Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Luke 16
Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary
Luke 16
Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary
Luke 16
"And he said also unto the disciples, There was a certain rich man, who had a steward; and the same was accused unto him that he was wasting his goods." — Luke 16:1 (ASV)
“Manager” is a broad term for an employee or agent who was entrusted with the management of funds or property. Mismanagement was possible because strict accounts were not always kept. When word came from others (v.2), he had to “give an account.” The manager’s plight (v.3) was that he had a respectable “desk job” but could do little else. His decision, therefore, is made with a view to his personal security after his dismissal.
"And he called him, and said unto him, What is this that I hear of thee? render the account of thy stewardship; for thou canst be no longer steward." — Luke 16:2 (ASV)
“Manager” is a broad term for an employee or agent who was entrusted with the management of funds or property. Mismanagement was possible because strict accounts were not always kept. When word came from others (v.2), he had to “give an account.” The manager’s plight (v.3) was that he had a respectable “desk job” but could do little else. His decision, therefore, is made with a view to his personal security after his dismissal.
"And the steward said within himself, What shall I do, seeing that my lord taketh away the stewardship from me? I have not strength to dig; to beg I am ashamed." — Luke 16:3 (ASV)
“Manager” is a broad term for an employee or agent who was entrusted with the management of funds or property. Mismanagement was possible because strict accounts were not always kept. When word came from others (v.2), he had to “give an account.” The manager’s plight (v.3) was that he had a respectable “desk job” but could do little else. His decision, therefore, is made with a view to his personal security after his dismissal.
"I am resolved what to do, that, when I am put out of the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses." — Luke 16:4 (ASV)
“Manager” is a broad term for an employee or agent who was entrusted with the management of funds or property. Mismanagement was possible because strict accounts were not always kept. When word came from others (v.2), he had to “give an account.” The manager’s plight (v.3) was that he had a respectable “desk job” but could do little else. His decision, therefore, is made with a view to his personal security after his dismissal.
"And calling to him each one of his lord`s debtors, he said to the first, How much owest thou unto my lord? And he said, A hundred measures of oil. And he said unto him, Take thy bond, and sit down quickly and write fifty. Then said he to another, And how much owest thou? And he said, A hundred measures of wheat. He saith unto him, Take thy bond, and write fourscore. And his lord commended the unrighteous steward because he had done wisely: for the sons of this world are for their own generation wiser than the sons of the light. And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends by means of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when it shall fail, they may receive you into the eternal tabernacles." — Luke 16:5-9 (ASV)
(5–8a) As already noted, the bills may have been written in terms of commodities rather than cash, perhaps in order to hide the actual amount of interest. The amounts owed were large; the wheat is said to be equal to the yield of about one hundred acres. The actual value of the reduction in each case has been computed to equal about sixteen month’s wages for a day laborer. The meaning of v.8a, as noted above, is not that a manager is commended for an act of dishonesty but that a dishonest manager is commended for an act of prudence.
(8b–9) The contrast between those who belong to this age and those who belong to the light (v.8b) is a familiar one (cf. Ephesians 5:8; 1 Thessalonians 5:5). Christians do not belong to this evil age, but they can nevertheless make responsible use of “worldly wealth” (v.9). The “friends” may not refer to any particular people but simply be part of the parable’s imagery. Usually they have been understood as being poor people, for whom Jesus had a deep concern and to whom we are here urged to give alms (cf. 12:33). “Worldly wealth” should not be stored up for oneself (cf. 12:21), since one day it will be “gone.” 10–13 The theme of stewardship is now discussed in terms of trustworthiness as over against dishonesty. “Worldly wealth” (v.11) appears for the second time (cf. v.9). The property here is “someone else’s,” presumably God’s, in contrast to the parable’s imagery in which the amount forgiven was the manager’s own commission. Verse 13 (cf. Matthew 6:24) is also appropriate to the context (the Greek word earlier translated “worldly wealth” is now translated “money”; GK 3440). Though one may have both God and money, we cannot serve them both.
Jump to: