Luke 16

King James Version

Full text for Luke Chapter 16

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.›

14And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided him.

15And 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.›

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

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.

Medium Summary

The chapter begins with the parable of the unjust steward, who, facing dismissal, shrewdly reduces his lord's debtors' bills to secure future favor. Jesus commends the steward's worldly wisdom, urging his disciples to similarly use "mammon of unrighteousness" to make friends for "everlasting habitations." He then teaches on the principle of faithfulness, stating that fidelity in the least matters signifies fidelity in much, and explicitly declares that no one can serve both God and mammon. The covetous Pharisees deride Jesus, leading him to rebuke their self-justification and affirm the enduring authority of the Law, despite the preaching of the Kingdom of God. The chapter culminates with the parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus, where the rich man, who lived sumptuously, is tormented in hell, while the poor beggar Lazarus is comforted in Abraham's bosom. Abraham explains the fixed gulf between them and refuses the rich man's request to send Lazarus to warn his brothers, stating that if they do not hear Moses and the prophets, they will not be persuaded even by one risen from the dead.

Long Summary

Luke 16 opens with Jesus recounting the parable of an unjust steward to his disciples. This steward, accused of wasting his master's goods, is called to give an account and faces dismissal. To secure his future, he cunningly reduces the debts of his master's debtors. His master, though wronged, commends the steward's shrewdness, noting that "the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light." Jesus then applies this lesson, instructing his disciples to make "friends of the mammon of unrighteousness," so that when they fail, these friends may receive them into "everlasting habitations." He further elaborates on the importance of faithfulness, stating that one who is faithful in the least is also faithful in much, and that unfaithfulness in worldly riches precludes trust with true riches. A pivotal teaching follows, declaring that "No servant can serve two masters," concluding with the absolute statement: "Ye cannot serve God and mammon." The covetous Pharisees, hearing these teachings, deride Jesus. He confronts their self-justification, asserting that God knows their hearts and that what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in God's sight. Jesus then affirms the continuity and enduring authority of the Law and the Prophets, stating that they were until John, since which time the Kingdom of God is preached, yet not one "tittle of the law" shall fail, illustrating this with a teaching on the sanctity of marriage and the sin of adultery. The chapter concludes with the poignant parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus. The rich man lives in luxury, while the beggar Lazarus lies at his gate, desiring crumbs and having his sores licked by dogs. Both men die; Lazarus is carried by angels to "Abraham's bosom," while the rich man is buried and finds himself in hell, tormented. He pleads with Abraham for relief and then for Lazarus to warn his five brothers. Abraham explains the fixed gulf between them and asserts that his brothers have "Moses and the prophets" for guidance, and if they do not hear them, they would not be persuaded even if one rose from the dead.

Core Concepts

  • Wise StewardshipThe parable of the unjust steward highlights the shrewdness of worldly individuals in planning for their future, prompting Jesus to encourage his disciples to apply similar foresight in using earthly resources for eternal benefit.
  • Mammon of UnrighteousnessThis term refers to worldly wealth, which Jesus instructs his followers to use wisely to gain spiritual advantage and secure their place in "everlasting habitations," rather than hoarding it or serving it as a master.
  • Serving Two MastersJesus unequivocally states that it is impossible to serve both God and mammon, demanding exclusive devotion to God and illustrating the inherent conflict between spiritual and material allegiances.
  • The Law and the ProphetsJesus affirms the enduring authority and immutability of the Mosaic Law, stating that it is easier for heaven and earth to pass than for one "tittle of the law to fail," even as the Kingdom of God is now preached.
  • Afterlife and Divine JudgmentThe parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus vividly depicts the immediate and irreversible consequences of earthly choices, showing a fixed gulf between the comforted righteous in Abraham's bosom and the tormented unrighteous in hell.
  • Faithfulness in LittleJesus teaches that one's faithfulness in small matters, such as the use of "unrighteous mammon," is a direct indicator of their trustworthiness and capacity for faithfulness in greater, spiritual matters or "true riches."
  • Sufficiency of ScriptureAbraham's response to the rich man's plea for his brothers emphasizes that the written word of "Moses and the prophets" is sufficient for spiritual guidance and repentance, and that even a miraculous resurrection would not persuade those who reject it.