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Nazarene Commentary 2000©

21^st Century Paraphrase of the Hebrew Scriptures© –
21^st Century Version of the Christian Scriptures© [NCMM]

THE GOSPEL OF LUKE

CHAPTER SIXTEEN:
LESSONS REGARDING RICHES AND LOVE OF MONEY

[“Money Lovers”]
Key word: Riches

Luke 16:1-8 – Practical Wisdom and Debts

LK16:1 Then Jesus also told his disciples: 690 “A certain rich man had a house steward and he accused him of squandering his possessions.

690	His disciples: The parable is directed to his disciples for a reason, though the Pharisees later ridicule Jesus.

LK16:2 After he called for him, the rich man asked his steward, ‘What is this I hear about you? Provide a complete accounting of your stewardship because you are no longer to be steward!’ LK16:3 Now the steward said to himself, ‘What will I do? For my master has removed my stewardship. I am not strong enough for manual labor. I am too ashamed to beg. LK16:4 I know what I will do so that when I am removed from the stewardship everyone will welcome me into their homes.’ LK16:5 So he summoned each one of the master’s debtors, and he asked the first, ‘How much do you owe to my master?’ LK16:6 And that one said, ‘One hundred bath measures of oil.’ The steward told him, ‘Here, quickly, take your records and write in, 691 “Fifty”.’

691	Take your records and write in: This is later called “unrighteous” – the illegal and dishonest altering of records.

LK16:7 Then to another he said, ‘How much do you owe?’ And that one said, ‘One hundred measures of wheat.’ The steward told him, ‘Take your records and write, Eighty.’ LK16:8 Now the master of that steward praised him, because though illegal he had acted shrewdly. 692 For the sons of this period of time 693 are more shrewd 694 than the Sons of the Light 695 in their own generation. 696

692	Though illegal he had acted shrewdly: Or, wisely, astutely.

693

The sons of this period of time: Or, KJV: children of this world; NEB: the worldly. Jesus means that period of time of his Jewish generation. Most men look out for themselves and are not above deceit in financial matters. Without moral principle in these matters they will do anything to make a dollar.

694	More shrewd: Or, KJV: wiser than; WMS: act with more business sense; NEB: are more astute; NWT: wiser in a practical way.

695	The Sons of the Light: They are more principled as disciple of the Nazarene. They may not use their possessions in the most practical manner from the standpoint of most in that generation.

696	In their own generation: Or, TCN: in dealing with their fellow-men; PME: in dealing with their contemporaries; RIE: in their dealings with their own kind.

Luke 16:9-13 – Make Friends with Riches

LK16:9 “Also, I tell you [disciples], make friends for yourselves 697 from your illegal riches, 698 so that when riches fail they will welcome you 699 into everlasting dwellings. 700

697	Make friends for yourselves: Or, TCN: win friends. Jesus means friends with God. An example of this is seen in Luke 19:8. [Ecclesiastes 11:1]

698

From your illegal riches: Or, KJV: mammon of unrighteousness; WMS: which so easily tends to wrongdoing; NEB: your worldly wealth; RIE: from out of this dishonest world. Jesus infers his disciples possess unrighteous or illegal riches. It would seem that despite his words at Luke 12:33 the apostles still owned their fishing business and the possessions resulting from it. Though Peter is to say, “we have left everything” he does not say they had “sold everything.” In Acts, however, it appears all the disciples had divested themselves of their possessions in order to help others. [Acts 2-5] Compare notes on John 21:3,15. Jesus may draw on the principle at Proverbs 28:20, “The person who tries to get rich quick will not remain innocent for long.” [NCMM] Riches often have a history of ill-gotten gains in one way or another.

699	They will welcome you: Or, WMS: your friends may welcome you. Likely God and his angels.

700	Into everlasting dwellings: Or, everlasting habitations, eternal abodes, tents of eternity, eternal home. For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on 2 Corinthians 5:1. [Revelation 3:12]

LK16:10 The person trustworthy in small things 701 will be trustworthy in big things. 702 Also, the person who will break small laws 703 will also break big ones. 704

701	Trustworthy in small things: Or, KJV: faithful in that which is least; TCN: trustworthy in the smallest matter; MOF: faithful with a trifle; WMS: dependable; KNX: over a little sum; PME: in little things.

702	In big things: Or, WMS: dependable also in a large deal; BER: in the important; MOF: with a large trust.

703	Break small laws: Or, KJV: unjust in the least; KNX: plays false over a little sum; PME: who cheats in the little things; NOR: who is dishonest in small things.

704

Will also break big ones: Or, MOF: dishonest with a large trust. It is possible there is something among the apostles requiring this teaching and counsel. We do know that at least Judas was a thief according to John. Possibly Jesus is aware of an inclination or attribute among these men in the fishing business, and others. He may also be using his disciples as a lesson for the Pharisees who were also listening.

LK16:11 So, if you are not trustworthy with illegal riches, 705 who will ever trust you with honest riches? 706

705	Illegal riches: Or, TCN: dishonest money; BER: deceitful riches; PME: wicked wealth.

706	Honest riches: Or, true riches, true good. If one of Jesus’ disciples could not be trusted in a small matter how could the same be trusted with serious responsibilities?

LK16:12 And if you are not trustworthy with what belongs to someone else, who will give you your own things? LK16:13 No steward can ever serve two masters. 707 For either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. None of you [disciples] can serve both God and riches.” 708

707	Two masters: Or, two lords. Compare notes on Matthew 6:24. Either God or Riches is the master one serves. Though many Christians have tried to serve both, such is not possible.

708	Serve both God and riches: Or, MON: be slave both of god and of gold; PME: God and the power of money at the same time. Though millions of Christians in the capitalistic western world have attempted to do this, none of them has been successful, for the Nazarene says it cannot be done.

Luke 16:14-18 – Words to the Money Lovers

LK16:14 Now the Pharisees who were lovers of money 709 heard all these things and they began to sneer at Jesus. 710

709

Pharisees who were lovers of money: Or, covetous, fond of money. The Greek is PHILARGYROI, which is literally, “lover of silver.” Christians in general were counseled against the love of money. [1 Timothy 6:10; Hebrews 13:5] Love of money would mark the apostate. [2 Timothy 3:2] Those considered to become elders must not be lovers of money. [1 Timothy 3:3] The subject of money occurs about 170 times in the Bible with the first occurrence at Genesis 17:12, 13 and also the most occurrences in Genesis [33]. Those who lend money for interest are not welcome in God’s Tent. [Psalm 15:5] Money has its place and can be a defense though wisdom is much superior. [Ecclesiastes 7:12; 10:19] Jesus taught his disciples not to take it in their ministry. [Mark 6:8; Luke 9:3] Jesus taught those with money would gain entrance into the kingdom only with great difficulty. [Mark 10:23; Luke 18:24] The first disciples sold their possessions and gave the money to the apostles for the poor. [Acts 4:37] How may a love of money be identified? How one dresses and eats is included in the Nazarene’s parable. The failure to share money with the needy is also characterized in the illustration. What one talks about most often may also identify one’s love. Greed, theft, and extortion clearly identify a lover of money.

710	Sneer at Jesus: Or, deride, scoff, jeer, ridicule, making sport, scorn, turned up their noses. Love of money may be manifest in one’s reaction to counsel against it. This preparatory statement is meant to introduce the parable that follows which is about a rich man.

LK16:15 So Jesus said to them: “You are those who try to appear innocent 711 in front of others. But, The God knows your hearts. 712 Because whatever is lofty among humans 713 is a disgusting thing in the sight of The God!

711	Try to appear innocent: Or, justify yourselves, court approval, impress. It is interesting that this follows the statement about love of money, for often do such persons wish to give a false impression on others, with a sense of superiority.

712	God knows your hearts: Compare Proverbs 15:11 and Hebrews 4:12.

713	Lofty among humans: Or, highly esteemed, admired by men. Often a lover of money is characterized by such prideful and arrogant attitudes.

LK16:16 The Law [of Moses] and the Prophets existed until John 714 [the Baptist]. From then on God’s Realm has been declared as Good News 715 and everyone invited is entering with the utmost eagerness and effort. 716

714

Existed until John: Or, KJV: were until, TCN: sufficed until; WEY: continued until; MOF: last till; PME: were in force until John’s day. [For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Matthew 11:13.] When John came in the year 29 AD, and followed shortly thereafter by Christ, the Law and the Prophets completed their purpose and were generally fulfilled and about to become “obsolete.” [Galatians 3:19, 23-25; Hebrews 1:1; 8:13]

715	From then on God’s Realm has been declared as Good News: Or, since that time, from that time. The focus is no longer on the Law of Moses or the ancient prophets of Israel, but on the gospel regarding God’s Realm. For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Matthew 13:40-43.

716

Everyone invited is entering with the utmost eagerness and effort: Or, KJV: every man pressseth into it; MOF: anyone presses in; GDS: everyone has been crowding into it; RIE: everyone is storming his way into; NOR: they come crowding in. This is a remark directed to the Pharisees who considered themselves possessing something of an exclusive on God’s kingdom. While in the past, before John the Baptist, the Jewish hierarchy held the “key to the kingdom” by virtue of their interpretations of the Law and the Prophets, this is no longer the case.

LK16:17 For it would be easier for the sky and the earth to pass away than a single stroke of a letter 717 of the Law to fail. 718

717	A single stroke of a letter: Or, KJV: one tittle of the law; GDS: one dotting on an “I” in; NEB: one dot or stroke; WEY: the smallest detail.

718

Law to fail: Or, lapse, become void, dead letter, deleted, unfulfilled. That is, fail to be fulfilled in Christ. The entire Law is completely fulfilled, or used its purpose, in the coming of Messiah and the application of love. [Jeremiah 31:31-33; Hebrews 8:7-13] For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on “law” and compare the Biblical Article Jehovah is Our Lawgiver.

LK16:18 Anyone divorcing his wife and marrying another commits adultery, 719 and the woman who divorces her husband and remarries commits adultery.

719

Commits adultery: At first reading this may seem obscure. Jesus is still speaking to the Jewish hierarchy. These Jews permitted adultery for every kind of reason. He may infer some among these men are not wholly moral because they have remarried without true Biblical reasons. Also, the relationship of Israel was something of a covenant marriage to God and it is these members of the Jewish hierarchy who have adulterated this relationship. [Isaiah 50:1; Jeremiah 3:8, 9; Ezekiel 16:32; 23:37; James 4:4] [For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on divorce and compare Matthew 5:32 and Mark 10:11.]

Luke 16:19-31 – Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus

LK16:19 “Now there was a certain rich man 720 who dressed in purple 721 and linen, and every day he ate in merriment and eminence. 722

720

Now there was a certain rich man: Note these are the same words introducing other parables. [Luke 15:11; 16:1] The parable is directed at the money loving Pharisees. The following parable is used by some to prove an eternal hell-fire torment. Jesus uses a parabolic absurdum borrowed from the Pharisees own beliefs. [See notes below.] Whatever other applications of the story may be made, often the real thrust of the illustration is completely ignored – the rich who ignore the poor do not have God’s approval. The “rich” are identified by those with a surplus. [Luke 21:1-4] The degree of this rich state may be determined by this: after a person has cared for self and family, the remainder may be spent on luxuries and leisure. If the expenditure on such personal comforts and pleasures exceeds what is given in charity to the poor and needy, then the person has placed himself/herself in great danger from the standpoint of God. “Here, as in other cognate parables, great wisdom is displayed in bringing the whole force of the rebuke to bear on one point. It is not intimated that this man made free with other people’s money, or that he had gained his fortune in a dishonest way. All other charges are removed, that the weight lying all on one point may more effectively imprint the intended lesson. To have represented him as dishonest, or drunken, would have blunted the weapon’s edge. Here is an affluent citizen, on whose fair fame the breath of scandal can fix no blot. He had a large portion in this world, and did not seek – did not desire – any other. He spent his wealth in pleasing himself, and did not lay it out in serving God or helping man.” – Arnot. [B. W. Johnson] Jerusalem Bible: “[Is a] parable in story form without reference to any historical personage.”

721	Dressed in purple: The color of royalty and indicative of how the rich Pharisees viewed themselves.

722

Every day he ate in merriment and eminence: Or, KJV: fared sumptuously; RHM: making merry day by day brilliantly; TCN: feasted every day in great splendour; WMS: in dazzling luxury; NEB: in great magnificence. This was the manner and attitude of the Pharisees who “loved the place of honor at banquets.”

LK16:20 And a certain poor man named Lazarus 723 covered with sores 724 had been laid at his gate. 725

723	Poor man named Lazarus: Many see a symbol here for the am-herets of the Jewish poor. Though this may have some bearing on the meaning of the parable, the main point is that this is a poor man in miserable plight. The meaning of Lazarus is “God Is Helper.”

724	Covered with sores: The man is so poor his health is ruined. It seems also clear he has no family who will care for him.

725

Had been laid at his gate: Someone has laid the man at the gate of the rich man, perhaps thinking the rich man would give him something. As he is at the gate to the rich man’s house he cannot be ignored by the rich man, who must see him in his comings and goings. This turns out to be the greatest of sins for the rich man – a lack of empathy for the poor. The poor are mentioned over 100 times in the Bible, the first reference at Exodus 23:6. Under the Law the poor were to be cared for. [Leviticus 25:35; Deuteronomy 15:7] The word “poor” occurs most often in Psalms [23 times]. Paul was instructed to “keep the poor in mind.” [Galatians 2:10]

LK16:21 The poor man craved to eat from the scraps 726 falling from the rich man’s table, for even the dogs would come and lick his sores. 727

726

Scraps: Or, crumbs. From the rich man’s standpoint, garbage. The garbage of the wealthy capitalistic western world would feed the world’s poor. Even in the most sophisticated of cities “street people” will be seen searching for garbage in trash bins. These poor stand as an indictment against the Church as a whole and certainly against the rich of the “Christian” nations. Mother Teresa counseled to “see the face of Christ in the poor.”

727	Dogs would come and lick his sores: The poor man is near death and cannot fight off the dogs.

LK16:22 Now it came to pass that the poor man died 728 and he was carried away by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. 729 Also, the rich man died and he was buried. 730

728

The poor man died: Likely he dies from his starvation and debilitated state. We note the poor man is not buried. Whether this has some meaning may be discussed, however, it may indicate the absolute dissolution and desertion of the man before any relatives or former friends. For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on the subject of “death” and compare the publication Where Are the Dead?

729	And he was carried away by the angels to Abraham’s bosom: We note nothing is said here about heaven and God. For details see below.

730	The rich man died and he was buried: In contrast to the poor man, the rich man is buried, likely in a fine tomb to be memorialized. In the Hebrew Bible burial is in the graveyard called Sheol, and later by the Greek Hades.

LK16:23 Then in Hades he raised his eyes in his torment 731 and he saw Lazarus far away in Abraham’s bosom. 732

731

Then in Hades he raised his eyes in his torment: Or, hell, among the dead. The parable borrows from the Pharisees’ own teachings. Jesus did not believe himself in such teachings. We can expect our Master understood the condition of the dead as that witnessed in the Hebrew Bible. [Job 14:12-14; Psalm 146:3, 4; Ecclesiastes 3:19-21; 9:4, 5, 10] [For details on “torment” see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Revelation 14:11.] The Pharisaical view about the after-life was adopted from Babylonian and Grecian theology. [(The Book of the Dead, New Hyde Park, N.Y., 1960, with introduction by E. A. Wallis Budge, pp. 144, 149, 151, 153, 161; The Encyclopedia Americana, 1977, Vol. 14, p. 68)] Josephus describes these beliefs: “They believe that souls have power to survive death and that there are rewards and punishments under the earth for those who have led lives of virtue or vice: eternal imprisonment is the lot of evil souls, while the good souls receive an easy passage to a new life… Every soul, they maintain, is imperishable, but the soul of the good alone passes into another body, while the souls of the wicked suffer eternal punishment.” [Jewish Antiquities, XVIII, 14 (i, 3)] The word Hades occurs only ten times in the Christian Bible. [Matthew 11:23; 16:18; Luke 10:15; 16:23; Acts 2:27, 31; Revelation 1:18; 6:8; 20:13, 14] In these Jesus uses it only three times, while Paul never uses it. The 3rd Century BC Jewish Greek Bible uses Hades about 73 times, almost always in direct association with the grave. The Hebrew equivalent Sheol occurs 65 times. The KJV renders these two words, Sheol and Hades, 31 times as “hell,” 31 times as “grave,” and 3 times as “pit.” Hell, Sheol, or Hades is merely the common grave of all those who were buried. [Compare Job 14:13-15.] Jesus went to Hades and was resurrected out of it. [Acts 2:24-32] All those in Hades are judged after they are resurrected out of it, thus emptying “hell.” [Revelation 20:12-15] For details on “hell” see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 under the heading of Where Are the Dead?] Collier’s Encyclopedia states: “Since Sheol in Old Testament times referred simply to the abode of the dead and suggested no moral distinctions, the word ‘hell,’ as understood today, is not a happy translation.” [1986, Vol. 12, p. 28] Encyclopaedia Britannica writes: “Sheol was located somewhere ‘under’ the earth… The state of the dead was one of neither pain nor pleasure. Neither reward for the righteous nor punishment for the wicked was associated with Sheol. The good and the bad alike, tyrants and saints, kings and orphans, Israelites and gentiles-all slept together without awareness of one another.” [1971, Vol. 11, p. 276] “The word occurs often in the Psalms and in the book of Job to refer to the place to which all dead people go. It is represented as a dark place, in which there is no activity worthy of the name. There are no moral distinctions there, so ‘hell’ (KJV) is not a suitable translation, since that suggests a contrast with ‘heaven’ as the dwelling-place of the righteous after death. In a sense, ‘the grave’ in a generic sense is a near equivalent, except that Sheol is more a mass grave in which all the dead dwell together… The use of this particular imagery may have been considered suitable here [in Jonah 2:2] in view of Jonah’s imprisonment in the interior of the fish.” [A Translators Handbook on the Book of Jonah, 1978, p. 37] “Much confusion and misunderstanding has been caused through the early translators of the Bible persistently rendering the Hebrew Sheol and the Greek Hades and Gehenna by the word hell. The simple transliteration of these words by the translators of the revised editions of the Bible has not sufficed to appreciably clear up this confusion and misconception.” [The Encyclopedia Americana (1942), Vol. XIV, p. 81]

732	He saw Lazarus far away in Abraham’s bosom: The “bosom” is a position of favor. If taken literally, those in Hades can observe the approved.

LK16:24 So, he called out, ‘Father Abraham, 733 have mercy on me 734 and send Lazarus with a drop of water on his fingertip 735 that he may cool my tongue, because I am suffering in this flame!’ 736

733	Father Abraham: The designation of the Jews regarding their great patriarch. Compare John 8:39. [Isaiah 51:2] For the first time we are aware this is a rich Jew.

734	Have mercy on me: How can God have mercy on a man already condemned to hell?

735	A drop of water on his fingertip: An absurdum.

736

I am suffering in this flame: If the pharisaical doctrine were true, this is where they would be. The Biblical truth is that both men would be resurrected at the end of the Messianic reign of a Thousand Years. [Hebrews 9:27; Revelation 20:12-14] Both the rich and poor Jew would be judged on the basis of their own Law. [Romans 2:12-16] This would at least condemn the rich Jew who showed no empathy for his poor fellow, for the Law required such.

LK16:25 But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember during your lifetime you received so many good things 737 while Lazarus only the bad things. 738 But now he is being comforted here while you continue to suffer. 739

737

You received so many good things: For a variety of reasons – inheritance, talent, industriousness, pure luck, place and time of birth – many people seem blessed. From the standpoint of God, such a blessed person will be judged by what they do for others with these blessings. [Compare the parable of Matthew 25:31-46]

738

While Lazarus only the bad things: Like the blessed rich above, for a variety of reasons – health, poor birth, time and place of birth, bad luck, laziness – some are condemned to a life of poverty. Most often this is beyond their ability to change matters – war, famine, disease. We do not know why Lazarus is poor and ill and rejected by all family and friends. To the Nazarene this does not matter – he was poor and ill and that was enough reason for the rich man to demonstrate any degree of empathy. Both the Law of Moses and the Nazarene said there would always be poor among God’s people. [Deuteronomy 15:7-11; John 12:5]

739

He is being comforted here while you continue to suffer: Life circumstances have changed or reversed and mainly because the rich Jew refused to come to the aid of his poor fellow worshipper. Some understand the parable to be an analogy of two classes: the poor Jews and the rich Jewish hierarchy. With the coming of Jesus, the circumstances of both these groups changed. The poor were now being blessed by accepting the gospel of Christ, while the members of the Jewish hierarchy were being cursed by the Messiah. [Compare Matthew chapter 23.]

LK16:26 In addition to this there is a great chasm that has been fixed between us and you, 740 so that those wishing to come from here over to you cannot, 741 and neither can those from there cross over to us here.’

740	There is a great chasm that has been fixed between us and you: The reason for this gulf or chasm is next explained.

741	So that those wishing to come from here over to you cannot: Another absurdum. Why would anyone in heaven want to go to hell?

LK16:27 Then the rich man said, ‘Then I ask you, father, to send Lazarus to the house of my father – LK16:28 for I have five brothers 742 – to warn them lest they also end up in this place of torment.’ 743

742	For I have five brothers: Bringing the total of sons to six, a number some consider a symbol of human corruption.

743	Warn them lest they also end up in this place of torment: These would also be Jews who should have known what the Law said about assisting the poor. [Deuteronomy 15:7-11]

LK16:29 However, Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets. Let them listen to these.’ 744

744	Let them listen to these: As pointed out above both the Law and the Prophets would outline how the rich were to treat the poor.

LK16:30 The rich man said, ‘No, father Abraham, for if someone from the dead went to them they would repent.’ LK16:31 However, Abraham told him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses 745 and the Prophets, 746 neither will they ever be convinced by someone resurrected from the dead.’” 747

745	If they do not listen to Moses: Compare Exodus 23:6, 11; Leviticus 25:25, 35, 39, 47; Deuteronomy 15:7-11.

746	Prophets: As at Isaiah 58:7 and Ezekiel 18:16.

747

Resurrected from the dead: Or, raised from, rose from, rises from. The Greek is ANASTE, to stand up again. The wealthy television evangelist – with his diamond rings, costly watches, luxury homes, prestige automobiles, and jet transportation to pleasure vacations – may scream and slobber about the condition of the wicked in hell, but miss the whole point of Jesus’ parable: the condemnation of the rich who ignore the poor. This simple parable has been twisted and misinterpreted, while the vast majority of all religious hierarchy no matter their denomination live far better than an average Christian. Their worship is worthless. [James 1:25-27] In the judgment all the dead will be raised and all the rich will be judged, whether Jew or non-Jew, on the basis of their use of their riches as well as other matters. The end of such will be everlasting extinction in Second Death. [Revelation 20:12-15]

Review Questions on Chapter Sixteen