Luke 16:1-13
1599 Geneva Bible
16 1 The parable of the steward accused to his master. 13 To serve two masters. 16 The law and the Prophets. 19 Of Dives and Lazarus.
1 And he said also unto his disciples, [a]There was a certain rich man, which had a steward, and he was accused unto him, that he wasted his goods.
2 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.
3 Then the steward said within himself, What shall I do? for my master taketh away from me the stewardship. I cannot dig, and to beg I am ashamed.
4 I know what I will do, that when I am put out of the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses.
5 Then called he unto him everyone of his master’s debtors, and said unto the first, How much owest thou unto my master?
6 And he said, An hundred measures of oil. And he said to him, Take thy writing, and sit down quickly, and write fifty.
7 Then said he to another, How much owest thou? And he said, An hundred measures of wheat. Then he said to him, Take thy writing and write fourscore.
8 And the Lord commended [b]the unjust steward, because he had done wisely. Wherefore the [c]children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light.
9 And I say unto you, Make you friends with the riches [d]of iniquity, that when ye shall want, they may receive you into everlasting [e]habitations.
10 [f]He that is faithful in the least, he is also faithful in much: and he that is unjust in the least, is unjust also in much.
11 If then ye have not been faithful in the wicked riches, who will trust you in the [g]true treasure?
12 And if ye have not been faithful in [h]another man’s goods, who shall give you that which is yours?
13 (A)[i]No servant can serve two masters: for either he shall hate the one, and love the other: or else he shall lean to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and riches.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Luke 16:1 Seeing that men oftentimes purchase friendship to themselves, by other men’s costs, it is a shame for us, if with a free and liberal bestowing of the goods which the Lord hath given us to that purpose, we do not please him, nor procure the good will of our neighbors, seeing that by this only means, riches, which are oftentimes occasions of sin, are turned to another end and purpose.
- Luke 16:8 This parable doth not approve the steward’s naughty dealing, for it was every theft: but parables are set forth, to show a thing covertly, and as it were under a figure to represent the truth, though it agree not thoroughly with the matter itself: so that Christ meaneth by this parable to teach us, that worldly men are more heady in the affairs of this world, than the children of God are careful for everlasting life.
- Luke 16:8 Men that are given to this present life, contrary to whom the children of light are set: St. Paul calls those spiritual, and the other carnal.
- Luke 16:9 This is not spoken of goods that are evil gotten, for God will have our bountifulness to the poor, proceed and come from a good fountain: but he calleth those riches of iniquity, which men use naughtily.
- Luke 16:9 To wit, the poor Christians: for they are the inheritors of these Tabernacles, Theophylact.
- Luke 16:10 We ought to take heed that for abusing our earthly function and duty, we be not deprived of heavenly gifts: for how can they use spiritual gifts aright, who abuse worldly things?
- Luke 16:11 That is, heavenly and true riches: which are contrary to worldly and flitting substance.
- Luke 16:12 In worldly goods, which are called other men’s, because they are committed to our credit.
- Luke 16:13 No man can love God and riches together.
Geneva Bible, 1599 Edition. Published by Tolle Lege Press. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without written permission from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations in articles, reviews, and broadcasts.
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