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Luke 16

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.

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.

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.

I am resolved what to do, that, when I am put out of the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses.

So he called every one of his lord's debtors unto him, and said unto the first, How much owest thou unto my lord?

And he said, An hundred measures of oil. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and sit down quickly, and write fifty.

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.

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.

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.

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.

If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?

And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man's, who shall give you that which is your own?

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.

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

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.

The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it.

And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail.

Whosoever putteth away his wife, and marrieth another, committeth adultery: and whosoever marrieth her that is put away from her husband committeth adultery.

There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:

And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,

And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.

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;

And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

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.

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.

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.

Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house:

For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.

Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.

And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.

And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.

What does Luke 16:14 mean?

Explanation

The verse, Luke 16:14, is part of the narrative where Jesus is teaching his disciples and speaking to a crowd that included the Pharisees.

The "covetous" in the verse refers to the Pharisees' greed and their love for money.

Jesus had just told the parable of the dishonest manager (Luke 16:1-13), which concludes with the statement that one cannot serve both God and money (Luke 16:13).

Upon hearing these teachings, the Pharisees, who were known to be lovers of money, ridiculed Jesus, indicating their rejection of his teachings and their disbelief that devotion to wealth was incompatible with devotion to God.

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Historical Context

The verse is set within the broader context of Jesus' journey toward Jerusalem.

The Pharisees, who were a sect within Judaism, were influential religious leaders during that time.

They were known for their strict adherence to the Torah and for their desire to protect Jewish identity and traditions, especially from Hellenistic influence.

At various times in the Gospels, the Pharisees are depicted as being in conflict with Jesus, particularly over interpretations of the Law and Jesus' claims about himself and his ministry.

Theological Insights

Theologically, this verse speaks to the conflict between the pursuit of wealth and the pursuit of righteousness.

The Pharisees are depicted as covetous, suggesting a preoccupation with material wealth at the expense of spiritual well-being.

This presents a caution against idolatry in the form of greed.

From a Christian perspective, the ridicule from the Pharisees can be seen as a predictable response from those whose hearts are hardened and who are unwilling to accept Jesus' radical teachings on wealth and discipleship.

Practical Applications

In practical terms, this verse can serve as a reminder to individuals to assess their own attitudes towards wealth and material possessions.

It challenges people to consider whether their pursuit of wealth is impeding their spiritual growth or their ability to serve God effectively.

It encourages believers to cultivate a life where God, rather than money, is the ultimate authority and guide for one's actions and decisions.

Cross-References

Luke 16:13 - "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."

Matthew 6:24 - "No man 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."

1 Timothy 6:10 - "For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows."

Language Study

The Greek word translated as "covetous" in the King James Version is "φιλαργυροί" (philargyroi), which means lovers of money or avaricious.

The word "derided" is translated from the Greek "ἐξεμυκτήριζον" (exemyktērizon), which means to turn up one's nose at, mock or scorn. These words highlight the Pharisees' scornful attitude towards Jesus' teachings on wealth and their own preoccupation with it.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In other ancient cultures, wealth was also a common measure of success and social status, much like it was among the Pharisees.

For example, in ancient Greece and Rome, wealth and patronage were key aspects of social hierarchy.

Similarly, in the ancient Near Eastern cultures, material prosperity was often seen as a sign of divine favor.

However, in contrast, many religious teachings, including those of Jesus, Buddhism, and Hinduism, offer a more critical view of wealth and material attachment.

Scientific Perspectives

From a scientific perspective, studies in psychology and behavioral economics would suggest that the pursuit of wealth is deeply rooted in human reward systems and status-seeking behavior.

While wealth can provide for basic needs and security, excessive preoccupation with wealth often does not correlate with increased happiness or well-being.

This intersects with Jesus' teachings that suggest a life overly focused on material gain can be detrimental to one's spiritual and moral health.

commentaries

The Expositor's Bible Commentary remarks that the Pharisees' ridicule reveals their contempt for Jesus' view on money, which threatened their own value system that equated wealth with God's favor.
Matthew Henry's Commentary suggests that the Pharisees, being greedy, were tormented by the doctrine which hit them so closely and exposed the sinful affections of their hearts, thus lashing out at Jesus.
John Gill's Exposition of the Bible interprets this passage as showcasing the conflict between human nature corrupted by sin (specifically avarice), and the pure and selfless teachings of Christ, highlighting the incompatibility between the love of mammon and the love of God.

Luke 16

Luke 16

What does Luke 16:14 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Luke Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

commentaries

Want more context?

What does Luke 16:14 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Luke Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

commentaries

Want more context?