Read Luke chapter 16 online with LogosAI Bible study tools, highlights, and cross references.
Luke 16 is part of “Journey to Jerusalem” (9:51–19:27) in the outline of Luke.
Luke 16 summary
The scope of Christ's discourse in this chapter is to awaken and quicken us all so to use this world as not to abuse it, so to manage all our possessions and enjoyments here as that they may make for us, and may not make against us in the other world; for they will do either the one or the other, according as we use them now. I. If we do good with them, and lay out what we have in works of piety and charity, we shall reap the benefit of it in the world to come; and this he shows in the parable of the unjust steward, who made so good a hand of his lord's goods that, when he was turned out of his stewardship, he had a comfortable subsistence to betake himself to. The parable itself we have (Luk 16:1-8); the explanation and application of it (Luk 16:9-13); and the contempt which the Pharisees put upon the doctrine Christ preached to them, for which he sharply reproved them, adding some other weighty sayings (Luk 16:14-18). II. It, instead of doing good with our worldly enjoyments, we make them the food and fuel of our lusts, of our luxury and sensuality, and deny relief to the poor, we shall certainly perish eternally, and the things of this world, which were thus abused, will but add to our misery and torment. This he shows in the other parable of the rich man and Lazarus, which has likewise a further intention, and that is, to awaken us all to take the warning given us by the written word, and not to expect immediate messages from the other world (Luk 16:19-31).
Source: Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible (1706–21; Romans–Revelation completed by Nonconformist ministers). Public domain. Digital text: Free Use Bible API (bible.helloao.org).
1 And he sayde also vnto his disciples, There was a certaine riche man, which had a stewarde, and he was accused vnto him, that he wasted his goods.
2 And hee called him, and saide vnto him, Howe is it that I heare this of thee? Giue an accounts of thy stewardship: for thou maiest be no longer steward.
3 Then the stewarde saide within himselfe, What shall I doe? for my master taketh away from me the stewardship. I cannot digge, and to begge I am ashamed.
4 I knowe what I will doe, that when I am put out of the stewardship, they may receiue mee into their houses.
5 Then called he vnto him euery one of his masters detters, and said vnto the first, Howe much owest thou vnto my master?
6 And he said, An hudreth measures of oyle. And he saide to him, Take thy writing, and sitte downe quickely, and write fiftie.
7 Then said he to another, How much owest thou? And hee sayde, An hundreth measures of wheate. Then he saide to him, Take thy writing, and write foure score.
8 And the Lord commended the vniust stewarde, because he had done wisely. Wherefore the children of this worlde are in their generation wiser then the children of light.
9 And I say vnto you, Make you friends with the riches of iniquitie, that when ye shall want, they may receiue you into euerlasting habitations.
10 He that is faithfull in the least, hee is also faithful in much: and he that is vniust in the least, is vniust also in much.
11 If then ye haue not ben faithful in the wicked riches, who wil trust you in the true treasure?
12 And if ye haue not bene faithfull in another mans goods, who shall giue you that which is yours?
13 No seruaunt can serue two masters: for either he shall hate the one, and loue the other: or els he shall leane to the one, and despise the other. Yee can not serue God and riches.
14 All these thinges heard the Pharises also which were couetous, and they scoffed at him.
15 Then he sayde vnto them, Yee are they, which iustifie your selues before men: but God knoweth your heartes: for that which is highly esteemed among men, is abomination in the sight of God.
16 The Lawe and the Prophets endured vntill Iohn: and since that time the kingdome of God is preached, and euery man preasseth into it.
17 Nowe it is more easie that heauen and earth shoulde passe away, then that one title of the Lawe should fall.
18 Whosoeuer putteth away his wife, and marieth another, committeth adulterie: and whosoeuer marieth her that is put away from her husband, committeth adulterie.
19 There was a certaine riche man, which was clothed in purple and fine linnen, and fared well and delicately euery day.
20 Also there was a certaine begger named Lazarus, which was laide at his gate full of sores,
21 And desired to bee refreshed with the crommes that fell from the riche mans table: yea, and the dogges came and licked his sores.
22 And it was so that the begger died, and was caried by the Angels into Abrahams bosome. The rich man also died, and was buried.
23 And being in hell in torments, he lift vp his eyes, and sawe Abraham a farre off, and Lazarus in his bosome.
24 Then he cried, and saide, Father Abraham, haue mercie on mee, and sende Lazarus that hee may dippe the tip of his finger in water, and coole my tongue: for I am tormented in this flame.
25 But Abraham saide, Sonne, remember that thou in thy life time receiuedst thy pleasures, and likewise Lazarus paines: now therefore is he comforted, and thou art tormented.
26 Besides all this, betweene you and vs there is a great gulfe set, so that they which would goe from hence to you, can not: neither can they come from thence to vs.
27 Then he said, I pray thee therfore, father, that thou wouldest sende him to my fathers house,
28 (For I haue fiue brethren) that he may testifie vnto them, least they also come into this place of torment.
29 Abraham said vnto him, They haue Moses and the Prophets: let them heare them.
30 And he sayde, Nay, father Abraham: but if one came vnto them from the dead, they will amend their liues.
31 Then he saide vnto him, If they heare not Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rise from the dead againe.