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Parable of the Shrewd Manager

16 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. 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.’

“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. Ah, I know how to ensure that I’ll have plenty of friends who will give me a home when I am fired.’

“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?’ 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.[a]

“‘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.[b]

“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. 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.[c]

10 “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. 11 And if you are untrustworthy about worldly wealth, who will trust you with the true riches of heaven? 12 And if you are not faithful with other people’s things, why should you be trusted with things of your own?

13 “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.”

14 The Pharisees, who dearly loved their money, heard all this and scoffed at him. 15 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.

16 “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.[d] 17 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.

18 “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.”

Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus

19 Jesus said, “There was a certain rich man who was splendidly clothed in purple and fine linen and who lived each day in luxury. 20 At his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus who was covered with sores. 21 As Lazarus lay there longing for scraps from the rich man’s table, the dogs would come and lick his open sores.

22 “Finally, the poor man died and was carried by the angels to sit beside Abraham at the heavenly banquet.[e] The rich man also died and was buried, 23 and he went to the place of the dead.[f] There, in torment, he saw Abraham in the far distance with Lazarus at his side.

24 “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.’

25 “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. 26 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.’

27 “Then the rich man said, ‘Please, Father Abraham, at least send him to my father’s home. 28 For I have five brothers, and I want him to warn them so they don’t end up in this place of torment.’

29 “But Abraham said, ‘Moses and the prophets have warned them. Your brothers can read what they wrote.’

30 “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.’

31 “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.’”

Footnotes

  1. 16:6 Greek 100 baths . . . 50 [baths].
  2. 16:7 Greek 100 korous . . . 80 [korous].
  3. 16:9 Or you will be welcomed into eternal homes.
  4. 16:16 Or everyone is urged to enter in.
  5. 16:22 Greek to Abraham’s bosom.
  6. 16:23 Greek to Hades.

The Parable of the Dishonest Manager

16 He also said to the disciples, “There was a rich man who had (A)a manager, and charges were brought to him that this man was wasting his possessions. And he called him and said to him, ‘What is this that I hear about you? Turn in the account of your (B)management, for you can no longer be manager.’ And the manager said to himself, ‘What shall I do, since my master is taking the management away from me? I am not strong enough to dig, and I am ashamed to beg. I have decided what to do, so that when I am removed from management, people may receive me into their houses.’ So, summoning his master's debtors one by one, he said to the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’ He said, ‘A hundred measures[a] of oil.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill, and sit down quickly and write fifty.’ Then he said to another, ‘And how much do you owe?’ He said, ‘A hundred measures[b] of wheat.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill, and write eighty.’ The master commended the dishonest manager for his (C)shrewdness. For (D)the sons of this world[c] are (E)more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than (F)the sons of light. And I tell you, (G)make friends for yourselves by means of (H)unrighteous wealth,[d] so that when it fails they may receive you into the eternal dwellings.

10 (I)“One who is (J)faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much. 11 If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? 12 And if you have not been faithful in (K)that which is another's, who will give you that which is your own? 13 (L)No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”

The Law and the Kingdom of God

14 (M)The Pharisees, who were (N)lovers of money, heard all these things, and they (O)ridiculed him. 15 And he said to them, “You are those who (P)justify yourselves before men, but (Q)God knows your hearts. For what is exalted among men (R)is an abomination in the sight of God.

16 (S)“The Law and the Prophets were until John; since then (T)the good news of the kingdom of God is preached, and (U)everyone forces his way into it.[e] 17 But (V)it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one dot of the Law to become void.

Divorce and Remarriage

18 (W)“Everyone who divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery, and he who marries a woman divorced from her husband commits adultery.

The Rich Man and Lazarus

19 “There was a rich man who was clothed in (X)purple and fine linen and (Y)who feasted sumptuously every day. 20 And at his gate (Z)was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, 21 who desired to be fed with (AA)what fell from the rich man's table. Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores. 22 The poor man died and was carried by (AB)the angels (AC)to Abraham's side.[f] The rich man also died and was buried, 23 and in (AD)Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and (AE)saw Abraham far off and Lazarus (AF)at his side. 24 And he called out, (AG)‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and (AH)cool my tongue, for (AI)I am in anguish in this flame.’ 25 But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that (AJ)you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish. 26 And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.’ 27 And he said, ‘Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father's house— 28 for I have five brothers—so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.’ 29 But Abraham said, ‘They have (AK)Moses and the Prophets; (AL)let them hear them.’ 30 And he said, ‘No, (AM)father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ 31 He said to him, ‘If they do not hear (AN)Moses and the Prophets, (AO)neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.’”

Footnotes

  1. Luke 16:6 About 875 gallons or 3,200 liters
  2. Luke 16:7 Between 1,000 and 1,200 bushels or 37,000 to 45,000 liters
  3. Luke 16:8 Greek age
  4. Luke 16:9 Greek mammon, a Semitic word for money or possessions; also verse 11; rendered money in verse 13
  5. Luke 16:16 Or everyone is forcefully urged into it
  6. Luke 16:22 Greek bosom; also verse 23

16 Then de Jesus also kai said legō to pros his ho disciples mathētēs, “ There was eimi a tis rich plousios man anthrōpos who hos had echō a manager oikonomos, and kai charges were brought diaballō to him autos that hōs this houtos man was wasting diaskorpizō · ho his autos assets hyparchō. So kai he called phōneō him autos in and said legō to him autos, ‘ What tis is this houtos I hear akouō about peri you sy? Hand apodidōmi over the ho account logos of ho your sy stewardship oikonomia, because gar you cannot ou be dynamai my manager oikonomeō any eti longer .’ And de the ho manager oikonomos said legō to en himself heautou, ‘ What tis shall I do poieō, since hoti · ho my egō master kyrios is taking aphaireō the ho management oikonomia away from apo me egō? I am ischuō not ou strong enough ischuō to dig skaptō, and I am ashamed to beg epaiteō. I know ginōskō what tis to do poieō, so hina that when hotan I am removed methistēmi from ek · ho management oikonomia, people will welcome dechomai me egō into eis · ho their autos homes oikos.’ · kai Calling proskaleō each hekastos one heis of ho his heautou master’ s kyrios debtors chreopheiletēs, · ho he said legō to the ho first prōtos, ‘ How posos much do you owe opheilō · ho my egō master kyrios?’ He ho · de said legō, ‘A hundred hekaton measures batos of oil elaion.’ So de he ho told legō him autos, ‘ Take dechomai your sy · ho contract gramma, · kai sit kathizō down quickly tacheōs, and write graphō fifty pentēkonta.’ Then epeita he said legō to another heteros, ‘ And de how much posos do you sy owe opheilō?’ He ho · de answered legō, ‘A hundred hekaton measures koros of wheat sitos.’ He said legō to him autos, ‘ Take dechomai your sy · ho contract gramma, and kai write graphō eighty ogdoēkonta.’ · kai The ho master kyrios commended epaineō the ho dishonest adikia manager oikonomos · ho because hoti he acted poieō shrewdly phronimōs. For hoti the ho sons hyios of ho this houtos world aiōn are eimi more shrewd phronimos in dealing with eis their own heautou generation genea than hyper the ho sons hyios of ho light phōs. · ho · ho And kai I egō say legō to you hymeis, make poieō friends philos for yourselves heautou by ek means of the ho wealth mamōnas of ho unrighteousness adikia, so hina that when hotan it fails ekleipō they may receive dechomai you hymeis into eis the ho eternal aiōnios homes skēnē.

10  The ho one who is faithful pistos in en the smallest elachistos thing is eimi also kai faithful pistos in en something great polys; and kai the ho one who is dishonest adikos in en the smallest elachistos thing is eimi also kai dishonest adikos in en something great polys. 11 Therefore oun if ei in en · ho unrighteous adikos wealth mamōnas you have ginomai not ou been ginomai faithful pistos, who tis will entrust pisteuō to you hymeis that ho which is of true alēthinos value ? 12 And kai if ei you have ginomai not ou been ginomai faithful pistos in en what ho belongs to another allotrios, who tis will give didōmi you hymeis what ho is to be your hymeteros own ?

13  No oudeis servant oiketēs is able dynamai to serve douleuō two dyo masters kyrios. For gar either ē he will hate miseō the ho one heis and kai love agapaō the ho other heteros, or ē he will be devoted to antechō the one heis and kai despise kataphroneō the ho other heteros. You cannot ou serve douleuō God theos and kai money mamōnas.”

14 The ho Pharisees Pharisaios ( who were hyparchō lovers of money philargyros) heard akouō · de all pas these houtos things , and kai they ridiculed ekmyktērizō him autos. 15 And kai he said legō to them autos, “ You hymeis are eimi those ho who justify dikaioō yourselves heautou before enōpion · ho men anthrōpos, · ho but de God theos knows ginōskō · ho your hymeis hearts kardia. For hoti what ho is exalted hypsēlos among en men anthrōpos is an abomination bdelygma before enōpion · ho God theos.

16  The ho Law nomos and kai the ho Prophets prophētēs were until mechri John Iōannēs; since apo then tote the good news of the ho kingdom basileia of ho God theos is preached euangelizō, and kai everyone pas takes vigorous steps biazō to enter eis it autos. 17 It is eimi easier eukopos · de · ho for heaven ouranos and kai · ho earth to pass parerchomai away than ē for the smallest part of a keraia single heis letter keraia in the ho law nomos to lose piptō its force . 18 Anyone pas who ho divorces apolyō · ho his autos wife gynē and kai marries gameō another heteros woman commits moicheuō adultery , and kai the ho one who marries gameō a woman divorced apolyō from apo her husband anēr commits moicheuō adultery .

19 A certain tis man anthrōpos · de was eimi rich plousios, and kai he was dressed endidyskō in purple porphyra and kai fine byssos linen and he made merry euphrainō every kata day hēmera in a luxurious lamprōs manner . 20 And de a tis poor ptōchos man by the name onoma of Lazarus Lazaros, who was covered with sores helkoō, was laid ballō at pros the ho gate pylōn, 21 · kai who longed epithumeō to eat chortazō what ho fell piptō from apo the ho rich man’ s plousios table trapeza. · ho But alla instead kai, the ho dogs kyōn used to come erchomai and lick epileichō · ho his autos sores helkos. 22 · de The ho poor man ptōchos died apothnēskō and kai he autos was carried apopherō by hypo the ho angels angelos to eis · ho Abraham’ s Abraam side kolpos. The ho rich man plousios also kai died apothnēskō · de and kai was buried thaptō, 23 And kai being hyparchō in en torment basanos in en · ho Hades hadēs, he lifted epairō · ho his autos eyes ophthalmos and saw horaō Abraham Abraam from apo afar makrothen and kai Lazarus Lazaros at en · ho his autos side kolpos. 24 And kai calling out phōneō he autos said legō, ‘ Father patēr Abraham Abraam, have mercy eleeō on me egō, and kai send pempō Lazarus Lazaros to hina dip baptō the ho tip akron of ho his autos finger daktylos in water hydōr and kai cool katapsychō · ho my egō tongue glōssa, for hoti I am in anguish odynaō in en · ho this houtos flame phlox.’ 25 But de Abraham Abraam said legō, ‘ Child teknon, remember mimnēskomai that hoti you received apolambanō · ho your sy good agathos things during en · ho your sy lifetime zōē, and kai Lazarus Lazaros correspondingly homoiōs received · ho bad kakos things ; but de now nyn he is comforted parakaleō here hōde, and de you sy are in anguish odynaō. 26 · kai Besides en all pas this houtos, between metaxy us hēmeis and kai you hymeis a great megas chasm chasma has been put stērizō in place , so hopōs that those ho wishing thelō to cross diabainō over from enthen here to pros you hymeis are not able dynamai, and no mēde one can cross diaperaō from ekeithen there to pros us hēmeis.’ 27 So de the rich man said legō, ‘ Then oun I beg erōtaō you sy, father patēr, to hina send pempō Lazarus autos to eis the ho house oikos of ho my egō father patēr 28 ( for gar I have echō five pente brothers adelphos), that hopōs he might warn diamartyromai them autos so hina that they autos might erchomai not come erchomai as kai well into eis · ho this houtos place topos of ho torment basanos.’ 29 But de Abraham Abraam said legō, ‘ They have echō Moses Mōysēs and kai the ho Prophets prophētēs; let them listen akouō to them autos.’ 30 Then de the ho rich man said legō, ‘ No ouchi, father patēr Abraham Abraam; but alla if ean someone tis from apo the dead nekros goes poreuō to pros them autos, they will repent metanoeō.’ 31 He said legō · de to him autos, ‘ If ei they do akouō not ou listen to akouō Moses Mōysēs and kai the ho Prophets prophētēs, neither oude will they be persuaded peithō should ean someone tis rise anistēmi from ek the dead nekros.’”