善用钱财

16 耶稣又对门徒说:“某财主有个管家,有人控告这管家浪费主人的财物。 财主便把管家召来,对他说,‘听说你浪费我的财物,到底是怎么回事?把帐目交代清楚,你不能再当管家了。’

“管家私下盘算,‘主人要辞退我了,怎么办呢?锄地我没有力气,讨饭我又感到羞耻。 我知道该怎么办了!就算被辞退了,也会有人照应我。’ 于是,他把欠他主人债的一个一个召来,问第一个,‘你欠了我主人多少?’

“他回答说,‘一百桶油。’

“管家说,‘这是你的帐,快坐下,改成五十吧!’

“管家又问另一个,‘你欠多少?’

“他回答说,‘一百石麦子。’

“管家说,‘这是你的帐,改成八十石吧。’

“主人夸奖这个不义的管家精明。因为今世的儿女在处理世事方面比光明的儿女更精明。

“我告诉你们,要善用今世[a]的钱财,广结朋友。这样,当钱财不管用时,他们会接你们到永远的居所。

见微知著

10 “一个人在小事上忠心,在大事上也会忠心;在小事上靠不住,在大事上更靠不住。 11 如果你们不能忠心地处理今世的财富,谁会把真正的财富交托给你们呢? 12 如果你们不能忠心地处理别人的产业,谁会把你们名下的产业交给你们呢? 13 一个仆人不能服侍两位主人,因为他不是恨这位、爱那位,就是重这位、轻那位。你们不能又事奉上帝,又崇拜金钱。”

警戒贪财的法利赛人

14 法利赛人向来贪财,他们一面听一面嗤笑耶稣。 15 耶稣对他们说:“你们在人面前自以为义,但上帝能看透你们的心。因为世人所看重的东西在上帝看来却是可憎的。 16 约翰还没有来以前,律法书和先知书是你们的准则。他出来后,上帝国的福音开始广传,人人都在努力进上帝的国。 17 不过,就是天地都消失,律法的一点一划也不会失效。 18 任何人休妻另娶,就是犯通奸罪,娶被休的女子也是犯通奸罪。”

财主和乞丐

19 耶稣又说:“有个财主天天衣着华丽,生活奢侈。 20 又有一个名叫拉撒路的乞丐身上长满了脓疮,被人放在财主家门口。 21 他渴望吃到财主桌上掉下来的食物残渣,却只有狗来舔他的疮。

22 “后来,乞丐死了,天使带他到亚伯拉罕身边。财主也死了,被人埋葬了。 23 他在阴间受折磨,抬头远远地看见亚伯拉罕和他身边的拉撒路, 24 就喊着说,‘我的先祖亚伯拉罕啊!求你可怜我,派拉撒路用指尖蘸点水来润润我的舌头吧!我在这火中实在痛苦不堪。’

25 “亚伯拉罕说,‘孩子啊!你要想想,你生前享福,而拉撒路受苦;如今他在这里得到安慰,而你受折磨。 26 况且,在你我中间隔着一道深渊,这边的人不能到你那边去,你那边的人也不能到这里来。’

27 “财主说,‘我的先祖啊,那么求你派拉撒路去我父亲家里, 28 因为我有五个弟兄。让拉撒路去警告他们,以免他们也来到这痛苦的地方。’

29 “但是亚伯拉罕却说,‘他们可以听从摩西和众先知的话呀!’

30 “财主回答说,‘我的先祖亚伯拉罕啊!他们不会听的。但如果有一个死而复活的人去警告他们,他们肯定会悔改!’

31 “亚伯拉罕说,‘如果他们不听从摩西和众先知的话,即使一个人从死里复活,他们也不会信服。’”

Footnotes

  1. 16:9 今世”希腊文是“不义”。

16 And he said also to his disciples: There was a certain rich man who had a steward: and the same was accused unto him, that he had wasted his goods.

And he called him, and said to him: How is it that I hear this of thee? give an account of thy stewardship: for now thou canst be steward no longer.

And the steward said within himself: What shall I do, because my lord taketh away from me the stewardship? To dig I am not able; to beg I am ashamed.

I know what I will do, that when I shall be removed from the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses.

Therefore calling together every one of his lord's debtors, he said to the first: How much dost thou owe my lord?

But he said: An hundred barrels of oil. And he said to him: Take thy bill and sit down quickly, and write fifty.

Then he said to another: And how much dost thou owe? Who said: An hundred quarters of wheat. He said to him: Take thy bill, and write eighty.

And the lord commended the unjust steward, forasmuch as he had done wisely: for the children of this world are wiser in their generation than the children of light.

And I say to you: Make unto you friends of the mammon of iniquity; that when you shall fail, they may receive you into everlasting dwellings.

10 He that is faithful in that which is least, is faithful also in that which is greater: and he that is unjust in that which is little, is unjust also in that which is greater.

11 If then you have not been faithful in the unjust mammon; who will trust you with that which is the true?

12 And if you have not been faithful in that which is another's; who will give you that which is your own?

13 No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or he will hold to the one, and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.

14 Now the Pharisees, who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided him.

15 And he said to them: You are they who justify yourselves before men, but God knoweth your hearts; for that which is high to men, is an abomination before God.

16 The law and the prophets were until John; from that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every one useth violence towards it.

17 And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fall.

18 Every one that putteth away his wife, and marrieth another, committeth adultery: and he that marrieth her that is put away from her husband, committeth adultery.

19 There was a certain rich man, who was clothed in purple and fine linen; and feasted sumptuously every day.

20 And there was a certain beggar, named Lazarus, who lay at his gate, full of sores,

21 Desiring to be filled with the crumbs that fell from the rich man's table, and no one did give him; moreover the dogs came, and licked his sores.

22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom. And the rich man also died: and he was buried in hell.

23 And lifting up his eyes when he was in torments, he saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom:

24 And he cried, and said: Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, to cool my tongue: for I am tormented in this flame.

25 And Abraham said to him: Son, remember that thou didst receive good things in thy lifetime, and likewise Lazareth evil things, but now he is comforted; and thou art tormented.

26 And besides all this, between us and you, there is fixed a great chaos: so that they who would pass from hence to you, cannot, nor from thence come hither.

27 And he said: Then, father, I beseech thee, that thou wouldst send him to my father's house, for I have five brethren,

28 That he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torments.

29 And Abraham said to him: They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.

30 But he said: No, father Abraham: but if one went to them from the dead, they will do penance.

31 And he said to him: If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they believe, if one rise again from the dead.

16 And he said also unto his disciples, There was a certain rich man, which had a steward; and the same was accused unto him that he had wasted his goods.

And he called him, and said unto him, How is it that I hear this of thee? give an account of thy stewardship; for thou mayest be no longer steward.

Then the steward said within himself, What shall I do? for my lord taketh away from me the stewardship: I cannot dig; to beg I am ashamed.

I am resolved what to do, that, when I am put out of the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses.

So he called every one of his lord's debtors unto him, and said unto the first, How much owest thou unto my lord?

And he said, An hundred measures of oil. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and sit down quickly, and write fifty.

Then said he to another, And how much owest thou? And he said, An hundred measures of wheat. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and write fourscore.

And the lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely: for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light.

And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations.

10 He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.

11 If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?

12 And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man's, who shall give you that which is your own?

13 No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

14 And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided him.

15 And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.

16 The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it.

17 And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail.

18 Whosoever putteth away his wife, and marrieth another, committeth adultery: and whosoever marrieth her that is put away from her husband committeth adultery.

19 There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:

20 And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,

21 And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.

22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;

23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.

25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.

26 And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.

27 Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house:

28 For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.

29 Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.

30 And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.

31 And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.

A Lesson for the Disciples

16 Now Yeshua was also saying to the disciples, “There was a rich man who had a household manager, and this manager was accused of squandering his belongings. So he called the manager and said to him, ‘What’s this I hear about you? Give an accounting of your management, because you cannot be manager any longer.’

“Then the manager said to himself, ‘What shall I do, since my master is taking the management away from me? I’m not strong enough to dig; I’m ashamed to beg. I know what I’ll do, so that when I’m put out of management others will welcome me into their homes.’ So he called in each one of his master’s debtors, and he said to the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’

“He said, ‘One hundred units of olive oil.’

“The manager said to him, ‘Take your bill, sit down quickly, and write fifty.’ Then he said to another, ‘Now how much do you owe?’

“He said, ‘A hundred units of wheat.’

“The manager said to him, ‘Take your bill and write eighty.’

“Now the master praised the crooked manager because he had acted shrewdly, for the sons of this age are smarter when dealing with their own generation than the sons of light. I say to you, make friends for yourselves from the wealth of the world, so when it runs out, they will welcome you into the eternal shelters.

10 “One who is faithful in the smallest matters is also faithful in much, and the one unjust in the smallest matters will likewise be unjust in much. 11 So then, if you cannot be trusted with unjust wealth, who will trust you with true wealth? 12 Now if you have not been trustworthy with what belongs to another, who will give you anything of your own? 13 No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will stick by one and look down on the other. You cannot serve God and money.”[a]

The Pharisees Listen In

14 Now the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, were listening to all these things and sneering at Yeshua. 15 But He said to them, “You are the ones who justify yourselves before the people, but God knows your hearts.[b] For what is prized among men is detestable in God’s sight.”

16 “The Torah and the Prophets were proclaimed until John. Since then, the Good News of the kingdom of God is being proclaimed, and everyone tries forcing his way in. 17 But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for a single serif[c] of the Torah to fail. 18 Everyone who divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery. And he who marries one who is divorced from a husband commits adultery.

19 “Now there was a rich man dressed in purple and fine linen, living it up in luxury every day. 20 But a poor man named Lazarus had been laid at his gate, covered with sores 21 and longing to be fed with what fell from the rich man’s table. Besides, even the dogs were coming to lick his sores.

22 “It happened that the poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side. Then the rich man also died and was buried. 23 And from Sheol, as he was in torment, he raised his eyes. And he sees Abraham far off, and Lazarus at his side. [d] 24 So he cried out and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me! And send Lazarus so he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool off my tongue, because I am suffering torment in this flame.’[e]

25 “But Abraham said, ‘Son, remember that in your life you received your good things, even as Lazarus received the bad things. But now he is comforted here, and you are tormented. 26 Besides all this, between us and you a great chasm is firmly set, so that those who want to cross over to you cannot, nor can those from there cross over to us.

27 “Then the rich man said, ‘I beg you then, Father Abraham, send Lazarus to my father’s house! 28 For I have five brothers to warn, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’

29 “But Abraham says, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets. Let them listen to them.’

30 “But he said, ‘No, Father Abraham, but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’

31 “But Abraham said, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced even if someone rises from the dead!’”

Footnotes

  1. Luke 16:13 Lit. mammon, Aramaic for wealth, property; sometimes personified as Mammon.
  2. Luke 16:15 cf. 1 Sam. 16:7; Prov. 21:2.
  3. Luke 16:17 Lit. one horn/projection/hook; in Hebrew, one crown/ornament/stroke.
  4. Luke 16:24 Lit. bosom, chest. Note: Gen. 15:15; 47:30
  5. Luke 16:24 cf. Isa. 66:24.