Luke 16:4 - Printer Friendly

ESV: I have decided what to do, so that when I am removed from management, people may receive me into their houses.’

NIV: I know what I'll do so that, when I lose my job here, people will welcome me into their houses.'

NASB: I know what I will do, so that when I am removed from the management people will welcome me into their homes.’

CSB: I know what I'll do so that when I'm removed from management, people will welcome me into their homes.'

NLT: Ah, I know how to ensure that I’ll have plenty of friends who will give me a home when I am fired.’

KJV: I am resolved what to do, that, when I am put out of the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses.

NKJV: I have resolved what to do, that when I am put out of the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses.’

Jesus is telling a large group of disciples the parable of the dishonest manager. A man is a steward for the possessions of a rich man. The rich man has heard that the manager has been negligent with his property and demands an accounting of his transactions before he is fired. The steward is concerned. He has become accustomed to his comfortable place. Begging on the streets or subjecting himself to hard labor are unthinkable (Luke 16:1–3). His solution is to use what little time and authority he has left to cozy up—to curry favor with—others in his master's position. Hopefully, one of them will give him a job or return the favor by some means of provision. He contacts his master's debtors and works on a deal.

The exact details of the man's plan are left unrecorded. In some way, he arranges for the debtors to change the amount they have agreed to pay back. This may have meant to forego interest, though Jews charging each other interest was against the Mosaic law (Deuteronomy 23:19). Lenders got around that prohibition by charging exorbitant fees when providing loans. Perhaps the steward or the master followed that practice. This would mean the manager coordinates with debtors to erase all or parts of those fees. The manager would now have several new friends, and the master would be hampered to retaliate, since the fees were questionable in the first place (Luke 16:5–7).

Surprisingly, the rich man is impressed and congratulates the manager for being clever. Jesus points out that His followers should embrace shrewd thinking—not immoral practices—to ensure their eternal dwelling after death is a good one (Luke 16:8–9).

Luke 16:1–8 is the parable of the dishonest manager. A wealthy man learns his money is being wasted by a hired supervisor. With no time to escape being fired, the manager calls on the owner's debtors. He tells them to decrease the amount they are expected to pay back. This favor earns the manager their approval and hopefully their help later. The owner notes that this was a clever ploy to make allies. Jesus uses this negative example to teach His followers a good lesson: to be equally sharp when interacting with the world.

Teaching His disciples and confronting the Pharisees, Jesus offers several lessons about wealth and devotion to God. The first is a parable about a dishonest manager. This illustrates the value of being careful and clever with earthly resources. Jesus then uses remarks about the Law and marriage to introduce the story of the rich man and Lazarus. This not only highlights the dangers of greed, but it also debunks the common claim that a non-believer would submit to God if only they saw "a little more evidence" or a miracle.

The prior chapter included Jesus' teachings centered on lost things: the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the prodigal son. Luke 16 includes several of Jesus' lessons about living in the kingdom of God compared to the world system, beginning and ending with parables (Luke 16:1—17:10). Chapter 16 includes the parable of the dishonest manager, Jesus' teaching on how money reveals faith, and the story of the rich man and Lazarus. Luke 17:1–10 teaches about whether Christ-followers bear responsibility for others' sin, lessons about faith, and the parable of the unworthy servants.

Luke was a traveling companion of Paul (Acts 16:10) and a physician (Colossians 4:14). Unlike Matthew, Mark, and John, Luke writes his gospel as an historian, rather than as a first-hand eyewitness. His extensive writings also include the book of Acts (Acts 1:1–3). These are deliberately organized, carefully researched accounts of those events. The gospel of Luke focuses on the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ. Luke's Gentile perspective presents Christ as a Savior for all people, offering both forgiveness and direction to those who follow Him.