Luke16

Jesus teaches his disciples through two parables and several direct instructions. The parable of the unjust steward illustrates the shrewdness of worldly individuals in securing their future, prompting Jesus to advise using "mammon of unrighteousness" for eternal gain. He emphasizes that one cannot serve both God and mammon, and that faithfulness in small matters reflects faithfulness in greater ones. The chapter concludes with the parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus, starkly contrasting their fates in the afterlife and affirming the sufficiency of Moses and the prophets for spiritual guidance.

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The Parable of the Unjust Steward

And he said also unto the disciples, There was a certain rich man, who had a steward; and the same was accused unto him that he was wasting his goods.

And he called him, and said unto him, What is this that I hear of thee? render the account of thy stewardship; for thou canst be no longer steward.

And the steward said within himself, What shall I do, seeing that my lord taketh away the stewardship from me? I have not strength to dig; to beg I am ashamed.

I am resolved what to do, that, when I am put out of the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses.

And calling to him each one of his lord’s debtors, he said to the first, How much owest thou unto my lord?

And he said, A hundred measures of oil. And he said unto him, Take thy bond, and sit down quickly and write fifty.

Then said he to another, And how much owest thou? And he said, A hundred measures of wheat. He saith unto him, Take thy bond, and write fourscore.

Wisdom in the Use of Wealth

And his lord commended the unrighteous steward because he had done wisely: for the sons of this world are for their own generation wiser than the sons of the light.

And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends by means of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when it shall fail, they may receive you into the eternal tabernacles.

He that is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much: and he that is unrighteous in a very little is unrighteous also in much.

If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?

And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another’s, who will give you that which is your own?

No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

Jesus Rebukes the Pharisees

And the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard all these things; and they scoffed at him.

And he said unto them, Ye are they that justify yourselves in the sight of men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God.

The law and the prophets were until John: from that time the gospel of the kingdom of God is preached, and every man entereth violently into it.

But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away, than for one tittle of the law to fall.

Every one that putteth away his wife, and marrieth another, committeth adultery: and he that marrieth one that is put away from a husband committeth adultery.

The Rich Man and Lazarus

Now there was a certain rich man, and he was clothed in purple and fine linen, faring sumptuously every day:

and a certain beggar named Lazarus was laid at his gate, full of sores,

and desiring to be fed with the crumbs that fell from the rich man’s table; yea, even the dogs came and licked his sores.

And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and that he was carried away by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: and the rich man also died, and was buried.

And in Hades he lifted 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 in anguish in this flame.

But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and Lazarus in like manner evil things: but now here he is comforted, and thou art in anguish.

And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, that they that would pass from hence to you may not be able, and that none may cross over from thence to us.

And 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.

But Abraham saith, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.

And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one go to 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, if one rise from the dead.

Study Notes for Luke 16

Verse 1

The steward (oikonomos) was a manager of his master’s estate. The parable is addressed to the disciples, contrasting the shrewdness of worldly people with the lack of foresight among the 'children of light.'

Verse 2

Give an account: The steward is required to settle the books before his dismissal, providing the narrow window of opportunity for his manipulative actions.

Verse 4

The steward seeks future security by creating an obligation among his master’s debtors. He uses his temporary power to ensure that others will provide for him when he is unemployed.

Verse 6

The steward reduces the debt by 50%. This reduction likely represents the elimination of interest or the steward’s own commission, making him appear generous while using his master’s assets.

Verse 8

The lord commended the steward's shrewdness (prudence), not his dishonesty. The point of the parable is that worldly people apply more energy and foresight to securing their temporal future than believers often do for their eternal future.

Verse 9

Mammon of unrighteousness: 'Mammon' is Aramaic for wealth, here described as 'unrighteous' because it is inherently earthly and prone to corruption. Jesus urges disciples to use worldly wealth wisely (e.g., through generosity) to secure lasting spiritual relationships and rewards.

Verse 10

This maxim shifts the focus from shrewdness to integrity. Faithfulness in small, temporal matters (like money) is the necessary preparation for handling great, eternal responsibilities.

Verse 11

True riches: Refers to spiritual blessings, ministry responsibilities, and eternal life entrusted by God, which stand in contrast to temporary earthly possessions.

Verse 13

This concludes the teaching on stewardship, emphasizing the absolute incompatibility of divided allegiance. Wealth (Mammon, personified) demands the same total devotion that God requires.

Verse 14

The Pharisees, known for their covetousness (love of money), derided Jesus because his teaching directly challenged their belief that wealth was a sign of divine favor and righteousness.

Verse 15

They justify themselves before men by outward displays of piety and prosperity. Jesus warns that human esteem is irrelevant; God alone judges the heart and often condemns what the world values highly.

Verse 16

John the Baptist marks the pivotal turning point (kairos) between the Old Covenant era and the forceful arrival of the Kingdom of God, which demands an energetic response and new emphasis.

Verse 17

One tittle of the law: A 'tittle' (keraia) is the smallest stroke in Hebrew writing. Jesus affirms the absolute, enduring authority of the moral Law, even as the method of salvation shifts with the Kingdom’s arrival.

Verse 18

Jesus uses the example of divorce to demonstrate that the moral standards of the Law remain binding, contrasting sharply with the lax interpretations common among certain Pharisaic schools.

Verse 19

This is a narrative, not a typical parable, describing the contrasting fates of two men. The rich man's clothing (purple and fine linen) signifies extreme, costly luxury.

Verse 22

Abraham's bosom: A Jewish idiom for paradise or the place of comfort for the righteous dead, signifying a place of honor and rest.

Verse 23

Hell (Hades): Refers to the intermediate state of the unrighteous dead. This passage implies conscious suffering and recognition immediately following death.

Verse 25

The rich man is not condemned simply because he was wealthy, but because he lived opulently without compassion, failing to use his 'good things' to alleviate the suffering at his gate (cf. vv. 19-21).

Verse 26

Great gulf fixed: Illustrates the permanence of the separation between the righteous and the unrighteous dead in the intermediate state, ruling out any possibility of movement or reversal.

Verse 29

Moses and the prophets: Refers to the Old Testament scriptures. Abraham insists that the existing written revelation is sufficient for repentance and salvation; no further supernatural sign is necessary.

Verse 31

This climactic statement foreshadows the unbelief surrounding Jesus' eventual resurrection. If people refuse the clear teaching of Scripture, they will not be persuaded even by the most dramatic supernatural event.

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Luke16

The Parable of the Unjust Steward

Wisdom in the Use of Wealth

Jesus Rebukes the Pharisees

The Rich Man and Lazarus

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