The Parables of Jesus: What Jesus says about Hell

"There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day.  And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores,  who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man's table. Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores.  The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried,  and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side.  And he called out, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.'  But Abraham said, 'Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish.  And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.'  And he said, 'Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father's house—  for I have five brothers—so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.'  But Abraham said, 'They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.'  And he said, 'No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.'  He said to him, 'If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.'" - Luke 16:19‭-‬31 ESV

Rev. Dwight Yoo

Existence of Hell

Jesus is confronting the Pharisees in this parable. We need to be careful of the metaphors in use. They are trying to convey real spiritual truths. Hell is real. We don't consider Hell as metaphorical.

We see in Scripture a God of love and find it hard to reconcile this with a place of everlasting suffering. God is both loving and also one of judgement and wrath. He loves justice and righteousness. He cares deeply about injustice. All the New Testament authors wrote about hell. Jesus spoke more about Hell than about Heaven. We don't know what it is exactly like, but the symbolism is horrific. Unending suffering and anguish awaits those who arrive there. It is not just a theological subject. We should be

Essence of the Hellbound

The rich man ate richly. He was so rich that he had expensive underwear. Contrasted against the poor man. He was sick, hungry, and likely crippled. The rich man ignored the poor man. He was indifferent to the poor man's suffering. The indifference was so deep that it is contrasted against the guard dogs... Who at least comforted the poor man by licking his sores.

What do we take away from this?

Riches does not mean you are blessed & favored by God. The rich man lived a comfortable life, but ended up in a place of horrible anguish. The poor man suffered so much in life, but ended up in a place of glory and comfort.

How you use your material wealth is important. It is not evil to be wealthy. The rich man is not condemned for wealth. The poor are not saved by poverty. The rich man was owned by his wealth. We are to love God over money. This is what condemned the rich man. The hell bound treasure material things more than God. Your checkbook doesn't lie. So how we treat our earthly treasure speaks of who God is to us...

The rich man knew Abraham. He was a Jew and knew the law. But he ignored it. He chose to live his life the way he wanted rather than what God says though the prophets and the old testament. He was and even in Hell, still self centered.

Unbelief is not just the lack of evidence. It is an unwillingness to submit to God. It is not a lack of proof. We have a fundamental bias against God. This is the heart of man. We don't want to live under the Lordship of God.

The greater motivator of grace

Motivation to submit to Jesus cannot come purely from the fear of judgement and damnation. So what motivates us to bow our knee? Jesus came, died a horrible death, and tasted the horror of Hell so that we, undeserving sinners, could be at the side of Abraham. This grace is what makes us forget about our own lives and makes us joyfully obedient. This sacrificial love is what drives us to live a life of following God.

The pursuit of racial justice as worship

"Cry aloud; do not hold back; lift up your voice like a trumpet; declare to my people their transgression, to the house of Jacob their sins. Yet they seek me daily and delight to know my ways, as if they were a nation that did righteousness and did not forsake the judgment of their God; they ask of me righteous judgments; they delight to draw near to God. 'Why have we fasted, and you see it not? Why have we humbled ourselves, and you take no knowledge of it?' Behold, in the day of your fast you seek your own pleasure, and oppress all your workers. Behold, you fast only to quarrel and to fight and to hit with a wicked fist. Fasting like yours this day will not make your voice to be heard on high. Is such the fast that I choose, a day for a person to humble himself? Is it to bow down his head like a reed, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? Will you call this a fast, and a day acceptable to the Lord ? "Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh? Then shall your light break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up speedily; your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard. Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer; you shall cry, and he will say, 'Here I am.' If you take away the yoke from your midst, the pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness, if you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday. And the Lord will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail. And your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; you shall be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to dwell in. - Isaiah 58:1‭-‬12 ESV

We cannot worship without justice. They dealt well with God, but ignore the people around them. We care deeply about good theology and good Christian music. We want to fast well and pray regularly. The church in the US is complicit in racial injustice. The Christianity of America is not the Christianity of the Bible. The American church has played a role in racial slavery and segregation. The segregation of schools has gotten worse since Plessy v. Ferguson. The federal law has been rendered mute. Pursuing justice was seen as something the liberals did. Christians are focused on conserving their theology. And so, all this prayer for revival falls on deaf ears.

Good theology and seeking justice is God-honoring. A church that fasts is difficult. But God is not pleased. This is not the fast He desires. God wants justice; He wants this to be something we desire. This is an everyday thing. Not just on the day of service and we go on our daily lives. God promises to answer those who seek justice. We are not to seek our own good. We are to seek out the good of our neighbors. God equates himself to water. This is water in a desert culture. Water was treated very differently. It was conserved and protected.

The Parables of Jesus: Pray with Shameless Persistence

And he said to them, "Which of you who has a friend will go to him at midnight and say to him, 'Friend, lend me three loaves,  for a friend of mine has arrived on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him';  and he will answer from within, 'Do not bother me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed. I cannot get up and give you anything'?  I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his impudence he will rise and give him whatever he needs.  And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.  What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent;  or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion?  If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!" - Luke 11:5‭-‬13 ESV

And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. He said, "In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man.  And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, 'Give me justice against my adversary.'  For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, 'Though I neither fear God nor respect man,  yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.'"  And the Lord said, "Hear what the unrighteous judge says.  And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them?  I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?" - Luke 18:1‭-‬8 ESV

Rev Charles Han

Prayerlessness is condemned. But Jesus exhorts us to pray. Prayer takes focus and hard work. It humbles us.

What's the point of praying? Your circumstances don't change. Your family is not healed. Your sin struggles stay the same. Does God really hear? Does he really care?

So the guy who is knocking... He is out of bread. In this culture of hospitality, it was embarrassing. So houses back then was usually a single room. So knocking meant that he was waking up his friend's entire family. It was not an easy choice. But by  his impudent asking, he got what he needed.

The widow and the evil judge speaks of a tough situation. A widow with no defender, no siblings, no family or man to protect her. She could not in that day and age go to the courts. Courts only allowed men. So she used the only thing available to her, persistence. She gave the judge no rest. The judge realized that she would not leave him alone, so the unrighteous judge gave her justice.

This is such a pair of unlikely outcomes. Justice to the powerless widow and a neighbor who will give you bread. This is the backdrop for God's relationship with his children. Even evil parents will love the children, so much so will God who placed that instinct in parents... Love his people.

What then of those "unanswered" prayers? Diseases unhealed, people unsaved, tough times unrelenting? We ask wrongly. The Lord's prayer does not ask greedily. It does not ask for filet mignon. It asks for today's bread. The neighbor did not ask for something stupid. The widow didn't ask for a shady favor from the judge, she asked for true justice.

God will sometimes answer with no. But it's not just no, God will answer the desire behind our request. He will answer in value, if not in kind. Paul prayed three times for that thorn to be taken away... And God said yes, I will give you strength for ministry. The thorn remained, but God answered.

God sometimes makes us wait. It is hard to see. The timing is not right. He is working in us. He is doing what is best for you as you ask him in faith. Take heart and persist in prayer.

A hymn: Unanswered Yet

Unanswered yet? The prayer your lips have pleaded
In agony of heart these many years?
Does faith begin to fail, is hope departing,
And think you all in vain those falling tears?
Say not the Father hath not heard your prayer;
You shall have your desire, sometime, somewhere.

2. Unanswered yet? Though when you first presented
This one petition at the Father’s throne,
It seemed you could not wait the time of asking,
So urgent was your heart to make it known.
Though years have passed since then, do not despair;
The Lord will answer you, sometime, somewhere.

3. Unanswered yet? But you are not unheeded;
The promises of God forever stand;
To Him our days and years alike are equal;
“Have faith in God”; it is your Lord’s command.
Hold on to Jacob’s angel and your prayer
Shall bring a blessing down sometime, somewhere.

4. Unanswered yet? Nay, do not say ungranted;
Perhaps your part is not yet wholly done;
The work began when first your prayer was uttered,
And God will finish what He has begun.
If you will keep the incense burning there,
His glory you shall see, sometime, somewhere.

5. Unanswered yet? Faith cannot be unanswered;
Her feet were firmly planted on the Rock;
Amid the wildest storm prayer stands undaunted,
Nor quails before the loudest thunder shock.
She knows Omnipotence has heard her prayer,
And cries, “It shall be done,” sometime, somewhere.

The parables of Jesus: The sower and the foundation

"Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord,' and not do what I tell you?  Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like:  he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built.  But the one who hears and does not do them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the stream broke against it, immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great." - Luke 6:46‭-‬49 ESV

And when a great crowd was gathering and people from town after town came to him, he said in a parable, "A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some fell along the path and was trampled underfoot, and the birds of the air devoured it.  And some fell on the rock, and as it grew up, it withered away, because it had no moisture.  And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up with it and choked it.  And some fell into good soil and grew and yielded a hundredfold." As he said these things, he called out, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear."  And when his disciples asked him what this parable meant, he said, "To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of God, but for others they are in parables, so that 'seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.'  Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.  The ones along the path are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved.  And the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy. But these have no root; they believe for a while, and in time of testing fall away.  And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature. - Luke 8:4‭-‬14 ESV

Rev. Dan Whang

The sower parable is explaining that in order to get the most from the word, we need to have the right heart. We need to check our heart before diving into God's word.

The path is the hard soil. The seed does not penetrate the soil. This soil characterizes a heart that is hardened by unbelief. We may hear the word and it has no impact on our lives. Can this be your struggle? What could make for hard hearts? Here's three possibilities.

Are you proud? Do you think that you don't need help from God or others? Do you feel like you know enough?

Are you hurt? Do you feel betrayed by someone important to you?

Have you been hardened by sin? Are your feelings and desires deadened to spiritual things? Has sin ensnared you into dead living?

Rocky ground has no moisture. There is not enough soil to hold water. The seed, the word of God, takes but has no root. So times of trial and tribulation kills them off.

The faith is only fair weather. It cannot handle persecution and self denial. It is a shallow faith and shallow convictions. We may love hearing the word, but when we get tested, we fall. We forget God's word and his promises. This testing is supposed to give us inner fortitude and perseverance.

The divided heart is illustrated by thorns. The seeds grow, but it gets choked by weeds. The word convicts us. But we are distracted by things of the world. God is not firmly enthroned as first in our lives. We fill our lives with so many other things, entertainment, vacations, hobbies, food, etc.

Farmers don't just throw their seeds all over. They carefully make sure the soil is in good condition. They check for right moisture levels, nutrients, etc. This is hard work. This is the heart we all want and need.

Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. - John 12:24 ESV

We are reminded of something else Jesus said. The seed has to fall and die in order for there to be a harvest. He was speaking of himself, coming to earth to die. He kicked off the coming of the kingdom of God.

We need to not only hear the word of God, but to apply it. That is the main point of the foundations parable. We need to take the word and place it into action in our lives. We must not only enjoy the word, but we need to obey. We need to take God's word seriously. God's word must be foundational. Both builders work hard. But the second misses a crucial step. The results are disastrous. Don't just listen and feel convicted. Dig deep and lay a foundation.

Practical applications

Make intentional daily appointments to be in the word of God

Pick a book in the Bible and complete it

Start your week on what was preached last week. Review what the preacher covered and see if there are fresh inspiration from God on how to apply it in our lives.

Journaling can calm and slow us down. It can be good for our reflection and meditation. It can also help us retain more of what we've learned.

Unto you is born a savior in a manger

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. -  Luke 2:1‭-‬7 ESV

Rev. Charles Han

This historically of Christmas

This event is embedded in history. During Roman rule, a census is called. Most likely for the purpose of taxation. The story is written by the author of Luke with the decided aim of writing down all the details. It is anchored in history. Unlike other religions, it is not based upon ideas of men. The source is verifiable. Christianity is based upon the life and words of Jesus. Paul stated that if Christ was a fairy tale of myth, Christians are to be pitied. Our faith is meaningless.

The fulfillment of prophecy

Luke speaks of the lineage of Joseph. This is to prove that Jesus was the long awaited savior. He is the fulfillment of all the prophesies. Not just a couple, but dozens. The probability of this is incomprehensible. Joseph and Mary had to make a journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem. There is no mention of a donkey. They most likely walked. What are they thinking or feeling about this? They are probably thinking of how this was such an arduous journey with a woman late in pregnancy.

God in a manger

This is no flowery or ornate language. Just a matter of fact. This is a culture that prized hospitality. There is a guest room but there is no mean innkeeper. It was likely a shared room. So why the manger? It was likely the only private quiet spot. This is how the most important person ever came into this world. More like a refugee than the son of God. He was born into humble poverty. His first throne would be a manger. He came to be God of the poor & the outcast. He did not come for the righteous. He was not born in a palace. He is approachable to the lowest of the lowly. He came in a dirty feeding trough. It is fitting, not for a king, but for a sacrificial lamb. He does not avoid messes. He enters into the mess of our unruly, unclean, disgusting lives. That is the son of God. He comes for those who are unfit to receive him. This is the one who came in a manger.

Paul: thoughts on marriage

Now concerning the betrothed, I have no command from the Lord, but I give my judgment as one who by the Lord's mercy is trustworthy. I think that in view of the present distress it is good for a person to remain as he is. Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be free. Are you free from a wife? Do not seek a wife. But if you do marry, you have not sinned, and if a betrothed woman marries, she has not sinned. Yet those who marry will have worldly troubles, and I would spare you that. This is what I mean, brothers: the appointed time has grown very short. From now on, let those who have wives live as though they had none, and those who mourn as though they were not mourning, and those who rejoice as though they were not rejoicing, and those who buy as though they had no goods, and those who deal with the world as though they had no dealings with it. For the present form of this world is passing away. I want you to be free from anxieties. The unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to please the Lord. But the married man is anxious about worldly things, how to please his wife, and his interests are divided. And the unmarried or betrothed woman is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to be holy in body and spirit. But the married woman is anxious about worldly things, how to please her husband. I say this for your own benefit, not to lay any restraint upon you, but to promote good order and to secure your undivided devotion to the Lord. - 1CO 7:25‭-‬35 ESV

Rev. Dwight Yoo

This world is passing away. The gospel should be above our marriage. It should shape and mold our perspective on married life.

Married men should live as if they have no wife.

This is not saying we ignore our wives. It is saying God's kingdom is ultimate, not our marriage. We should not expect perfection from our significant other.

Those who mourn and rejoice should do it as if they are not

When we mourn, it is not as if the world is ending. When we celebrate, it is knowing that this will also pass away. It is tempered by our knowledge of the kingdom of God.

Married have worldly trouble.

Married people have commitments. They took care of their immediate family and also their extended family. Single people could be devoted single mindedly to God.

Are you living your life in this world prioritizing the world to come?

The Gospel according to David: David's Repentance

And the Lord sent Nathan to David. He came to him and said to him, "There were two men in a certain city, the one rich and the other poor. The rich man had very many flocks and herds, but the poor man had nothing but one little ewe lamb, which he had bought. And he brought it up, and it grew up with him and with his children. It used to eat of his morsel and drink from his cup and lie in his arms, and it was like a daughter to him. Now there came a traveler to the rich man, and he was unwilling to take one of his own flock or herd to prepare for the guest who had come to him, but he took the poor man's lamb and prepared it for the man who had come to him." Then David's anger was greatly kindled against the man, and he said to Nathan, "As the Lord lives, the man who has done this deserves to die, and he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity." Nathan said to David, "You are the man! Thus says the Lord , the God of Israel, 'I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you out of the hand of Saul. And I gave you your master's house and your master's wives into your arms and gave you the house of Israel and of Judah. And if this were too little, I would add to you as much more. Why have you despised the word of the Lord , to do what is evil in his sight? You have struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword and have taken his wife to be your wife and have killed him with the sword of the Ammonites. Now therefore the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised me and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.' Thus says the Lord , 'Behold, I will raise up evil against you out of your own house. And I will take your wives before your eyes and give them to your neighbor, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this sun. For you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel and before the sun.'" David said to Nathan, "I have sinned against the Lord ." And Nathan said to David, "The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die. Nevertheless, because by this deed you have utterly scorned the Lord , the child who is born to you shall die." Then Nathan went to his house. And the Lord afflicted the child that Uriah's wife bore to David, and he became sick. - 2 Samuel 12:1‭-‬15 ESV

Rev. Dwight Yoo

The man after God's own heart fell into lust, adultery, and murder. This should give us pause. No one of us should say, I would never do that. Like we can do any better. This is the man after God's own heart.

But even so, God did not turn away. Through David, we have the lineage of Jesus. God continues his work. God's grace is greater than any of our sins.

In the last chapter, David was the active party. He sent for Bathsheba. He sent for Uriah. He sent Uriah to his death. This chapter sees God act. God sends Nathan, the prophet, to David. Sin is deceptive. It appears life-giving, but it is life-threatening. From giving into anger, unhealthy relationships, and disordered priorities for success, comfort, & things other than God... They all can feel so right, but are killing us.

The things that need to change are the things we see the least. The arrogant person does not think they are being prideful. They are just "being truthful." David was deceived. He thought he was okay, until Nathan came. God sent the prophet to wound, so that David could be healed.

True repentance

Worldly repentance has sorrow and shame, but never moves on from there. Self centered repentance only focuses on our image before others. We were caught.

True repentance is God centered. When we break the first commandment, we break the rest. Our relationship with God first breaks before the other commands. We fail to keep God first and everything breaks down from there. God's judgement is right and true.

We see not just that sin, but rather we grasp that we are sinners. Therefore we, Christians, must live our lives in perpetual repentance. How does this look? To turn and go back in God's direction. Some are like a pedestrian turning around, others are like bicyclists turning around, finally since sins are like oil tankers slowing to a stop and turning around... It can take forever.

Repentance comes to change our understanding and perception of sin, to change our understanding of ourselves, and to change our understanding of God. We will learn to recognize and stop sinning. We will know that we are sinners to be in perpetual repentance. We will know that God is gracious and just. How? Jesus is God incarnate. He was just, but He also hung out with the dregs of society, tax collectors & prostitutes. Radically holy and radically gracious.

David sinned, but his son died. The baby was innocent. But remember that God too lost a son. A son who was innocent.

Repentance comes from God's kindness. The grace of God seen in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. This is what drives us to change. The love of God seen in the one who sacrificed it all for us. That is what will drive us to change from our sin and filth.