money.  The truth is that money can’t save you, and it doesn’t matter how much we are talking about. Elon Musk will not go to heaven because of his new worth.

 

Today’s parable revolves around three scenes, and the main character is a certain rich man.  The first scene is about life on earth.  The second scene is about after-life on earth.  The final scene is about eternal choices.

 

 

1. Life on Earth, Luke 16:19-21

19 “There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day. 20 But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid at his gate, 21 desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.

 

The parable begins in verse 19 with a certain rich man.  He doesn’t have a name although this parable is sometimes known as the parable of Dives and Lazarus.  Dives is the Latin word for rich.

 

The certain beggar named Lazarus is introduced in verse 20.  While still being a parable, this is the only parable that Jesus used a proper name.

 

As for life on earth, these two men were complete opposites. Verses 19-21 speak to that. 

 

One was rich.  The other was a poor beggar. On wore purple and fine linen undergarments.  The other wore sores. One lived sumptuously or luxuriously every day.  The other was laid at his gate every day. One ate like a king.  The other desired the table scraps.  One certainly felt the hands of his servants.  The other felt the tongues of the wild dogs who licked his sores.

 

In the minds of the Pharisees gathered around, they knew exactly why these men were like this.  The rich mad had honored God with life and wealth, and now God was blessing him.  The poor man was suffering from some sin and rebellion and disobedience.

 

Therefore, when Jesus uttered what was next, their worlds were turned upside down.  Jesus said they both died, but the rich man went to Hades, and the beggar went to Abraham’s bosom.  Their gasps were audible!

 

 

 

2. After Life on Earth, Luke 16:22-26

22 So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 24 “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.’ 25 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. 26 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.’

 

Verse 22 says that both men died.  Shockingly to the Pharisees, the beggar was carried by angels into Abraham’s bosom.  This was Jewish idiom that meant the presence of God.

 

BTW…We are told that the beggar died, but we aren’t told that he was buried.  He probably wasn’t.  He was probably was thrown into the city trash dump.

 

However, the rich man was buried, and probably had a funeral.  It would have been very well attended and very elaborate going on and on about his wealth.

 

Verse 23 is where the story turns.  The one who was thought to have God’s favor on his life was now in Hades and in torments. 

 

BTW…It is commonly thought that before Jesus returns, Sheol is the place of the dead, and Sheol has two compartments.  One is upper, and the other is lower.

 

The upper compartment is Abraham’s bosom or Paradise.  It most certainly is the presence of God.

 

The lower compartment is Hades or hell.  It most certainly is the absence of God.

 

There will be an eternal heaven and an eternal hell.  These are not them.

 

Verse 24 says that the rich man looked up and asked Abraham to send Lazarus to comfort him with a drip of water. Verse 25 says his request was denied. 

 

In verse 26, Abraham makes it clear that there is not a going back in forth between Abraham’s bosom and Hades.  The great gulf or chasm is fixed.  In other words, it is permanent.

 

Here we see the main point of this parable.  The majority of this first century audience was shocked and dismayed to hear about this rich man in Hades, but money can not and will not save you.

 

It matters not what your bottom line is.  When it comes to after life on earth, the only thing that matters is what have you done with Jesus? 

 

Have you received Him as Lord and Savior or rejected Him?  Only Jesus can save and will save!

 

A secondary point of this parable is that proof or evidence of our salvation is demonstrated in how we treat others.  This rich man didn’t go to Hades because of how he treated Lazarus. 

 

How he treated Lazarus was evidence of this man’s rejection of Christ.  Conversely, Lazarus had been helped by God, and he went to Abraham’s bosom not because he was poor, but because he recognized his need and called on the Lord to save.

 

Just to be clear, there will be many rich people in heaven and many poor people in hell.  There will also be many rich people in hell and many poor people in heaven.

 

The key is not your wealth.  The key is what you do with Jesus, which takes us to our final scene.

 

 

3. Eternal Choices, Luke 16:

27 “Then he said, ‘I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father’s house, 28 for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.’ 29 Abraham said to him, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.’ 30 And he said, ‘No, father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ 31 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.’ ”

 

In verse 27, the rich man in Hades turns his attention to his lost brothers.  He asked Abraham to send someone to warn them about this place of torment.

 

Again, Abraham denied his request.  They should have read their Bibles and listened to the prophets.

 

The rich man made one last request.  He requested that Abraham send someone who had risen from the dead. 

 

For the third time, the rich man’s request is denied.  If they didn’t read their Bibles and didn’t listen to their prophets, they wouldn’t be persuaded by the miraculous.

 

 

Conclusion

If you haven’t already, you have a choice to make.  Where will you spend eternity?

 

Your choices are with God or apart from God.  With God will mean receiving God’s Son, Jesus, as Lord and Savior.

 

If you do nothing, it will be as if you rejected Jesus.  There will be no second chances, and your eternity will be one of torment and torment and torment.