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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 16:22 mean?

Explanation

Luke 16:22 presents a stark contrast between the fates of two individuals in the afterlife.

The verse describes a beggar, traditionally known as Lazarus, and a rich man who experience vastly different outcomes upon death.

When the beggar dies, he is carried by angels to "Abraham's bosom," a phrase that symbolizes comfort and peace in the afterlife, closely associated with paradise.

This contrasts with the rich man, who simply dies and is buried.

The literal meaning is clear, detailing the post-mortem experiences of two individuals, but it also serves as a vehicle for deeper theological and ethical lessons, emphasizing the reversal of fortunes in the afterlife and suggesting a critique of earthly wealth and indifference to the plight of the poor.

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Historical Context

The verse is part of a parable told by Jesus in the Gospel of Luke, which is set in 1st-century Judea, a region under the influence of Hellenistic culture and the Roman Empire.

At that time, society was highly stratified, and there was a significant gap between the rich and the poor.

The historical context is important for understanding the shock value of the narrative, as many would have expected the rich man to be favored in the afterlife due to his earthly status.

Instead, the storytelling reverses common expectations and challenges the audience to rethink their assumptions about wealth and righteousness.

Theological Insights

Theologically, this verse has been interpreted in various ways:

Reversal of Fortune: It suggests a reversal of fortune in the afterlife where the poor and downtrodden are comforted, while those who enjoyed earthly pleasures without righteousness may find themselves in discomfort. 2.

Salvation by Grace: Some interpret Abraham's bosom as reflective of salvation by grace, not by works or wealth. 3.

Warning Against Love of Money: It serves as a warning against the love of money and a life devoid of compassion and charity. 4.

Intermediate State: For some, Abraham's bosom refers to an intermediate state between death and the final judgment, a place where the righteous await resurrection.

Practical Applications

In daily life, this verse can inspire individuals to:

Act with Compassion: Emphasize the importance of compassion and assistance to the poor and less fortunate. 2.

Reflect on Priorities: Question the pursuit of wealth as an ultimate goal and reflect on spiritual richness. 3.

Understand Justice: Trust in divine justice, that in the end, all will be held accountable for their actions and inactions. 4.

Fostering Humility: The life of Lazarus teaches the virtue of humility and resilience in the face of suffering.

Cross-References

Matthew 25:31-46 - Describes the final judgment where the righteous are separated from the wicked based on their acts of charity or lack thereof.
James 2:5 - "Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?"
James 5:1-6 - Warns the rich of miseries to come and condemns hoarding wealth and exploiting workers.

Language Study

"Lazarus" - A name derived from the Hebrew 'El'azar, meaning "God has helped." "Abraham's bosom" - A term used in rabbinic literature expressing closeness to Abraham in the afterlife, and by extension, favor with God.

"Beggar" - Translated from the Greek "ptōchos," often denoting someone who is destitute and relies on alms.

"Carried" - Implies a gentle conveyance of the soul by angels, suggesting honor and care.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In various ancient cultures, the afterlife was often viewed as a mirror of the earthly class system.

However, the parable of Lazarus and the rich man inverts this expectation. It has parallels with Egyptian mythology where the heart is weighed to determine one's afterlife fate.

Additionally, in Greek mythology, crossing into Hades often required payment, whereas Lazarus is carried freely by angels, emphasizing grace rather than wealth or status.

Scientific Perspectives

From a scientific perspective, afterlife narratives like the one in Luke 16:22 are beyond the scope of empirical verification and are considered a matter of faith or belief.

However, they can be studied for their psychological and social impact on individuals and societies, as well as their moral and ethical implications.

Commentaries

Commentators have offered various interpretations:

John Calvin saw the story as a comfort to the lowly and a warning to the indifferent rich. 2.

William Barclay noted that the parable emphasizes not the possession of wealth but the misuse of it. 3.

The Pulpit Commentary discusses the parable in the context of Jesus' teachings on wealth and poverty, suggesting that it reflects historical attitudes toward the rich and the destitute.

These commentaries focus on the ethical, spiritual, and moral lessons encapsulated in the verse, emphasizing the transformative power of Jesus' parables.

Luke 16

Luke 16

What does Luke 16:22 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 16:22 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?