Luke 16:6

KJV

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

KJV (with Strong's)

And {G1161} he said {G2036}, An hundred {G1540} measures {G943} of oil {G1637}. And {G2532} he said {G2036} unto him {G846}, Take {G1209} thy {G4675} bill {G1121}, and {G2532} sit down {G2523} quickly {G5030}, and write {G1125} fifty {G4004}.

Complete Jewish Bible

‘Eight hundred gallons of olive oil,’ he replied. ‘Take your note back,’ he told him. ‘Now, quickly! Sit down and write one for four hundred!’

Berean Standard Bible

‘A hundred measures of olive oil,’ he answered. ‘Take your bill,’ said the manager. ‘Sit down quickly, and write fifty.’

American Standard Version

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

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Luke 16:6 captures a pivotal moment in Jesus's Parable of the Unjust Steward, where the shrewd but dishonest manager, facing imminent dismissal, takes decisive action to secure his future. Upon learning of his impending unemployment, he summons one of his master's debtors, who owes a substantial "hundred measures of oil," and instructs him to quickly amend his promissory note, reducing the debt by half to "fifty." This audacious act highlights the steward's desperate yet ingenious strategy to cultivate favor and obligation from others before his authority completely dissipates, setting the stage for Jesus's counter-intuitive commendation of his worldly prudence.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is embedded within the opening narrative of [the Parable of the Unjust Steward](/luke/16-1-13 "Luke 16:1-13 - The Parable of the Unjust Steward"), which Jesus tells to His disciples. Immediately preceding this verse, the steward has been accused of squandering his master's possessions and is informed that he will be dismissed ([Luke 16:1-2](/luke/16-1-2 "Luke 16:1-2 - The Steward Accused")). Realizing his dire predicament—"I cannot dig; to beg I am ashamed" ([Luke 16:3](/luke/16-3 "Luke 16:3 - The Steward's Dilemma"))—he devises a plan to ensure he will be welcomed into others' homes after his dismissal. Luke 16:6 details the first concrete step of this plan, demonstrating his swift and calculated manipulation of his remaining authority. The subsequent verses ([Luke 16:7-8a](/luke/16-7-8a "Luke 16:7-8a - The Steward's Further Actions and Master's Response")) continue to describe his actions with other debtors and the master's surprising commendation of his shrewdness.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In first-century Judea, a steward (οἰκονόμος, _oikonomos_) was a powerful and trusted figure, often a slave or freedman, responsible for managing the entirety of a wealthy landowner's estate, including finances, produce, and debts. Such a position carried immense authority and social standing. Losing this role meant immediate destitution and social disgrace, as the steward had no other marketable skills or social safety net. Debts were recorded on written bonds (γραμματά, _grammata_), and the quantities of oil and wheat mentioned (baths and cors) were substantial, representing significant agricultural produce and wealth. Oil, specifically olive oil, was a staple commodity, used for food, fuel, medicine, and anointing, and thus represented real, tangible wealth. The reduction of such a large debt would create a powerful sense of obligation and gratitude from the debtor towards the steward, illustrating the steward's understanding of social dynamics and future reciprocity.
* **Key Themes:** Luke 16:6 contributes significantly to several key themes within the parable and Jesus's broader teaching. Foremost is the theme of **shrewdness and prudence**, as the steward demonstrates remarkable foresight and strategic thinking in leveraging his fleeting authority to secure his future. Although his actions are dishonest, Jesus later commends this very quality of "shrewdness" ([Luke 16:8](/luke/16-8 "Luke 16:8 - The Master Commends the Unjust Steward's Shrewdness")) as a trait that "the sons of this world" exhibit more effectively than "the sons of light" in their own affairs. Another prominent theme is **urgency in action**, highlighted by the command to "sit down quickly." The steward acts without hesitation, recognizing the limited window of opportunity before his authority is stripped away. This urgency serves as a stark contrast to the often lackadaisical approach believers might take toward spiritual matters. Finally, the verse underscores the theme of **preparation for the future**, as the steward's entire scheme is a calculated effort to prepare for his life after losing his job, serving as an inverted challenge for believers to be equally diligent and proactive in preparing for their eternal future ([Luke 16:9](/luke/16-9 "Luke 16:9 - Using Worldly Wealth for Eternal Riches")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **bill (Greek, _grámma'_):** From _graphō_ (to write), this term refers to a "writing," specifically a legal document, letter, or promissory note. In this context, it is the written bond or IOU that legally documented the debtor's obligation to the master. The steward's instruction to "take thy bill" means to take the existing legal document of debt, which he then instructs to be fraudulently altered.
* **write (Greek, _gráphō'_):** A primary verb meaning "to grave," but more commonly "to write." Here, it signifies the act of formally recording the new, reduced debt amount onto the promissory note. The steward's command to "write fifty" is a direct instruction to falsify the official record, demonstrating his manipulation of the master's assets for his own benefit.
* **quickly (Greek, _tachéōs'_):** An adverb meaning "speedily" or "rapidly." This word emphasizes the immediate and decisive nature of the steward's actions. He understands the urgency of his situation and acts without delay, leveraging his remaining authority before it is too late. This swiftness is a key aspect of the "shrewdness" Jesus later highlights.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And he said, An hundred measures of oil."**: This clause introduces the first debtor summoned by the unjust steward. The debtor's original obligation is stated as "an hundred measures of oil." A "measure" (Greek, _bátos_) was a significant liquid volume, roughly 8-9 gallons (36-40 liters). Thus, 100 measures represented a very large quantity of oil (approximately 800-900 gallons), indicating a substantial debt and a significant asset of the master.
* **"And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and sit down quickly, and write fifty."**: This is the steward's direct instruction to the debtor, revealing his cunning plan. He tells the debtor to retrieve his "bill" (promissory note), emphasizing the legal document that recorded the debt. The command to "sit down quickly" underscores the urgency and secrecy of the act—the steward wants the transaction completed swiftly and discreetly before his dismissal. Finally, the instruction to "write fifty" means to fraudulently alter the original document, reducing the debt by half. This act, while dishonest, was designed to earn the steward the debtor's gratitude and future favor.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several significant literary devices. The entire passage is part of a **Parable**, a narrative told by Jesus to illustrate a spiritual truth. Within this specific verse, there is strong **Irony**: the steward, an unrighteous character, acts with a worldly wisdom and decisiveness that Jesus later commends for its strategic application, even though the steward's motives and methods are corrupt. The "measures of oil" serve as **Symbolism** for material wealth and obligations, representing the earthly resources that Jesus encourages His disciples to manage with eternal perspective. The phrase "sit down quickly" uses **Emphasis** to highlight the steward's sense of urgency and the immediate, decisive nature of his plan, a characteristic Jesus wants His followers to emulate in spiritual matters.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Luke 16:6, within the broader parable, challenges believers to consider their stewardship of earthly resources in light of eternal realities. While Jesus does not condone the steward's dishonesty, He highlights his shrewdness and foresight in preparing for his future. The theological implication is that if "the sons of this world" are so diligent and strategic in managing their temporary affairs for temporary gain, how much more should "the sons of light" be in managing their eternal affairs for eternal gain? This verse underscores the urgency of using our temporal wealth and opportunities to secure true, lasting riches in God's kingdom, recognizing that our time and resources are finite. It calls for a radical re-evaluation of priorities, urging believers to invest in what truly lasts.

* [Matthew 6:19-21](/matthew/6-19-21 "Matthew 6:19-21 - Lay Up Treasures in Heaven")
* [Luke 12:33-34](/luke/12-33-34 "Luke 12:33-34 - Sell Your Possessions and Give to the Poor")
* [Luke 16:9](/luke/16-9 "Luke 16:9 - Make Friends for Yourselves by Means of Unrighteous Wealth")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Luke 16:6, though depicting a morally ambiguous act, serves as a profound mirror for self-examination regarding our spiritual diligence. The unjust steward, facing a crisis, acts with immediate, decisive, and strategic foresight to leverage his remaining influence for his future security. This prompts us to ask whether we, as followers of Christ, exhibit a comparable level of urgency, shrewdness, and intentionality in stewarding the resources—time, talents, spiritual gifts, and material wealth—God has entrusted to us for eternal purposes. Are we as proactive in preparing for our eternal dwelling and impacting God's kingdom as the steward was for his earthly survival? The parable challenges us to move beyond passive faith to active, strategic engagement with our spiritual lives, recognizing the fleeting nature of earthly opportunities and the eternal weight of our choices.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of my life do I exhibit "worldly" shrewdness and urgency that I could redirect or apply to my spiritual growth and service?**
* **How does the steward's immediate action to secure his future challenge my own procrastination or complacency in spiritual matters?**
* **What "bills" (resources, opportunities, relationships) has God entrusted to me that I can strategically leverage for eternal impact, rather than solely for temporary gain?**
* **Am I as diligent in preparing for my eternal future with Christ as the unjust steward was in preparing for his earthly unemployment?**

### FAQ

**Why did Jesus use a dishonest steward as an example, and does Luke 16:6 condone his actions?**

Answer: Jesus often used examples from everyday life, even those with morally questionable characters, to illustrate deeper spiritual truths. In the Parable of the Unjust Steward, Jesus explicitly does *not* commend the steward's dishonesty or his squandering of the master's assets. Instead, as indicated in [Luke 16:8](/luke/16-8 "Luke 16:8 - The Master Commends the Unjust Steward's Shrewdness"), the master (and by extension, Jesus) commends the steward's "shrewdness" or "prudence" (φρονίμως, _phronímōs_). This refers to his foresight, quick thinking, and decisive action in a crisis to secure his future. The lesson is not to be dishonest, but to be as diligent, strategic, and urgent in spiritual matters (preparing for eternity, using resources for God's kingdom) as worldly people are in their temporal pursuits. Luke 16:6 simply details the shrewd action that serves as the object lesson.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While Luke 16:6 and the broader Parable of the Unjust Steward do not directly prophesy Christ, they powerfully illuminate principles of the Kingdom of God and the nature of discipleship that find their ultimate fulfillment in Him. The steward's urgent and decisive action to secure his future, though worldly and self-serving, stands in stark contrast to the often passive approach of "the sons of light" toward their eternal destiny. Jesus, the ultimate "master" and "landowner," calls His followers to a radical stewardship of all they possess, not for their own earthly gain, but for His Kingdom. The "true riches" Jesus speaks of are found in a relationship with Him and in investing in His eternal purposes. The steward's desperate scramble for earthly welcome foreshadows the believer's call to use "unrighteous mammon" ([Luke 16:9](/luke/16-9 "Luke 16:9 - Using Worldly Wealth for Eternal Riches")) to make friends who will welcome them into "eternal dwellings"—a welcome secured ultimately by Christ's sacrifice and the grace He extends. The urgency to act, demonstrated by the steward in [Luke 16:6](/luke/16-6 "Luke 16:6 - The Steward Reduces the Oil Debt"), becomes for the believer an urgency to respond to the Gospel, to live faithfully for Christ, and to prepare for His glorious return ([Matthew 24:42-44](/matthew/24-42-44 "Matthew 24:42-44 - Be Ready for the Son of Man's Coming")). The true "bill" of debt, our sin, was not merely reduced but completely paid by the Lamb of God ([John 1:29](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God")), securing our eternal welcome.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Titus 2:10

Not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.

Luke 16:12

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

Luke 16:9

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.