Luke 16 - Introduction
_THE PARABLE OF THE UNJUST STEWARD. CHRIST REPROVETH THE HYPOCRISY OF THE COVETOUS PHARISEES. THE RICH GLUTTON, AND LAZARUS THE BEGGAR._ _Anno Domini 31._... [ Continue Reading ]
_THE PARABLE OF THE UNJUST STEWARD. CHRIST REPROVETH THE HYPOCRISY OF THE COVETOUS PHARISEES. THE RICH GLUTTON, AND LAZARUS THE BEGGAR._ _Anno Domini 31._... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE SAID ALSO UNTO HIS DISCIPLES,— The maliciousness of the Pharisees, and the obstinacy with which they opposed every thing that was good, led our Saviour to expose their evil hearts and vile practices to public view. Wherefore, he did not content himself barely with justifying his receiving sin... [ Continue Reading ]
I CANNOT DIG;— Commentators have shewn that the word σκαπτειν, which we render _to dig,_ signifies in general to cultivate the land, and especially to prepare it for seed, which was one of the most laborious parts of the husbandman's work; in which day-labourers were employed; and consequently most... [ Continue Reading ]
I AM RESOLVED— Anciently, stewards, besides taking care of their master's domestic affairs, gave leases of their lands, and settled the rent which each tenant was to pay; which is not an unusual mode in these days. Accordingly, the steward in the parable made use of this branch of his power to purch... [ Continue Reading ]
SO HE CALLED—HIS LORD'S DEBTORS— Calling the tenants, he intimated his purpose; and whereas one by his bargain bound himself to pay yearly a _hundred_ βατους, [from the Hebrew בתים, _betim_] _baths of oil,_ each bath equal to seven gallons, four pints, and a half, English measure]—he let him have th... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE LORD— αυτου, _his lord,_ is implied; for it is Jesus, and not the evangelist, who speaks this, as is plain both from the structure of the parable itself, and from the application which Jesus makes of it inthe next verse. By mentioning the commendation which the rich man bestowed upon his ste... [ Continue Reading ]
AND I SAY UNTO YOU, &C.— Our Lord's advice is worthy of the most serious attention; the best use that we can make of our riches being to employ them in promoting the salvation of others. For, if we use our abilities and interest in bringing sinners to God, if we spend our money in this excellent ser... [ Continue Reading ]
HE THAT IS FAITHFUL, &C.— "If you make that use of your riches which I have been recommending, (which of course implies _living faith,_ the grand principle of all good works) you shall be received into those everlasting habitations, where all the friends of goodness dwell; because by your fidelity i... [ Continue Reading ]
THE TRUE RICHES?— The word _riches_ is substituted by our translators, instead of _mammon,_ which was the word that Christ intended, and which, for that reason, should find its place in the translation of this verse. Dr. Heylin renders it, _If you have not been faithful in the false mammon, who will... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT WHICH IS ANOTHER MAN'S,— Here, as in many of our Lord's discourses, the expression is so simple, and the sense so profound, that we need not wonder at its being overlooked. Our translation has supplied the word _man_ without reason; for it is not man, but God, who is intended; to whom the riche... [ Continue Reading ]
NO SERVANT CAN SERVE, &C.— "Beware of indulging even the least degree of covetousness, for it is absolutely inconsistent with piety; insomuch that a man may as well undertake at one and the same time to _serve two masters_ of contrary dispositions and opposite interests, as pretend to please God, wh... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY DERIDED HIM.— The original word is very emphatical; εξεμυκτηριζον : "They mocked him by a scornful motion of the mouth and nose,"—as well as by what they spake to him. The word might be rendered _they sneered._ There was a gravity and dignity in our Lord's discourse, which, insolent as they... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LAW AND THE PROPHETS WERE UNTIL JOHN:— Our Lord having in the preceding verse developed the specious and hypocritical pretences of the Pharisees, observes to them, with respect to his own conduct, which they blamed so much, that the law and the prophets, the dispensation which made a distinction... [ Continue Reading ]
THERE WAS A CERTAIN RICH MAN,— The reasoning made use of by our Lord in the preceding verses was clear and unanswerable; but the Pharisees, stupified with the intoxication of sensual pleasures, were deaf to every argument, how cogent soever, if it was levelled against their lusts. As an illustration... [ Continue Reading ]
A CERTAIN BEGGAR, NAMED LAZARUS,— An exceedingly emphatic name; for it seems to be derived from עזר לא _Laozer,_ which signifies _a helpless person._ Some have imagined, from the name of Lazarus and the particular detail of circumstances, that this was a history: but this must be a groundless suppos... [ Continue Reading ]
CARRIED BY THE ANGELS INTO ABRAHAM'S BOSOM:— The Jews assigned this office to angels, and no doubt with the utmost propriety; considering how suitable it is to their benevolent nature, and to the circumstances of a departed spirit. The Greeks assigned guides to the souls of the dead, to conduct them... [ Continue Reading ]
IN HELL, &C.— _In the unseen world,_ as we have frequently observed is the meaning of the Greek word αδης. Both the rich man and Lazarus were in _hades,_ though in different regions of it.... [ Continue Reading ]
DIP THE TIP OF HIS FINGER, &C.— The Hebrews drank their wine mixed with water; and large quantities of water, on one occasion or other, were used at their feasts. See John 2:6. There seems therefore, in this petition, a proper allusion to that custom. It is observable, that the rich man speaks as kn... [ Continue Reading ]
SON, REMEMBER THAT THOU, &C.— Is it not worthy of observation, that Abraham will not revile even a damned soul?—shall then living men revile one another?—He tells the rich man, that _in his life-time he received his good things,_ &c. Now, fully to understand this, we should consider that our Saviour... [ Continue Reading ]
AND BESIDES ALL THIS, &C.— "Ah poor creature! the time of mercy and hope is now over: God has fixed such a vast and unpassable distance between the happy and the miserable by an irreversible decree and sentence, that if any of us were ever so desirous to go and relieve you, it would be absolutely im... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT IF ONE WENT UNTO THEM, &C.— It is uncertain whether the rich man by "one from the dead," meant an apparition or a resurrection. His words are capable of either sense; yet the quality of the persons to whom this message was to be sent makes it more probable that he meant an apparition: for, witho... [ Continue Reading ]