Jesus uniquely commends the dishonest manager's shrewdness while condemning his dishonesty, creating the Bible's most paradoxical endorsement of worldly wisdom for eternal purposes.
Luke 16
The Parable of the Dishonest Manager
1He also said to his disciples, “There was a certain rich man who had a manager. An accusation was made to him that this man was wasting his possessions.
2He called him, and said to him, ‘What is this that I hear about you? Give an accounting of your management, for you can no longer be manager.’
3“The manager said within himself, ‘What will I do, seeing that my lord is taking away the management position from me? I don’t have strength to dig. I am ashamed to beg.
4I know what I will do, so that when I am removed from management, they may receive me into their houses.’
5Calling each one of his lord’s debtors to him, he said to the first, ‘How much do you owe to my lord?’
6He said, ‘A hundred batos of oil.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill, and sit down quickly and write fifty.’
7Then he said to another, ‘How much do you owe?’ He said, ‘A hundred cors of wheat.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill, and write eighty.’
8“His lord commended the dishonest manager because he had done wisely, for the children of this world are, in their own generation, wiser than the children of the light.
9I tell you, make for yourselves friends by means of unrighteous mammon, so that when you fail, they may receive you into the eternal tents.
10He who is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much. He who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much.
11If therefore you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?
12If you have not been faithful in that which is another’s, who will 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 one and despise the other. You aren’t able to serve God and Mammon.”
The Law and the Kingdom of God
14The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, also heard all these things, and they scoffed at him.
15He said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves in the sight of men, but God knows your hearts. For that which is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God.
16“The law and the prophets were until John. From that time the Good News of God’s Kingdom is preached, and everyone is forcing his way into it.
17But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one tiny stroke of a pen in the law to fall.
18“Everyone who divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery. He who marries one who is divorced from a husband commits adultery.
The Rich Man and Lazarus
19“Now there was a certain rich man, and he was clothed in purple and fine linen, living in luxury every day.
20A certain beggar, named Lazarus, was taken to his gate, full of sores,
21and desiring to be fed with the crumbs that fell from the rich man’s table. Yes, even the dogs came and licked his sores.
22The beggar died, and he was carried away by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and was buried.
23In Hades, he lifted up his eyes, being in torment, and saw Abraham far off, and Lazarus at his bosom.
24He 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 in anguish in this flame.’
25“But Abraham said, ‘Son, remember that you, in your lifetime, received your good things, and Lazarus, in the same way, bad things. But here he is now comforted and you are in anguish.
26Besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, that those who want to pass from here to you are not able, and that no one may cross over from there to us.’
27“He said, ‘I ask you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father’s house—
28for I have five brothers—that he may testify to them, so they won’t also come into this place of torment.’
29“But Abraham said to him, ‘They have Moses and the prophets. Let them listen to them.’
30“He said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’
31“He said to him, ‘If they don’t listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if one rises from the dead.’”
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Theme
Luke 16 presents Jesus teaching about faithful stewardship through the puzzling parable of the dishonest manager, followed by sharp warnings about the dangers of wealth and religious hypocrisy. Jesus emphasizes that faithfulness in earthly matters reflects one's trustworthiness with spiritual riches, while challenging the Pharisees' love of money. The chapter concludes with the sobering parable of the rich man and Lazarus, illustrating the eternal consequences of ignoring the poor and rejecting God's word.
Context
Following the parables of the lost in chapter 15, Jesus continues addressing both disciples and Pharisees about proper attitudes toward wealth and spiritual responsibility.
Key Themes
Outline
- 1-8 The Parable of the Dishonest Manager Jesus tells of a manager who shrewdly prepares for his future after being dismissed for wasteful management.
- 9-13 Lessons on Faithful Stewardship Jesus explains that faithfulness in small matters and earthly wealth determines trustworthiness with true spiritual riches.
- 14-18 Confronting the Pharisees Jesus rebukes the money-loving Pharisees and teaches about the kingdom, law, and marriage.
- 19-31 The Rich Man and Lazarus A parable contrasting the eternal destinies of a wealthy man and a poor beggar, emphasizing compassion and heeding Scripture.
The Parable of the Dishonest Manager
16:1–16:13 parable parable-telling contemplative
Jesus tells the parable of the dishonest manager to teach about faithful stewardship and the impossibility of serving both God and money. The story emphasizes wisdom in using worldly resources for eternal purposes.
person_contrast
Jesus uniquely commends the dishonest manager's shrewdness while condemning his dishonesty, creating the Bible's most paradoxical endorsement of worldly wisdom for eternal purposes.
The Law and the Kingdom of God
16:14–16:18 gospel instruction solemn
Jesus responds to Pharisees' criticism by contrasting human and divine values, declaring the arrival of God's kingdom while affirming the law's permanence. He also teaches about the sanctity of marriage.
person_contrast
Jesus uniquely links the kingdom's arrival with the law's permanence, creating a paradox where divine revolution coexists with scriptural continuity in verses 16-17.
The Rich Man and Lazarus
16:19–16:31 parable parable-telling warning
Jesus tells the parable of the rich man and Lazarus to warn about the dangers of wealth and neglecting the poor. The story reveals the eternal consequences of how we treat others and emphasizes heeding God's word.
person_contrast
Jesus uniquely names only one character across all his parables—Lazarus—creating an unprecedented personal connection between earthly suffering and heavenly vindication.
Insights
Jesus uniquely links the kingdom's arrival with the law's permanence, creating a paradox where divine revolution coexists with scriptural continuity in verses 16-17.
Jesus uniquely names only one character across all his parables—Lazarus—creating an unprecedented personal connection between earthly suffering and heavenly vindication.
Cross-References
Connected passages across Scripture
Luke 16:2 2 references
Luke 16:3 1 reference
Luke 16:5 5 references
Lexicals 5
Luke 7:41 Lexical
“A certain lender had two debtors. The one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty.
2 Thessalonians 1:3 Lexical
We are bound to always give thanks to God for you, brothers, even as it is appropriate, because your faith grows exceedi…
Ephesians 5:33 Lexical
Nevertheless each of you must also love his own wife even as himself; and let the wife see that she respects her husband…
1 Thessalonians 2:11 Lexical
As you know, we exhorted, comforted, and implored every one of you, as a father does his own children,
1 Corinthians 16:2 Lexical
On the first day of every week, let each one of you save as he may prosper, that no collections are made when I come.
Luke 16:6 2 references
Luke 16:8 1 reference
Luke 16:13 5 references
Lexicals 5
Matthew 6:24 Lexical
“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be devoted to one and…
1 John 4:20 Lexical
If a man says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who doesn’t love his brother whom he has seen,…
Luke 17:34 Lexical
I tell you, in that night there will be two people in one bed. One will be taken and the other will be left.
Luke 18:10 Lexical
“Two men went up into the temple to pray; one was a Pharisee, and the other was a tax collector.
Luke 17:35 Lexical
There will be two grinding grain together. One will be taken and the other will be left.”
Luke 16:15 1 reference
Luke 16:16 3 references
Lexicals 3
Matthew 11:12 Lexical
From the days of John the Baptizer until now, the Kingdom of Heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force.
Matthew 11:13 Lexical
For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.
Acts 28:23 Lexical
When they had appointed him a day, many people came to him at his lodging. He explained to them, testifying about God’s…
Luke 16:17 5 references
Lexicals 5
Matthew 5:18 Lexical
For most certainly, I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not even one smallest letter or one tiny pen stroke sh…
Matthew 24:35 Lexical
Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
2 Peter 3:10 Lexical
But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and t…
Revelation 6:13 Lexical
The stars of the sky fell to the earth, like a fig tree dropping its unripe figs when it is shaken by a great wind.
James 5:12 Lexical
But above all things, my brothers, don’t swear—not by heaven, or by the earth, or by any other oath; but let your “yes”…
Luke 16:18 5 references
Lexicals 5
Matthew 5:32 Lexical
but I tell you that whoever puts away his wife, except for the cause of sexual immorality, makes her an adulteress; and…
Matthew 19:9 Lexical
I tell you that whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery; and he w…
Mark 10:11 Lexical
He said to them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her.
Luke 14:20 Lexical
“Another said, ‘I have married a wife, and therefore I can’t come.’
1 Corinthians 7:39 Lexical
A wife is bound by law for as long as her husband lives; but if the husband is dead, she is free to be married to whomev…
Luke 16:23 1 reference
Luke 16:25 3 references
Lexicals 3
1 Peter 3:10 Lexical
For, “He who would love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit.
Mark 10:30 Lexical
but he will receive one hundred times more now in this time: houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and land, wit…
Romans 1:27 Lexical
Likewise also the men, leaving the natural function of the woman, burned in their lust toward one another, men doing wha…
Luke 16:26 1 reference
Luke 16:29 1 reference
Luke 16:30 2 references
Luke 16:31 5 references
Lexicals 5
Acts 3:22 Lexical
For Moses indeed said to the fathers, ‘The Lord God will raise up a prophet for you from among your brothers, like me. Y…
Acts 28:23 Lexical
When they had appointed him a day, many people came to him at his lodging. He explained to them, testifying about God’s…
Acts 7:37 Lexical
This is that Moses who said to the children of Israel, ‘The Lord our God will raise up a prophet for you from among your…
Luke 20:6 Lexical
But if we say, ‘From men,’ all the people will stone us, for they are persuaded that John was a prophet.”
Matthew 22:24 Lexical
saying, “Teacher, Moses said, ‘If a man dies, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife and raise up offsprin…
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