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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 16:15 mean?

Explanation

The Bible verse Luke 16:15 is part of the conversation between Jesus and the Pharisees regarding wealth, status, and righteousness.

In this verse, Jesus addresses the Pharisees directly, accusing them of justifying their actions before men rather than God.

He points out that while the Pharisees may hold a high esteem in societal standards and seek to appear moral and virtuous in the eyes of people, God sees through the facade to their hearts.

The term "abomination" signifies something that is vastly detestable or disgraceful. Jesus implies that the values esteemed by humans, particularly those concerned with wealth and prestige, can be opposite to the values held by God.

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Historical Context

Luke 16:15 is situated within the Gospel of Luke, which is believed to have been written around AD 80-110.

The gospel addresses a primarily Gentile-Christian audience and highlights themes of social justice, care for the poor, and the reversal of societal expectations.

The Pharisees, a Jewish religious group known for their strict adherence to the law and outward piety, are often portrayed in the Gospels as in opposition to Jesus.

Jesus frequently criticizes them for their hypocrisy – focusing on external compliance to religious practices while neglecting internal righteousness and compassion.

Theological Insights

The theological implications of this verse bring forth the contrast between human and divine judgment.

From a Christian perspective, it suggests that God values the intentions and purity of the heart over the external accomplishments and recognitions that society deems important.

This verse is often interpreted within Christian theology as an admonition against hypocrisy and the moral dangers of materialism.

It may also reflect the biblical theme that God's ways are not man's ways, portraying a God who prioritizes different values than those often celebrated by human cultures.

Practical Applications

Practically, this verse can serve as a reminder to prioritize internal character development over external accolades. It may encourage individuals to seek approval from God through ethical and compassionate living rather than seeking validation from societal measures of success.

This verse could inspire acts of charity and humility, and a focus on aligning one's values with what is believed to be God's will, rather than conforming to potentially superficial societal norms.

Cross-References

Matthew 6:1 - "Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven."
1 Samuel 16:7 - "But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart."
Matthew 23:27 - "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness."

Language Study

Key words and phrases in the original Greek language of the New Testament for this verse include:

"justify" (δικαιοῦντες - dikaioúntes): To be righteous, to declare just.
"before men" (ἐνώπιον τῶν ἀνθρώπων - enópion tón anthrópōn): In the sight or presence of people.
"God knoweth your hearts" (ὁ θεὸς γινώσκει τὰς καρδίας - ho theòs ginṓskei tàs kardías): A declaration that God understands the innermost thoughts and intentions.
"abomination" (βδέλυγμα - bdélygma): An object of disgust, particularly in a religious or moral context.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Comparing this verse to other ancient religions, one might consider the Egyptian concept of Ma'at, a principle of truth, balance, and justice that was thought to be more important than external rituals. In Hinduism, there's an emphasis on inner purity and intentions as seen in the concept of karma.

This verse's idea that external appearances and the judgment of society are not as important as one's internal moral compass is a theme that resonates with many religious traditions worldwide.

Scientific Perspectives

While the verse itself does not directly tie into scientific concepts, it can be considered in light of psychological studies on authenticity and integrity.

Modern psychological research supports the idea that internal well-being and alignment between one's actions and values (congruence) are crucial for mental health, which parallels the biblical theme of integrity of the heart.

Commentaries

Various biblical scholars and theologians have commented on this verse.

Matthew Henry's commentary emphasizes that God, who perfectly knows the heart, detests the pride and vanity to which humans are prone.

The Expositor's Greek Testament notes that the verse reflects the idea that the things counted valuable by humans are often worthless in God's estimation.

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges points out that the verse serves as a reproach to the Pharisees, who were preoccupied with their image rather than the true righteousness God desires.

Luke 16

Luke 16

What does Luke 16:15 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 16:15 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?