Summary of my sermon, based on Luke 16:19-24. Preached at Greenhills Christian Fellowship Toronto on Sunday, 31 May 2026.
The Kingdom Demand for Integrity
In this section of Luke (Chapters 9–22), Jesus provides a primer on kingdom living. In Luke 16, he specifically addresses the stewardship of resources. He warns us in verse 13: “No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”
When Jesus taught this, the Pharisees—who were lovers of money—ridiculed him. We see the core of their problem in that opposition. As 1 Timothy 6:10 reminds us, “the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil.” Despite being well-versed in scripture, the Pharisees could not see Jesus as the Messiah because their hearts were fixed on wealth.
This confrontation leads to the kingdom demand for integrity. Jesus explains that the Law and the Prophets were the primary revelation until John the Baptist; since then, the good news of the kingdom has been preached. Jesus does not discard the law; he fulfills it. He interprets it correctly, exposing the Pharisees’ obsession with legalistic loopholes—such as their narrow, heartless definitions of work on the Sabbath—versus his own focus on doing good, healing, and honoring God. As Jesus said, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath” (Mark 2:27).
The Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus
This brings us to the parable of the rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19–31). We see a stark contrast: the rich man is drenched in luxury, wearing purple and fine linen, and feasting sumptuously every day. Lazarus, conversely, is covered in sores, longing for the crumbs from the rich man’s table.
Death is the great equalizer, but it also reveals a great reversal. In the afterlife, the rich man is in anguish while Lazarus is comforted by Abraham. The lifestyle gap of their earthly lives is replaced by a “great chasm” that cannot be crossed.
While some scholars debate whether this is a parable or a literal account of hell, it reveals profound truths:
- Hell is an eternal, conscious torment
- Hell is a eternal separation from God, the source of everything good and perfect
- Being sent to hell is the result of actions we take in this life.
The rich man, even in his torment, asks Abraham to warn his five brothers. But Abraham replies, “They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them” (Luke 16:29). When the rich man insists that someone rising from the dead would convince them to repent, Abraham delivers the sobering conclusion: “If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead” (Luke 16:31).
The Sufficiency of Christ
The love of money acts as a false god. It is a replacement for God’s sufficiency. This trap is not limited to the wealthy; even if you believe that “having enough” is the key to solving all your life’s problems, you have placed your faith in money rather than God.
Money is a tool, but the love of money is a snare. We see the alternative in the life of someone like Kiwi, a former beneficiary of the Compassion program who was released from the cycle of poverty and now uses her life to share the truth of God’s love. When we view our resources through the lens of generosity rather than greed, we reflect the heart of Christ.
Scripture is sufficient. It acts as a mirror, pointing to our sin and revealing our need for a Savior. All the Law and the Prophets point to Jesus Christ. Sin is persistent, but the gospel is the glorious gift that saves us from it. May we be a people who truly love God, steward our resources with integrity, and care for those in need around us.
Excel Still More 