Luke 16:1
ἔλεγεν he was saying δὲ and καὶ also πρὸς to τοὺς the μαθητάς· disciples, ̓Άνθρωπός man τις a certain ἦν was πλούσιος rich ὃς who εἶχεν had οἰκονόμον, [a] steward, καὶ and οὗτος this διεβλήθη was [the] charge brought αὐτῷ against him: ὡς as διασκορπίζων squandering τὰ the ὑπάρχοντα possessions αὐτοῦ. of him.
Jesus told this story to his disciples: “There was a certain rich man who had a manager handling his affairs. One day a report came that the manager was wasting his employer’s money.
Luke 16:2
καὶ and φωνήσας having called αὐτὸν him, εἶπεν he said αὐτῷ, to him, Τί what τοῦτο [is] this ἀκούω I hear περὶ about σοῦ; you? ἀπόδος render τὸν the λόγον account τῆς of the οἰκονομίας stewardship σου, of you, οὐ no δύνῃ are you able ἔτι longer οἰκονομεῖν. to be steward. γὰρ for
So the employer called him in and said, ‘What’s this I hear about you? Get your report in order, because you are going to be fired.’
Luke 16:3
εἶπεν said ἐν within ἑαυτῷ himself δὲ and ὁ the οἰκονόμος, steward, Τί what ποιήσω; may I do, ὅτι because ὁ the κύριός master (lord) μου of me ἀφαιρεῖται takes away τὴν the οἰκονομίαν stewardship ἀπ᾽ from ἐμοῦ. me? σκάπτειν to dig, οὐκ not ἰσχύω, I am strong [enough], ἐπαιτεῖν to beg αἰσχύνομαι. I am ashamed.
“The manager thought to himself, ‘Now what? My boss has fired me. I don’t have the strength to dig ditches, and I’m too proud to beg.
Luke 16:4
ἔγνων I know τί what ποιήσω I shall do, ἵνα that ὅταν when μετασταθῶ I am removed ἐκ from τῆς the οἰκονομίας stewardship δέξωνταί they may receive εἰς into με me τοὺς the οἴκους houses αὐτῶν. of them.
Ah, I know how to ensure that I’ll have plenty of friends who will give me a home when I am fired.’
Luke 16:5
καὶ and προσκαλεσάμενος having summoned ἕνα one ἕκαστον each τῶν of the χρεοφειλετῶν debtors τοῦ of the κυρίου master (lord) ἑαυτοῦ. of himself, ἔλεγεν he was saying τῷ to the πρώτῳ, first, Πόσον how much ὀφείλεις do you owe τῷ to the κυρίῳ master (lord) μου; of me?
“So he invited each person who owed money to his employer to come and discuss the situation. He asked the first one, ‘How much do you owe him?’
Luke 16:6
ὁ - δὲ and εἶπεν, he said, Ἑκατὸν one hundred βάτους baths ἐλαίου. of oil. ὁ - δὲ and εἶπεν he said αὐτῷ, to him, Δέξαι take σου your τὰ - γράμματα bills καὶ and ταχέως quickly καθίσας having sat down, γράψον write πεντήκοντα. fifty.
The man replied, ‘I owe him 800 gallons of olive oil.’ So the manager told him, ‘Take the bill and quickly change it to 400 gallons.’
Luke 16:7
ἔπειτα then ἑτέρῳ to another εἶπεν, he said, Σὺ you δὲ and πόσον how much ὀφείλεις; do you owe? ὁ - δὲ and εἶπεν, he said, Ἑκατὸν one hundred κόρους measures σίτου. of wheat. λέγει he says αὐτῷ, to him, Δέξαι take σου your τὰ - γράμματα bills καὶ and γράψον write ὀγδοήκοντα. eighty.
‘And how much do you owe my employer?’ he asked the next man. ‘I owe him 1,000 bushels of wheat,’ was the reply. ‘Here,’ the manager said, ‘take the bill and change it to 800 bushels.’
Luke 16:8
καὶ and ἐπῄνεσεν praised ὁ the κύριος master (lord) τὸν the οἰκονόμον steward τῆς - ἀδικίας unrighteousness ὅτι because φρονίμως wisely ἐποίησεν· he acted. ὅτι because οἱ the υἱοὶ sons τοῦ - αἰῶνος age τούτου of this φρονιμώτεροι more wise ὑπὲρ than τοὺς the υἱοὺς sons τοῦ of the φωτὸς light εἰς in τὴν the γενεὰν generation τὴν - ἑαυτῶν of themselves εἰσίν. are.
“The rich man had to admire the dishonest rascal for being so shrewd. And it is true that the children of this world are more shrewd in dealing with the world around them than are the children of the light.
Luke 16:9
καὶ and ἐγὼ I ὑμῖν to you λέγω· say, ἑαυτοῖς for yourselves ποιήσατε make φίλους friends ἐκ from τοῦ the μαμωνᾶ mammon τῆς - ἀδικίας. of unrighteousness, ἵνα, that ὅταν when ἐκλίπῃ, it fails δέξωνται they may welcome ὑμᾶς you εἰς into τὰς the αἰωνίους eternal σκηνάς. tents.
Here’s the lesson: Use your worldly resources to benefit others and make friends. Then, when your possessions are gone, they will welcome you to an eternal home.
Luke 16:10
ὁ the one πιστὸς faithful ἐν in ἐλαχίστῳ, little, καὶ also ἐν in πολλῷ much πιστός faithful ἐστιν. is, καὶ and ὁ the one [being] ἐν in ἐλαχίστῳ little ἄδικος, unrighteous καὶ also ἐν in πολλῷ much ἄδικός unrighteous ἐστιν. is.
“If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities.
Luke 16:11
εἰ if οὖν then ἐν with τῷ - ἀδίκῳ unrighteous μαμωνᾷ mammon πιστοὶ faithful οὐκ not ἐγένεσθε, you were, τὸ - ἀληθινὸν true [riches] τίς who ὑμῖν to you πιστεύσει; will entrust?
And if you are untrustworthy about worldly wealth, who will trust you with the true riches of heaven?
Luke 16:12
καὶ and εἰ if ἐν with τῷ the thing ἀλλοτρίῳ belonging to another πιστοὶ faithful οὐκ not ἐγένεσθε, you were, τὸ the thing ὑμέτερον belonging to you τίς who δώσει will give? ὑμῖν; to you
And if you are not faithful with other people’s things, why should you be trusted with things of your own?
Luke 16:13
οὐδεὶς no οἰκέτης slave δύναται is able δυσὶ two κυρίοις masters (lords) δουλεύειν. to serve; ἢ either γὰρ for τὸν the ἕνα one μισήσει he will hate καὶ and τὸν the ἕτερον other ἀγαπήσει· he will love, ἢ or ἑνὸς one ἀνθέξεται he will be devoted to καὶ and τοῦ the ἑτέρου other καταφρονήσει. he will despise. οὐ not δύνασθε you are able θεῷ God δουλεύειν to serve καὶ and μαμωνᾷ. mammon.
“No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money.”
Luke 16:14
ἤκουον were hearing δὲ and ταῦτα these things πάντα all οἱ the Φαρισαῖοι, Pharisees φιλάργυροι lovers of money ὑπάρχοντες, being καὶ and ἐξεμυκτήριζον they were ridiculing αὐτόν. him.
The Pharisees, who dearly loved their money, heard all this and scoffed at him.
Luke 16:15
καὶ and εἶπεν he said αὐτοῖς, to them, Ὑμεῖς you ἐστὲ are οἱ the ones δικαιοῦντες justifying ἑαυτοὺς yourselves ἐνώπιον before τῶν - ἀνθρώπων, men, ὁ - δὲ but θεὸς God γινώσκει knows τὰς the καρδίας hearts ὑμῶν· of you. ὅτι because τὸ the ἐν among ἀνθρώποις men ὑψηλὸν thing highly esteemed βδέλυγμα [is] an abomination ἐνώπιον before τοῦ - θεοῦ. God.
Then he said to them, “You like to appear righteous in public, but God knows your hearts. What this world honors is detestable in the sight of God.
Luke 16:16
ὁ the νόμος law καὶ and οἱ the προφῆται, prophets [were proclaimed] μέχρι until Ἰωάνου· John. ἀπὸ from τότε then ἡ [of] the βασιλεία Kingdom τοῦ - θεοῦ of God εὐαγγελίζεται, good news-is being preached καὶ and πᾶς every one εἰς into αὐτὴν it βιάζεται. is being urgently invited.
“Until John the Baptist, the law of Moses and the messages of the prophets were your guides. But now the Good News of the Kingdom of God is preached, and everyone is eager to get in.
Luke 16:17
εὐκοπώτερον easier δέ but ἐστιν it is [for] τὸν - οὐρανὸν heaven καὶ and τὴν - γῆν earth παρελθεῖν to pass away ἢ than τοῦ of the νόμου law μίαν one κεραίαν pen stroke πεσεῖν. to drop [out].
But that doesn’t mean that the law has lost its force. It is easier for heaven and earth to disappear than for the smallest point of God’s law to be overturned.
Luke 16:18
πᾶς every ὁ one ἀπολύων divorcing τὴν the γυναῖκα wife αὐτοῦ of him καὶ and γαμῶν marrying ἑτέραν another μοιχεύει. commits adultery, καὶ and ὁ the one ἀπολελυμένην [the woman] having been divorced ἀπὸ by ἀνδρὸς [her] husband, γαμῶν marrying μοιχεύει. commits adultery.
“For example, a man who divorces his wife and marries someone else commits adultery. And anyone who marries a woman divorced from her husband commits adultery.”
Luke 16:19
ἄνθρωπος man δέ now τις a certain ἦν was πλούσιος rich, καὶ and ἐνεδιδύσκετο was clothing himself πορφύραν with purple καὶ and βύσσον linen [garment], εὐφραινόμενος being merry λαμπρῶς. [eating] sumptuously. καθ᾽ every day ἡμέραν
Jesus said, “There was a certain rich man who was splendidly clothed in purple and fine linen and who lived each day in luxury.
Luke 16:20
πτωχὸς poor one δέ and τις a certain ὀνόματι by name, Λάζαρος Lazarus, ἐβέβλητο had been laid πρὸς at τὸν the πυλῶνα gate αὐτοῦ of him εἱλκωμένος having been covered with sores
At his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus who was covered with sores.
Luke 16:21
καὶ and ἐπιθυμῶν desiring χορτασθῆναι to be fed ἀπὸ from τῶν the things πιπτόντων falling ἀπὸ from τῆς the τραπέζης table τοῦ of the πλουσίου, rich man. ἀλλὰ but καὶ even οἱ the κύνες dogs ἐρχόμενοι coming ἐπέλειχον were licking τὰ the ἕλκη sores αὐτοῦ. of him.
As Lazarus lay there longing for scraps from the rich man’s table, the dogs would come and lick his open sores.
Luke 16:22
ἐγένετο it came about [that] δέ, and ἀποθανεῖν died τὸν the πτωχὸν poor one καὶ and ἀπενεχθῆναι was carried away αὐτὸν he ὑπὸ by τῶν the ἀγγέλων angels εἰς to τὸν the κόλπον bosom Ἀβραάμ. of Abraham. ἀπέθανεν died δὲ and καὶ also ὁ the πλούσιος rich man καὶ and ἐτάφη, he was buried.
“Finally, the poor man died and was carried by the angels to sit beside Abraham at the heavenly banquet. The rich man also died and was buried,
Luke 16:23
καὶ and ἐν in τῷ - ᾅδῃ· Hades ἐπάρας having lifted up τοὺς the ὀφθαλμοὺς eyes αὐτοῦ, of him, ὑπάρχων being ἐν in βασάνοις, torments, ὁρᾷ he sees Ἀβραὰμ Abraham ἀπὸ from μακρόθεν far away καὶ and Λάζαρον Lazarus ἐν in τοῖς the κόλποις bosoms αὐτοῦ. of him.
and he went to the place of the dead. There, in torment, he saw Abraham in the far distance with Lazarus at his side.
Luke 16:24
καὶ and αὐτὸς he φωνήσας having called εἶπεν, said, Πάτερ father Ἀβραάμ, Abraham, ἐλέησόν have mercy [on] με. me καὶ and πέμψον send Λάζαρον Lazarus ἵνα that βάψῃ he may dip τὸ the ἄκρον tip τοῦ of the δακτύλου finger αὐτοῦ of him [into] ὕδατος [the] water καὶ and καταψύξῃ may cool τὴν the γλῶσσάν tongue μου· of me, ὅτι because ὀδυνῶμαι I am suffering ἐν in τῇ - φλογὶ flame ταύτῃ. this.
“The rich man shouted, ‘Father Abraham, have some pity! Send Lazarus over here to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue. I am in anguish in these flames.’
Luke 16:25
εἶπεν said δὲ but Ἀβραάμ, Abraham, Τέκνον, child, μνήσθητι remember ὅτι that ἀπέλαβες you received τὰ the ἀγαθά good things σου of you ἐν in τῇ the ζωῇ life σου, of you, καὶ and Λάζαρος Lazarus ὁμοίως likewise τὰ the κακά· bad things. νῦν now δὲ but ὧδε here παρακαλεῖται, he is comforted, σὺ you δὲ but ὀδυνᾶσαι. are suffering.
“But Abraham said to him, ‘Son, remember that during your lifetime you had everything you wanted, and Lazarus had nothing. So now he is here being comforted, and you are in anguish.
Luke 16:26
καὶ and ἐν in [addition] πᾶσι to all τούτοις, these things ἡμῶν us καὶ and ὑμῶν you χάσμα chasm μέγα [a] great μεταξὺ between ἐστήρικται· has been fixed, ὅπως so that οἱ the ones θέλοντες wishing διαβῆναι to come over ἔνθεν from [here] πρὸς to ὑμᾶς you μὴ not δύνωνται, are able, μηδὲ neither ἐκεῖθεν from there πρὸς to ἡμᾶς us διαπερῶσιν. may they cross over.
And besides, there is a great chasm separating us. No one can cross over to you from here, and no one can cross over to us from there.’
Luke 16:27
εἶπεν he said δέ, and, Ἐρωτῶ I ask σε you οὖν, then, πάτερ, father, ἵνα that πέμψῃς you may send αὐτὸν him εἰς to τὸν the οἶκον house τοῦ of the πατρός father μου. of me,
“Then the rich man said, ‘Please, Father Abraham, at least send him to my father’s home.
Luke 16:28
ἔχω I have γὰρ for πέντε five ἀδελφούς, brothers, ὅπως that διαμαρτύρηται he may warn αὐτοῖς them, ἵνα lest μὴ αὐτοὶ they καὶ also ἔλθωσιν may come εἰς to τὸν - τόπον place τοῦτον this τῆς - βασάνου. of torment.
For I have five brothers, and I want him to warn them so they don’t end up in this place of torment.’
Luke 16:29
λέγει says δὲ but Ἀβραάμ, Abraham, ̓Έχουσι they have Μωυσέα Moses καὶ and τοὺς the προφήτας· prophets. ἀκουσάτωσαν let them listen αὐτῶν. to them.
“But Abraham said, ‘Moses and the prophets have warned them. Your brothers can read what they wrote.’
Luke 16:30
ὁ - δὲ but εἶπεν, he said, Οὐχί, no, πάτερ father Ἀβραάμ· Abraham, ἀλλ᾽ but ἐάν if τις someone ἀπὸ from νεκρῶν [the] dead πορευθῇ should go πρὸς to αὐτούς, them μετανοήσουσιν. they will repent.
“The rich man replied, ‘No, Father Abraham! But if someone is sent to them from the dead, then they will repent of their sins and turn to God.’
Luke 16:31
εἶπεν he said δὲ but αὐτῷ, to him, Εἰ if Μωυσέως Moses καὶ and τῶν the προφητῶν prophets οὐκ not ἀκούουσιν, they do listen to, οὐδ᾽ neither ἐάν if τις someone ἐκ from νεκρῶν [the] dead ἀναστῇ should rise again πεισθήσονται. will they be persuaded.
“But Abraham said, ‘If they won’t listen to Moses and the prophets, they won’t be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead.’”