HIS DISCIPLES - The word “disciples,” here, is not to be restricted to the twelve apostles or to the seventy. The parable appears to have been addressed to all the professed followers of the Saviour who were present when it was delivered. It is connected with that in the preceding chapter. Jesus had... [ Continue Reading ]
GIVE AN ACCOUNT - Give a statement of your expenses and of your conduct while you have been steward. This is not to be referred to the day of judgment. It is a circumstance thrown into the parable to prepare the way for what follows. It is true that all will be called to give an account at the day o... [ Continue Reading ]
SAID WITHIN HIMSELF - Thought, or considered. MY LORD - My master, my employer. I CANNOT DIG - This may mean either that his employment had been such that he could not engage in agriculture, not having been acquainted with the business, or that he was “unwilling” to stoop to so low an employment a... [ Continue Reading ]
I AM RESOLVED - He thought of his condition. He looked at the plans which occurred to him. He had been dishonest, and knew that he must lose his place. It would have been better to have “considered before this,” and resolved on a proper course of life, and to be faithful to his trust; and his perple... [ Continue Reading ]
CALLED EVERY ONE - As he was “steward,” he had the management of all the affairs, and, of course, debts were to be paid to him. DEBTORS - Those who “owed” his master, or perhaps “tenants;” those who rented land of his master.... [ Continue Reading ]
A HUNDRED MEASURES - The measure here mentioned is the “bath” which contained, according to Dr. Arbuthnot’s tables, 7 12 gallons, or, according to the marginal note, about 9 gallons and 3 quarts. OIL - Oil of olives, or sweet oil. It was much used for lamps, as an article of food Exodus 29:2, and a... [ Continue Reading ]
MEASURES OF WHEAT - The measure here mentioned - the “kor,” or homer - contained, according to the tables of Dr. Arbuthnot, about 32 pecks, or 8 bushels; or, according to the marginal note, about 14 bushels and a “pottle.” A “pottle” is 4 pints. The Hebrew “kor,” כר kor, or “homer,” חמר chomer, was... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LORD COMMENDED - Praised, or expressed admiration at his wisdom. These are not the words of Jesus, as commending him, but a part of the narrative or parable. His “master” commended him - saw that he was wise and considerate, though he was dishonest. THE UNJUST STEWARD - It is not said that his... [ Continue Reading ]
I SAY UNTO YOU - I, Jesus, say to you, my disciples. MAKE TO YOURSELVES FRIENDS - Some have understood the word “friends,” here, as referring to the poor; others, to holy angels; and others, to God. Perhaps, however, the word should not be considered as referring to any particular “persons,” but is... [ Continue Reading ]
HE THAT IS FAITHFUL ... - This is a maxim which will almost universally hold true. A man that shows fidelity in small matters will also in large; and he that will cheat and defraud in little things will also in those involving more trust and responsibility. Fidelity is required in small matters as w... [ Continue Reading ]
WHO WILL COMMIT ... - If you are not faithful in the small matters pertaining to this world, if you do not use aright your property and influence, you cannot expect that God will commit to you the true riches of his grace. Men who are dishonest and worldly, and who do not employ the deceitful mammon... [ Continue Reading ]
ANOTHER MAN’S - The word “man’s” is not in the original. It is, “If ye have been unfaithful managers for another.” It refers, doubtless, to “God.” The wealth of the world is “his.” It is committed to us as his stewards. It is uncertain and deceitful, and at any moment he can take it away from us. It... [ Continue Reading ]
See the notes at Matthew 6:24.... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY DERIDED HIM - The fact that they were “covetous” is here stated as the reason why they derided him, or, as it is literally, “they turned up the nose at him.” They contemned or despised the doctrine which he had laid down, probably because it showed them that with their love of money they could... [ Continue Reading ]
See the notes at Matthew 11:12. EVERY MAN - Many people, or multitudes. This is an expression that is very common, as when we say everybody is engaged in a piece of business, meaning that it occupies general attention.... [ Continue Reading ]
See the notes at Matthew 5:18.... [ Continue Reading ]
See the notes at Matthew 5:32. These verses occur in Matthew in a different order, and it is not improbable that they were spoken by our Saviour at different times. The design, here, seems to be to reprove the Pharisees for not observing the law of Moses, notwithstanding their great pretensions to e... [ Continue Reading ]
THERE WAS A CERTAIN RICH MAN - Many have supposed that our Lord here refers to a “real history,” and gives an account of some man who had lived in this manner; but of this there is no evidence. The probability is that this narrative is to be considered as a parable, referring not to any particular c... [ Continue Reading ]
BEGGAR - Poor man. The original word does not mean “beggar,” but simply that he was “poor.” It should have been so translated to keep up the contrast with the “rich man.” NAMED LAZARUS - The word Lazarus is Hebrew, and means a man destitute of help, a needy, poor man. It is a name given, therefore,... [ Continue Reading ]
WAS CARRIED BY THE ANGELS - The Jews held the opinion that the spirits of the righteous were conveyed by angels to heaven at their death. Our Saviour speaks in accordance with this opinion; and as he expressly affirms the fact, it seems as proper that it should be taken literally, as when it is said... [ Continue Reading ]
IN HELL - The word here translated hell (“Hades”) means literally a dark, obscure place; the place where departed spirits go, but especially the place where “wicked” spirits go. See the Job 10:21 notes; Isaiah 14:9 note. The following circumstances are related of it in this parable: * It is “far o... [ Continue Reading ]
FATHER ABRAHAM - The Jews considered it a signal honor that Abraham was their “father” - that is, that they were “descendants” from him. Though this man was now in misery, yet he seems not to have abandoned the idea of his relation to the father of the faithful. The Jews supposed that departed spiri... [ Continue Reading ]
SON - This is a representation designed to correspond with the word “father.” He was a descendant of Abraham a Jew - and Abraham is represented as calling this thing to his remembrance. It would not lessen his sorrows to remember that he was a “son” of Abraham, and that he ought to have lived worthy... [ Continue Reading ]
A GREAT GULF - The word translated “gulf” means chasm, or the broad, yawning space between two elevated objects. In this place it means that there is no way of passing from one to the other. FIXED - Strengthened - made firm or immovable. It is so established that it will never be movable or passabl... [ Continue Reading ]
FIVE BRETHREN - The number “five” is mentioned merely to preserve the appearance of verisimilitude in the story. It is not to be spiritualized, nor are we to suppose that it has any hidden or inscrutable meaning. MAY TESTIFY UNTO THEM - May bear “witness” to them, or may inform them of what is my s... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY HAVE MOSES - The writings of Moses. The first five books of the Bible. THE PROPHETS - The remainder of the Old Testament. What the prophets had written. HEAR THEM - Hear them speak in the Scriptures. Read them, or hear them read in the synagogues, and attend to what they have delivered.... [ Continue Reading ]
NAY - No. They will not hear Moses and the prophets. They have heard them so long in vain, that there is no prospect now that they will attend to the message; but if one should go to them directly from the eternal world they would hear him. The novelty of the message would attract their attention, a... [ Continue Reading ]
BE PERSUADED - Be convinced of the truth; of the danger and folly of their way; of the certainty of their suffering hereafter, and be induced to turn from sin to holiness, and from Satan unto God. From this impressive and instructive parable we may learn: * That the souls of people do not die wit... [ Continue Reading ]