September 28, 2024

DAILY BIBLE READING – Luke Chapter 16

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.

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.

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.

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.

King James Version. Public Domain

Commentary

Introduction:

Luke chapter 16 contains two important teachings of Jesus that delve deeply into the themes of wealth, justice, faithfulness, and the relationship with God. First, Jesus tells the parable of the dishonest manager, which takes a surprising turn and challenges us to wisely manage our earthly resources. This is followed by the moving story of the rich man and the poor Lazarus, which reminds us of the eternal consequences of our earthly decisions. These stories confront the listeners with the question of how they use their lives and possessions in a way that aligns with God’s will.

Commentary:

The chapter begins with the parable of the dishonest manager. The manager has misused his position and is facing dismissal. To secure his future, he reduces the debts of his master’s creditors in order to gain their support later. Although his master praises this behavior as “shrewd,” it is not because dishonesty is endorsed. Instead, Jesus highlights the necessity of being wise and prudent with earthly goods to build friendships and security for the future. Jesus also states that the “children of this world” are often more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than the “children of light,” serving as a warning to believers to handle what God has entrusted to them wisely and responsibly.

An important lesson from this section is that the way we handle worldly possessions is also an indicator of how faithful we can be in greater matters. Jesus emphasizes that no one can serve two masters: one cannot serve both God and mammon (money) simultaneously. These words are also directed against the Pharisees who mocked Jesus, as they clung to wealth and self-righteousness. Jesus condemns their greed and emphasizes that what is highly esteemed by people is often detestable in the sight of God.

In the second part of the chapter, Jesus tells the striking story of the rich man and the poor Lazarus. The rich man enjoys luxury and wealth in life, while Lazarus suffers in poverty and illness. However, after death, their fates are reversed: Lazarus is comforted in Abraham’s bosom, while the rich man endures torment. This story serves as a sharp warning against indifference to the poor and the assumption that earthly wealth is a sign of divine favor.

Particularly moving is the rich man’s plea for Lazarus to warn his brothers so that they may not suffer the same fate. However, Abraham responds that they already have Moses and the prophets to warn them. If they do not listen to these, they will not believe even if someone rises from the dead. This is a profound reminder that hearing and obeying God’s word is vital for life and that no spectacular signs or miracles can replace the message of Scripture.

Summary:

Luke chapter 16 contains powerful teachings about handling wealth and the responsibility that comes with it. In the parable of the dishonest manager, the importance of wisdom in dealing with earthly goods is highlighted, while the story of the rich man and Lazarus illustrates the ultimate consequences of selfishness and indifference to those in need. Jesus urges us to live in faithfulness and wisdom, clearly recognizing that we can only serve one master—either God or mammon. This chapter reminds us that our behavior in this world impacts our eternal destiny.

Introduction:

In Chapter 65, we witness a pivotal event from the life of Jesus, where He once again cleanses the temple of unholy business dealings. This scene highlights the sanctity of the temple as a place of worship and demonstrates Jesus’ commitment to true worship. At the same time, Jesus reveals Himself as the divine King and Judge, fighting against hypocrisy and corruption in the temple, while the Jewish leaders grow increasingly hostile towards Him.

Commentary:

The cleansing of the temple is a powerful symbol of purity and respect in worship. Jesus demonstrates that true worship is not about outward rituals, but about obedience and a sincere heart. By driving out the merchants and healing the sick within the temple, He reveals the contrast between His mission of healing and the greed of the religious leaders. This act of Jesus serves as a profound warning to all believers not to honor God merely through rituals, but through lives that embody love, justice, and compassion. The hypocrisy of the priests, who rejected Jesus’ authority, is an example of how the religious elite can reject spiritual truths.

Summary:

The second cleansing of the temple underscores Jesus’ role as the divine King and Judge, who purifies the temple of corruption and restores it as a place of true worship. His actions show that God values obedience and a sincere heart over ritual sacrifices. The response of the religious leaders, who opposed Him, symbolizes the rejection of divine truth and serves as a serious warning. Jesus’ parables, such as the one about the cornerstone, call for repentance and illustrate that Christ is the central foundation of our faith—the rock upon which we must build.

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