Focused Passage

Luke 16:1-13

Faithful Stewardship, the Danger of Wealth, and the Finality of Judgment

Jesus teaches disciples to use wealth with eternal foresight, exposes the Pharisees’ love of money, affirms the enduring authority of God’s Word, and warns through the rich man and Lazarus that neglect of Scripture and mercy ends in irreversible judgment.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

1 Jesus also said to His disciples, “There was a rich man whose manager was accused of wasting his possessions.

2 So he called him in to ask, ‘What is this I hear about you? Turn in an account of your management, for you cannot be manager any longer.’

3 The manager said to himself, ‘What shall I do, now that my master is taking away my position? I am too weak to dig and too ashamed to beg.

4 I know what I will do so that after my removal from management, people will welcome me into their homes.’

5 And he called in each one of his master’s debtors. ‘How much do you owe my master?’ he asked the first.

6 ‘A hundred measures of olive oil,’ he answered. ‘Take your bill,’ said the manager, ‘sit down quickly, and write fifty.’

7 Then he asked another, ‘And how much do you owe?’ ‘A hundred measures of wheat,’ he replied. ‘Take your bill and write eighty,’ he told him.

8 The master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly. For the sons of this age are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the sons of light.

9 I tell you, use worldly wealth to make friends for yourselves so that when it is gone, they will welcome you into eternal dwellings.

10 Whoever is faithful with very little will also be faithful with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.

11 So if you have not been faithful with worldly wealth, who will entrust you with true riches?

12 And if you have not been faithful with the belongings of another, who will give you belongings of your own?

13 No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 1

Original words

vvv δὲ G1161 Conjunction vvv καὶ G2532 Conjunction [Jesus] also said Ἔλεγεν G2036 Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular to πρὸς G4314 Preposition [His] τοὺς G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Plural disciples μαθητάς G3101 Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural There was ἦν G1510 Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular a τις G5100 Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular rich πλούσιος G4145 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular man Ἄνθρωπός G444 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular whose ὃς G3739 Personal / Relative Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular - εἶχεν G2192 Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular manager οἰκονόμον G3623 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular - καὶ G2532 Conjunction was accused of διεβλήθη G1225 Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Singular . . . αὐτῷ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular . . . ὡς G5613 Adverb . . . οὗτος G3778 Demonstrative Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular wasting διασκορπίζων G1287 Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular his αὐτοῦ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular - τὰ G3588 Article - Accusative Neuter Plural possessions ὑπάρχοντα G5225 Verb - Present Participle Active - Accusative Neuter Plural
Verse 2

Original words

So καὶ G2532 Conjunction he called φωνήσας G5455 Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular him in αὐτὸν G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Singular to ask εἶπεν G2036 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular - αὐτῷ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular What [is] Τί G5101 Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Singular this τοῦτο G3778 Demonstrative Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Singular I hear ἀκούω G191 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular about περὶ G4012 Preposition you σοῦ G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Singular Turn in ἀπόδος G591 Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 2nd Person Singular an τὸν G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Singular account λόγον G3056 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular of τῆς G3588 Article - Genitive Feminine Singular your σου G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Singular management οἰκονομίας G3622 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular for γὰρ G1063 Conjunction you cannot δύνῃ G1410 Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 2nd Person Singular . . . οὐ G3756 Adverb be manager οἰκονομεῖν G3621 Verb - Present Infinitive Active any longer ἔτι G2089 Adverb
Verse 3

Original words

- δὲ G1161 Conjunction The G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular manager οἰκονόμος G3623 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular said Εἶπεν G2036 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular to ἐν G1722 Preposition himself ἑαυτῷ G1438 Reflexive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular What Τί G5101 Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Singular shall I do ποιήσω G4160 Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 1st Person Singular now that ὅτι G3754 Conjunction my μου G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Singular - G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular master κύριός G2962 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular is taking ἀφαιρεῖται G851 Verb - Present Indicative Middle - 3rd Person Singular away ἀπ’ G575 Preposition my ἐμοῦ G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Singular - τὴν G3588 Article - Accusative Feminine Singular [position] οἰκονομίαν G3622 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular vvv οὐκ G3756 Adverb I am too weak ἰσχύω G2480 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular to dig σκάπτειν G4626 Verb - Present Infinitive Active [and] too ashamed αἰσχύνομαι G153 Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 1st Person Singular to beg ἐπαιτεῖν G1871 Verb - Present Infinitive Active
Verse 4

Original words

I know ἔγνων G1097 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular what τί G5101 Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Singular I will do ποιήσω G4160 Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 1st Person Singular so that ἵνα G2443 Conjunction after ὅταν G3752 Conjunction my removal μετασταθῶ G3179 Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Passive - 1st Person Singular from ἐκ G1537 Preposition - τῆς G3588 Article - Genitive Feminine Singular management οἰκονομίας G3622 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular [people] will welcome δέξωνταί G1209 Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Middle - 3rd Person Plural me με G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 1st Person Singular into εἰς G1519 Preposition their ἑαυτῶν G1438 Reflexive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Plural - τοὺς G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Plural homes οἴκους G3624 Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural
Verse 5

Original words

And Καὶ G2532 Conjunction he called in προσκαλεσάμενος G4341 Verb - Aorist Participle Middle - Nominative Masculine Singular each ἕκαστον G1538 Adjective - Accusative Masculine Singular one ἕνα G1520 Adjective - Accusative Masculine Singular of his ἑαυτοῦ G1438 Reflexive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular - τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular master’s κυρίου G2962 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular - τῶν G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Plural debtors χρεοφειλετῶν G5533 Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural How much Πόσον G4214 Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Singular do you owe ὀφείλεις G3784 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular . . . τῷ G3588 Article - Dative Masculine Singular my μου G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Singular master κυρίῳ G2962 Noun - Dative Masculine Singular he asked ἔλεγεν G2036 Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular the τῷ G3588 Article - Dative Masculine Singular first πρώτῳ G4413 Adjective - Dative Masculine Singular
Verse 6

Original words

A hundred Ἑκατὸν G1540 Adjective - Accusative Masculine Plural [measures] βάτους G943 Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural of olive oil ἐλαίου G1637 Noun - Genitive Neuter Singular - δὲ G1161 Conjunction - G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular he answered εἶπεν G2036 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular Take Δέξαι G1209 Verb - Aorist Imperative Middle - 2nd Person Singular your σου G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Singular - τὰ G3588 Article - Accusative Neuter Plural bill γράμματα G1121 Noun - Accusative Neuter Plural - δὲ G1161 Conjunction - G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular said [the manager] εἶπεν G2036 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular - αὐτῷ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular - καὶ G2532 Conjunction sit down καθίσας G2523 Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular quickly ταχέως G5030 Adverb [and] write γράψον G1125 Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 2nd Person Singular fifty πεντήκοντα G4004 Adjective - Accusative Masculine Plural

BSB notes

  • Greek ‘A hundred baths of oil’; that is, approximately 870 gallons or 3,300 liters
Verse 7

Original words

Then Ἔπειτα G1899 Adverb he asked εἶπεν G2036 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular another ἑτέρῳ G2087 Adjective - Dative Masculine Singular And δὲ G1161 Conjunction how much πόσον G4214 Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Singular {do} you Σὺ G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 2nd Person Singular owe ὀφείλεις G3784 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular A hundred Ἑκατὸν G1540 Adjective - Accusative Masculine Plural [measures] κόρους G2884 Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural of wheat σίτου G4621 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular - δὲ G1161 Conjunction - G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular he replied εἶπεν G2036 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular Take Δέξαι G1209 Verb - Aorist Imperative Middle - 2nd Person Singular your σου G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Singular - τὰ G3588 Article - Accusative Neuter Plural bill γράμματα G1121 Noun - Accusative Neuter Plural and καὶ G2532 Conjunction write γράψον G1125 Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 2nd Person Singular eighty ὀγδοήκοντα G3589 Adjective - Accusative Masculine Plural he told Λέγει G3004 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular him αὐτῷ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular

BSB notes

  • Greek ‘A hundred cors of wheat’; that is, approximately 1,000 bushels or 35,000 liters (probably about 30 tons or 27 metric tons of wheat)
Verse 8

Original words

- Καὶ G2532 Conjunction The G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular master κύριος G2962 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular commended ἐπῄνεσεν G1867 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular the τὸν G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Singular - τῆς G3588 Article - Genitive Feminine Singular dishonest ἀδικίας G93 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular manager οἰκονόμον G3623 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular because ὅτι G3754 Conjunction he had acted ἐποίησεν G4160 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular shrewdly φρονίμως G5430 Adverb For ὅτι G3754 Conjunction the οἱ G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Plural sons υἱοὶ G5207 Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural of this τούτου G3778 Demonstrative Pronoun - Genitive Masculine Singular - τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular age αἰῶνος G165 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular are εἰσιν G1510 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural more shrewd φρονιμώτεροι G5429 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural - Comparative in dealing with εἰς G1519 Preposition - τὴν G3588 Article - Accusative Feminine Singular their own ἑαυτῶν G1438 Reflexive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Plural - τὴν G3588 Article - Accusative Feminine Singular kind γενεὰν G1074 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular than [are] ὑπὲρ G5228 Preposition the τοὺς G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Plural sons υἱοὺς G5207 Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural - τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Neuter Singular of light φωτὸς G5457 Noun - Genitive Neuter Singular
Verse 9

Original words

- Καὶ G2532 Conjunction I ἐγὼ G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 1st Person Singular tell λέγω G3004 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular you ὑμῖν G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 2nd Person Plural use ἐκ G1537 Preposition - τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular - τῆς G3588 Article - Genitive Feminine Singular worldly ἀδικίας G93 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular wealth μαμωνᾶ G3126 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular to make ποιήσατε G4160 Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 2nd Person Plural friends φίλους G5384 Adjective - Accusative Masculine Plural for yourselves ἑαυτοῖς G1438 Reflexive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Plural so that ἵνα G2443 Conjunction when ὅταν G3752 Conjunction it is gone ἐκλίπῃ G1587 Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Singular they will welcome δέξωνται G1209 Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Middle - 3rd Person Plural you ὑμᾶς G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 2nd Person Plural into εἰς G1519 Preposition - τὰς G3588 Article - Accusative Feminine Plural eternal αἰωνίους G166 Adjective - Accusative Feminine Plural dwellings σκηνάς G4633 Noun - Accusative Feminine Plural
Verse 10

Original words

Whoever G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular [is] faithful πιστὸς G4103 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular with ἐν G1722 Preposition very little ἐλαχίστῳ G1646 Adjective - Dative Neuter Singular - Superlative will ἐστιν G1510 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular also καὶ G2532 Conjunction {be} faithful πιστός G4103 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular with ἐν G1722 Preposition much πολλῷ G4183 Adjective - Dative Neuter Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction whoever G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular [is] dishonest ἄδικος G94 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular with ἐν G1722 Preposition very little ἐλαχίστῳ G1646 Adjective - Dative Neuter Singular - Superlative will ἐστιν G1510 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular also καὶ G2532 Conjunction {be} dishonest ἄδικός G94 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular with ἐν G1722 Preposition much πολλῷ G4183 Adjective - Dative Neuter Singular
Verse 11

Original words

So οὖν G3767 Conjunction if εἰ G1487 Conjunction vvv οὐκ G3756 Adverb you have not been ἐγένεσθε G1096 Verb - Aorist Indicative Middle - 2nd Person Plural faithful πιστοὶ G4103 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural with ἐν G1722 Preposition worldly ἀδίκῳ G94 Adjective - Dative Masculine Singular - τῷ G3588 Article - Dative Masculine Singular wealth μαμωνᾷ G3126 Noun - Dative Masculine Singular who τίς G5101 Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular will entrust πιστεύσει G4100 Verb - Future Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular you ὑμῖν G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 2nd Person Plural [with] τὸ G3588 Article - Accusative Neuter Singular true [riches] ἀληθινὸν G228 Adjective - Accusative Neuter Singular
Verse 12

Original words

And καὶ G2532 Conjunction if εἰ G1487 Conjunction vvv οὐκ G3756 Adverb you have not been ἐγένεσθε G1096 Verb - Aorist Indicative Middle - 2nd Person Plural faithful πιστοὶ G4103 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural with ἐν G1722 Preposition the [belongings] τῷ G3588 Article - Dative Neuter Singular of another ἀλλοτρίῳ G245 Adjective - Dative Neuter Singular who τίς G5101 Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular will give δώσει G1325 Verb - Future Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular you ὑμῖν G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 2nd Person Plural belongings τὸ G3588 Article - Accusative Neuter Singular of your own ὑμέτερον* G5212 Adjective - Accusative Neuter Singular
Verse 13

Original words

No Οὐδεὶς G3762 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular servant οἰκέτης G3610 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular can δύναται G1410 Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular serve δουλεύειν G1398 Verb - Present Infinitive Active two δυσὶ G1417 Adjective - Dative Masculine Plural masters κυρίοις G2962 Noun - Dative Masculine Plural - γὰρ G1063 Conjunction Either G2228 Conjunction he will hate μισήσει G3404 Verb - Future Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular the τὸν G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Singular one ἕνα G1520 Adjective - Accusative Masculine Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction love ἀγαπήσει G25 Verb - Future Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular the τὸν G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Singular other ἕτερον G2087 Adjective - Accusative Masculine Singular or G2228 Conjunction he will be devoted to ἀνθέξεται G472 Verb - Future Indicative Middle - 3rd Person Singular [the] one ἑνὸς G1520 Adjective - Genitive Masculine Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction despise καταφρονήσει G2706 Verb - Future Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular the τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular other ἑτέρου G2087 Adjective - Genitive Masculine Singular vvv οὐ G3756 Adverb You cannot δύνασθε G1410 Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 2nd Person Plural serve δουλεύειν G1398 Verb - Present Infinitive Active [both] God Θεῷ G2316 Noun - Dative Masculine Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction money μαμωνᾷ G3126 Noun - Dative Masculine Singular

Berean Standard Bible (BSB): CC0 Public Domain Scripture text. Focused passages are drawn from the same reader contract as the full chapter. Reference sources explains external study-link sources.