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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 16:19 mean?

Explanation

Luke 16:19 opens the Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus, one of the most striking parables told by Jesus in the New Testament.

This verse serves as a vivid introduction to a narrative that contrasts the lives of two individuals; a sumptuously living rich man often identified by tradition as 'Dives', which is not a name but simply the Latin word for "rich man," and a poor man named Lazarus.

Literally, the verse describes the luxurious lifestyle of the rich man, who is characterized by his opulent clothing of purple and fine linen – both expensive and highly valued textiles in ancient times.

The "purple" suggests not only wealth but possibly a high social or even royal status, as purple dye was typically reserved for nobility and the very wealthy.

The "fine linen" indicates a level of refinement and comfort.

The phrase "fared sumptuously every day" indicates a daily indulgence in extravagant feasts, highlighting the excess and constancy of his opulence.

Deeper meanings begin to emerge when this description is juxtaposed with what follows, the desolate situation of Lazarus.

The verse sets up a stark contrast between affluence and poverty, comfort and suffering, and in the context of the parable, this contrast extends into the afterlife, bringing spiritual and moral implications to the forefront.

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Historical Context

The Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus comes from the Gospel of Luke, written around 80-110 AD, primarily aimed at Gentile Christians.

The Gospel emphasizes social justice, care for the poor, and the reversal of fortunes in the afterlife which is a common theme throughout Luke’s account of Jesus' teachings.

During the time of Jesus, society was highly stratified, with a large chasm between the rich and the poor.

Wealth was often associated with God's favor, and poverty with His judgment, though Jesus' teachings frequently invert this belief.

Purple clothing and fine linen were luxury items, as purple dye was produced from the rare and costly murex shellfish, and fine linen was labor-intensive to produce.

Theological Insights

Different theological viewpoints analyze the verse from various angles:

In traditional Christian interpretation, this verse is seen as a warning against the selfish accumulation of wealth and the importance of compassion towards those in need.
Liberation Theology might view this verse as an indictment of social systems that create such disparities between the rich and the poor, emphasizing the role of Christians in advocating for social justice.
Calvinist interpretations may use this parable to discuss the doctrine of election, considering the characters' fates as reflective of divine predestination.
Catholic theologians can point to this parable when discussing the concept of Purgatory or the finality of one's state after death and the need to live a life in accordance with Christian teachings.

Practical Applications

In daily life, this verse encourages individuals to reflect on their own lifestyles and privileges.

It challenges people to acknowledge the disparities in society and to act with generosity and kindness towards others, particularly those less fortunate.

It calls believers to use their resources to serve and uplift the needy and to recognize that material wealth is not indicative of one's moral or spiritual standing.

Cross-References

James 2:5 - "Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?"
1 Timothy 6:17-19 - "Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life."
Matthew 19:24 - "And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God."

Language Study

The original Greek text contains several words that are pivotal to understanding the verse fully:

"Certain" (τις - 'tis'): This indefinite pronoun suggests that Jesus might be speaking about a type of person rather than an individual, making the tale more of a universal teaching.
"Rich" (πλούσιος - 'plousios'): Denotes someone of wealth or abundance.
"Clothed" (ἐνεδιδύσκετο - 'enedidysketo'): Implies being dressed or garbed, with a connotation of habitual action.
"Purple" (πορφύραν - 'porphuran'): Associated with royalty and wealth.
"Fine Linen" (βύσσινον - 'byssinon'): Refers to a type of fine white linen.
"Fared sumptuously" (εὐφραινόμενος - 'euphrainomenos'): To celebrate or feast with joy or merriment, indicative of continuous action.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In the context of ancient Near Eastern cultures, displaying wealth through clothing was commonly understood as a sign of social status. Egyptian pharaohs and Mesopotamian kings wore fine linen and purple as symbols of their power and divinity.

In religious interpretations, similar themes of the rich suffering consequences while the downtrodden are vindicated appear in different traditions. For example, in Hinduism, the concept of karma expresses the notion that actions in life impact one’s future fate.

Scientific Perspectives

Scientific perspectives might not directly apply to the interpretation of this verse, but they can inform our understanding of social and psychological aspects.

For example, psychological research on empathy and moral reasoning can contribute insights into why the rich man's behavior is portrayed negatively, while socioeconomic studies might probe the effects of wealth inequality on individuals and societies.

Commentaries

Various biblical scholars and theologians offer different perspectives on this verse:

Some commentaries emphasize the physical description as a representation of spiritual bankruptcy, where external wealth contrasts with an internal lack of virtue or compassion.
Others focus on the cultural implications of wearing purple and fine linen, connecting the rich man with the elite of Roman society, and hence critiquing those social structures.
A consensus among many modern scholars is that the parable serves as a reminder of the impermanence of wealth and the enduring value of righteousness and charity.

Luke 16

Luke 16

What does Luke 16:19 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 16:19 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?