Chapter
Verse

Luke chapter 16

English Standard Version

19“There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. 20And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, 21who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores. 22The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried, 23and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. 24And he called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.’ 25But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish. 26And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.’ 27And he said, ‘Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father’s house— 28for I have five brothers—so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.’ 29But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.’ 30And he said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ 31He said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.’”
New International Version

New American Standard Bible

19Now there was a rich man, and he habitually dressed in purple and fine linen, enjoying himself in splendor every day. 20And a poor man named Lazarus was laid at his gate, covered with sores, 21and longing to be fed from the scraps which fell from the rich man’s table; not only that, the dogs also were coming and licking his sores. 22Now it happened that the poor man died and was carried away by the angels to Abraham’s arms; and the rich man also died and was buried. 23And in Hades he raised his eyes, being in torment, and *saw Abraham far away and Lazarus in his arms. 24And he cried out and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me and send Lazarus, so that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool off my tongue, for I am in agony in this flame.’ 25But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that during your life you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus bad things; but now he is being comforted here, and you are in agony. 26And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been set, so that those who want to go over from here to you will not be able, nor will any people cross over from there to us.’ 27And he said, ‘Then I request of you, father, that you send him to my father’s house— 28for I have five brothers—in order that he may warn them, so that they will not come to this place of torment as well.’ 29But Abraham *said, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.’ 30But he said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent!’ 31But he said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead.’?'
Christian Standard Bible

New Living Translation

King James Version

1And 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. 2And 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. 3Then 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. 4I am resolved what to do, that, when I am put out of the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses. 5So he called every one of his lord's debtors unto him, and said unto the first, How much owest thou unto my lord? 6And he said, An hundred measures of oil. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and sit down quickly, and write fifty. 7Then 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. 8And 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. 9And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations. 10He 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. 11If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? 12And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man's, who shall give you that which is your own? 13No 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. 14And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided him. 15And 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. 16The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it. 17And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail. 18Whosoever putteth away his wife, and marrieth another, committeth adultery: and whosoever marrieth her that is put away from her husband committeth adultery.
19There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: 20And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, 21And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. 22And 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; 23And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 24And 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. 25But 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. 26And 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. 27Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house: 28For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. 29Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. 30And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. 31And 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 chapter 16 mean?

Luke 16:1—17:10 contains further teachings about the kingdom of God, particularly about the characteristics of those who follow God. The narrative starts with Jesus teaching the disciples about the role of worldly wealth and the realities of faithful stewardship. It then transitions to teaching the Pharisees how their love of money and accolades is opposed to God. The passage finishes by showing how the disciples can please God through faith and obedience, and by exposing the Pharisees' hearts hardened against belief.

Luke 16:1–8 contains the curious parable of the dishonest manager. The manager of a rich man's possessions is discovered to be incompetent. Realizing he is about to be fired, the manager works quickly. He ingratiates himself with his master's debtors by decreasing their debts in his master's ledgers. The master praises him for being so shrewd. This is not approval of the man's actions, but merely a recognition that it was a clever strategy.

In Luke 16:9–13, Jesus gives applications and consequences taken from the story of the dishonest manager. The main point is describing how His disciples should think about money. First, Jesus notes that eventually, earthly riches will fail and they will die. Instead of clinging to temporary possessions, His disciples should share their wealth, thus earning accolades when they arrive in paradise. Next, He tells them that those who have integrity with a little will prove trustworthy with much. If they are not faithful with worldly wealth, how can they be faithful with things of eternal value? Those who are faithful with another's things can be trusted with their own. Finally, Jesus points out that it's impossible to serve money and be devoted to God.

Luke 16:14–18 begins with the Pharisees rejecting Jesus' words. They love money and they claim to worship God. Jesus dismisses them. They don't even seek God's praise: they only want the attention of other people. Despite their claims, they don't follow the Mosaic law nor sincerely believe in the Prophets. Though the Mosaic law was never a formula to provide Jews with eternal salvation, it provides essential principles for the works that please God, including with money and in marriage.

In Luke 16:19–31, Jesus tells the story of the rich man and Lazarus. The account addresses the proper use of money, the relationship between earthly lives and what happens after death, and the Pharisees' stubborn rejection of Jesus. The story is of a rich man who dies and goes to torment in Hades. Also involved is a poor, diseased beggar who dies and goes to paradise. The Pharisees learn that riches may be a blessing on earth, but what you do with them is a sure sign of where you will be after death. In addition, if they reject the Law and the Prophets that tell them about Jesus, not even witnessing someone being raised from the dead will convince them to change their lives. This segment pointedly rejects the claim that those who reject God do so because of a lack of evidence or miraculous intervention (Romans 1:18–20; Matthew 12:38–39).

In Luke 17:1–10, Jesus will return His attention to the disciples. Jesus tells them to protect others from sin, trust that the amount of faith they have is sufficient, and take their position as His followers humbly.
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