Albert Barnes Commentary Luke 16:6

"And he said, A hundred measures of oil. And he said unto him, Take thy bond, and sit down quickly and write fifty." — Luke 16:6 (ASV)

An hundred measures. The measure here mentioned is the bath, which contained, according to Dr. Arbuthnot's tables, 7 1/2 gallons, or, according to the marginal note, about 9 gallons and 3 quarts.

Oil. Oil of olives, or sweet oil. It was much used for lamps, as an article of food (Exodus 29:2), and also for anointing, and, of course, as an article of commerce, 1 Kings 5:11. These were persons, no doubt, who had rented land from the rich man, and who were to give him a certain proportion of the produce.

Your bill. The contract, obligation, or lease. It was probably written as a promise by the debtor and signed by the steward, and thus became binding. Thus he had power to alter it, without thinking that his master would detect it. The bill or contract was in the hands of the steward, and he gave it back to him to write a new one.

Quickly. He supposed that his master would soon remove him, and he was therefore in a hurry to have all things secure beforehand. It is also worthy of remark that all this was wrong. His master had called for the account; but, instead of rendering it, he engaged in other business, continued to disobey his lord, and, defying his commands, pursued his own interest. All sinners would be slow to render their account to God if they could do so; and it is only because, when God calls them by death, they have no choice but to go, that they do not continue to engage in their own business and disobey him.

Contained nine gallons and three quarts. See Ezekiel 45:10-14.