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Luke 16

31 verses

TL;DR

Luke 16 contrasts worldly wealth and selfish stewardship with divine faithfulness, warning that serving money leads to judgment and urging loyalty to God.

Summary

The chapter opens with Jesus’ parable of an unjust steward who, fearing loss of his position, hastily reduces the debts of his master’s creditors to secure future hospitality. Jesus then emphasizes the value of faithfulness in small matters and the impossibility of serving both God and Mammon. He rebukes the Pharisees for valuing worldly approval over God’s judgment. The narrative shifts to the story of a rich man, clothed in purple and living lavishly, and a beggar named Lazarus who lies at his gate. After their deaths, the rich man is tormented in Hades while Lazarus rests in Abraham’s bosom; the rich man begs for mercy, but Abraham reminds him of the injustice he suffered. The chapter ends with the rich man pleading that Lazarus be sent to warn his relatives, but Abraham replies that Moses and the prophets are sufficient warning, and without them repentance will not occur.

Outline
  1. Parable of the Unjust Steward (v.1‑10)
  2. Teachings on money, serving two masters, and criticism of the Pharisees (v.13‑16)
  3. Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus (v.19‑31)
Themes
Stewardship and faithfulnessWealth versus povertyServing God versus serving moneyDivine judgment and mercyThe irreversibility of time and the need for repentance
Keywords
stewardshipwealthpovertyMammonjudgmentfaithfulnesslawdivorceadulteryAbraham’s bosomHadesJesusparableRich ManLazarus
People
JesusUnjust StewardRich ManLazarusAbrahamThe PhariseesAngelsDogs
Places
Gate (city)Abraham’s bosomHades (hell)Heaven
Things
MammonDebtsRichesBread crumbsTittle of the lawDogs
Key Verses
  • Luke 16:8: Jesus praises faithfulness in small matters
  • Luke 16:13: Teaching that one cannot serve God and Mammon
  • Luke 16:18: Statement on divorce and adultery
  • Luke 16:25: The rich man’s plea for mercy
  • Luke 16:29: Abraham’s insistence on Moses and the prophets as sufficient warning
Questions
  • How does the parable of the unjust steward challenge our understanding of handling worldly resources?
  • Why does Jesus insist that a servant cannot serve both God and Mammon?
  • What does the story of the rich man and Lazarus reveal about the permanence of earthly choices?
  • How can the rich man’s experience inform contemporary attitudes toward poverty and charity?
  • In what way does the refusal of the rich man to accept the warning of Moses and the prophets illustrate the limits of human repentance?
  • What lessons can believers draw from the tension between the “tittle of the law” and the larger demands of the kingdom?
Sentiment

mixed
The chapter contains both admonition and hopeful warning, highlighting moral responsibility alongside the possibility of repentance.