GOSPEL: Luke 16:19-31

Reading:
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.

Commentary:
Both heaven and hell are true and real places.  According to God's Word here, hells is a "place of torment" while heaven is a place of "comfort" and rest.  Likewise we see that when the unbelieving rich man died, he was immediately in hell, and when the poor believing Lazarus died, he was immediately in heaven (carried there by the angels).  The purpose here of Christ's words, is that we are to receive in our own lifetime God admonition to repent of our sins and believe in Christ, for there are no second chances (such as the fictional re-incarnation of various religions).  We also see here that the Word of God is more important and powerful than miracles.  Let us consider well the words, "If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead."  To hear Moses and the prophets is to hear and believe the true Word of God which brings to us Christ and His forgiveness of all our sins.  As Jesus said, so we like Lazarus believe, "He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life."