Luke 16:5

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

So {G2532} he called {G4341} every {G1538} one {G1520} of his {G1438} lord's {G2962} debtors {G5533} unto him, and said {G3004} unto the first {G4413}, How much {G4214} owest thou {G3784} unto my {G3450} lord {G2962}?

“So, after making appointments with each of his employer’s debtors, he said to the first, ‘How much do you owe my boss?’

And he called in each one of his master’s debtors. ‘How much do you owe my master?’ he asked the first.

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

Context

Luke 16:5 is part of the Parable of the Unjust Steward, a complex teaching by Jesus to His disciples concerning the use of wealth and stewardship. Prior to this verse, the steward has been accused of wasting his master's possessions and is about to be dismissed from his position. Realizing his precarious situation, he devises a plan to secure his future by currying favor with his master's debtors. This verse captures the beginning of his cunning execution: calling in the debtors one by one to negotiate their outstanding obligations.

Key Themes

  • Worldly Prudence and Foresight: The steward, though dishonest, demonstrates remarkable foresight and decisive action in preparing for his future. Jesus highlights this worldly wisdom not to endorse his dishonesty, but to underscore the diligence of "the children of this world" in their affairs, contrasting it with the often-lackluster spiritual preparedness of "the children of light" (as explained in Luke 16:8).
  • Stewardship of Resources: The parable fundamentally addresses how individuals manage what has been entrusted to them. Even in this negative example, it prompts reflection on how we use our resources—whether financial, temporal, or spiritual—to prepare for our ultimate future.
  • The Nature of Debt and Obligation: The verse directly deals with the financial debts owed to the master, setting the stage for the steward's manipulation of these obligations. It highlights a common economic reality of the time, where agents often handled their master's transactions.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV phrase "So he called every one of his lord's debtors [unto him]" describes a direct and intentional action. The Greek word for "debtors" is opheiletēs (ὀφειλέτης), which simply means one who owes, or is obligated. The steward's immediate action of summoning them shows his quick thinking and initiative in a crisis. The term "lord" (κύριος - kyrios) here refers to the master or owner, emphasizing the steward's position of delegated authority, which he then abuses for personal gain.

Practical Application

While the steward's method was unethical, Jesus uses his diligence as a powerful lesson. The core application for believers is to exercise similar, or even greater, wisdom and intentionality in spiritual matters and in using earthly resources for eternal purposes. Just as the steward shrewdly prepared for his earthly future, we are called to be wise stewards of all God has given us, using our time, talents, and wealth to advance the Kingdom of God and secure our eternal standing. This parable challenges us to ask: Are we as proactive and committed to our spiritual growth and eternal destiny as worldly individuals are to their material security? It's a call to spiritual foresight and decisive action, leading to a life lived with an eternal perspective.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Luke 7:41

    There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty.

  • Luke 7:42

    And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most?

  • Matthew 18:24

    And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents.

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