the Fifth Sunday after Easter
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THE MESSAGE
Luke 16:1
Bible Study Resources
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- CondensedParallel Translations
Now he said to the disciples: “There was a rich
And hee said also vnto his disciples, There was a certaine rich man which had a Steward, and the same was accused vnto him that he had wasted his goods.
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.
He also said to the disciples, "There was a rich man who had a manager, and charges were brought to him that this man was wasting his possessions.
Now He was also saying to the disciples, "There was a rich man who had a manager, and this manager was reported to him as squandering his possessions.
Jesus also said to his followers, "Once there was a rich man who had a manager to take care of his business. This manager was accused of cheating him.
Now Jesus was also saying to the disciples, "There was a certain rich man who had a manager [of his estate], and accusations [against this man] were brought to him, that this man was squandering his [master's] possessions.
Now He was also saying to the disciples, "There was a rich man who had a manager, and this manager was reported to him as squandering his possessions.
Now He was also saying to the disciples, "There was a rich man who had a steward, and this steward was reported to him as squandering his possessions.
Jesus also said to His disciples, "There was a rich man whose manager was accused of wasting his possessions.
Jesus said to his disciples: A rich man once had a manager to take care of his business. But he was told that his manager was wasting money.
Speaking to the talmidim, Yeshua said: "There was a wealthy man who employed a general manager. Charges were brought to him that his manager was squandering his resources.
And he said also to [his] disciples, There was a certain rich man who had a steward, and *he* was accused to him as wasting his goods.
Jesus said to his followers, "Once there was a rich man. He hired a manager to take care of his business. Later, he learned that his manager was cheating him.
And he sayde also vnto his disciples, There was a certaine riche man, which had a stewarde, and he was accused vnto him, that he wasted his goods.
AND he spoke a parable to his dis ciples, There was a rich man, who had a steward; and they accused him that he was wasting his wealth.
Jesus said to his disciples, "There was once a rich man who had a servant who managed his property. The rich man was told that the manager was wasting his master's money,
And he also said to the disciples, "A certain man was rich, who had a manager. And charges were brought to him that this person was squandering his possessions.
And He also said to His disciples, A certain man was rich; and he had a steward, and this one was accused to him as wasting his goods.
And he said also unto the disciples, There was a certain rich man, who had a steward; and the same was accused unto him that he was wasting his goods.
And another time he said to the disciples, There was a certain man of great wealth who had a servant; and it was said to him that this servant was wasting his goods.
He said also to his talmidim, "There was a certain rich man, who had a manager. The same was accused to him of wasting his possessions.
Now Jesushe">[fn] was saying to the disciples, "A rich man had a manager who was accused of wasting his assets.
AND he spake a parable to his disciples: There was a certain rich man who had a house-chief; [fn] and he was accused to him that his substance he wasted.
And he spoke a parable to his disciples. There was a certain rich man, who had a steward; and accusations were brought to him of him, that he squandered his property.
And he sayde also vnto his disciples. There was a certayne riche man, which had a stewarde, and the same was accused vnto hym that he had wasted his goodes.
And he said also unto the disciples, There was a certain rich man, which had a steward; and the same was accused unto him that he was wasting his goods.
He said also to his disciples, "There was a certain rich man, who had a manager. The same was accused to him of wasting his possessions.
And he said also to his disciples, There was a certain rich man who had a steward: and he was accused to him as wasting his goods.
He said also to His disciples: "There was a rich man who had a steward, about whom a report was brought to him, that he was wasting his property.
He seide also to hise disciplis, Ther was a riche man, that hadde a baili; and this was defamed to him, as he hadde wastid his goodis.
And he said also to the disciples, There was a certain rich man, who had a steward; and the same was accused to him that he was wasting his goods.
And he said also to his disciples, There was a certain rich man who had a steward; and the same was accused to him that he had wasted his goods.
Jesus also said to the disciples, "There was a rich man who was informed of accusations that his manager was wasting his assets.
He also said to His disciples: "There was a certain rich man who had a steward, and an accusation was brought to him that this man was wasting his goods.
Jesus told this story to his disciples: "There was a certain rich man who had a manager handling his affairs. One day a report came that the manager was wasting his employer's money.
Jesus said to His followers, "There was a rich man who put a boss over his houses and lands. Someone told him that his boss was not using his riches in a right way.
Then Jesus said to the disciples, "There was a rich man who had a manager, and charges were brought to him that this man was squandering his property.
And he went on to say, unto his disciples also, - There was, a certain rich man, who had a steward, and, the same, was accused to him as squandering his goods.
And he said also to his disciples: There was a certain rich man who had a steward: and the same was accused unto him, that he had wasted his goods.
He also said to the disciples, "There was a rich man who had a steward, and charges were brought to him that this man was wasting his goods.
And he sayd also vnto his disciples. Ther was a certayne rych man which had a stewarde that was acused vnto him that he had wasted his goodes.
And he said also unto his disciples, `A certain man was rich, who had a steward, and he was accused to him as scattering his goods;
He sayde also vnto his disciples: There was a certayne riche man, which had a stewarde, that was accused vnto him, that he had waisted his goodes.
Jesus said likewise to his disciples, a certain rich man had an information against his steward, for making havock of his estate.
Jesus told his twelve cowboys this story, "There was a rich rancher who hired a bean counter to manage his properties. One day, the rancher was informed that the bean counter was wasting a lot of money.
Contextual Overview
Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
a certain: Matthew 18:23, Matthew 18:24, Matthew 25:14-30
a steward: Luke 8:3, Luke 12:42, Genesis 15:2, Genesis 43:19, 1 Chronicles 28:1, 1 Corinthians 4:1, 1 Corinthians 4:2, Titus 1:7, 1 Peter 4:10
wasted: Luke 16:19, Luke 15:13, Luke 15:30, Luke 19:20, Proverbs 18:9, Hosea 2:8, James 4:3
Reciprocal: Genesis 40:20 - lifted up Genesis 47:14 - Joseph brought 2 Kings 12:15 - for they dealt Proverbs 21:20 - but Proverbs 28:20 - faithful Ecclesiastes 5:13 - riches Matthew 20:8 - unto Matthew 25:19 - reckoneth Matthew 25:29 - shall be taken John 6:12 - that nothing 1 Corinthians 7:31 - use Colossians 4:1 - ye
Cross-References
Sarai was barren; she had no children.
Because of her, Abram got along very well: he accumulated sheep and cattle, male and female donkeys, men and women servants, and camels. But God hit Pharaoh hard because of Abram's wife Sarai; everybody in the palace got seriously sick.
So Sarai, Abram's wife, took her Egyptian maid Hagar and gave her to her husband Abram as a wife. Abram had been living ten years in Canaan when this took place. He slept with Hagar and she got pregnant. When Hagar learned she was pregnant, she looked down on her mistress.
The angel of God said, "Go back to your mistress. Put up with her abuse." He continued, "I'm going to give you a big family, children past counting. From this pregnancy, you'll get a son: Name him Ishmael; for God heard you, God answered you. He'll be a bucking bronco of a man, a real fighter, fighting and being fought, Always stirring up trouble, always at odds with his family."
Isaac prayed hard to God for his wife because she was barren. God answered his prayer and Rebekah became pregnant. But the children tumbled and kicked inside her so much that she said, "If this is the way it's going to be, why go on living?" She went to God to find out what was going on. God told her, Two nations are in your womb, two peoples butting heads while still in your body. One people will overpower the other, and the older will serve the younger.
At that time there was a man named Manoah from Zorah from the tribe of Dan. His wife was barren and childless. The angel of God appeared to her and told her, "I know that you are barren and childless, but you're going to become pregnant and bear a son. But take much care: Drink no wine or beer; eat nothing ritually unclean. You are, in fact, pregnant right now, carrying a son. No razor will touch his head—the boy will be God's Nazirite from the moment of his birth. He will launch the deliverance from Philistine oppression."
"And did you know that your cousin Elizabeth conceived a son, old as she is? Everyone called her barren, and here she is six months pregnant! Nothing, you see, is impossible with God." And Mary said, Yes, I see it all now: I'm the Lord's maid, ready to serve. Let it be with me just as you say. Then the angel left her.
Gill's Notes on the Bible
And he said also to his disciples,.... The Syriac version adds, "a parable", as the following is; and which is directed to the disciples, as those in the preceding chapter are to the Pharisees; and who also are designed in this; though it is particularly spoken to the disciples, because it might be of some use to them, with respect, to the stewardship they were in. The Persic and Ethiopic versions read, "Jesus", or "the Lord Jesus said": and which is to be understood, though not expressed; for the parable was delivered by him, and is as follows:
there was a certain rich man: by whom God is meant, who is rich in the perfections of his nature, in the works of his hands, in his government, and the administration of it, in providential goodness, and in the large revenues of glory due to him from his creatures; for all temporal riches are from him; and so are all the riches of mercy, grace, and glory:
which had a steward; by whom is designed, not all mankind; for though all men are, in a sense, stewards under God, and are entrusted with the good things of life, the gifts of nature, endowments of mind, health, strength of body, time, c. yet all cannot be meant, because some are distinguished from this steward, Luke 16:5 nor are the disciples intended, though the parable is directed to them and they were stewards of the mysteries and manifold grace of God; and one among them was an unfaithful one, and was turned out of his stewardship; but the character of an unjust man will not suit with them: and besides, this steward was of the children of this world,
Luke 16:8 but the Pharisees are meant: for these are taken notice of as gravelled at this parable, Luke 16:14 and to them agrees the character of the men of this world, who were worldly wise men; as also that of a steward; these are the tutors and governors mentioned in Galatians 4:2 who had the care of the house of Israel, the family of God, under the legal dispensation; and to whom were committed the oracles of God, the writings of Moses, and the prophets; and whose business it was to open and explain them to the people.
And the same was accused unto him, that he had wasted his goods; put false glosses upon the Scriptures; fed the family with bad and unwholesome food, the traditions of the elders, called the leaven of the Pharisees: made havoc of the souls of men; and made the hearts of the righteous sad: and hardened sinners in their wicked ways: and fed themselves, and not the flock; and plundered persons of their temporal substance; of all which they were accused by Moses, in whom they trusted; by his law which they violated; and by their own consciences, which witnessed against them; and by the cries of those whom they abused, which came into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
His disciples - The word âdisciples,â here, is not to be restricted to the twelve apostles or to the seventy. The parable appears to have been addressed to all the professed followers of the Saviour who were present when it was delivered. It is connected with that in the preceding chapter. Jesus had there been discoursing with the scribes and Pharisees, and vindicating his conduct in receiving kindly publicans and sinners. These âpublicans and sinnersâ are here particularly referred to by the word âdisciples.â It was with reference to âthemâ that the whole discourse had arisen. After Jesus had shown the Pharisees, in the preceding chapter, the propriety of his conduct, it was natural that he should turn and address his disciples. Among them there might have been some who were wealthy. The âpublicansâ were engaged in receiving taxes, in collecting money, and their chief danger arose from that quarter - from covetousness or dishonesty.
Jesus always adapted his instructions to the circumstances of his hearers, and it was proper, therefore, that he should give âthese disciplesâ instructions about their âspecialâ duties and dangers. He related this parable, therefore, to show them âthe danger of the love of money;â the guilt it would lead to Luke 16:1; the perplexities and shifts to which it would drive a man when once he had been dishonest Luke 16:3-7; the necessity of using money aright, since it was their chief business Luke 16:9; and the fact that if they would serve God aright they must give up supreme attachment to money Luke 16:13; and that the first duty of religion demanded that they should resolve to serve God, and be honest in the use of the wealth intrusted to them. This parable has given great perplexity, and many ways have been devised to explain it. The above solution is the most simple of any; and if these plain principles are kept in view, it will not be difficult to give a consistent explanation of its particular parts. It should be borne in mind, however, that in this, as well as in other parables, we are not to endeavor to spiritualize every circumstance or allusion. We are to keep in view the great moral truth taught in it, that we cannot serve God and mammon, and that all attempts to do this will involve us in difficulty and sin.
A steward - One who has charge of the affairs of a family or household; whose duty it is to provide for the family, to purchase provisions, etc. This is, of course, an office of trust and confidence. It affords great opportunity for dishonesty and waste, and for embezzling property. The masterâs eye cannot always be on the steward, and he may, therefore, squander the property, or hoard it up for his own use. It was an office commonly conferred on a slave as a reward for fidelity, and of course was given to him that, in long service, had shown himself most trustworthy. By the ârich man,â here, is doubtless represented God. By the âsteward,â those who are his professed followers, particularly the âpublicansâ who were with the Saviour, and whose chief danger arose from the temptations to the improper use of the money intrusted to them.
Was accused - Complaint was made.
Had wasted - Had squandered or scattered it; had not been prudent and saving.
Clarke's Notes on the Bible
CHAPTER XVI.
The parable of the unjust steward, 1-8.
Christ applies this to his hearers, 9-13.
The pharisees take offence, 14.
Our Lord reproves them, and shows the immutability of the law,
15-17.
Counsels against divorce, 18.
The story of the rich man and the beggar, commonly called
Dives and Lazarus, 10-31.
NOTES ON CHAP. XVI.
Verse Luke 16:1. A steward — οικονομοÏ, from οικοÏ, a house, or οικια, a family, and νεμÏ, I administer; one who superintends domestic concerns, and ministers to the support of the family, having the products of the field, business, c., put into his hands for this very purpose. Luke 8:3.
There is a parable very like this in Rab. Dav. Kimchi's comment on Isaiah, Isaiah 40:21: "The whole world may be considered as a house builded up: heaven is its roof the stars its lamps; and the fruits of the earth, the table spread. The owner and builder of this house is the holy blessed God; and man is the steward, into whose hands all the business of the house is committed. If he considers in his heart that the master of the house is always over him, and keeps his eye upon his work; and if, in consequence, he act wisely, he shall find favour in the eyes of the master of the house: but if the master find wickedness in him, he will remove him, ×× ×פק××ª× min pakidato, from his STEWARDSHIP. The foolish steward doth not think of this: for as his eyes do not see the master of the house, he saith in his heart, 'I will eat and drink what I find in this house, and will take my pleasure in it; nor shall I be careful whether there be a Lord over this house or not.' When the Lord of the house marks this, he will come and expel him from the house, speedily and with great anger. Therefore it is written, He bringeth the princes to nothing." As is usual, our Lord has greatly improved this parable, and made it in every circumstance more striking and impressive. Both in the Jewish and Christian edition, it has great beauties.
Wasted his goods. — Had been profuse and profligate; and had embezzled his master's substance.
