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.
Luke 16 in the King James Version (KJV) of the Bible delivers profound messages through the narratives of two parables: The Parable of the Shrewd Manager and The Rich Man and Lazarus. Each parable tackles different themes, but they are connected through the overarching theme of the importance of faithfulness and righteousness, especially in relation to wealth and resources.
The chapter begins with the Parable of the Shrewd Manager (verses 1-13), where Jesus tells a story about a rich man's manager who was reported to have wasted his master's possessions. When confronted and asked to make an account of his management before dismissal, the manager, realizing his predicament, shrewdly reduces the debts of his master's debtors to secure his future. When his master learns of this, he praises the dishonest manager for his shrewdness.
Jesus uses this parable to teach his disciples about the wise use of resources. The manager's actions, although dishonest, are commended for their prudence. Jesus advises his followers to "Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations" (Luke 16:9). This does not mean that Jesus is endorsing dishonesty. Instead, he is highlighting the importance of being shrewd and wise in the use of resources, especially in regard to one's spiritual journey.
The parable also introduces the concept of faithfulness in small things leading to faithfulness in much, and conversely, dishonesty in little leading to dishonesty in much (Luke 16:10). This principle goes beyond financial matters; it applies to all aspects of life. The crux of the parable is in the verse: "o 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." (Luke 16:13). Here, Jesus underscores the impossibility of serving both God and wealth. This statement brings to light the importance of prioritizing God over material possessions.
The second part of Luke 16 (verses 19-31) presents the Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus. This parable is a stark contrast to the previous one. It tells the story of a rich man who lived in luxury, while a poor man named Lazarus languished at his gate, desiring to eat the crumbs falling from the rich man's table. Both men die, with Lazarus carried by the angels to Abraham's bosom while the rich man ends up in Hades, tormented in flame.
In his torment, the rich man sees Lazarus at peace in Abraham's bosom and begs Abraham to send Lazarus to cool his tongue with water. Abraham replies that a great chasm separates them, making it impossible for anyone to cross from one side to the other. The rich man then pleads with Abraham to send Lazarus back to the living to warn his brothers about the torment of Hades. Abraham refuses, saying, "If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead." (Luke 16:31).
The Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus underscores the consequences of ignoring the needs of the less fortunate and prioritizing wealth over righteousness. The rich man's torment in the afterlife is a direct result of his lack of compassion and mercy towards Lazarus in their earthly life. This parable is a stark reminder of the importance of living a righteous life and showing kindness to the less fortunate. It also emphasizes the importance of heeding the teachings of the Scriptures, as represented by Moses and the prophets, as a guide to righteous living.
Between the two parables, Jesus addresses the Pharisees who were scoffing at His teachings (Luke 16:14-18). He rebukes them for their hypocrisy, stating that while they justify themselves in the eyes of men, God knows their hearts. He goes on to say that what is highly valued among men is detestable in God's sight. He also briefly addresses the law and its permanence, stating that it is easier for heaven and earth to disappear than for the smallest detail of the law to be dismissed. He ends this interlude by addressing divorce and remarriage, stating that anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery, and the man who marries a divorced woman also commits adultery.
This section serves as a reminder that God's laws are eternal and unchanging, and that they are the ultimate measure of righteousness, not human standards. It also reinforces the theme of faithfulness, this time in the context of marital relationships.
Luke 16, in its entirety, delivers a profound message about the importance of faithfulness and righteousness, especially in relation to wealth and resources. It underscores the principle that faithfulness in small matters leads to faithfulness in much, and that one cannot serve both God and money. It is a call to live a life of righteousness, to show kindness to the less fortunate, and to be faithful to God's laws. The chapter also emphasizes the importance of heeding the teachings of the Scriptures as a guide to righteous living. It is a stark reminder that human standards of righteousness are not the ultimate measure, but rather God's eternal and unchanging laws.
Luke 16 is a call to all Christians to examine their attitudes towards wealth and resources, their treatment of others, and their commitment to God's laws. It is a call to live a life of faithfulness and righteousness, not just in financial matters, but in all aspects of life. By doing so, Christians can ensure that they are serving God and not money, and that they are living a life that is pleasing to Him.
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