1 And he said also unto his disciples, There was a certain rich man, which had a steward; and the same was accused unto him that he had wasted his goods.
2 And he called him, and said unto him, How is it that I hear this of thee? give an account of thy stewardship; for thou mayest be no longer steward.
3 Then the steward said within himself, What shall I do? for my lord taketh away from me the stewardship: I cannot dig; to beg I am ashamed.
4 I am resolved what to do, that, when I am put out of the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses.
5 So he called every one of his lord’s debtors [unto him], and said unto the first, How much owest thou unto my lord?
6 And he said, An hundred measures of oil. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and sit down quickly, and write fifty.
7 Then said he to another, And how much owest thou? And he said, An hundred measures of wheat. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and write fourscore.
8 And the lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely: for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light.
9 And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations.
10 He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.
11 If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true [riches]?
12 And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man’s, who shall give you that which is your own?
13 No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
14 And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided him.
15 And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.
16 The law and the prophets [were] until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it.
17 And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail.
18 Whosoever putteth away his wife, and marrieth another, committeth adultery: and whosoever marrieth her that is put away from [her] husband committeth adultery.
19 There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:
20 And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,
21 And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.
22 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;
23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
24 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.
25 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.
26 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.
27 Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father’s house:
28 For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.
29 Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.
30 And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.
31 And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.
Overview of Luke 16
Luke 16 contains a series of teachings and parables from Jesus that emphasize the themes of stewardship, wealth, and the afterlife. The chapter is divided into two main sections: the Parable of the Unjust Steward and the teachings on wealth and the consequences of one’s choices in life.
Parable of the Unjust Steward (Luke 16:1-13)
This parable illustrates the shrewdness of a dishonest steward who, upon learning he would be fired, takes action to secure his future.
- Context: Jesus tells the story of a rich man whose steward is accused of wasting his possessions.
- Steward’s Actions:
- The steward reduces the debts of his master’s debtors to win their favor.
- He demonstrates cunning by ensuring his future security through these actions.
- Master’s Response: Surprisingly, the master commends the steward for his shrewdness, highlighting the cleverness of worldly people.
- Lessons on Stewardship:
- Jesus encourages His followers to be wise and shrewd in their dealings.
- He emphasizes the importance of being faithful with worldly wealth as a precursor to being entrusted with true riches.
- The passage concludes with the principle that one cannot serve both God and money.
Teachings on Wealth and the Law (Luke 16:14-18)
In this section, Jesus addresses the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, and critiques their attitudes toward wealth and the law.
- Pharisees’ Reaction: They ridicule Jesus’ teachings, revealing their attachment to wealth.
- Jesus’ Response:
- He states that what is highly valued among men is detestable in the sight of God.
- He emphasizes that the law and the prophets were in effect until John the Baptist, after which the Kingdom of God is proclaimed.
- Divorce and Remarriage: Jesus reiterates the sacredness of marriage and the seriousness of divorce, linking it to the broader theme of faithfulness.
The Rich Man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31)
This parable contrasts the lives of a rich man and a poor man named Lazarus, illustrating the consequences of their earthly choices in the afterlife.
- The Characters:
- The Rich Man: Lives in luxury and is indifferent to the suffering of Lazarus.
- Lazarus: A beggar who suffers greatly but is faithful and desires to eat the scraps from the rich man’s table.
- Afterlife Consequences:
- Both men die; Lazarus is comforted in Abraham’s bosom, while the rich man finds himself in torment.
- The rich man begs for relief, but Abraham explains that the chasm between them cannot be crossed.
- Lessons on Choices:
- Earthly wealth does not guarantee a favorable outcome in the afterlife.
- Compassion and kindness toward the less fortunate are essential virtues.
- The rich man’s plea for Lazarus to warn his brothers emphasizes the importance of heeding God’s word and the consequences of ignoring it.
Thematic Analysis
Luke 16 presents several key themes that resonate throughout the chapter:
- Stewardship: The parable of the unjust steward highlights the importance of being wise and responsible with resources.
- Wealth and Spirituality: The tension between wealth and spiritual devotion is a recurring theme, emphasizing that one cannot serve both God and money.
- Consequences of Choices: The parable of the rich man and Lazarus serves as a stark reminder of the eternal consequences of one’s actions and attitudes during life.
- Compassion and Justice: The call to care for the marginalized and the poor is a central message, urging believers to reflect on their treatment of others.
Conclusion
Luke 16 challenges readers to reflect on their relationship with wealth, the importance of stewardship, and the eternal implications of their earthly choices. Through vivid parables and direct teachings, Jesus invites individuals to prioritize spiritual wealth over material possessions and to act justly and compassionately in their lives.
