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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 16:4 mean?

Explanation

The verse Luke 16:4 features the thoughts of an unrighteous steward who is about to lose his job due to his mismanagement of his master's resources.

In a moment of self-reflection prompted by crisis, the steward devises a plan to ensure that, once he is removed from his position, he will be welcomed by others into their homes.

This reflects his concern for his future well-being, anticipating the need for support once his current means of livelihood is gone.

The steward is looking to use his remaining time and influence to secure goodwill from his master's debtors by reducing their debts, thus obliging them to reciprocate his favor with hospitality.

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Historical Context

This verse is part of the Parable of the Dishonest Manager (also known as the Parable of the Shrewd Steward), which is found in Luke 16:1-13. The parable is situated in the context of Jesus' teaching to his disciples.

Historically, stewards were servants entrusted with the management of their master's household or finances. In the cultural setting of ancient Palestine under Roman rule, hospitality was a fundamental social norm, and securing one's future through such relationships was common practice.

Theological Insights

The parable has been interpreted in various ways within Christian theology.

One perspective sees the steward's shrewdness praised not for his dishonesty but his prudence in preparing for the future.

This interpretation suggests that followers of Jesus should wisely use their material resources to facilitate relationships and future security in terms of eternal life.

Another theological viewpoint understands this as a critique against using dishonest wealth for selfish gains, emphasizing a contrast between worldly wealth and true riches in the kingdom of God.

This interpretation highlights faithfulness in small matters as indicative of faithfulness in much, including spiritual matters.

Practical Applications

From this verse, practical applications can be derived regarding stewardship and planning for the future.

It highlights the importance of using one's position and resources, while still available, to build relationships and secure a support network.

It serves as a reminder to evaluate one's current actions and their implications for the future, both in personal and spiritual terms.

Cross-References

Luke 16:9 - "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."
Matthew 25:2-4 - The Parable of the Ten Virgins and being prepared.
Luke 12:42-43 - "Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household..."

Language Study

The key word in the original Greek text for this verse is "ἔξω," which means "out" (Strong's G1854), and refers to being "put out" of the stewardship.

Another notable word is "οἰκίας" (Strong's G3614), meaning "houses," which signifies not just a physical dwelling but also a place of belonging and acceptance.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In many ancient cultures, including those at the time of Jesus, hospitality was not just a social courtesy but an essential moral practice.

The principle of reciprocity was deeply embedded in the cultural expectations, so the steward's intention would have been understood as shrewdly leveraging social norms for future security.

Compared to other ancient religions, Judaism placed high value on the ethical treatment of others, including business dealings, which adds layers to the interpretation of this parable.

Scientific Perspectives

The verse does not directly intersect with scientific understandings per se, but it does touch upon psychological and social sciences in terms of human behavior and planning for future uncertainty.

The steward's actions can be seen as a form of social intelligence and the application of trust and reciprocity principles, concepts that are studied in social psychology and behavioral economics.

Commentaries

Biblical scholars differ in their interpretations of this verse.

Some, such as William Barclay, suggest that Jesus commended the steward not for his dishonesty but for his shrewdness and foresight.

Others, like John Calvin, see it as a lesson against the love of money and the use of unjust means for acquiring or maintaining wealth.

Still, others view it as a complex parable with multiple layers of meaning, addressing issues of stewardship, prudence, and the perils of wealth from both a worldly and a spiritual perspective.

Luke 16

Luke 16

What does Luke 16:4 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 16:4 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?