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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 16:25 mean?

Explanation

Luke 16:25 is a verse from the parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus in the New Testament of the Bible.

In this passage, Abraham speaks to the Rich Man, who is in Hades and suffering after his death.

Abraham explains why the situation is reversed in the afterlife for the Rich Man and Lazarus.

The Rich Man had lived a life of luxury and comfort without regard for others, specifically Lazarus, who suffered greatly during his lifetime.

Now, after death, Lazarus is the one who is comforted in the bosom of Abraham, while the Rich Man endures torment.

The deeper meaning of this verse revolves around the consequences of one's actions in life, the temporary nature of earthly pleasures, and the eternal impact of how one treats others, especially those who are less fortunate.

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Historical Context

The parable occurs within the Gospel of Luke, probably written around 80-110 AD. This parable uniquely appears in Luke and reflects the social concerns of the author. At that time, there was a significant disparity between the wealthy elite and the poor.

The Hebrew culture of the time placed substantial emphasis on hospitality, charity, and care for the poor, which this parable reinforces by highlighting the consequences of ignoring these values.

Theological Insights

Theologically, Luke 16:25 raises questions about the afterlife, justice, and divine recompense.

From a Christian perspective, the parable emphasizes the impermanence of earthly wealth and the importance of living a life in accordance with godly principles.

It suggests a reversal of fortunes in the afterlife, where the righteous, though they may suffer on Earth, will find comfort in heaven.

Practical Applications

In practical terms, Luke 16:25 serves as a warning against complacency and selfishness.

It invites believers to engage in self-reflection on their treatment of others, especially the vulnerable.

It also encourages a life that prioritizes compassion and generosity, with the understanding that one's actions have lasting spiritual consequences.

Cross-References

Matthew 5:3 - "Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."
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."
James 2:13 - "For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment."
Revelation 20:12-13 - "And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened... and they were judged every man according to their works."

Language Study

Key words in the original Greek text of Luke 16:25 include:

"Comforted" (παρακαλεῖται, parakaleitai) – meaning to call beside, console, or comfort.
"Tormented" (ὀδυνᾶσαι, odynasai) – referring to experiencing pain or sorrow.

These terms contrast the fates of Lazarus and the Rich Man in stark terms.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

This parable shares themes with other ancient myths that speak about the reversal of fortune after death.

In Egyptian mythology, the concept of Maat involved a weighing of the soul and a judgment based on one's earthly deeds.

Similarly, in Greek mythology, Hades was a place of the dead where judgement occurred, albeit with different criteria and outcomes.

Within religious contexts, Judaism at the time had varying beliefs about the afterlife, but some strands did hold to the idea of divine justice post-mortem, which can be seen reflected in this parable.

Scientific Perspectives

Modern scientific understandings of death and afterlife differ from the biblical narrative, as science does not substantiate an afterlife.

The scientific perspective focuses on the biological process of death, whereas the parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus deals with moral teachings and existential reflections on fate beyond death.

Commentaries

Biblical scholars and theologians have offered various interpretations of Luke 16:25.

Some view it as a call to social justice, underscoring the necessity of caring for the poor.

Others interpret it more spiritually, emphasizing the dangers of material wealth overshadowing spiritual well-being.

Still others discuss it from an eschatological standpoint, seeing it as a depiction of final judgement.

What is consistent across various commentaries is the understanding that this parable serves as a moral and theological lesson on the consequences of one's earthly actions.

Luke 16

Luke 16

What does Luke 16:25 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 16:25 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?