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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 16:8 mean?

Explanation

Luke 16:8 features a conclusion to the parable of the dishonest manager, often called the parable of the shrewd manager or the unjust steward.

In this parable, Jesus tells the story of a manager who, upon learning that he will be fired, reduces the debts of his master's debtors to make friends with them so that they might welcome him into their homes after he loses his job.

When his master discovers this, he commends the manager, not for his dishonesty, but for his shrewdness in securing his future.

Jesus then draws a comparison, stating that the "children of this world," or those who do not follow God, are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than the "children of light," or the followers of God, are with theirs.

The literal meaning points to a wise management of earthly resources, while the deeper meaning urges the followers of Jesus to be more astute and proactive in their spiritual affairs.

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Historical Context

During the time of Jesus, stewards were often in charge of managing a wealthy person's property. This parable would have resonated with the first-century audience, as they would be familiar with the master-steward relationship.

The cultural setting in the Roman Empire held various perceptions of wealth, honor, and social connections. In this context, Jesus uses a common story of a shrewd manager to teach an unexpected spiritual lesson.

Theological Insights

Various theological insights can be drawn from Luke 16:8:

Utilitarian Morality: Some theologians propose that the parable teaches a pragmatic approach to life, using worldly wisdom for righteous ends.
Judgment on the Children of Light: Others see this as a critique of the complacency of the righteous, implying that they need to be more active and strategic in spreading the Kingdom of God.
Eschatological Urgency: The verse can also be interpreted as a prompt for believers to prepare for the coming judgment and kingdom, using their resources to gain eternal rewards.

Practical Applications

Luke 16:8 encourages believers to be wise and proactive in their approach to life:

Resource Management: Christians are urged to manage their possessions wisely, with an eye toward their long-term spiritual impact.
Network Building: Just as the manager made friends through practical means, believers are encouraged to foster relationships that are spiritually meaningful.
Strategic Thinking: The verse suggests that followers of Jesus should be as strategic in the spiritual realm as people are in their business or personal lives.

Cross-References

Matthew 10:16: "Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves."
Ephesians 5:15-16: "See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil."

Language Study

The Greek word translated as "wisely" is "φρονίμως" (phronimos), which can mean prudently, sensibly, or shrewdly. The contrast is made with "νῦν" (nyn) meaning "now" or "at this time," and "γενεᾷ" (genea) meaning "generation" or "age".

Furthermore, "τὰ τέκνα τοῦ αἰῶνος" (ta tekna tou aiōnos) are literally "the children of the age" or "this world", while "τὰ τέκνα τοῦ φωτός" (ta tekna tou phōtos) are "the children of light".

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

This parable can be compared to wisdom literature found in other ancient cultures that often praises shrewdness and practical knowledge.

For instance, many sayings in the ancient Egyptian "Instruction of Ptahhotep" stress the importance of cleverness and strategic social interactions.

In terms of religious comparison, the idea of prudential conduct for achieving a spiritual goal mirrors teachings in various traditions such as Buddhism's Noble Eightfold Path, which also recommends wise action.

Scientific Perspectives

Modern psychology might analyze the parable from the lens of social intelligence, exploring how people navigate social networks and strategize for personal gain. Evolutionary biology could also provide insights into how strategic behavior has been beneficial for survival.

However, there is no direct scientific perspective on the theological implications of Jesus's metaphor.

Commentaries

Various experts and Biblical commentators have diverse interpretations of Luke 16:8:

William Barclay: He suggests that the steward was commended for acting decisively.

He implies that men and women of the world often show more determination in their dubious dealings than Christians do in their work for God.

John Calvin: Calvin finds a warning in the parable against Christians becoming so preoccupied with heavenly things that they neglect wise management of earthly matters.
**Craig L.

Blomberg**: He interprets the parable as a call for Christians to use their material wealth to benefit others and to prepare for eternity.

Luke 16

Luke 16

What does Luke 16:8 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 16:8 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?