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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 16:26 mean?

Explanation

The verse Luke 16:26 comes from the parable of 'The Rich Man and Lazarus'.

It contains the words of Abraham speaking from the afterlife to the rich man who has found himself in torment in Hades.

The "great gulf" represents an unbridgeable divide between the blessedness of the faithful, represented by Lazarus in Abraham's bosom, and the suffering of the unrighteous, represented by the rich man in Hades.

This separation stresses that after death, the destiny of souls is fixed and irreversible.

The literal meaning of the verse suggests that post-mortem, a chasm exists which prevents souls from moving between states of comfort and torment. On a deeper level, it illustrates the finality of God's judgment and the consequences of one’s actions and decisions made in life.

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Historical Context

The parable of 'The Rich Man and Lazarus' appears in the Gospel of Luke, written in the Greco-Roman world of the first century AD.

During this time, Jesus' teachings often contrasted with the prevailing cultural and religious norms.

The parable encapsulates prevalent Jewish beliefs about Sheol, the abode of the dead, and reflects the social divisions and economic disparities of the time, particularly the gap between the rich and the poor.

Theological Insights

From a theological perspective, different traditions have interpreted this passage in various ways:

Traditional Christianity views this as a depiction of the afterlife, demonstrating the permanence of one’s eternal destiny and the reality of heaven and hell.
Some see it as a metaphor for the unbridgeable gap between the righteous and the unrighteous that is solidified after death.
Others, within universalist or rehabilitative theological frameworks, may argue that this parable should not be taken as a literal depiction of the afterlife but as a symbolic story meant to inspire ethical living.

Practical Applications

In a practical sense, this verse can serve as a stark reminder to live a life aligned with spiritual and ethical principles, as actions in life have eternal consequences.

It can encourage individuals to prioritize compassion, justice, and humility, knowing that wealth and status provide no favor in the afterlife.

Cross-References

Matthew 25:46 - "And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal."
Revelation 20:14 - "And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire.

This is the second death."

Revelation 14:11 - "And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night..."

Language Study

The key phrase in Luke 16:26 is "great gulf fixed" (Greek: χάσμα μέγα ἐστήρικται). "χάσμα" (chasma) signifies a gap or chasm, signifying a vast space or divide.

The term "ἐστήρικται" (estēriktai) is a perfect passive indicative form of "στηρίζω" (stērizō), meaning "established" or "fixed", indicating a permanent state.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Within the broader context of ancient Near Eastern cultures, beliefs about an afterlife where the dead were separated by their actions in life are common.

For example, the ancient Egyptians believed that the soul would be judged in the afterlife, leading to either punishment or paradise.

Scientific Perspectives

From a scientific perspective, the concept of an afterlife and a fixed chasm between realms is a matter of faith and belief, as it cannot be measured or proven by empirical methods.

However, the idea of finality in the verse can be seen metaphorically in resonance with the law of entropy in thermodynamics, where certain processes are irreversible.

Commentaries

Scholars and theologians have found deep meaning in the parable. Diverse interpretations can be found:

Some, like John Calvin, suggest the "great gulf" represents God's just and unchangeable judgment.
Modern scholars highlight how the parable's social and economic critiques reflect Jesus's concern for the destitute and marginalized.
The New Jerome Biblical Commentary indicates that Luke is using this story to teach a lesson about the appropriate use of wealth and a warning about the finality of one’s choices.

Luke 16

Luke 16

What does Luke 16:26 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 16:26 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?