The big picture
Luke 16 opens in verse 1 with “And he said also unto his disciples, There was a certain rich man, which had a steward…”, reaches its middle movement near verse 16 with “The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is…”, and closes in verse 31 with “And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be…” Repeated or prominent terms include Abraham, faithful, Lazarus, rich, steward. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
Luke · King James Version · 31Luke 16:1-8
1–8: He said also unto his disciples, There was a certain rich man, which had…
Luke 16:1–8 opens with “And he said also unto his disciples, There was a certain rich man, which had a steward; and the…” and reaches “And the lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely: for the children of this…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Luke 16 develops its own movement around Abraham, faithful, Lazarus, rich, steward, with particular weight carried by steward, lord, stewardship.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 4 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“And he said also unto his disciples, There was a certain rich man, which had a steward; and the same was accused unto…” The line’s distinctive content terms include accused, certain, disciples. Its relationship to verses 2 shows what work it does in this passage.
“Then the steward said within himself, What shall I do? for my lord taketh away from me the stewardship: I cannot dig…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.
Luke 16:1-8
King James Version1And 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.
2And 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.
3Then 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.
4I am resolved what to do, that, when I am put out of the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses.
5So he called every one of his lord’s debtors unto him, and said unto the first, How much owest thou unto my lord?
6And he said, An hundred measures of oil. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and sit down quickly, and write fifty.
7Then 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.
8And 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.
Luke 16:9-16
9–16: I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of…
Luke 16:9–16 opens with “And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye…” and reaches “The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Luke 16 develops its own movement around Abraham, faithful, Lazarus, rich, steward, with particular weight carried by faithful, mammon, least.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 2 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive…” Naming Make keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.
Luke 16:9-16
King James Version9And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations.
10He 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.
11If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?
12And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man’s, who shall give you that which is your own?
13No 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.
14And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided him.
15And 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.
16The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it.
Luke 16:17-24
17–24: It is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to…
Luke 16:17–24 opens with “And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail.” and reaches “And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Luke 16 develops its own movement around Abraham, faithful, Lazarus, rich, steward, with particular weight carried by Lazarus, rich, Abraham.
Context that brings the passage to life
“And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail.” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.
“There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:” The line’s distinctive content terms include certain, clothed, fared. Its relationship to verses 18 and 20 shows what work it does in this passage.
Luke 16:17-24
King James Version17And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail.
18Whosoever putteth away his wife, and marrieth another, committeth adultery: and whosoever marrieth her that is put away from her husband committeth adultery.
19There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:
20And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,
21And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.
22And 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;
23And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
24And 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.
Luke 16:25-31
25–31: Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy…
Luke 16:25–31 opens with “But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and…” and reaches “And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Luke 16 develops its own movement around Abraham, faithful, Lazarus, rich, steward, with particular weight carried by Abraham, dead, father.
Context that brings the passage to life
“But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil…” Naming Abraham and Lazarus keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you…” The line’s distinctive content terms include fixed, gulf. Its relationship to verses 25 and 27 shows what work it does in this passage.
Luke 16:25-31
King James Version25But 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.
26And 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.
27Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father’s house:
28For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.
29Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.
30And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.
31And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
Luke 16:1 begins with “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.”
Where the chapter turns
Luke 16:16 forms a natural hinge: “The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it.”
The final note
Luke 16:31 leaves the reader with “And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.”
A word trail through the chapter
The words Abraham, faithful, Lazarus, rich, steward, certain help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
Whose perspective receives unexpected attention?
Hagar's. The messenger finds her, names her and speaks about her future.
What does Ishmael's name commemorate?
God has heard her affliction, according to verse 11.
KJV words made clear
- unto
- to
- thee
- you
- thou
- you
- thy
- your
- lest
- so that something does not happen
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.
