Luke 16
The Parable of the Clever Steward
16:1 Jesus1 also said to the disciples, “There was a rich man who was informed of accusations2 that his manager3 was wasting4 his assets. 16:2 So5 he called the manager6 in and said to him, ‘What is this I hear about you?7 Turn in the account of your administration,8 because you can no longer be my manager.’ 16:3 Then9 the manager said to himself, ‘What should I do, since my master is taking my position10 away from me? I’m not strong enough to dig,11 and I’m too ashamed12 to beg. 16:4 I know13 what to do so that when I am put out of management, people will welcome me into their homes.’14 16:5 So15 he contacted16 his master’s debtors one by one. He asked the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’ 16:6 The man17 replied, ‘A hundred measures18 of olive oil.’ The manager19 said to him, ‘Take your bill, sit down quickly, and write fifty.’20 16:7 Then he said to another, ‘And how much do you owe?’ The second man21 replied, ‘A hundred measures22 of wheat.’ The manager23 said to him, ‘Take your bill, and write eighty.’24 16:8 The25 master commended the dishonest26 manager because he acted shrewdly.27 For the people28 of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their contemporaries29 than the people30 of light. 16:9 And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by how you use worldly wealth,31 so that when it runs out you will be welcomed32 into the eternal homes.33
16:10 “The one who is faithful in a very little34 is also faithful in much, and the one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much. 16:11 If then you haven’t been trustworthy35 in handling worldly wealth,36 who will entrust you with the true riches?37 16:12 And if you haven’t been trustworthy38 with someone else’s property,39 who will give you your own40? 16:13 No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate41 the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise42 the other. You cannot serve God and money.”43
More Warnings about the Pharisees
16:14 The Pharisees44 (who loved money) heard all this and ridiculed45 him. 16:15 But46 Jesus47 said to them, “You are the ones who justify yourselves in men’s eyes,48 but God knows your hearts. For what is highly prized49 among men is utterly detestable50 in God’s sight.
16:16 “The law and the prophets were in force51 until John;52 since then,53 the good news of the kingdom of God54 has been proclaimed, and everyone is urged to enter it.55 16:17 But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one tiny stroke of a letter56 in the law to become void.57
16:18 “Everyone who divorces his wife and marries58 someone else commits adultery, and the one who marries a woman divorced from her husband commits adultery.
The Rich Man and Lazarus
16:19 “There was a rich man who dressed in purple59 and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously60 every day. 16:20 But at his gate lay61 a poor man named Lazarus62 whose body was covered with sores,63 16:21 who longed to eat64 what fell from the rich man’s table. In addition, the dogs65 came and licked66 his sores.
16:22 “Now67 the poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side.68 The69 rich man also died and was buried.70 16:23 And in hell,71 as he was in torment,72 he looked up73 and saw Abraham far off with Lazarus at his side.74 16:24 So75 he called out,76 ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus77 to dip the tip of his finger78 in water and cool my tongue, because I am in anguish79 in this fire.’80 16:25 But Abraham said, ‘Child,81 remember that in your lifetime you received your good things and Lazarus likewise bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in anguish.82 16:26 Besides all this,83 a great chasm84 has been fixed between us,85 so that those who want to cross over from here to you cannot do so, and no one can cross from there to us.’ 16:27 So86 the rich man87 said, ‘Then I beg you, father – send Lazarus88 to my father’s house 16:28 (for I have five brothers) to warn89 them so that they don’t come90 into this place of torment.’ 16:29 But Abraham said,91 ‘They have Moses and the prophets; they must respond to92 them.’ 16:30 Then93 the rich man94 said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone from the dead95 goes to them, they will repent.’ 16:31 He96 replied to him, ‘If they do not respond to97 Moses and the prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’”98