Luke 16

In Luke 16, Jesus presents two important parables and teachings on wealth, stewardship, and the consequences of earthly choices on eternal destiny. First, He tells the Parable of the Unjust Steward, highlighting the need for wisdom in managing worldly resources. Then, He addresses the Pharisees' love for money and teaches about the law, divorce, and God's perspective on wealth. The chapter closes with the story of the rich man and Lazarus, a sobering lesson on the eternal implications of how we treat others and handle material wealth.

Luke 16:1-8 (NKJV)
1 He also said to His disciples: “There was a certain rich man who had a steward, and an accusation was brought to him that this man was wasting his goods.
2 So he called him and said to him, ‘What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your stewardship, for you can no longer be steward.’
3 Then the steward said within himself, ‘What shall I do? For my master is taking the stewardship away from me. I cannot dig; I am ashamed to beg.
4 I have 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 master’s debtors to him, and said to the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’
6 And he said, ‘A hundred measures of oil.’ So he said to him, ‘Take your bill, and sit down quickly and write fifty.’
7 Then he said to another, ‘And how much do you owe?’ So he said, ‘A hundred measures of wheat.’ And he said to him, ‘Take your bill, and write eighty.’
8 So the master commended the unjust steward because he had dealt shrewdly. For the sons of this world are more shrewd in their generation than the sons of light.

Jesus shares the parable of the unjust steward to teach a profound lesson on wisdom and foresight in managing resources. The steward, accused of wasting his master’s possessions, faces dismissal. Recognizing his vulnerable position, he devises a clever plan to secure his future. He reduces the debts owed by his master’s debtors, gaining their goodwill and ensuring their support once he is unemployed. Surprisingly, the master commends the steward, not for his dishonesty but for his shrewdness in planning ahead.

Jesus uses this parable to highlight the importance of wisdom and proactive management of resources, especially in preparing for eternity. He contrasts the “sons of this world,” who are often resourceful in securing temporal well-being, with the “sons of light,” who may lack similar diligence in spiritual matters. The parable challenges believers to use worldly wealth and opportunities to build relationships, help others find Jesus, and invest in God’s kingdom, thereby securing eternal rewards. It underscores the need for intentional, strategic stewardship that prioritizes eternal values over temporary possessions.

Luke 16:9 (NKJV)
9 “And I say to you, make friends for yourselves by unrighteous mammon, that when you fail, they may receive you into an everlasting home.”

Jesus teaches that worldly wealth, though temporary and imperfect, can be used to serve eternal purposes. By using material resources to help others, show kindness, and support God’s work, believers can create meaningful relationships that reflect the values of God’s kingdom. When earthly wealth fails, the impact of these acts will have lasting significance in God’s eternal plan, aligning one’s priorities with eternal, rather than temporary, treasures.

Luke 16:10-13 (NKJV)
10 “He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much.
11 Therefore if you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?
12 And if you have not been faithful in what is another man’s, who will give you what 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 be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.”

Jesus emphasizes the principle of faithfulness, stating that those who are trustworthy in small matters will also be faithful in larger responsibilities, while those dishonest in little will be untrustworthy with much. He draws a connection between managing worldly wealth (referred to as "unrighteous mammon") and being entrusted with true spiritual riches. Jesus warns that no one can serve two masters, as devotion to one will lead to the neglect or rejection of the other. He concludes by declaring that serving God and pursuing wealth as a master are incompatible. This passage challenges believers to prioritize loyalty to God over material possessions and to use resources in ways that align with His will.

Luke 16:14-15 (NKJV)
14 Now the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, also heard all these things, and they derided Him.
15 And He said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God.”

The Pharisees, known for their attachment to wealth, react scornfully to Jesus' teachings. Jesus confronts their hypocrisy, pointing out that while they justify themselves outwardly, God judges the heart’s true intent. This verse highlights God’s contrasting values, revealing that what society esteems may be detestable to God if rooted in pride or greed.

Luke 16:16-18 (NKJV)
16 “The law and the prophets were until John. Since that time the kingdom of God has been preached, and everyone is pressing into it.
17 And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one tittle of the law to fail.
18 “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced from her husband commits adultery.”

Jesus emphasizes the transition from the Old Testament era of the Law and the Prophets to the fulfillment found in the proclamation of the kingdom of God. He explains that the Law and the Prophets governed until John the Baptist, marking the point when the gospel of the kingdom began to be preached and eagerly embraced. Although the Law and the Prophets are fulfilled in Him (Matthew 5:17), Jesus affirms their enduring moral authority, stating that it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for the smallest part of the law to fail. To demonstrate this, He addresses the issue of marriage and divorce. While the Mosaic Law permitted a certificate of divorce (Deuteronomy 24:1-4) because of human hardness of heart (Matthew 19:8), Jesus reaffirms God’s original design for marriage as a lifelong covenant. By condemning divorce and remarriage as adultery, He illustrates that while the law is fulfilled in Him, its moral principles remain intact and clarified in the kingdom of God.

Luke 16:19-31 (NKJV)
19 “There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day.
20 But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid at his gate,
21 desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.
22 So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and was buried.
23 And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
24 “Then 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 in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented.
26 And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us.’
27 “Then he said, ‘I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father’s house,
28 for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.’
29 Abraham said to him, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.’
30 And he said, ‘No, father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’
31 But he said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.’”

Jesus tells the story of the rich man and Lazarus, which is a parable rather than a literal description of the afterlife. The parable uses familiar imagery to convey deeper spiritual truths. It contrasts the earthly lives of a rich man, who lived in luxury, and Lazarus, a poor beggar, highlighting a reversal of fortunes after death. This is not meant to teach that the wicked are tormented for eternity but rather to emphasize accountability for how one uses their blessings and treats others.

The story draws on cultural imagery of Hades to make a point, not to describe the literal mechanics of the afterlife. Other Bible passages affirm that the wicked will face ultimate destruction, not eternal torment (e.g., Malachi 4:1-3, Psalm 37:20).

The final part of the parable focuses on the rich man’s plea for his brothers to be warned. Abraham replies that they have "Moses and the Prophets" (the Old Testament Scriptures) to guide them, emphasizing that the foundation of faith begins with listening to and believing in the Scriptures. The parable suggests that rejecting God’s written Word leads to rejecting Jesus, as the Scriptures testify about Him. Even a miraculous sign, such as someone rising from the dead, would not convince those who refuse to believe the Word of God.