Luke
Chapter
16
This chapter contains the most controversial of
Christ’s parables beginning with the very first of the parables in the chapter.
Luke
16:1-9
1 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.
2 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.
3 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.
4 I am resolved what to do, that,
when I am put out of the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses.
5 So he called every one of his
lord's debtors unto him, and said unto the first, How
much owest thou unto my lord?
6 And he said,
An hundred measures of oil. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and sit down
quickly, and write fifty.
7 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.
8 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.
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.
Jesus
told His disciples a parable concerning a servant (business manager).
“There was a
certain rich man, who had a steward; and the rich man was told that his steward
was being wasteful.”
Notice that we are dealing with a servant, it is not until verse 8 that Jesus refers to him as
an “unjust servant.” This servant was interested in only self-aggrandizement!
It is commendable for a servant to be
ambitious for the cause of Christ! However, some who appear to be Christians
are just ambitious for personal gain!
“The master
called for the servant, and told him, ‘What is
this I am hearing about your conduct of my affairs? Give me an audit of the
accounts you oversee, or I may need to fire you!’
“Then the
steward thought, ‘What shall I do? My employer
may fire me. I cannot do manual labor, and I am ashamed to beg!’
“So, the unjust
servant contacted all of his employer’s debtors. He asked the first, ‘How much do you owe my employer?’
“The debtor
replied, ‘One hundred barrels of [olive] oil.’ So, the unjust servant
told him to change the bill (the servant told the first debtor, in the
vernacular, to cook the books). He told the debtor to
change the amount owed to just fifty.
“Then, he asked
another debtor how much he owed the unjust servant’s employer, and the debtor
told him one hundred bushels of wheat, so the unjust servant told the debtor to
change the amount owed to eighty.”
The servant altered the books in hopes
of gaining employment from one of the debtors if his employer fired him. It was
done for the sake of personal survival.
At this point in the parable, Jesus
said, “The lord commended (Gr. epaineō-ἐπαινέω) the unjust steward, because he acted wisely in the face of
conflict! The children of this world are in their generation wiser than the
children of light.
Yes, you did read that correctly! First
notice that the “lord” (in this case that word speaks of the employer) praised
the servant! He said that the unjust servant acted “wisely!” Those who live and
work within the world’s business system have a better understanding of that system
then those who are citizens of heaven (Phil 3:20), and who should be proficient
at working within God’s system!
This parable seems to contradict Jesus’
normal teachings…until we examine it.
The main character in this parable is a
“servant” (Gr. oikonomos-οἰκονόμος)
and not a slave! At the end of the parable Christ refers to the servant as
“unjust,” but he is not stupid! The unjust servant understood what would happen
if his employer found out about his “under the table” dealings.
The servant or business manager goes to
his employer’s debtors and tells them to change the amount owed, which in turn
would mean that they would pay less for what they had received. The employer
would also receive less, but he would be paid for part of what he was owed,
perhaps rather than nothing. In modern finances we call it debt adjustment.
In
verse 8 we find that the wealthy employer commended the business manager.
But, why?
As
I said, the servant understood how the world’s financial system worked and he
used that knowledge.
Quite
often, the children of God waste the authority they have been given. We may use
it unwisely, for unspiritual gain! We may be ignorant of the spiritual system
that we live in when we are accepted into the body of Christ since after coming
to Christ. Christians operate within a different system!
This
first parable leads into the second.
Being
successful in this life does not lead to success in Christ! I fear that many
Christians are unjust/unfaithful servants in this life while expecting great rewards
in the next!
At this point Christ Jesus makes an odd
statement, “And I say unto you, make friends with the
mammon of unrighteousness, so that when you fail, they may receive you into
everlasting habitations.”
That
statement seems odd at best. Some teach that “when you fail” refers to the
failure of world’s financial system.
What
did Jesus mean?
To
answer that we must understand that Jesus lived and was crucified under the old
Covenant, Old Testament Law!
Under
the Old Covenant success determined whether or not God loved you. Under that
teaching God loved the successful and rejected the unsuccessful!
The
New Testament does not work that way, and to be truthful, I doubt that the Old
worked that way, but Judaism taught it!
The
New Testament works on the teaching of salvation by grace through faith plus
nothing else!
Under
the teaching of the Old Covenant, those who were successful in physical life
were also successful in their spiritual life! Under the teaching of the New,
the spiritual life and the physical operate on separate plains!
In
the above verse, Jesus was addressing an Old Covenant teaching because He was
living under the Old!
Luke 16:10-13
10 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.
11 If therefore ye have not been
faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?
12 And if ye have not been faithful
in that which is another man's, who shall give you that which is your own?
13 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.
As
we begin this section, we address faith!
Jesus
proclaimed that “He that is faithful in the least is
faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in
much.
“If you have not been faithful in dealing with
money who will trust you with true riches?”
Here,
we contrast money with true riches!
Obviously they are not identical!
Putting
this in modern terms, do you trust Christ Jesus, or do you trust paper (money)?
Paper
is a wood product! Those who trust money are worshipping trees!
That
comparison may seem silly, but truthfully more people trust paper (whether it
is the dollar, the yen, the euro, or the peso) more than they trust Christ
Jesus!
Far
too many worship paper money rather than worshipping the source of life!
The
fallacy of Judaism is alive and well within human society!
Christ
Jesus tells us that “if we
have not been faithful in what the world gives us, we will not be faithful with
any of our personal dealings!
“No servant can serve two masters! He will hate one, and
respect the other! He will cling to one, and despise the other! You cannot
serve God and money!”
Notice
that I took out the conditional words in the above verses, because they are
statements of truth!
Luke
16:14-18
14 And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these
things: and they derided him.
15 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.
16 The law and the prophets were
until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it.
17 And it is easier for heaven and
earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail.
18 Whosoever putteth
away his wife, and marrieth another, committeth adultery: and whosoever marrieth
her that is put away from her husband committeth
adultery.
The Pharisees understood what Christ Jesus was telling the
crowd! The verse tells us that they were “covetous” (Gr. philarguros-φιλάργυρος), fond of silver! Let me assure you that using money to pay
the church power bill is not equivalent to being fond of money!
When
the Parisees heard what Jesus taught concerning
money, they “derided,” (Gr ekmuktērizō-ἐκμυκτηρίζω), and sneered at Him.
So
Christ responded to their derision with, “You all seek
to justify yourselves before men! But, God knows what is in your hearts!”
God
the Son, Christ Jesus knew exactly what they thought!
Then
Christ continued, “Because,
those things that are highly esteemed among men are abominations in the sight
of God!”
In
case you are wondering, Christ Jesus disagreed more than a little with their
thoughts, teachings, and ways of life!
Christ
told them, “The law and the prophets lasted until John!
Since then the kingdom of God has been preached, and all crowd into it.”
Verse
16 is seldom understood! The concept here is one of violently trying to gain
entrance to the Kingdom of God!
Why
would Christ tell us that people “press” (Gr. biazō-βιάζω) into the Kingdom violently?
Many
try to join churches (lower
case c) without being call into The Church!
While all men are given grace, only those called by the Holy Spirit are given
The Faith! Salvation is by grace THROUGH
faith and that faith is the gift of God (Eph. 2:8-9)!
Matt 7:13-14
3 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate,
and broad is the way, that leadeth to
destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow
is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few
there be that find it.
Those who seek to enter without the
faith Of Christ are trying to
“violently” enter into everlasting life! The few that enter, enter by grace
though faith, and not by grace alone!
Those
who seek to press into The Church without faith are blemishes on the body of
Christ!
2 Peter 2:12-13
12 But
these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of
the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own
corruption;
13 And
shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it
pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots they are and blemishes,
sporting themselves with their own deceivings while
they feast with you;
Do you understand that the Law is
good and spiritual, but it has become a rule of thumb rather than a
requirement?
Jesus
told those the Jews, “It is easier for heaven
and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail.”
The
Law of God is still valid, BUT
it is now superseded by grace plus faith!
Romans 2:11-15
11 For there is no respect of persons with God.
12 For
as many as have sinned without law shall also perish
without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law;
13 (For
not the hearers of the law are just before God, but
the doers of the law shall be justified.
14 For
when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the
things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves:
15 Which
shew the work of the law written
in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts
the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)
Gentiles respect The Law, but that
respect does not determine our salvation! We validate The Law vicariously
through the baptism into Christ Jesus!
He fulfilled The law in every respect, and by
our baptism into Him, we gain His fulfillment!
But, why isn’t the Law still
incumbent upon all believers?
The Law is just a shadow!
Heb 10:1 For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and
not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they
offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.
The real substance is faith of and
in Christ Jesus!
Heb 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of
things not seen.
Gal 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the
law, but by the faith of
Jesus Christ, even we have believed in
Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works
of the law shall no flesh be justified.
Jews who now are coming to Him are
also baptized into Him because they have no power to completely validate The
Law without His baptism (mikvah)! And so, they too,
in Christ Jesus, validate (fulfill) The Law!
That is why the writer of Hebrews
could proclaim that the Old Covenant is vanishing!
Heb 8:6-13
6 But now hath he obtained a
more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.
7 For
if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second.
8 For
finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days
come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of
Judah:
9 Not
according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in
the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt;
because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded
them not, saith the Lord.
10 For
this is the covenant that I will make with the house
of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will
put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to
them a God, and they shall be to me a people:
11 And
they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and
every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the
least to the greatest.
12 For
I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their
iniquities will I remember no more.
13 In
that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is
ready to vanish away.
Notice that Hebrews 8:13 says that
The Law “is ready” (Gr. eggus-ἐγγύς) to vanish! It does not tell us that The
law has been invalidated! In the new heaven and earth The Law will unnecessary!
Until then it is a guidepost for mankind!
Now, Christ Jesus turns to law that
is not Law!
He
teaches that “Whoever divorces his wife, and marries
another woman commits adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman also
commits adultery!”
In
today’s society that seems to be harsh! God is not politically correct!
While
it is true that such action is adultery, we must understand that sins may be
forgiven!
James 2:13 For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy
rejoiceth against judgment.
Read the first section of that verse
from James, and then read the second section! The last section supersedes the
opening section just as mercy in Christ Jesus supersedes judgment!
As with the Apostle Paul, all sins
may be forgiven In Christ Jesus!
Heb 10:10 By the which will we are
sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
Now, we come to the teaching about Lazarus and the rich man.
Luke 16:19-31
19 There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and
fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:
20 And there was a certain beggar
named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,
21 And desiring to be fed with the
crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked
his sores.
22 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;
23 And in hell he lift up his eyes,
being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and
Lazarus in his bosom.
24 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.
25 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.
26 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.
27 Then he said, I pray thee
therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my
father's house:
28 For I have five brethren; that he
may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.
29 Abraham saith
unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them
hear them.
30 And he said, Nay,
father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.
31 And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they
be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.
There
is long-standing controversy as to whether this is a parable or an actual
happening! Regardless of your opinion in that matter, the truth is the truth!
Jesus
told those who were with Him about a wealthy man, “who
wore the best clothes, and ate the finest food!”
Under
the social rules of Old Testament Judaism, the rich man was blessed by God…or
was he?
Jesus
continued to speak to His disciples, “And, there was a
beggar named Lazarus, who was taken to the rich man’s door to beg. Lazarus’
body was covered with sores!
Lazarus
wanted to eat “the crumbs which fell from the rich
man's table!
“Dogs would come and lick his sores!
“Eventually the beggar died, and was carried by the angels
into Abraham's bosom!”
Abraham’s
bosom is, theologically, the good part of the Old Testament paradise.
“And, in due time the rich man also died, and was buried!
“In hell (Gr. hades-ᾅδης) the rich man looked on, in torment,
and saw Abraham with Lazarus in his bosom!
“The rich man cried out, ‘Father
Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, so that he may dip the tip of his
finger in water, and cool my tongue, because I am tormented in this flame.’
“However, Abraham told him, ‘Son,
remember that during your lifetime you had your good things, and Lazarus had
evil things! But now, he is comforted, and you are tormented. In addition,
between us and you there is a great gulf that is unsurpassable so that those
who would pass from here to you cannot! And, those who would come to this side
also cannot!’
“At that the rich man prayed, ‘Please,
father Abraham, send Lazarus to my father's house.
I have five brothers, and he can warn them, so they
will not come to this place of torment.’
“But, Abraham responded, ‘They
have Moses and the prophets! Let them hear them.’
“The rich man cried out, ‘No,
father Abraham! But, if someone went to them from the dead, they will repent!’
“At that Abraham said, ‘If they
will not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded,
though one rose from the dead.’”
As
you read this, please understand that it was spoken by Christ Jesus prior to
His resurrection and the beginning of the New Covenant! Christ rose from the
dead and sent those of us who were dead in trespasses and sins to warn those
headed for the Lake of Fire to repent and believe the gospel! However, all who
physically listen to our voices will not hear the message of God’s merciful
offer of life!
Many
today read the Bible and even commit parts of it to memory, but unless it is
taken into the heart all that is useless! Memorizing without believing is an
act of futility! Not being able to rightly divide the Scripture will lead to
false doctrine!