PrevLuke 16:28Next

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 16:28 mean?

Explanation

Luke 16:28 is part of a parable attributed to Jesus in the book of Luke, known as the Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus.

This verse represents the rich man's plea from Hades, where he is in torment after death.

The rich man implores Abraham to send Lazarus (a beggar who used to sit at the rich man's gate) back from the dead to warn his five living brothers so that they will not suffer the same fate.

It illustrates the rich man's newfound concern for others but also emphasizes the finality of judgment after death and the importance of heeding divine warnings and Scripture within one's lifetime.

Top Rated Luke Books

Historical Context

The parable is set within the context of first-century Palestine.

Jesus addresses His disciples and others, including the Pharisees, who were known for their strict adherence to the Law and who also were often portrayed as obsessed with wealth and status.

The parable served as a warning to heed the teachings of the prophets and the Law (represented by Moses), and it may have been a direct challenge to the Pharisees' skepticism regarding the afterlife and final judgment.

Theological Insights

From different theological viewpoints, this verse addresses several key doctrinal themes:

Eternal Judgment: It reflects the belief in an afterlife where actions have eternal consequences.
Intercession for Others: The rich man's request illustrates a desire for intercession, a topic of debate among denominations regarding its necessity or effectiveness.
Personal Responsibility: This verse underlines the importance of personal responsibility for one's spiritual wellbeing.
Inefficacy of Mediumship: In the broader narrative, Abraham's response in verse 31 suggests that no supernatural sign or wonder (i.e., resurrection) will convince someone who does not already heed the Scriptures.

Practical Applications

The verse can be seen as a call to take seriously the teachings of the scriptures and to live a life that aligns with spiritual truths.

It is also a reminder to care for others and to share knowledge of spiritual matters with family and loved ones, urging them towards a path that leads away from spiritual "torment."

Cross-References

Luke 16:22-31 (the entirety of the Rich Man and Lazarus parable)
Hebrews 9:27 ("And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:")
Proverbs 11:4 ("Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivereth from death.")

Language Study

Key words in the original Greek text for Luke 16:28 give more depth to the understanding of the verse:

"testify" (διαμαρτύρηται - diamartyrētai): To bear witness, testify strongly.
"brethren" (ἀδελφοῖς - adelphois): Brothers, often used to mean close kin or countrymen in a broader sense.
"torment" (βασάνου - basanou): The state of being tortured or in extreme discomfort.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In Greco-Roman mythology, the Underworld is also a place of torment for the unrighteous, as can be seen in the myth of Sisyphus or Tantalus. The rich man's request resembles the belief in shades or ghosts delivering messages from the dead, a common theme in ancient ghost stories.

In other religious interpretations, such as Buddhism and Hinduism, the concept of karma and rebirth could be seen as parallel to the idea of one's actions affecting the afterlife, although the specifics of judgment and the afterlife differ greatly.

Scientific Perspectives

The verse touches on concepts of the afterlife and judgment, which are beyond the scope of empirical scientific investigation.

However, the enduring interest in near-death experiences and what happens after death reflects a perennial human curiosity that straddles spirituality and scientific inquiry.

Commentaries

In studying biblical commentaries, scholars generally align on the broader interpretation that this verse illustrates an acknowledgment of the irreversible consequences of one's earthly life, the limits of interceding for the dead, and the primary authority of Scripture.

Matthew Henry Commentary: Emphasizes the richness of Scripture and its sufficiency for teaching the way of salvation, and the hard-heartedness of those who do not accept its messages.
John Gill’s Exposition of the Bible: Notes the desperation and concern of the rich man for his kin and the eternal state of himself and others.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible: Underlines the ineffective remorse and the implausibility of the dead returning to convince the living.

Luke 16

Luke 16

What does Luke 16:28 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 16:28 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?