John Gill Commentary Luke 16

And he said also to his disciples
The Syriac version adds, "a parable", as the following is; and which is directed to the disciples, as those in the preceding chapter are to the Pharisees; and who also are designed in this; though it is particularly spoken to the disciples, because it might be of some use to them, with respect, to the stewardship they were in. The Persic and Ethiopic versions read, "Jesus", or "the Lord Jesus said": and which is to be understood, though not expressed; for the parable was delivered by him, and is as follows:

there was a certain rich man :
by whom God is meant, who is rich in the perfections of his nature, in the works of his hands, in his government, and the administration of it, in providential goodness, and in the large revenues of glory due to him from his creatures; for all temporal riches are from him; and so are all the riches of mercy, grace, and glory:

which had a steward ;
by whom is designed, not all mankind; for though all men are, in a sense, stewards under God, and are entrusted with the good things of life, the gifts of nature, endowments of mind, health, strength of body, time yet all cannot be meant, because some are distinguished from this steward, (Luke 16:5Luke 16:8) nor are the disciples intended, though the parable is directed to them; and they were stewards of the mysteries and manifold grace of God; and one among them was an unfaithful one, and was turned out of his stewardship; but the character of an unjust man will not suit with them: and besides, this steward was of the children of this world, (Luke 16:8)

but the Pharisees are meant: for these are taken notice of as gravelled at this parable, (Luke 16:14Luke 16:15) and to them agrees the character of the men of this world, who were worldly wise men; as also that of a steward; these are the tutors and governors mentioned in (Galatians 4:2) who had the care of the house of Israel, the family of God, under the legal dispensation; and to whom were committed the oracles of God, the writings of Moses, and the prophets; and whose business it was to open and explain them to the people.

And the same was accused unto him, that he had wasted his goods ;
put false glosses upon the Scriptures; fed the family with bad and unwholesome food, the traditions of the elders, called the leaven of the Pharisees: made havoc of the souls of men; and made the hearts of the righteous sad: and hardened sinners in their wicked ways: and fed themselves, and not the flock; and plundered persons of their temporal substance; of all which they were accused by Moses, in whom they trusted; by his law which they violated; and by their own consciences, which witnessed against them; and by the cries of those whom they abused, which came into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth.

And he called him
By the prophets, sent one after another; by John the Baptist, by Christ himself, and by his apostles:

and said unto him, how is it that I hear this of thee ?
of your corrupting the word; of your covetousness, rapine, and theft; of your adultery and idolatry, and sad violation of the law; see (Romans 2:21–23)

give an account of your stewardship :
what improvement is made of your gifts; what care has been taken of my vineyard, the Jewish church; and where are the fruits that might be expected to have been received at your hands:

for you may be no longer steward .
This was foretold by the prophets, that God would write a "Loammi" upon the people of the Jews; that he would cut off three shepherds in one month, and particularly lay aside the idol shepherd, by whom the Pharisees may be meant, (Zechariah 11:8Zechariah 11:17) and by John the Baptist, who declared the axe was laid to the root of the tree, and it was just ready to be cut down, (Matthew 3:10Matthew 3:12) and by Christ, that the kingdom of God should be taken from them, (Matthew 21:43) and by the apostles, who turned from them to the Gentiles, (Acts 13:46) .

Then the steward said within himself
As the Scribes and Pharisees were wont to do, (Matthew 3:9) (9:3) (Luke 7:39Luke 7:49)

what shall I do ?
he does not say, what will become of me? I am undone, and what shall I do to be saved? or what shall I do formy Lord and Master I have so much injured? or what shall I do to make up matters with him? or what accountshall I give? but what shall I do for a maintenance? how shall I live? what shall I do to please men, andgain their opinion and good will, and so be provided for by them? of this cast were the Pharisees, menpleasers, and self-seekers:

for my Lord takes away from me the stewardship :
the priesthood was changed, and there was a change also of the law; the ceremonial law was abrogated, and theordinances of the former dispensation were shaken and removed; so that these men must of course turn out oftheir places and offices:

I cannot dig ;
or "plough", as the Arabic version renders it; or do any part of husbandry, particularly that which lies inmanuring and cultivating the earth; not but that he was able to do it; but he could not tell how to submit tosuch a mean, as well as laborious way of life; for nothing was meaner among the Jews than husbandry: theyhave a saying, that (eqrqh Nm htwxp twnmwa Kl Nya) , "you have no trade", orbusiness, "lesser", or meaner "than husbandry" ^F7 :

and to beg I am ashamed ;
for nothing could be more disagreeable, to one who had lived so well in his master's house, and in so muchfulness and luxury, as the Scribes and Pharisees did. The Jews have a saying, that ^F8``want ofnecessaries, (wtlavm bwj) , "is better than begging": (and says one) I havetasted the bitterness of all things, and I have not found any thing more bitter "than begging:"'' and whichwas literally true of the Jews, after the destruction of Jerusalem; when multitudes of them were condemned towork in the mines; and vast numbers were scattered about every where as vagabonds, begging their bread; bothwhich were very irksome to that people.

Though both these phrases may be mystically understood: and "digging" may intend a laborious searching into the Scriptures, and a diligent performance of good works: neither of which the Pharisees much cared for, though they made large pretensions to both; nor did they dig deep to laya good foundation whereon to build eternal life and happiness: nor could they attain to the law ofrighteousness by all their toil and labour, they would be thought to have taken: and for "begging", they wereabove that: read the Pharisee's prayer in (Luke 18:11Luke 18:12) and you will not find one petition in it.To ask any thing at the throne of grace, in a way of mere grace and favour, and not merit: or to beg anything at the hands of Christ, as life, righteousness, pardon, cleansing, healing, food they were ashamed of,and cared not for.

FOOTNOTES:

• F7: T. Bab. Yebamot, fol. 63. 1.
• F8: Mischar Hapeninim apud Buxtorf. Florileg, Heb. p. 262.

I am resolved what to do
Or "I know what to do"; I have a scheme in my head, and I am determined to execute it, which will provide for me, and secure me a maintenance:

that when I am put out of the stewardship ;
drove from Jerusalem, and from the temple and the synagogues:

they may receive me into their houses ;
either Jews or Gentiles, after their dispersion.

So he called every one of his Lord's debtors
Either the Gentiles, who were greatly indebted to God, having sinned against him, and the law, and light of nature, at a great rate; into whose affections, houses, and palaces, the Jews found ways and means to introduce themselves; and, in process of time, got leave to have synagogues built, and their worship set up again.

Or else the Jews, their countrymen; since these were under those stewards, tutors, and governors, and were debtors to do the whole law; and had, by breaking the law, contracted large debts; and against whom the ceremonial law stood as an handwriting: these the steward called

to him, and said to the first, how much owe you to my
Lord ?
And it is observable, that the debts of these men, of the first, lay in oil, and of the other in wheat; things much used in the ceremonial law, in the observance of which they had been, greatly deficient; see (Exodus 29:40Exodus 29:41) (Numbers 15:4–12) (Ezekiel 45:13Ezekiel 45:14)