Bible Commentaries
Luke 16

Verse 1

also unto His disciples = unto His disciples also. Note the Structure R and R, p. 1479, which gives the scope of the two chapters: both peculiar to this gospel.

unto . Greek. pros. App-104 .

a certain rich man . Compare Luke 16:19 .

man. Greek. anthropos. App-123 .

steward . A house manager, or agent, managing the house and servants, assigning the tasks, &c., of the latter. Compare Eliezer (Genesis 15:2 ; Genesis 24:2 ), Joseph (Genesis 39:4 ).

was accused . Greek. diaballomai. Occurs only here = to be struck through, implying malice, but not necessarily falsehood.

that he had wasted = as wasting.

Verse 2

How is it . . . ? = What is this . . ?

of = concerning. Greek. peri. App-104 . Not the same word as in Luke 16:9 .

give = render.

an = the.

stewardship = the office of the steward (Luke 16:1 ).

mayest = canst.

no . Greek. ou . App-105 .

Verse 3

within = in. Greek. en. App-104 .

lord = master, as in Luke 16:13 . App-98 . A.

taketh away = is taking away.

from. Greek. apo. App-104 .

I cannot dig, &c. = to dig, I am not (Greek. ou. App-105 ) strong enough.

beg. Greek. epaiteo. Compare App-134 . Occurs only here in Authorized Version, but See Luke 18:35 .

ashamed . Ashamed to beg, but not ashamed to embezzle.

Verse 4

I am resolved , &c.; or, I haveit!

I know , &c. App-132 .

to do = I will do.

when I am put out of = when I shall have been removed from.

they: i.e. the debtors.

into . Greek. eis. App-104 .

their = their own.

Verse 5

called. Separately.

every = each.

Verse 6

measures. Greek. p1. of batos. the Hebrew bath. App-51 . (11) (7). Not the same word as in Luke 16:7 .

Take = Take back.

thy bill = writings, i.e. agreement.

sit. write = sitting down,

quickly write,

quickly . It was a secret and hurried transaction.

Verse 7

another. Greek. heteros. App-124 .

thou. Note the emphasis: "And thou, How much owest thou? "

measures. Greek. Plural of koros. App-51 . (11) (8). Not the same word as in Luke 16:6

Verse 8

the lord = his master.

wisely = shrewdly. Occurs only here.

children = sons. App-108 .

world = age. App-129 .

in their generation wiser, &c. these two clauses should be transposed.

in = to; i.e. with reference to. Greek. eis. App-104 .

their = their own.

wiser = more shrewd.

than = above. Greek. huper. App-104 .

children of light. Supply the Ellipsis: [are with reference to theirs]. In the former case they are all unscrupulousalike.

Verse 9

And = And, Do say unto you? &c. Is this what I say to you? In verses: Luke 16:10-12 the Lord gives the reason why He does not say that; otherwise these verses are wholly inconsequent, instead of being the true application of verses: Luke 16:1-8 (Z, above). For this punctuation see App-94 .Luke 16:3 .

of = out of, or by. Greek. ek. App-104 .

mammon. Aramaic for "riches". See App-94 .:32.

ye fail. All the texts read "it shall fail".

everlasting = eternal. Greek. aionios. App-151 .

habitations = tents. Answering to the "houses" of Luke 16:4 .

Verse 10

He that is faithful , &c. This is the Lord's own teaching, which gives the reason why "No! "is the true answer to His question in Luke 16:9 .

faithful. App-150 .

in . Greek. en. App-104 .

also in much = in much also.

Verse 11

If. Assuming it as a fact. App-118 . not. Greek. ou . App-105 .

commit to your trust = entrust to you. App-150 . true. App-175 .

Verse 12

another man's = a foreigner's. Compare Acts 7:6 and Hebrews 11:9 ("strange "), and Matthew 17:25 , Matthew 17:26 ("stranger "). Greek. allotrios ( App-124 .)

your own . Greek. humeteros. But, though all themodern critical texts (except WH and Rm) read it thus, yet the primitive text must have read hemeteros = ours, or our own; for it is the reading of "B "(the Vatican MS.) and, before this or any other Greek MS. extant, Origen (186-253), Tertullian (second cent.), read hemon --ours; while Theophylact (1077), and Euthymius (twelfth cent.), with B (the Vatican MS.) read hemeteros = our own, in contrast with "foreigners "in preceding clause. See note on 1 John 2:2 . This makes true sense; otherwise it is unintelligible.

Verse 13

servant = domestic household servant. Greek. oiketes. Occurs only here; Acts 10:7 . Rom 14:4 . 1 Peter 2:18 .

can = isable to.

serve = do bondservice. Greek. douleuo. As in Luke 15:29 .

masters = lords, as in verses: Luke 16:3 , Luke 16:5 , Luke 16:5 , Luke 3:8 .

the other . Same as "another" in Luke 16:7 .

cannot = are not (Greek. ou. App-105 ) able to.

God. See App-98 .

Verse 14

the Pharisees . See App-120 .

were = being then. Greek. huparcho, as in Luke 16:23 , and see on Luke 7:25 .

covetous = money-lovers (referring to mammon, verses: 11, 13); Occurs only here, and 2 Timothy 3:2 .

derided = were turning up their noses at. Occurs only here and Luke 23:35 . Found in the LXX. Pas. Luke 2:4 ; Luke 22:7 ; Luke 22:35 . is. This was the immediate cause of the second Parable (verses: Luke 16:19-30 ), and the solemn application (Luke 16:31 ).

Verse 15

unto them . Addressed to the Pharisees. See the Structure "R" and "R", p. 1479.

justify yourselves . See notes on Luke 15:7 , Luke 15:29 ; and Compare Luke 7:39 . Matthew 23:25 .

among . Greek. en. App-104 . abomination. In contrast with their derision.

in the sight of . Same word as "before" in preceding clause.

Verse 16

The law . See note on Matthew 5:17 .

since that time = since (Greek. apo. App-104 .) then.

the kingdom of God . See App-114 .

preached . Greek. euangelizo. See App-121 .

every man . Greek. pas, all. Put by Figure of speech Synecdoche (of the Genus), App-6 , for many. "But not ye! "

presseth . See note on Matthew 11:12 .

Verse 17

heaven . Singular with Art. See note on Matthew 6:9 , Matthew 6:10 .

earth. Greek. ge . App-129 .

tittle . See note on Matthew 5:18 and App-93 .

Verse 18

Whosoever, &c. This verse is not "loosely connected", or "out of any connexion" with what precedes, as alleged. The Structure above shows its true place, in C1, how the Pharisees made void the law (as to divorce); and C2, how they made void the prophets (verses: Luke 16:16 , Luke 16:17 ) and the rest of Scripture as to the dead (verses: 19-23).

putteth away , &c. The Rabbis made void the law and the prophets by their traditions, evading Deuteronomy 22:22 , and their "scandalous licence" regarding Deuteronomy 24:1 . See John Lightfoot, Works (1658), J. R. Pitman's edn. (1823), vol. xi, pp. 116-21 for the many frivolous grounds for divorce.

Verse 19

There was, &c . = But there was. This commences the second part of the Lord's address to the Pharisees, against their tradition making void God's word as to the dead, which may be seen in Psalms 6:5 ; Psalms 30:9 ; Psalms 31:17 ; Psalms 88:11 ; Psalms 115:17 ; Psalms 146:4 .Ecclesiastes 9:6 , Ecclesiastes 9:10 ; Ecclesiastes 12:7 . Isaiah 38:17-19 , &c. It is not called a "parable", because it cites a notable example of the Pharisees' tradition, which had been brought from Babylon. See many other examples in Lightfoot, vol. xii, pp. 159-68. Their teaching has no Structure. See C2 above.

was clothed = was habitually clothed. Imperf. tense. See on Luke 8:27 .

sumptuously = in splendour. Greek. Adverb of lampros, is translated "gorgeous" in Luke 23:11 . Only here.

Verse 20

beggar = poor man. App-127 .

Lazarus. A common Talmudic contraction of the Hebrew Eleazar; but introduced by the Lord to point to His own closing comment in Luke 16:31 .

laid = cast down.

at . Greek. pros. App-104 .

full of sores . Greek. helkoo. Occurs only here.

Verse 21

desiring = eagerly desiring; but in vain, as in Luke 15:16 ("would fain ").

with = from. Greek. apo. App-104 .

the crumbs . Some texts read "the things". moreover, &c. = but [instead of finding food] even the dogs, &c.

licked = licked off; i.e. licked clean. Greek. apoleicho. Occurs only here. The texts read epileicho, licked over.

sores . Greek. helkos (= ulcer),

Verse 22

by. Greek. hupo. App-104 .

the angels . The Pharisees taught that there were three sets of angels for wicked men; and others for good men. See Luke 16:18 ; and Lightfoot, Works, vol. xii, pp. 159-61.

Abraham's bosom. The Pharisees taught that there were three places: (1) Abraham's bosom; (2) "under the throne of glory"; (3) in the garden of Eden(Greek. Paradise). Speaking of death, they would say "this day he sits in Abraham's bosom". Lightfoot, Works, vol. xii, pp. 159-63.

and was buried 23. in hell . Tatian (e. D. 170), the Vulgate and Syriac, omit the second "and", and read, "and was buried in Hades".

Verse 23

hell. Greek. Hades = the grave. See App-131 .

lift up = having lifted up. Compare similar imagery in Judges 9:7-15 .Isaiah 14:9-11 .

being = being there. See note on "were", Luke 16:14 .

torments. Greek. basanos. Occurs only here, Luke 16:28 , and Matthew 4:24 .

afar off = from (Greek. apo. App-104 .) afar.

seeth . . . Lazarus . The Pharisees taught that in life two men may be "coupled together", and one sees the other after death, and conversations take place. See Lightfoot, quoted above.

Verse 24

he cried and said = crying out, he said. The Pharisees gave long stories of similar imaginary conversations and discourses. See Lightfoot, vol. xi, pp. 165-7. Father Abraham. Compare Matthew 3:9 . John 8:39 .

cool. Greek. katapsucho. Occurs only here. A medical word. tormented distressed. Greek. odunaomai. Occurs only in Luke (here, Luke 2:48 , and Acts 20:38 , "sorrowing").

Verse 25

Son = Child. Greek. teknon. App-108 .

lifetime = life. Greek. zoe, as being the opposite of death. See App-170 .

receivedst = didst receive back, or had all.

evil things. See App-128 .

Verse 26

beside . Greek. epi. App-104 .

is = has been.

gulf = chasm. A transliteration of the Greek chasma, from chasko, to gape. A medical word for an open wound.

fixed = set fast, established. Compare Luke 9:51 (set His face). Rom 1:11 . 2 Peter 1:12 .

would = desire to. Greek thelo. App-102 .

to . Greek pros. App-101 .

cannot = are not (Greek. me. App-105 ) able.

neither. Greek. mede.

Verse 27

I pray = I entreat. Greek. erotao. App-134 .

to = unto. Greek. eis. App-104 .

Verse 28

testify = earnestly testify.

lest they also = that they also may not (Greek. me. App-105 ).

Verse 29

Moses and the prophets. The latter including the historical books. See App-1 . Referring to Luke 16:16 . Compare John 1:45 ; John 5:39 , John 5:46 .

Moses . See note on Luke 5:14 .

Verse 30

Nay. Greek ouchi. App-105 .

if. Implying a contingency. See App-118 .

from = away from. App-104 . Contrast the Lord's ek ( App-104 in next clause).

the dead. No Art. See App-139 .

repent . See App-111 .

Verse 31

And , &c. The lesson of the parable. From these final words of the Lord (Luke 16:31 , B) Lightfoot says "it is easy to judge what was the design and intention of this parable" (vol. xii, p. 168). The Lord's words were proved to be true, by the results of the resurrection of another Lazarus (John 12:9 ), and of Himself (Matthew 28:11-13 ).

be persuaded. Much less "repent", as in Luke 16:30 .

though = not even if.

from = from among. Note the Lord's true word, in contrast with the rich man's in Luke 16:30 .