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Luke Chapter Sixteen

                             

I. Content of the Chapter

 

The Pursuit of this Life and the Coming

I. The parable of the unjust steward------he spent money of this life to store up the blessing of the coming (v.1-13).

II. Those who covet the enjoyments of lusts (loves of money) and fulfill the lust of the flesh (whoever divorces his wife and marries another) cannot enter the kingdom of God (v.14-18).

III. The story of the rich man and Lazarus------those who only enjoy in this life will be tormented in the coming (v.19-31).

 

II. Verse by Verse commentary

 

Luke. 16:1 “He also said to His disciples: There was a certain rich man who had a steward, and an accusation was brought to him that this man was wasting his goods.

   YLT: “And he said also unto his disciples, ‘A certain man was rich, who had a steward, and he was accused to him as scattering his goods;”

   Meaning of Words: “wasting”: disperse, squander.

   Literal Meaning: “He also said to His disciples” It shows that the following parable of “the unjust steward” was said by the Lord Jesus to His disciples and followers.

  “There was a certain rich man who had a steward.” “Steward” indicates the one who is responsible for the management of the house of the Lord and has the full authority to cope with the belongings of the Lord.

   Spiritual Meaning: “a rich man” is the type of the Lord Jesus. “An unjust steward” typifies the failing believers------they are unfaithful and unjust in what the Lord has entrusted them.

  Believers are the stewards of the Lord of all and He has instructed His possessions to us for management (See 12:42; 1Cor. 4:1-2; 1Pet. 4:10).

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) The first and foremost responsibility of a steward is not to waste the property of the master. What believers have on them and in their hands are entrusted by the Lord to us for management. It is required by the Lord in us that we should not waste.

2) It is wasting the Lord’s wealth to spend money only for one’s own or for useless things.

3) The stewards of God’s assembly should be good at using not only God’s money but also the gifts, positions and influence that the Lord has entrusted us well so as to fulfill the responsibility of glorifying God and profiting men.

4) If someone buries all that the Lord has entrusted to him and does not dare to use them because he is afraid to be punished by waste, in the end he will still be punished by the Lord (See Matt. 25:24-30).

 

Luke. 16:2 “So he called him and said to him, What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your stewardship, for you can no longer be steward.'

   YLT: “and having called him, he said to him, What [is] this I hear about thee? render the account of thy stewardship, for thou mayest not any longer be steward.”

   Literal Meaning: “what is this I hear about you?” “This” indicates the matter that he was wasting the goods of the master (See v.1).

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) If believers are unfaithful and unjust in what the Lord has entrusted to us, they will be rejected by the Lord.

2) One day believers will give an account of all our management before the Lord.

3) Whether one could still be the steward of the master is determined by his past operation. If believers deal with what the Lord has entrusted to them well during their lifetime, they will deal with more and greater commissions after their death (See Matt. 25:21, 23).

 

Luke. 16:3Then the steward said within himself, What shall I do? For my master is taking the stewardship away from me. I cannot dig; I am ashamed to beg.

   YLT: “`And the steward said in himself, What shall I do, because my lord doth take away the stewardship from me? to dig I am not able, to beg I am ashamed:”

   Literal Meaning: “dig” indicates to hoe in the field as a farmer. “Beg” indicates to seek help from others as a beggar.

   Spiritual Meaning: “I cannot dig” It symbolizes that believers cannot bear the price of the cross.

  “I am ashamed to beg.” It symbolizes that believers cannot humble themselves to ask others for advice.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) “What shall I do?” It is the question that everyone (including believers) has to face sooner or later.

2) Many times, in what the Lord has entrusted to believers, they are unfaithful, dishonest, lazy (I cannot dig), keen on face-saving and unwilling to be humble (“I am ashamed to beg”) and therefore it is difficult for them to give an account of this to the Lord. 

3) Though we are weak (“cannot”), His strength is made perfect in weakness (1Cor. 12:9). Therefore we should rely on the Lord and we will be more than conquerors.

 

Luke. 16:4 “I have resolved what to do, that when I am put out of the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses.'

   YLT: “I have known what I shall do, that, when I may be removed from the stewardship, they may receive me to their houses.”

   Spiritual Meaning: “when I am put out of the stewardship” It symbolizes the time of one’s departure.

  “They may receive me into their houses.” It symbolizes that one is received into an everlasting home (See v.9).

 

Luke. 16:5So he called every one of his master's debtors to him, and said to the first, How much do you owe my master?'

   YLT: “`And having called near each one of his lord’s debtors, he said to the first, How much dost thou owe to my lord?”

   Enlightenment in the Word: each of us owes the Lord for love and we are unable to repay Him (See 7:41; Matt. 18:24-25).

 

Luke. 16:6 “And he said, A hundred measures of oil.' So he said to him, Take your bill, and sit down quickly and write fifty.'

   YLT: “and he said, A hundred baths of oil; and he said to him, Take thy bill, and having sat down write fifty.”

   Literal Meaning: “a hundred measures of oil” The Hebrews use “measure” as the standard of the unit to measure liquid. A measure is called a bath that is about 22 liter (it is also said that it is about 39 liter).

  “Take your bill, and sit down quickly and write fifty.” It shows that he deceitfully pretended to be generous by others’ wealth. He on purpose asked little from the debtors in order to gain their good impression.

   Spiritual Meaning: “oil” symbolizes the Holy Spirit. The one who owes men for oil symbolizes believers who lack the Holy Spirit and have not been filled with the Holy Spirit.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) To those whose spirit states are not good and who lack the Holy Spirit (who owes oil), we should forgive them. In this way the Lord will assuredly remit us (See Matt. 6:12).

2) We should deal with us “quickly” while there are still chances, lest we may miss the chance (See Matt. 5:25).

 

Luke. 16:7 “Then he said to another, And how much do you owe?' So he said, A hundred measures of wheat.' And he said to him, Take your bill, and write eighty.'

   YLT: “`Afterward to another he said, And thou, how much dost thou owe? and he said, A hundred cors of wheat; and he saith to him, Take thy bill, and write eighty.”

   Literal Meaning: “measure” The Hebrews use “measure” as the unit to measure solids. One measure is called a Kor. It is about 350 liter and it is the weight that a donkey could bear on back.

   Spiritual Meaning: “wheat” symbolizes life. The one who owes wheat symbolizes believers who are spiritually naïve.

   Enlightenment in the Word: when we are offended by brothers and sisters who are spiritually naïve (who owe wheat), we should forgive them willingly and not condemn us. In this way the Lord will assuredly remit us and not condemn us.

 

Luke. 16:8 “So the master commended the unjust steward because he had dealt shrewdly. For the sons of this world are more shrewd in their generation than the sons of light.

   YLT: “`And the lord commended the unrighteous steward that he did prudently, because the sons of this age are more prudent than the sons of the light, in respect to their generation.”

   Meaning of Words: “shrewd”: wise, prudent, skillful.

   Literal Meaning: “So the master commended that unjust steward” “The master” indicates the rich man. Obviously he knew what the steward had done.

  “That unjust steward” It describes his character, especially his unfaithfulness in the goods of the master.

  “Steward” indicates that he looked and thought beforehand. He knew how to spend money that he had at present to prepare for the needs in future.

  “The sons of this world are more shrewd in their generation than the sons of light.” “The sons of this world” indicate men in the present generation, i.e. the world. “The sons of light” indicate those in whom there is the light of life of Christ, i.e. believers (See John. 12:36; Eph. 5:8; 1Thess. 5:5).

  Notes: the first half of the verse shows that it is the rich man that praised the unjust steward and it is not the Lord Jesus that praised him. And the rich man praised his shrewdness, i.e. his skillfulness and cleverness in that kind of situation, instead of his deceitful works.

  The last half of the verse is the comment of the Lord Jesus: if the world (“the sons of this world”) knows to seize opportunity in order to strive for the security of their safety, won’t believers (“the sons of light”) use wisdom to strive for the heavenly security and reward (See Matt. 10:16)?

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) The shrewd world knows how to use the present opportunities to prepare for their future. The shrew believers are able to transfer the property of this life into the everlasting property.

2) Believers should never learn the cunning and deceitfulness of the world and should learn their careful consideration. Foresight and alertness are the required conditions for the life of the true disciples.

 

Luke. 16:9 “‘And I say to you, make friends for yourselves by unrighteous mammon, that when you fail, they may receive you into an everlasting home.

   YLT: “and I say to you, Make to yourselves friends out of the mammon of unrighteousness, that when ye may fail, they may receive you to the age-during tabernacles.”

   Meaning of Words: “unrighteous”: unjust, evil.

   Literal Meaning: “make friends for yourselves by unrighteous mammon” “unrighteous mammon” does not indicate mammon that is earned by unrighteous ways and it indicates that mammon of this life itself is unrighteous by nature. All the properties in this world, even the properties that are earned by legal ways are the enemy of God (v.13) and unrighteous in the sight of God.

  “Make friends” indicates to use one’s properties to help those who are in need according to the guidance of the Lord.

  “That when you fail.” Properties are useful when one is alive and they are of no use in the kingdom of God after one’s death.

  “They may receive you into an everlasting home.” “They” indicate those who profit because the shrewd steward had used the unrighteous money, i.e. the friends that he had made.

  “An everlasting home” indicates the dwelling place where believers abide in future. God will dwell with them in a new heaven and a new earth until the eternal age (See Rev. 21:3).

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) Money itself is unrighteous. However, if one always distributes to others for the sake of the Lord, money will produce the eternal value.

2) Believers should spend money and should not keep money. Believers should be good at using properties and should not waste them.

3) The best way for believers to use properties well is to share them with others and “make friends” by doing so. And it is the way to lay up for oneself treasures in heaven (See Matt. 6:19).

4) The rich believers who do have the heavenly understanding won’t leave properties after their death because in their lifetime they have made many friends by using properties very well for the sake of the Lord.

5) When we spend our money, influence, status and opportunities and even we enjoy our leisure time, we should never forget the eternal kingdom in heaven.

 

Luke. 16:10 “He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much.

   YLT: “`He who is faithful in the least, [is] also faithful in much; and he who in the least [is] unrighteous, is also unrighteous in much;”

   Meaning of Words: “much”: abundant, great, often.

   Spiritual Meaning: “what is least” indicates things in this life and here it specially indicates mammon (See v.13). “Much” indicates things in the coming and here it specially indicates the abundant reward of the Lord (See Matt. 25:21, 23).

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) One’s faithfulness is not determined by how much one has been entrusted but by the character of the one who spends the money.

2) Faithfulness and justice lay stress on quality instead of quantity. In everything we should be faithful and just and hold the standpoint and should not let anything go at will.

3) If one wants to achieve success, first he has to do from what is least. It is said that great oaks grow from little acorns and a ten thousand-li journey must start with the very first step. All great works in the world are the accumulation of what is least.

4) One’s performance in what is least is sufficient to show his attitude towards what is much.

5) It is true that he who is able to do what is least may be unable to what is much. However, how could the one who is unable to do what is least well do what is much?

 

Luke. 16:11 “Therefore if you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?

   YLT: “if, then, in the unrighteous mammon ye became not faithful the true who will entrust to you?”

   Literal Meaning: “who will commit to your trust the true riches?” “The true riches” is “the true” in the original. All is vanity under the sun (Eccl. 1:2-3) and only the spiritual things are true.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) If we are unfaithful in spending money that God has entrusted to us (See 1Chron. 29:14), God will not give us the heavenly riches that have been prepared for us (See Matt. 25:34).

2) How could the one who is unfaithful in spending the worldly money be qualified to enjoy the spiritually true riches in the kingdom of God?

 

Luke. 16:12 “And if you have not been faithful in what is another man's, who will give you what is your own?

   YLT: “and if in the other’s ye became not faithful your own, who shall give to you?”

   Literal Meaning: “what is another man’s” indicates properties in the world. They could not be brought when men are born and they could not be taken away when men die. They are what God has entrusted to us to manage temporarily.

  “What is your own” indicates the spiritual riches that we could possess forever, including the eternal life and God’s rewards.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) We should not possess ourselves of mammon because it is “another man’s” and it is God’s. God entrusted mammon to us for management in order to test whether we are faithful.

2) All that we have, including the material and spiritual things are what we have received from God and therefore we should not boast (See 1Cor. 4:7).

3) If we are unable to be faithful in material properties, God will entrust the true riches of the eternal age to us.

4) Only the things that could be brought into heaven are “our own” and they have been prepared by God for those who believe in Him from the foundation of the world (See Matt. 25:34).

 

Luke. 16:13No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.’”

   YLT: “`No domestic is able to serve two lords, for either the one he will hate, and the other he will love; or one he will hold to, and of the other he will be heedless; ye are not able to serve God and mammon.’”

   Meaning of Words: “mammon”: money, profit, treasures.

Literal Meaning: citizens of the kingdom of God have been bought by a price and they are not their own (1Cor. 6:19-20), but His own special people (1Pet. 2:9). However if our hearts are towards treasure, treasure will occupy our hearts and become our lord. Consequently, we are unwittingly under its control and bondage.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) Believers are servants, however, we are only the servants of God instead of treasure.

2) Treasure on earth is the enemy of God and it will steal the service of God’s people that God deserves. When believers treat treasure as their lord, they could not serve God wholeheartedly.

3) Today, the greatest temptation for believers is to serve two masters------they want to serve both God and money. Consequently, God is always despised.

4) Those who love and serve God and mammon, just as whoever has two wives------“whoever divorces his wife and marries another” and whoever has two husbands------“whoever marries her who is divorced from her husband” (See v.18), commit the spiritual adultery.

5) A double-minded attitude is unacceptable and there could be nothing such as a spiritual hedger. One is not serving God at all unless he serves Him wholeheartedly.

6) If one is greedy for the earthly treasure, he could not love God whole-heartedly. We cannot love God and mammon. Only when men love God will their hearts be broadened. What great broadens one’s heart is that one is delivered from the attraction of mammon and loves God only.

7) The love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. If someone is greedy for money, he will stray from the faith (1Tim. 6:10).

8) Men could earn money, however, men should not worship money. The hearts of those who worship money could hold God. Money is not our religion and we should never let money become our God.

 

Luke. 16:14 “Now the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, also heard all these things, and they derided Him.

   YLT: “And also the Pharisees, being lovers of money, were hearing all these things, and were deriding him,”

   Literal Meaning: “the Pharisees, who were lovers of money” The Pharisees thought that their money is God’s blessing and the clear proof that their observance of the Law is acceptable to God. 

  “Also heard all these things, and they derided Him.” Probably they derided Jesus that how could he live and preach for God without money.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) Those who are lovers of money must treat mammon as their lord in their hearts and love, value and serve mammon (See v.13). It is no wonder that they despise the Lord Jesus and laugh at His words.

2) Those who love mammon for the sake of mammon actually love themselves and consequently they will neglect others.

 

Luke. 16:15 “And He said to them, You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God.

   YLT: “and he said to them, `Ye are those declaring yourselves righteous before men, but God doth know your hearts; because that which among men is high, [is] abomination before God;”

   Literal Meaning: “but God knows your hearts.” The Lord Jesus here reminded the Pharisees that though they were pious apparently, God knows clearly the greed and ugliness of their hearts.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) One’s heart towards God determines his attitude towards mammon. We should pursue what is precious in the sight of God. We should abominate what God abominates and love what He loves.

2) “What is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God.” Mammon, which men are greedy for, is abominable in the sight of God because some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows (1Tim. 6:10).

 

Luke. 16:16The law and the prophets were until John. Since that time the kingdom of God has been preached, and everyone is pressing into it.

   YLT: “the law and the prophets [are] till John; since then the reign of God is proclaimed good news, and every one doth press into it;”

   Meaning of Words: “press”: to force, to crowd oneself into, and do one’s utmost. 

   The Background: When the Lord’s forerunner John the Baptist and the Lord Himself started to work to preach the glad tidings of the kingdom of God, the Pharisees opposed them everywhere and hindered men from entering into the kingdom of God. Therefore only those who dash ahead regardless of their own safety and take it by force are able to enter into the kingdom of God.

Literal Meaning: “the law and the prophets were until John” “The law and the prophets” refers to the revelation of the whole Old Testament. It shows that the dispensation of the Old Testament was ended until John the Baptist.

“Since that time the kingdom of God has been preached.” “The kingdom of God” refers to the revelation of the New Testament. It shows that the beginning of the preaching of John the Baptist brought in the dispensation of the New Testament. The service of John the Baptist represented a watershed between the Old Testament and the New Testament (See Jer. 31:31-34; Heb. 8:6-12).

“Everyone is pressing into it.” “Press” refers to “force” in the original. If one wants to enter the kingdom of God, he has to be willing to pay any cost and even risks his own necks (Rom. 16:4). Only this kind of men could enter the kingdom.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) It is the free grace for one’s being saved. However the one who wants to enter the kingdom of God should “press”. After we have been saved, if we do not pursue the kingdom, we will not receive the reward of the kingdom.

2) One has to “press” into the kingdom of God and therefore we should “run” instead of “walk” (See 1Cor. 9:24, 26, Pill. 3:13-14, 2Tim. 4:7). Draw me, we will run after thee (Songs. 1:4).

3) Through many tribulations we must enter into the kingdom of God (Acts. 14:22) and therefore we need spiritual struggle and effort (that is spiritual courage, vigor, insistence, determination and regardlessness of any persecution).

4) The Lord’s words imply that if men want to enter into the kingdom of God, they will be confronted with various kinds of obstructions, including the concepts of religious regulations, political persecutions, the deep-rooted bad habits of loving ease and hating work, one’s discouragement and lacking of ambitions and etc. Therefore only those who press into the kingdom of God at any price are able to enter it.

5) We should pay any price to let Christ reign in us. In this way we are living in the reality of the kingdom of God.

6) The opposite side of “press” is common. We do not need to be offended, commit sins or love the world purposely, if we are only common Christians who muddle along, we will not be able to enter into the kingdom of God.

 

Luke. 16:17 “And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one tittle of the law to fail.

   YLT: “and it is easier to the heaven and the earth to pass away, than of the law one tittle to fall.”

   Meaning of Words: “pass away”: go; “fail”: fall.

   Literal Meaning: “heaven and earth to pass away” indicates that the present heaven and earth will pass away in future (See 2Pet. 3:10, 12; Heb. 1:11-12; Rev. 21:1).

  “It is easier…than for one tittle of the law to fail.” “One tittle” describes the filament added to letters or the outstanding part. “One tittle of the law” refers to the smallest requirement of the Law.

  “It is easier…than…to fail.” It is the wording from the opposite side. It indicates that all the requirements of the Law will be fulfilled and realized completely in the kingdom of God.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) The Law has its authority and it will not pass away till all the demands of the Law have been accomplished.

2) The Law bounded the dispensation of the Old Testament and the service of the Lord Jesus brought in the dispensation of the New Testament. His service completely fulfilled the Law, including the slightest thing of the Law (See 21:33).

3) Since Christ has fulfilled the Law, Christians do not need to keep the regulations of the Law. We keep the spirit of the Law as long as we live in Christ.

 

Luke. 16:18Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced from her husband commits adultery.

   YLT: “`Every one who is sending away his wife, and marrying another, doth commit adultery; and every one who is marrying her sent away from a husband doth commit adultery.”

   Meaning of Words: “divorce”: release, depart.

   Literal Meaning: Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery.” According to the custom of the Jews in the ancient time, divorce is set up by the husband’s unilateral declaration of divorce to his wife. The husband does not need to ask for the agreement of his wife and divorce does not need to be decided through the judicial procedure.

  “Adultery” in the original refers to “the sex that destroys the marriage”. The only legal reason for divorce is that one has committed adultery because in God’s sight adultery is the behavior that destroys the union of husband and wife. He who divorces his wife and marries another without reason commits adultery and owes to his wife. The words of the Lord again show that according to the regulations of the law at that time, though the husband has the right to divorce his wife, he still cannot be remitted from the condemnation of morality and conscience.

  “Whoever marries her who is divorced from her husband commits adultery” Since the only legal reason for divorce is that one has committed adultery. And whoever remarries after divorce commits adultery in the sight of God because this disobeys the order that God had made when He created man and woman and destroys the oneness of God.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) The Lord here approves the authority of the Law and the requirements of the Law do not fail all the time, e.g. whoever remarries after divorce still commits adultery and sins against God.

2) Whoever marries the one who commits adultery also commits adultery.

3) The union of man and woman is not only the outward behavior but also the change of nature (Matt. 15:19; 1Cor. 6:16).

4) Marriage is the most important thing for Christians in their lifetime. Therefore before marriage we should open our eyes so as to observe each other carefully, lest we may regret and after marriage we should close our eyes and should not find fault with each other.

5) Believers should not walk according to the worldly trend or be satisfied when we have obeyed the national law. In everything believers should prove what is the will of God (See Rom. 12:2).

 

Luke. 16:19There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day.

   YLT: “`And a certain man was rich, and was clothed in purple and fine linen, making merry sumptuously every day,”

   The Background: “rich man” sometimes men call him “Dives” (it originates from the Latin word “magnate”).

   Literal Meaning: “a certain rich man” The Lord Jesus, being directed against the Pharisee’s mocking at His words concerning mammon (See v.13-14), specially set an example of the miserable end of a rich man to warn them that they should not reject the gospel of the Savior because of the love of money.

  “Who was clothed in purple and fine linen.” “Purple” is the symbol of the royal family and honorable men (See Esth. 8:15; Prov. 31:22; Rev. 18:12). “Fine linen” is the valuable clothes that are made by fabric of linen.

  “Fared sumptuously every day” “Fared sumptuously” in the original means that “one not only eats delicacies from land and sea but also seeks extravagance and tries his best to live a life of pleasure”.

 

Luke. 16:20 “But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid at his gate,

   YLT: “and there was a certain poor man, by name Lazarus, who was laid at his porch, full of sores,”

   Meaning of Words: “Lazarus”: the one whom God helps.

   Literal Meaning: “but there was a certain beggar named Lazarus” “Lazarus” was not the one whom the Lord asked to rise from the dead (See John. 11:43-44). The Lord Jesus did not name figures in the parables that He had said. And here he mentioned not only Lazarus but also Abraham, Moses and other true characters. Therefore the following passage is a true story instead of a fictitious parable.

  “Full of sores” It is the common medical term in Greek and it is only recorded here in the New Testament. “Full of sores” is in strong contrast to “clothed in purple and fine linen”.

  “Who was laid at his gate” Obviously, this rich man was not a ferocious one who bullied the poor, otherwise, he would not let a beggar beg for food at his gate. His problem was that he only saw delicacies and did not see the poor. He did not spend money well and disappointed God’s intention to entrust to him much money.

   Enlightenment in the Word: “Lazarus” in the original means “the one whom God helps”. God helps us both in the material and the Spirit.

 

Luke. 16:21 “desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table. Moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.

   YLT: “and desiring to be filled from the crumbs that are falling from the table of the rich man; yea, also the dogs, coming, were licking his sores.”

   The Background: desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table” It is said that at that time the Jews did not use knives and forks or scarves when having a meal and they used their hands to take food. In rich houses, they used bread to wipe their hands and threw away the bread that had been used. What Lazarus waited for at the gate was this kind of bread. 

   Literal Meaning: Moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.” This sentence has two meanings: 1) the Jews treated those whom they despised as dogs and therefore it indicates that the condition of Lazarus was as pitiful as dogs and his suffering cannot be sympathized with by men. 2) The sores would spill blood. Dogs’ licking the scores is to lick the blood, showing that he was tormented to death by the dogs (See 1Kings. 21:19).

 

Luke. 16:22 “So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham's bosom. The rich man also died and was buried.

   YLT: “`And it came to pass, that the poor man died, and that he was carried away by the messengers to the bosom of Abraham and the rich man also died, and was buried;”

   The Background: “bosom” draws materials from the scene that the Jews attend a banquet------everyone who attends a banquet reclines on his elbow, like learning on the bosom of the one who was behind him (See John. 13:23). Therefore “bosom” means that one sits down with another.

   Literal Meaning: “was carried to Abraham’s bosom” It indicates that he enjoys the blessing with Abraham in the paradise. After their death men’s souls depart from their bodies and gathers with souls of ancestors, waiting for the judgment of the last day.

  Abraham was the father of those who have been justified by faith (Rom. 4:11-12) and therefore his “bosom” symbolizes the temporal residence for the righteous after their death. It is a place of blessing and the pleasures there are great pleasures that have been prepared for those who are like Abraham.

  The Lord did not obviously mention the reason why the beggar Lazarus enjoyed this special grace after his death. However, according to the principle how God gives grace to men, we could infer that he relied on God during his lifetime. And from the words in v.29 and v.31 of this chapter, he probably listened to the words of God by faith.

  The rich man also died and was buried.” Please note that when he died, it was not recorded that he was carried by “the angels” like Lazarus.

  The rich man took good care of himself during his lifetime. He spent money for himself, being clothed in purple and fine linen and eating the delicacies from land and sea. However, after his death he was just buried.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) The angels are ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation (Heb. 1:14). They encamp all around us and deliver us (Ps. 34:7) and always behold the face of God the Father (Matt. 18:10). When the Saints died, they would carry them to the paradise.

2) The difference between the rich man and Lazarus does not lie in the worldly richness or poorness but their relation with the world. The rich man dedicated himself to the world and served it whole-hearted and his end was vanity and pain. Lazarus demanded nothing from the world and therefore he turned to look upon God and he rested in the end.

3) Richness may not be the sign that one has been blessed by God and poorness may not be the result that one has been cursed by God. Sometimes, richness contrarily is the test of one’s faithfulness because everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required (See 12:48).

4) The poor would die and “the rich man also died” and everyone would die no matter who he is. And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment (Heb. 9:27).

5) “The rich man also died and was buried.” Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption (1Cor. 15:50). Therefore when believers live in this world, we should not be slaves of bodies like that rich man and we should use our bodies that God has given us very well as faithful stewards of the Lord.

 

Luke. 16:23 “And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

   YLT: “and in the hades having lifted up his eyes, being in torments, he doth see Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom,”

   Literal Meaning: “and being in torments in Hades” “Hades” is the place where souls of men stay temporarily after their death and wait for the judgment of God in the last day (Acts. 2:27, 31). It has two parts and one part is for souls of the righteous and it is also called the paradise (See 23:43) and the other take souls of sinners in (Job. 24:19). There is a great gulf fixed between two parts and one cannot pass from this part to the other (See v.26).

  When the Lord comes again, the dead in Christ will rise first and shall be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air (See 1Thess. 4:16-17). Everyone shall be judged before the judgment seat of Christ according to what he has done and worked (See 1Pet. 4:17; 2Cor. 5:10). The one who overcomes shall be rewarded and the one who fails shall be punished (See 2Tim. 4:8; Matt. 24:45-51).

  Concerning the souls of those who have not been saved, they are in torments in Hades. Until the end of the kingdom of a thousand years and the beginning of a new heaven and a new earth, they shall be judged before the great white throne and shall be cast into the lake of fire with Hades, i.e. the hell, and suffer forever. The Bible calls it “the second death” (See Rev. 20:11-15; Matt. 25:41).

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) We should never hold that death ends all one’s troubles. After their death men’s souls do not perish and their senses, functions and memories still work normally. 

2) The rich man was cast into Hades not because of his wealth but his attitude towards wealth.

3) From the misfortune of the rich man, it seems that the wicked suffers from the time he is in Hades after his death.

4) During his lifetime the heart of the rich man towards God was like “Hades”------he only received and was never satisfied (See Prov. 30:15-16) and therefore after his death he was swallowed up by “Hades”.

 

Luke. 16:24Then 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.'

   YLT: “and having cried, he said, Father Abraham, deal kindly with me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and may cool my tongue, because I am distressed in this flame.”

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) During his lifetime the rich man thought that he was a son of Abraham (“Father Abraham”) and there would be no problem for him after his death and he took his mind at ease and fared sumptuously (See v.19). And therefore he suffered the end of torment. It also warned believers that:

  a) God only values our intentions and conduct instead of our status.

  b) God only values our present states instead of our past conditions (the genealogy).

  c) God only values the individual spiritual state before Him instead of the good and bad of the corporate one (the assembly) where we are.

2) During his lifetime, Lazarus was laid at the gate of the rich man (See v.20). It could be said that he was “sent” by God to remind the rich man to spend wealth that God had entrusted to him well. Unfortunately, he had missed the opportunity after his death and God no longer “sent Lazarus”.

3) When we encounter one who deserves to be sympathized with, it is a chance given by God to remind and help us.

4) “Lazarus” in the original means “the one whom God helps”. Today when men are alive, they could receive help from God. However, after their death, it is impossible for men to hope for the help from God.

5) “I am tormented in this flame.” The world that is burnt by the unlimited desire is also tormented.

 

Luke. 16:25 “But Abraham said, Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented.

   YLT: “`And Abraham said, Child, remember that thou did receive thou thy good things in thy life, and Lazarus in like manner the evil things, and now he is comforted, and thou art distressed;”

   Literal Meaning: “remember that in your lifetime” It shows that men’s memory still exists after their death.

  “But now he” It refers to the time and location.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) The torments that the rich man suffers (“you are tormented”) are not only the torment of flame (See v.24), but also the torment of “remembrance” and regret and the pain that his supplication cannot be answered (See v.27-31). Indeed his torments never end in the eternal age. 

2) The choice of this life determines one’s eternal end after his death. Once one died, his end will be fixed. Then it will be impossible for one to choose to receive good things or evil things (See v.26).

3) “Is comforted” and “the Comforter” (John. 14:16) are of the same subgroup in the original. During their lifetime believers have the comfort and guidance of the Holy Spirit aside and after our death we are called to draw near to the Lord whom we believe------be with the Lord (Pill. 1:23).

 

Luke. 16:26 “And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us.'

   YLT: “and besides all these things, between us and you a great chasm is fixed, so that they who are willing to go over from hence unto you are not able, nor do they from thence to us pass through.”

   Literal Meaning: “so that those…cannot” should be translated more correctly as “with the aim that those… cannot”. The aim of setting up the great gulf is to make the impassable barrier between these two kinds of men. 

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) In Hades each one is separated and cannot communicate with another. However, in Jerusalem there is a street and a river and each other could communicate with another (See Rev. 21:21; 22:1). If there is gap and division in the assembly, they must come from Hades instead of the throne of God.

2) Before we believe in the Lord, we are enemies of God and there was the middle wall of separation between us and others. But thank the Lord. He abolished in His flesh the enmity on the cross so that we could have peace with both men and God (See Eph. 2:14-16).

 

Luke. 16:27Then he said, I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father's house,

   YLT: “`And he said, I pray thee, then, father, that thou mayest send him to the house of my father,”

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) “I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father's house.” It is the appeal from Hades------the souls that are tormented in Hades and regret deeply hope that their family members could receive the salvation during their lifetime and be remitted from their torments. Hope this appeal could move the hearts of very many believers that they could receive the burden to preach the glad tidings to their family members and friends.

2) The greatest pain for believers is that they see their family members being tormented in Hades in the other side of the great gulf.

 

Luke. 16:28 “for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.'

   YLT: “for I have five brothers, so that he may thoroughly testify to them, that they also may not come to this place of torment.”

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) It may be the first time for the rich man to care about others. Unfortunately, it is too late for men to regret in Hades.

2) You who are unwilling to believe in the Lord today, please hear the appeal of hell and the prayer of your family members.

3) The rich man died and there are still “five brothers”. Those who, during their lifetime, are greedy for the material enjoyments and neglect the eternal life like that rich man are countless.

 

Luke. 16:29 “Abraham said to him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.'

   YLT: “`Abraham saith to him, They have Moses and the prophets, let them hear them;”

   Literal Meaning: They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them” “Moses and the prophets” is known as the whole Old Testament.

  From this verse we could know that the difference of the ends of the rich man and Lazarus does not lie in their richness or poorness, or their reception of good things or evil things but that they did not hear Moses and the prophets during their lifetime------they did not believe in the word of God.

 

Luke. 16:30 “And he said, No, father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.'

   YLT: “and he said, No, father Abraham, but if any one from the dead may go unto them, they will reform.”

 

Luke. 16:31 “But he said to him, If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.’”

   YLT: “And he said to him, If Moses and the prophets they do not hear, neither if one may rise out of the dead will they be persuaded.’”

   Literal Meaning: If they do not hear Moses and the prophets” means “if they do not hear the word of God” (See the notes in v.29).

  “Neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.” Later another Lazarus rose from the dead and the Jews still did not believe in Him (See John. 12:9-10). Afterwards, the Lord Jesus Himself rose from the dead, the Jews still did not believe in Him (See Matt. 28:11-15; Acts. 13:30-40, 44-45).

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) If men have received the revelation of God (“Moses and the prophets”) and still overlook men’s sufferings and do not love men and God, and he still remained unmoved even if he had many supernatural revelations.

2) If one’s heart is closed and rejects the word of God, any evidence------even resurrection------could not change him.

3) Christ is the firstborn from the dead (Col. 1:18) and only He is the reality of resurrection (John. 11:25). If men do not believe and rely on Christ, resurrection is only a reason which is of no use to them. 

 

III. Outlines of the Spiritual Lessons

 

Christians’ Principle of the Management of Money

I. Christians are the Lord’s stewards who have been entrusted by the Lord to spend money (v.1).

II. Christians should give an account of money that the Lord has entrusted to us (v.2).

III. Christians should learn to spend money well from the sons of this world (the world) (v.8).

IV. Christians should make friends that profit the everlasting age by money (v.9).

V. Whether Christians are faithful in money affects the commitment of spiritual things (v.10-11).

VI. Christians should hold that money is not our own (v.12).

VII. Christians should not let money replace God’s place in our hearts (v.13).

VIII. Christians should not be lovers of money (v.14).

IX. Christians should not spend money only for themselves and should share it with others (v.19-20).

 

The Knowledge of Mammon

I. Mammon is unrighteous by nature (v.9a).

II. Mammon would be useless (v.9b).

III. Mammon would be contributory to our reward in the eternal age (v.9c).

IV. Mammon is only the least and it is incomparable with the reward in future (v.10).

V. Mammon is false and unreal (v.11).

VI. Mammon is the external thing instead of the internal thing (v.12).

VII. Mammon is the enemy of God and seizes the position of men’s hearts with God (v.13).

VIII. Mammon could entangle men in torments of God’s punishment after their death (v.23-24).

 

Several Meaningful Parables

I. The sons of this world and the sons of light (v.8).

II. The unrighteous mammon and the true riches (v.9, 11).

III. What is least and what is much (v.10).

IV. What is another man’s and what is your own (v.12).

V. Serving God and serving mammon (v.13).

VI. What is highly esteemed among men and what God abominates (v.15).

 

The Comparison between the Rich Man and Lazarus

I. The rich man was clothed in purple and fine linen and Lazarus was full of sores (v.19-20).

II. The rich man fared sumptuously and Lazarus desired to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the table (v.19, 21)------in his lifetime the rich man received good things and Lazarus received evil things (v.25a).

III. The rich man died and was buried and Lazarus was carried by the angels (v.22).

IV. The rich man was in torments in Hades and Lazarus enjoyed the blessing in Abraham’s bosom (v.22-23)------after his death the rich man is tormented and Lazarus is comforted (v.25b).

V. The torments that the rich man suffers after his death is extreme in degree and “forever and unlimited” in time and Lazarus’ suffering in his lifetime is slight and limited (v.21, 24b).

VI. The rich man cannot pass to the side of blessing and Lazarus cannot pass to the side of torments (v.26).

 

The Place and State of Men after their Death

I. After one’s death his body is buried and his soul still exists (v.22).

II. After their death souls would go to Hades: believers are in the paradise (Abraham’s bosom) and unbelievers are in the flame of Hades (v.22-24).

III. After their death souls could see, speak and have the senses of pain and souls of believers could be comforted (v.23-25).

IV. After one’s death he cannot change the place which his soul belongs to (v.26).

V. After one’s death he still has the sense of conscience and he would regret what he had done during his lifetime (v.27-29).

VI. After their death men cannot communicate with living ones (v.27-29).

 

── Caleb HuangChristian Digest Bible Commentary Series

   Translated by Sharon Ren