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.

In this parable, the unjust steward, facing the loss of his position, devises a plan to secure his future by reducing the debts owed to his master. His actions, though dishonest, are praised for their shrewdness, emphasizing the value of being wise and proactive. Jesus contrasts worldly wisdom with the “sons of light,” encouraging His followers to use their resources wisely, especially for eternal purposes. This parable serves as a reminder of the importance of spiritual foresight and prudent stewardship.

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 advises His disciples to use worldly wealth (“unrighteous mammon”) to build relationships that have eternal value. The term "everlasting home" suggests using material resources to foster generosity and kindness, which may lead to eternal rewards. This teaching highlights the importance of viewing wealth as a tool for serving God and others, rather than an end in itself.

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, starting with small responsibilities. Those who are trustworthy with worldly wealth (“unrighteous mammon”) demonstrate readiness for “true riches,” or spiritual responsibilities. By stressing that one cannot serve both God and wealth, Jesus reveals the conflicting priorities that wealth can bring, challenging His followers to choose their loyalty.

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 explains that the arrival of John the Baptist marked a new era where the kingdom of God is accessible. Though God’s law remains unchanging, the message of the kingdom brings fresh urgency. He also reiterates God’s high standard for marriage, underscoring its sanctity. These verses reflect the enduring relevance of God’s law and the serious implications of disregarding it.

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.’”

This story of the rich man and Lazarus starkly contrasts the fates of two individuals based on their earthly choices. The rich man, who ignored Lazarus' suffering, finds himself in torment after death, while Lazarus, having endured suffering on earth, is comforted in Abraham’s presence. The dialogue between the rich man and Abraham underscores the permanence of one’s eternal destiny and the importance of heeding God’s message now. The passage warns against ignoring God’s Word and reveals the consequences of a life centered on self-indulgence over compassion.