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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 16:16 mean?

Explanation

Luke 16:16 is a verse that elucidates a significant transition in Biblical history: the closing of the era of the Law and Prophets, symbolizing the Old Testament period, and the inception of the era of the Kingdom of God, associated with the New Testament and the message of Jesus Christ.

The Law refers to the Mosaic Law given to the Israelites, and the Prophets encompass the writings and teachings of the prophets sent by God.

The text implies that until John the Baptist, this was the framework through which God interacted with humanity.

The phrase "since that time the kingdom of God is preached" signifies a new phase.

Jesus introduced the Kingdom of God as the central theme of his teaching.

This concept relates to God's sovereign rule and the redemptive work being carried out through Christ, ultimately leading to the restoration of all things.

"Every man presseth into it" suggests a sense of urgency or an intense endeavor among people to enter into this Kingdom.

This part of the verse often implies that people are actively seeking to be a part of God's Kingdom because of the transformative message brought forth by Christ and his followers.

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Historical Context

During the time of this verse's writing, the Jewish people were under Roman occupation and held a strong expectation of a messiah who would liberate them and establish a physical kingdom.

However, Jesus presented a different message , one of a spiritual kingdom characterized by repentance, forgiveness, and inward transformation.

John the Baptist served as a critical transitional figure between the two testaments. As the last of the Old Testament prophets and the one who heralded the coming of Jesus, his ministry marked the end of that era and the beginning of the new.

The Gospel of Luke was authored by Luke the Evangelist and is thought to have been written approximately between 60 and 90 A.D. Luke also authored the Acts of the Apostles, which details the early spread of Christianity and the establishment of the church.

Theological Insights

Theologically, the verse serves as a cornerstone for several concepts. Viewing it from a covenant theology perspective, it demarcates the transition from the old covenant, based on the Laws given through Moses, to the new covenant, predicated on grace through faith in Jesus Christ.

Dispensationalists may interpret this verse to denote a clear division between different God-ordained periods. In this dispensation, marked by the New Testament, a new economy of God's grace is emphasized over adherence to the Old Testament law.

Moreover, some theologians emphasize the "now, but not yet" aspect of the Kingdom of God that Jesus preached.

It is "now" in the sense that it begins with Jesus' ministry and is accessible to believers, but "not yet" fully realized until the second coming of Christ.

Practical Applications

In practical terms, this verse reminds believers of the necessity to adapt to the teachings of Jesus and make a conscious effort to be part of the Kingdom of God. It encourages an active faith that pursues the values and morals of this kingdom, such as love, justice, and humility.

This verse also serves as a reminder that the Kingdom of God is inclusive and open to all who seek it with a genuine heart, moving beyond the legalism that often defined religious practice before Christ.

Cross-References

Matthew 3:2: "And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."
Matthew 11:12-13: "And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.

For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John."

Galatians 3:24-25: "Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster."

Language Study

Key words in this verse include:

"Law" (νόμος, nomos): Originally referring to the Mosaic Law encompassing the commandments and rules given to the Israelites.
"Prophets" (προφήται, prophētai): Those who spoke God's words to the people, often relating to future events and moral admonitions.
"Kingdom of God" (βασιλεία τοῦ Θεοῦ, basileia tou Theou): The reign and rule of God, not always a physical territory, but dominion within the hearts of believers and eventually over the entire world.
"Preached" (εὐαγγελίζεται, euangelizetai): To announce good news, often associated with the message of salvation through Christ.
"Presseth" (βιάζεται, biazetai): To strive vigorously or forcefully, indicating earnest effort.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

During the time of Jesus, various religious and philosophical systems held notions of sacred kingdoms or divine realms. For example, the Greco-Roman concept of the Elysium or the Egyptian Field of Reeds were places of afterlife bliss for the righteous.

Judaism awaited a messianic kingdom, but Jesus redefined the expectations by focusing on a spiritual kingdom rather than a political one. This contrasted with the common eschatological beliefs of ancient Jewish sects like the Pharisees and the Essenes.

Scientific Perspectives

From a scientific viewpoint, the verse does not touch directly on scientific concepts.

However, the study of historical transitions, such as the one between the eras described in the verse, can be analyzed through the lens of sociology and anthropology.

These sciences explore how new movements, such as the early Christian community, emerge and evolve in response to historical, cultural, and socio-political factors.

The "pressing into" may also interest psychologists studying religious conversion and what motivates people to embrace new belief systems.

Commentaries

Commentaries on Luke 16:16 tend to affirm the pivotal role of John the Baptist and the transformative nature of Jesus' ministry. For example, the Pulpit Commentary emphasizes the closing of the old dispensation and the commencement of the ministry of Jesus as a period of grace and truth.

Matthew Henry's Commentary points out that John's ministry stirred people to much excitement and anticipation for the Messiah, which can be attributed to "every man presseth into" the Kingdom of God.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible interprets the 'pressing into' as the eagerness and violence with which people were flocking to the gospel, sometimes facing opposition and persecution for their newfound belief in Christ.

These various interpretations offer a rich tapestry of understanding about the historical and theological significance of this verse.

Luke 16

Luke 16

What does Luke 16:16 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 16:16 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?