Luke 16

The Parable of the Dishonest Manager

1 He also said to the disciples, "There was a rich man who had j a manager, and charges were brought to him that this man was wasting his possessions. 2 And he called him and said to him, 'What is this that I hear about you? Turn in the account of your k management, for you can no longer be manager.' 3 And the manager said to himself, 'What shall I do, since my master is taking the management away from me? I am not strong enough to dig, and I am ashamed to beg. 4 I have decided what to do, so that when I am removed from management, people may receive me into their houses.' 5 So, summoning his master's debtors one by one, he said to the first, 'How much do you owe my master?' 6 He said, 'A hundred measures 1 of oil.' He said to him, 'Take your bill, and sit down quickly and write fifty.' 7 Then he said to another, 'And how much do you owe?' He said, 'A hundred measures 2 of wheat.' He said to him, 'Take your bill, and write eighty.' 8 The master commended the dishonest manager for his l shrewdness. For m the sons of this world 3 are l more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than n the sons of light. 9 And I tell you, o make friends for yourselves by means of p unrighteous wealth, 4 so that when it fails they may receive you into the eternal dwellings.

10 q "One who is r faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much. 11 If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? 12 And if you have not been faithful in s that which is another's, who will give you that which is your own? 13 p No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money."

The Law and the Kingdom of God

14 t The Pharisees, who were u lovers of money, heard all these things, and they v ridiculed him. 15 And he said to them, "You are those who w justify yourselves before men, but x God knows your hearts. For what is exalted among men y is an abomination in the sight of God.

16 z "The Law and the Prophets were until John; since then a the good news of the kingdom of God is preached, and b everyone forces his way into it. 5 17 But c it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one dot of the Law to become void.

Divorce and Remarriage

18 d "Everyone who divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery, and he who marries a woman divorced from her husband commits adultery.

The Rich Man and Lazarus

19 "There was a rich man who was clothed in e purple and fine linen and f who feasted sumptuously every day. 20 And at his gate g was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, 21 who desired to be fed with h what fell from the rich man's table. Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores. 22 The poor man died and was carried by i the angels j to Abraham's side. 6 The rich man also died and was buried, 23 and in k Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and l saw Abraham far off and Lazarus j at his side. 24 And he called out, m 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and n cool my tongue, for o I am in anguish in this flame.' 25 But Abraham said, 'Child, remember that p 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. 26 And 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.' 27 And he said, 'Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father's house - 28 for I have five brothers 7 - so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.' 29 But Abraham said, 'They have q Moses and the Prophets; r let them hear them.' 30 And he said, 'No, s father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.' 31 He said to him, 'If they do not hear q Moses and the Prophets, t neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.'"

  1. Cross References
    Luke 12:42
    And the Lord said, "Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom his master will set over his household, to give them their portion of food at the proper time?
  2. Cross References
    1 Corinthians 9:17
    For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward, but if not of my own will, I am still entrusted with a stewardship.
  3. Cross References
    Matthew 25:2
    Five of them were foolish, and five were wise.
  4. Cross References
    Matthew 25:2
    Five of them were foolish, and five were wise.
  5. Cross References
    Luke 20:34
    And Jesus said to them, "The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage.
    Luke 10:6
    And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest upon him. But if not, it will return to you.
  6. Cross References
    John 12:36
    While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light." When Jesus had said these things, he departed and hid himself from them.
    1 Thessalonians 5:5
    For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness.
    Ephesians 5:8
    For at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light
  7. Cross References
    Luke 12:33
    Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys.
    Matthew 6:20
    But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.
    Matthew 19:21
    Jesus said to him, "If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.
    1 Timothy 6:10
    For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.
    1 Timothy 6:17 - 19
    As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy.
  8. Cross References
    Luke 16:11
    If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches?
    Luke 16:13
    No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.
    Matthew 6:24
    No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.
  9. Cross References
    Matthew 25:21
    His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.
    Matthew 25:23
    His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.
  10. Cross References
    Luke 19:17
    And he said to him, 'Well done, good servant! Because you have been faithful in a very little, you shall have authority over ten cities.
  11. Cross References
    1 Chronicles 29:14
    But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able thus to offer willingly? For all things come from you, and of your own have we given you.
    1 Chronicles 29:16
    O Lord our God, all this abundance that we have provided for building you a house for your holy name comes from your hand and is all your own.
  12. Cross References
    Luke 16:9
    And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous wealth, so that when it fails they may receive you into the eternal dwellings.
  13. Cross References
    Luke 11:39
    And the Lord said to him, "Now you Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness.
    Luke 20:47
    Who devour widows' houses and for a pretense make long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.
  14. Cross References
    2 Timothy 3:2
    For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy.
    1 Timothy 6:10
    For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.
  15. Cross References
    Luke 23:35
    And the people stood by, watching, but the rulers scoffed at him, saying, "He saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One!
  16. Cross References
    Luke 10:29
    But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?
  17. Cross References
    1 Samuel 16:7
    But the Lord said to Samuel, "Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.
    1 Chronicles 28:9
    And you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father and serve him with a whole heart and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches all hearts and understands every plan and thought. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will cast you off forever.
    Proverbs 21:2
    Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the heart.
  18. Cross References
    Proverbs 16:5
    Everyone who is arrogant in heart is an abomination to the Lord ; be assured, he will not go unpunished.
  19. Cross References
    Matthew 11:12 - 13
    From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force.
  20. Cross References
    Luke 4:43
    But he said to them, "I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns as well; for I was sent for this purpose.
  21. Cross References
    Luke 15:1
    Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him.
  22. Cross References
    Matthew 5:18
    For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished.
  23. Cross References
    Matthew 5:32
    But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
  24. Cross References
    Esther 8:15
    Then Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in royal robes of blue and white, with a great golden crown and a robe of fine linen and purple, and the city of Susa shouted and rejoiced.
    Revelation 18:16
    Alas, alas, for the great city that was clothed in fine linen, in purple and scarlet, adorned with gold, with jewels, and with pearls!
  25. Cross References
    James 5:5
    You have lived on the earth in luxury and in self-indulgence. You have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter.
  26. Cross References
    Acts 3:2
    And a man lame from birth was being carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple that is called the Beautiful Gate to ask alms of those entering the temple.
  27. Cross References
    Matthew 15:27
    She said, "Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table.
  28. Cross References
    Luke 15:10
    Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.
    Matthew 18:10
    See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven.
    Acts 12:15
    They said to her, "You are out of your mind." But she kept insisting that it was so, and they kept saying, "It is his angel!
    Hebrews 1:13 - 14
    And to which of the angels has he ever said, "Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet"?
    Luke 12:8
    And I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man also will acknowledge before the angels of God.
  29. Cross References
    John 13:23
    One of his disciples, whom Jesus loved, was reclining at table close to Jesus.
  30. Cross References
    Matthew 11:23
    And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You will be brought down to Hades. For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.
  31. Cross References
    Matthew 8:11 - 12
    I tell you, many will come from east and west and recline at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.
  32. Cross References
    Luke 16:22
    The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried.
  33. Cross References
    Luke 16:30
    And he said, 'No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.
    John 8:33
    They answered him, "We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, 'You will become free'?
    John 8:39
    They answered him, "Abraham is our father." Jesus said to them, "If you were Abraham's children, you would be doing the works Abraham did.
    John 8:53
    Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? And the prophets died! Who do you make yourself out to be?
  34. Cross References
    Zechariah 14:12
    And this shall be the plague with which the Lord will strike all the peoples that wage war against Jerusalem: their flesh will rot while they are still standing on their feet, their eyes will rot in their sockets, and their tongues will rot in their mouths.
  35. Cross References
    Isaiah 66:24
    "And they shall go out and look on the dead bodies of the men who have rebelled against me. For their worm shall not die, their fire shall not be quenched, and they shall be an abhorrence to all flesh."
    Matthew 25:41
    Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.
  36. Cross References
    Luke 6:24
    But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation.
    Job 21:13
    They spend their days in prosperity, and in peace they go down to Sheol.
    Psalms 17:14
    From men by your hand, O Lord, from men of the world whose portion is in this life. You fill their womb with treasure; they are satisfied with children, and they leave their abundance to their infants.
  37. Cross References
    Luke 16:31
    He said to him, 'If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.'
    Luke 24:27
    And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.
    Acts 26:22
    To this day I have had the help that comes from God, and so I stand here testifying both to small and great, saying nothing but what the prophets and Moses said would come to pass:
    Acts 28:23
    When they had appointed a day for him, they came to him at his lodging in greater numbers. From morning till evening he expounded to them, testifying to the kingdom of God and trying to convince them about Jesus both from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets.
  38. Cross References
    John 5:45 - 47
    Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father. There is one who accuses you: Moses, on whom you have set your hope.
  39. Cross References
    Luke 16:24
    And 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.
  40. Cross References
    Luke 16:29
    But Abraham said, 'They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.
  41. Cross References
    Matthew 28:11 - 15
    While they were going, behold, some of the guard went into the city and told the chief priests all that had taken place.
    John 12:10 - 11
    So the chief priests made plans to put Lazarus to death as well.
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.
Previous Book Next Book