Introduction: The Gospel of Luke chapter 16 presents two powerful parables and teachings from Jesus Christ. These parables are not just stories, but spiritual lessons with spiritual and eternal implications. The chapter starts with the parable of the unjust steward and ends with the parable of the rich man and Lazarus (if you could really call this a parable, this writer believes this was a true event that happened). These parables talk about everyday matters regarding faithfulness, the use of worldly wealth, and eternal life, pointing out how choices made in this life impact the what comes in the afterlife. It would be very wise to “choose well” my friends.
I. Luke 16:1-13 – Parable of the Unjust Steward
In this parable, Jesus tells of an unjust manager who is about to be fired, but uses his remaining time to secure his future by forgiving the debts of his master’s debtors (Luke 16:4-7). This dishonest and unjust act is commended by his master for his shrewdness (Luke 16:8). Jesus then encourages His disciples to be wise in their use of wealth, emphasizing that faithfulness in small things leads to faithfulness in greater things, and dishonesty in small things leads to dishonesty in greater things (Luke 16:10-12). This principle brings to mind the teachings in Matthew 25:21 and Matthew 25:23. Finally, Jesus concludes that one cannot serve both God and wealth (Luke 16:13), a truth also put forth in Matthew 6:24.
II. Luke 16:14-18 – Condemnation of the Pharisees
Reacting to the parable, the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, scoffed at Jesus; parable (Luke 16:14). Jesus responded by rebuking them for their hypocrisy, and touched upon the law and the kingdom of God (Luke 16:15-17). He asserted that it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one stroke of a letter of the Law to fail (Luke 16:17), a sentiment similar to Matthew 5:18. He also addressed the issue of divorce and remarriage (Luke 16:18), which is also discussed in Matthew 19:9.
III. Luke 16:19-31 – Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus
In this parable (if you can call it a parable, this writer believes this even truly happened), Jesus presents the stark contrast between a rich man living in luxury and a poor man named Lazarus, who longs for the crumbs from the rich man’s table (Luke 16:19-21). Both men die, and Lazarus is carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom, a symbol of paradise, while the rich man ends up in Hades, experiencing torment (Luke 16:22-23). This reflects the teaching of Matthew 19:24, showing the difficulty for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. The rich man pleads for Lazarus to alleviate his suffering and warn his brothers, but Abraham tells him they have Moses and the Prophets to listen to (Luke 16:27-31). This brings to mind the what Paul said in Romans 10:17 that faith comes from hearing the word of God, if people can’t believe the Word of God, they wouldn’t even believe if one came back from the grave to witness to them.
Conclusion: Luke 16 is a clear reminder to all believers, that our actions and attitudes in this life have eternal consequences. Jesus teaches us the importance of faithfulness, the dangers of worldly wealth and hypocrisy, and the reality of life after death. Through the Parable of the Unjust Steward, Jesus calls us to wisely use our resources for the kingdom of God. His condemnation of the Pharisees exposes the danger of hypocrisy and misuse of the law. The Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus graphically illustrates the eternal destinies awaiting us. The chapter challenges us to examine our lives, make wise choices, live faithfully, and prioritize eternal matters over temporal ones.
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