Luke 16

1 Jesus also said [spoke, shared a teaching] to His disciples [learners, followers], “There was a rich [wealthy, prosperous] man whose manager [steward, overseer] was accused [charged, slandered] of wasting [squandering, scattering] his possessions [goods, belongings]. word study 2 So he called [summoned, sent for] him in to ask, ‘What is this [which thing, what news] I hear [am told, have learned] about you? Turn in [render, give] an account [a written record, a report] of your management [stewardship, administration], for you cannot [are not able, no longer have the power] be manager [steward, overseer] any longer [from now on, in the future].’ word study 3 The manager [steward, overseer] said to himself, ‘What shall I do [how can I provide for myself], now that my master [lord, the one in authority] is taking away [removing, withdrawing] my position [stewardship, management role]? I am too weak [lacking physical strength] to dig [to excavate, to labor] and too ashamed [filled with shame, humbled] to beg [to ask for help, to request assistance]. word study 4 I know [am resolved, have come to a decision] what I will do [make, create], so that after my removal [being put out, sacked] from management [stewardship, administration], people will welcome [receive, take in] me into their homes [houses, dwellings].’ word study 5 And he called [summoned, invited] in each one [individually, every single one] of his master’s [lord, authority figure] debtors [those who owe a financial obligation]. ‘How much [what amount, to what extent] do you owe [are indebted to, have a financial obligation to] my master [lord, the one I serve]?’ he asked [said, spoke to] the first [initial, foremost]. word study 6 ‘A hundred [one hundred] measures [baths] of olive oil [used for lamps, healing, and anointing],’ he answered. ‘Take your bill [account, writing],’ said the manager. ‘Sit down [seat yourself] quickly [soon], and write [record] fifty.’ word study 7 Then he asked another [a different one, someone else], ‘And how much [what amount] do you owe [are indebted]?’ ‘A hundred measures of wheat [grain],’ he replied. ‘Take your bill [something written] and write [record] eighty [fourscore],’ he told him. word study 8 The master [lord, God, or one in authority] commended the dishonest [unjust, unrighteous] manager because he had acted [done wisely, with prudence] shrewdly [with cunning, wisely]. For the sons [children, descendants] of this age [generation, time] are more shrewd [thoughtful, wise] in dealing with their own kind [toward one another, with each other] than are the sons [children, descendants] of light [spiritual enlightenment]. word study 9 I tell you, use worldly [earthly] wealth [mammon, riches] to make friends [allies, companions] for yourselves, so that when it [fails, comes to an end] is gone, they will welcome you into eternal [everlasting] dwellings [tabernacles, heavenly homes]. word study 10 Whoever is [truly] faithful [being trustworthy] with very little [in the smallest matters] will also be faithful [in a similar manner] with much [in greater responsibilities], and whoever is [found to be] dishonest [unrighteous] with very little [in minor things] will also be dishonest [acting unjustly] with much [in more significant matters]. word study 11 So if [under these circumstances, in this case] you have not been faithful [trustworthy, dependable] with worldly [unrighteous, earthly] wealth [mammon, riches], who [which one, what person] will entrust [commit, trust] you with true [genuine, authentic] riches [spiritual treasures, heavenly wealth]? word study 12 And if you have not been [completely trustworthy] faithful with the belongings [property, possessions] of another [someone else’s, another person’s], who will give you belongings [possessions, things] of your own [that which is yours, your inheritance]? word study 13 No servant [slave, household worker] can serve two masters [lords, authorities]. Either he will hate [detest, love less] the one and love [show esteem and goodwill towards] the other, or he will be devoted [cling to, hold firmly] to the one and despise [think little of, look down on] the other. You cannot serve [be a slave to] both God [the one true deity] and money [wealth, mammon, riches].” word study 14 The Pharisees [who were covetous, lovers of wealth], who were [money-loving, having a great love of money] lovers of money, heard all [these things, everything] of this [to hear and understand] and were [ridiculing] scoffing at Jesus [deriding him, laughing at him]. word study 15 So He said to them, “You [ye, yourselves] are the ones who justify [declare righteous, make excuses for] yourselves before men [in the sight of people, to gain human approval], but God [the Almighty, Creator] knows [is intimately aware of, understands] your hearts [inner beings, thoughts, and emotions]. For what is prized [highly esteemed, valued] among men [by human standards, in human opinion] is detestable [an abomination, utterly disgusting] before God [in His sight, according to His standards]. word study 16 The Law [and the writings of the prophets] and the Prophets [those who spoke for God] were proclaimed [preached, declared] until John [the Baptist, a messenger of God]. Since that time [from then on], the gospel [good news, message of salvation] of the kingdom [reign, dominion] of God [the supreme ruler, Creator] is being preached [proclaimed, announced], and everyone [all people, every man] is forcing [pressing, striving] his way into it [the kingdom, God’s family]. word study 17 But it is [more] easier [having less difficulty] for heaven [the sky and God’s home] and earth [the soil, the material world] to pass away [to disappear, perish] than for a single stroke [one tittle, a small part] of a pen [a small mark] to drop out [to fall, collapse] of the Law [the set of rules, God’s instruction]. word study 18 Anyone who divorces [puts away, releases] his wife and marries [weds, takes as a spouse] another woman [a different one, someone else] commits adultery [is unfaithful, cheats on their spouse], and he who marries [takes as a wife, weds] a divorced woman [one who has been put away, released from her husband] commits adultery [is unfaithful, engages in extramarital relations]. word study 19 Now there was a rich [wealthy, prosperous] man dressed in purple [valuable, luxurious] and fine linen [delicate, expensive], who lived each day [daily, continually] in joyous [magnificent, luxurious] splendor [celebrating, rejoicing]. word study 20 And a beggar [a poor man, full of wounds] named Lazarus lay at his gate [the entrance to his house, porch], covered with sores [having open wounds, full of ulcers] word study 21 and longing [with deep desire, yearning] to be fed [nourished, satisfied] with the crumbs [small morsels, scraps] that fell [dropped, came down] from the rich man’s [wealthy, affluent] table [dining table, place of abundance]. Even the dogs [worthless animals, outcasts] came [approached, drew near] and licked [touched with their tongues, soothed] his sores [open wounds, painful ulcers]. word study 22 One day the beggar [poor man, in a state of poverty] died [stopped living, passed away] and was carried [taken away, led] by the angels [heavenly messengers, divine agents] to Abraham’s [the father of the faithful, a patriarch] side [bosom, a place of intimacy and rest]. And the rich man [wealthy individual, one with many possessions] also died [passed away, ceased to exist] and was buried [laid in the ground, given a funeral]. word study 23 In Hades [the place of the dead, the grave], where he was in torment [great pain, suffering], he looked up and saw Abraham [the father of faith] from afar [at a distance, far away], with Lazarus by his side [in his bosom, close to him]. word study 24 So he cried out [in anguish, with a loud voice], ‘Father [the patriarch] Abraham, have mercy [show compassion, pity] on me and send Lazarus [the resurrected one] to dip the tip [end] of his finger in water and cool my tongue [bring relief to my speech]. For I am in agony [tormented, suffering greatly] in this fire [flame].’ word study 25 But Abraham answered, ‘Child [a born one], remember [to recall to mind] that during your lifetime [in the time of your earthly existence] you received [got back, obtained] your good things [blessings, pleasant experiences], while Lazarus received [got, obtained] bad things [evil, distressing experiences]. But now [at this present time] he is comforted [consoled, encouraged] here [in this place, paradise], while you are in agony [deeply troubled, suffering]. word study 26 And besides [in addition to, apart from] all this, a great [large, immense] chasm [gulf, wide separation] has been fixed [established, set firmly] between [in the middle of, separating] us and you, so that even those who wish [desire, want to] cannot cross [pass over, go across] from here [this place, hither] to you, nor can anyone cross [go over, pass through] from there [that place, thence] to us [our side, hither].’ word study 27 ‘Then [at that time, therefore] I beg you, father [a male parent, or one who cares for],’ he said, ‘send [to dispatch, to commission] Lazarus [the one whom God helps] to my father’s [paternal] house [a physical dwelling, or a family], word study 28 for I have [possess, hold] five brothers [male siblings, fellow believers]. Let him warn [testify solemnly, give an account] them, so that they will not also end up [come, go] in this [specific, terrible] place [location, area] of torment [suffering, anguish, basal torture].’ word study 29 But Abraham [the father of the Jewish nation] replied, ‘They have Moses [the Hebrew lawgiver] and the prophets [speakers of God’s will]; let your brothers [family members, relatives] listen to [hear and obey, give ear to] them [the teachings, the scriptures].’ word study 30 ‘No [certainly not], father [male parent, patriarch] Abraham [the Hebrew patriarch, father of the Jewish nation],’ he said, ‘but [on the contrary] if someone [one, a person] is sent [goes, travels] to them from [away from, out of] the dead [those who have died, the lifeless], they will repent [change their mind, turn from sin].’ word study 31 Then Abraham said to him, ‘If they do not [give attention to] listen to Moses [the Hebrew lawgiver] and the prophets [God’s messengers, spokesmen], they will not be [convinced] persuaded even if someone [one, a person] rises [is raised, comes back] from the dead [the state of being lifeless, spiritually or physically].’” word study