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Luke 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.

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.

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

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

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.

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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;

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

What does Luke 16:13 mean?

Explanation

Luke 16:13 is a verse located in the New Testament of the Christian Bible and is a part of Christ's teachings.

The verse clearly implies that a servant or individual cannot be equally devoted to two masters.

The 'masters' in this context represent conflicting interests, where one symbolizes God and the other symbolizes “mammon,” which is an Aramaic word often interpreted as wealth or material possessions.

The deeper meaning stresses the incompatibility between devoting oneself to God and being consumed by the pursuit of worldly riches.

The verse signifies the need for total allegiance and suggests that attempting to divide loyalties would lead to favoring one over the other, causing the neglect of the opposite.

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Historical Context

Luke, the believed author of the Gospel according to Luke, wrote this passage in a first-century Greco-Roman context.

The mention of serving two masters was a familiar concept in a society familiar with slavery.

During this period, it was understood that a slave's loyalty was undividedly to their master, and the notion of serving more than one master would have been a practical impossibility, likely leading to conflict of interests.

The audience of the Gospel, which included both Jews and Gentiles, would have recognized the tension between adherence to religious teachings and the draw of increasing wealth and social status in the Roman Empire.

Theological Insights

Theologically, the verse speaks to the heart of Christian discipleship and priorities.

From a Christian perspective, it emphasizes that loyalty to God should take precedence over everything else in life. The wealth ("mammon") personifies the materialism that can dominate a person’s life and distract them from spiritual growth and trust in God.

Some theologians take a broad interpretation of "mammon" to include any worldly idol or anything that may take God's place in a person's heart. Others maintain a more literal focus on wealth and riches.

The verse resonates with various theological viewpoints as a call to examine what is truly master over one's life and to commit fully to God's service.

Practical Applications

In practical terms, Luke 16:13 can be seen as an invitation for self-reflection on one's values and priorities.

For individuals today, it suggests evaluating where their time, energy, and resources are being directed.

Is it towards the accumulation of wealth or the pursuit of status, or is it directed toward serving others and living in a way that reflects their faith? The teaching encourages prioritization of spiritual well-being over material gain and could inspire actions such as philanthropy, ethical decision-making, and a lifestyle of simplicity and contentment.

Cross-References

Matthew 6:24 - "No man 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."

1 Timothy 6:10 - "For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows."
Matthew 19:21 - "Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me."

Language Study

The original Greek term used for 'serve' is “δουλεύειν” (douleuein), which indicates the service or obedience of a slave to a master.

The term for 'masters' is “κυρίοις” (kyriois), suggesting those in authority or lordship.

The word “μαμωνᾶς” (mamōnas) is transliterated from Aramaic into Greek, which we translate as 'mammon'. It represents wealth or property but has over time come to symbolize anything that is placed above God, whether it is money, power, or any other idol.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In ancient cultures, themes of serving different gods and spirits were common, leading to conflicts of loyalty.

The notion that one cannot be divided in allegiance is seen across various religions.

For instance, the Hindu Bhagavad Gita discusses the need for single-pointed devotion in a spiritual context.

In Islamic teachings, serving Allah alone without associating partners with Him is a critical tenet.

The emphasis on undivided allegiance is thus not unique to Christianity but is expressed in different forms across religious traditions.

Scientific Perspectives

From a scientific standpoint, although the verse does not directly interact with scientific ideas, behavioral economics and psychology provide insights into human decision-making and value systems.

Research has shown that people often struggle with conflicting desires and that prioritizing long-term goals over immediate rewards is a common challenge.

Psychologically, the inability to serve two masters may be related to cognitive dissonance, where holding two conflicting beliefs or values causes discomfort that can lead to changed attitudes or behavior.

Commentaries

Biblical scholars and theologians have various interpretations of this verse. For example:

John Wesley comments on the impossibility of serving God and mammon, emphasizing that "God requires the whole heart, and will not share it with the world."
The MacArthur Bible Commentary notes the stark contrast between the transient nature of earthly riches and the permanence of spiritual riches in God's kingdom.
The Pulpit Commentary interprets "mammon" as a Chaldean word that implies confidence, suggesting that one cannot place confidence in both God and wealth.

These various viewpoints highlight the verse's call for undivided commitment and reflect on the nature of human loyalty and priorities.

Luke 16

Luke 16

What does Luke 16:13 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Luke Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Luke 16:13 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Luke Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?