Now ye are full, now ye are rich,
ye have reigned as kings without us:
and I would to God ye did reign,
that we also might reign with you.
1 Corinthians 4:8

For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat,
but it withereth the grass,
and the flower thereof falleth,
and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth:
so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways.
Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl
for your miseries that shall come upon you.
James 1:11, 5:1

Because thou sayest, I am rich,
and increased with goods, and have need of nothing;
and knowest not that thou art wretched,
and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire,
that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment,
that thou mayest be clothed,
and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear;
and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
Revelation 3:17&18

Why The Rich Man Went To Hell

There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. 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; And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 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. 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. 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. Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father’s house: For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.
(Luke 16:19-31)

Preface

This study is again taken from two sermons preached on consecutive Sundays. It concerns the teaching from the Bible that apparently discriminates against those who are rich in this world.

Luke 16 shows a rich man who went to hell while the poor man went to paradise. The question as to why the rich man went to hell is a subject of much speculation. The passage from Luke 16 does not appear to fit into the well understood doctrine of salvation by grace through as believe by many Christians. All kinds of fanciful explanations are offered but they do not address the issue on why this rich man went to hell. What sin did the rich man commit that caused his damnation in hell? Why was the poor man spared? Why are there so many warnings to those who are rich in the Holy Bible? What are the lessons for Christians from this passage?

It is only by comparing Scriptures with Scriptures that Christians can appreciate why the Lord has to send this rich man to hell. May the Lord bless the study of His pure, inspired and infallible words!