We Build the Walls

Scripture Reading Luke 16:19-31

Key Verse:

“And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.” – Luke 16:26

Introduction: Walls of Separation

The parable of Lazarus and the rich man is not merely a story about wealth and poverty. It is about barriers—those we create between ourselves and others, and ultimately between ourselves and God.

The rich man lived behind a wall of luxury, shutting out Lazarus, the beggar at his gate. In life, he ignored Lazarus; in death, he saw the barrier between them had become permanent. But God did not build this chasm—he did.

This parable challenges us to examine the walls we build—whether through indifference, pride, or a refusal to love our neighbor.

1. The Barrier of Indifference

The rich man never actively harmed Lazarus—he simply ignored him. Every day, Lazarus lay at his gate (Luke 16:20), longing for scraps from the rich man’s table, but he remained unseen.

• Proverbs 21:13 – “Whoever shuts their ears to the cry of the poor will also cry out and not be answered.”

• 1 John 3:17 – “If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person?”

Many of us, like the rich man, may not act maliciously—but our inaction creates walls. Jesus calls us to tear down the walls of indifference and see those around us with God’s eyes of compassion.

2. The Barrier of Comfort and Self-Sufficiency

The rich man lived in comfort and self-sufficiency. He wore fine clothes and feasted lavishly (Luke 16:19). His wealth became his security, making him blind to the needs of others and deaf to the call of God.

• Revelation 3:17 – “You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked.”

His wealth insulated him, making him feel self-reliant—but in the end, it did not save him. The greatest barrier to faith is not poverty but false security in riches, comfort, or status.

3. The Barrier of Spiritual Deafness

Even in death, the rich man refused to listen and repent. He begged Abraham to send Lazarus to warn his brothers, but Abraham responded:

“They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.” – Luke 16:29

The rich man had ignored God’s Word in life, and now he found himself on the wrong side of an unbridgeable chasm.

• Romans 10:17 – “Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.”

• Hebrews 3:15 – “Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.”

God’s Word is clear, but many choose to ignore it. The greatest wall we build is spiritual deafness—refusing to hear and respond to the call of repentance and grace.

Breaking Down the Walls

Jesus calls us to tear down the barriers we build:
• Instead of indifference → Choose compassion.
• Instead of self-sufficiency → Choose dependence on God.
• Instead of spiritual deafness → Choose to hear and obey.

The kingdom of God is about breaking walls, not building them. Jesus came to tear down the wall of separation between us and God, and between us and others.

• Ephesians 2:14 – “For He Himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility.”

• Isaiah 58:7 – “Share your food with the hungry and provide the poor wanderer with shelter—when you see the naked, clothe them, and do not turn away from your own flesh and blood.”

Conclusion: Living Without Walls

The rich man realized too late that the barriers he built in life became his eternal reality. But we still have a chance. We can choose today to live differently.

• Who is at our gate that we have ignored?

• What comforts keep us from fully following Jesus?

• Are we listening to God’s call to love and serve?

The blessed life is one of open hands, open hearts, and open gates—where the love of Christ flows freely. Let’s break the walls before they become unbreakable.

Prayer:

Lord, help me see the walls I have built—through pride, indifference, or fear. Give me the courage to tear them down and love others as You have loved me. Teach me to listen, to care, and to walk in the freedom of Your kingdom. Amen.

Soli Deo Gloria