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.

Listen to this chapter

The Parable of the Unjust Steward

¶ 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.

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.

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.

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

So he called every one of his lord's debtors unto him, and said unto the first, How much owest thou unto my lord?

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

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.

Wisdom in the Use of Wealth

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.

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.

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.

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 man's, who shall 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 the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

Jesus Rebukes the Pharisees

And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided him.

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.

The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it.

And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail.

Whosoever putteth away his wife, and marrieth another, committeth adultery: and whosoever marrieth her that is put away from her husband committeth adultery.

The Rich Man and Lazarus

¶ 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.

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.

Use ← → arrow keys to navigate

Luke16

The Parable of the Unjust Steward

Wisdom in the Use of Wealth

Jesus Rebukes the Pharisees

The Rich Man and Lazarus

Reading Style

Typeface

Font Size 19px

Options