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Luke Chapter
Sixteen
I.
Content of the Chapter
The Pursuit of this Life and the Coming
I. The parable of the unjust steward------he spent
money of this life to store up the blessing of the coming (v.1-13).
II. Those who covet the enjoyments of lusts (loves of
money) and fulfill the lust of the flesh (whoever divorces his wife and marries
another) cannot enter the
III. The story of the rich man and Lazarus------those
who only enjoy in this life will be tormented in the coming (v.19-31).
II.
Verse by Verse commentary
Luke. 16:1 “He also said to His
disciples: ‘There was a certain rich
man who had a steward
and an accusation was brought to him that this man was
wasting his goods.”
YLT: “And he said also
unto his disciples
‘A certain man was rich
who had a steward
and he was
accused to him as scattering his goods;”
Meaning of Words: “wasting”: disperse
squander.
Literal Meaning: “He also said to His
disciples” It shows that the following parable of “the unjust steward” was said
by the Lord Jesus to His disciples and followers.
“There was a certain rich man who had a
steward.” “Steward” indicates the one who is responsible for the management of
the house of the Lord and has the full authority to cope with the belongings of
the Lord.
Spiritual Meaning: “a rich man” is the
type of the Lord Jesus. “An unjust steward” typifies the failing
believers------they are unfaithful and unjust in what the Lord has entrusted
them.
Believers are the stewards of the Lord
of all and He has instructed His possessions to us for management (See 12:42;
1Cor. 4:1-2; 1Pet. 4:10).
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) The first and foremost responsibility of a
steward is not to waste the property of the master. What believers have on them
and in their hands are entrusted by the Lord to us for management. It is
required by the Lord in us that we should not waste.
2) It is wasting the Lord’s wealth to spend money
only for one’s own or for useless things.
3) The stewards of God’s assembly should be good at
using not only God’s money but also the gifts
positions and influence that the
Lord has entrusted us well so as to fulfill the responsibility of glorifying
God and profiting men.
4) If someone buries all that the Lord has
entrusted to him and does not dare to use them because he is afraid to be
punished by waste
in the end he will still be punished by the Lord (See Matt.
25:24-30).
Luke. 16:2 “So he called him and said
to him
‘What is this I hear about
you? Give an account of your stewardship
for you can no longer be steward.'”
YLT: “and having called
him
he said to him
What [is] this I hear about thee? render the account of
thy stewardship
for thou mayest not any longer be steward.”
Literal Meaning: “what is this I hear
about you?” “This” indicates the matter that he was wasting the goods of the
master (See v.1).
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) If believers are unfaithful and unjust in what
the Lord has entrusted to us
they will be rejected by the Lord.
2) One day believers will give an account of all
our management before the Lord.
3) Whether one could still be the steward of the
master is determined by his past operation. If believers deal with what the
Lord has entrusted to them well during their lifetime
they will deal with more
and greater commissions after their death (See Matt. 25:21
23).
Luke. 16:3 “‘Then
the steward said within himself
‘What shall I do? For my
master is taking the stewardship away from me. I cannot dig; I am ashamed to
beg.”
YLT: “`And the steward
said in himself
What shall I do
because my lord doth take away the
stewardship from me? to dig I am not able
to beg I am ashamed:”
Literal Meaning: “dig” indicates to
hoe in the field as a farmer. “Beg” indicates to seek help from others as a
beggar.
Spiritual Meaning: “I cannot dig” It
symbolizes that believers cannot bear the price of the cross.
“I am ashamed to beg.” It symbolizes
that believers cannot humble themselves to ask others for advice.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) “What shall I do?” It is the question that
everyone (including believers) has to face sooner or later.
2) Many times
in what the Lord has entrusted to
believers
they are unfaithful
dishonest
lazy (I cannot dig)
keen on
face-saving and unwilling to be humble (“I am ashamed to beg”) and therefore it
is difficult for them to give an account of this to the Lord.
3) Though we are weak (“cannot”)
His strength is
made perfect in weakness (1Cor. 12:9). Therefore we should rely on the Lord and
we will be more than conquerors.
Luke. 16:4 “I have resolved what to
do
that when I am put out of the stewardship
they may receive me into their
houses.'”
YLT: “I have known what I
shall do
that
when I may be removed from the stewardship
they may receive me
to their houses.”
Spiritual Meaning: “when I am put out
of the stewardship” It symbolizes the time of one’s departure.
“They may receive me into their houses.”
It symbolizes that one is received into an everlasting home (See v.9).
Luke. 16:5 “‘So
he called every one of his master's debtors to him
and said to the first
‘How much do you owe my master?'”
YLT: “`And having called
near each one of his lord’s debtors
he said to the first
How much dost thou
owe to my lord?”
Enlightenment in the Word: each of us owes the Lord for love and we are unable
to repay Him (See 7:41; Matt. 18:24-25).
Luke. 16:6 “And he said
‘A hundred measures of oil.' So he said to him
‘Take your bill
and sit down quickly and write fifty.'”
YLT: “and he said
A
hundred baths of oil; and he said to him
Take thy bill
and having sat down
write fifty.”
Literal Meaning: “a hundred measures
of oil” The Hebrews use “measure” as the standard of the unit to measure
liquid. A measure is called a bath that is about 22 liter (it is also said that
it is about 39 liter).
“Take your bill
and sit down quickly
and write fifty.” It shows that he deceitfully pretended to be generous by
others’ wealth. He on purpose asked little from the debtors in order to gain
their good impression.
Spiritual Meaning: “oil” symbolizes the
Holy Spirit. The one who owes men for oil symbolizes believers who lack the
Holy Spirit and have not been filled with the Holy Spirit.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) To those whose spirit states are not good and
who lack the Holy Spirit (who owes oil)
we should forgive them. In this way
the Lord will assuredly remit us (See Matt. 6:12).
2) We should deal with us “quickly” while there are
still chances
lest we may miss the chance (See Matt. 5:25).
Luke. 16:7 “Then he said to another
‘And how much do you owe?' So he said
‘A hundred measures of wheat.' And he said to him
‘Take your bill
and write eighty.'”
YLT: “`Afterward to
another he said
And thou
how much dost thou owe? and he said
A hundred cors
of wheat; and he saith to him
Take thy bill
and write eighty.”
Literal Meaning: “measure” The
Hebrews use “measure” as the unit to measure solids. One measure is called a
Kor. It is about 350 liter and it is the weight that a donkey could bear on
back.
Spiritual Meaning: “wheat” symbolizes
life. The one who owes wheat symbolizes believers who are spiritually naïve.
Enlightenment in the Word: when we are offended by brothers and sisters who
are spiritually naïve (who owe wheat)
we should forgive them willingly and not
condemn us. In this way the Lord will assuredly remit us and not condemn us.
Luke. 16:8 “So the master commended
the unjust steward because he had dealt shrewdly. For the sons of this world
are more shrewd in their generation than the sons of light.”
YLT: “`And the lord
commended the unrighteous steward that he did prudently
because the sons of
this age are more prudent than the sons of the light
in respect to their
generation.”
Meaning of Words: “shrewd”: wise
prudent
skillful.
Literal Meaning: “So the master
commended that unjust steward” “The master” indicates the rich man. Obviously
he knew what the steward had done.
“That unjust steward” It describes his
character
especially his unfaithfulness in the goods of the master.
“Steward” indicates that he looked and
thought beforehand. He knew how to spend money that he had at present to
prepare for the needs in future.
“The sons of this world are more shrewd
in their generation than the sons of light.” “The sons of this world” indicate
men in the present generation
i.e. the world. “The sons of light” indicate
those in whom there is the light of life of Christ
i.e. believers (See John.
12:36; Eph. 5:8; 1Thess. 5:5).
Notes: the first half of
the verse shows that it is the rich man that praised the unjust steward and it
is not the Lord Jesus that praised him. And the rich man praised his
shrewdness
i.e. his skillfulness and cleverness in that kind of situation
instead of his deceitful works.
The last half of the verse is the comment
of the Lord Jesus: if the world (“the sons of this world”) knows to seize
opportunity in order to strive for the security of their safety
won’t
believers (“the sons of light”) use wisdom to strive for the heavenly security
and reward (See Matt. 10:16)?
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) The shrewd world knows how to use the present
opportunities to prepare for their future. The shrew believers are able to
transfer the property of this life into the everlasting property.
2) Believers should never learn the cunning and
deceitfulness of the world and should learn their careful consideration.
Foresight and alertness are the required conditions for the life of the true
disciples.
Luke. 16:9 “‘And I say to you
make
friends for yourselves by unrighteous mammon
that when you fail
they may
receive you into an everlasting home.”
YLT: “and I say to you
Make to yourselves friends out of the mammon of unrighteousness
that when ye
may fail
they may receive you to the age-during tabernacles.”
Meaning of Words: “unrighteous”:
unjust
evil.
Literal Meaning: “make friends for
yourselves by unrighteous mammon” “unrighteous mammon” does not indicate mammon
that is earned by unrighteous ways and it indicates that mammon of this life
itself is unrighteous by nature. All the properties in this world
even the
properties that are earned by legal ways are the enemy of God (v.13) and
unrighteous in the sight of God.
“Make friends” indicates to use one’s
properties to help those who are in need according to the guidance of the Lord.
“That when you fail.” Properties are
useful when one is alive and they are of no use in the
“They may receive you into an
everlasting home.” “They” indicate those who profit because the shrewd steward
had used the unrighteous money
i.e. the friends that he had made.
“An everlasting home” indicates the
dwelling place where believers abide in future. God will dwell with them in a
new heaven and a new earth until the eternal age (See Rev. 21:3).
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Money itself is unrighteous. However
if one
always distributes to others for the sake of the Lord
money will produce the
eternal value.
2) Believers should spend money and should not keep
money. Believers should be good at using properties and should not waste them.
3) The best way for believers to use properties
well is to share them with others and “make friends” by doing so. And it is the
way to lay up for oneself treasures in heaven (See Matt. 6:19).
4) The rich believers who do have the heavenly
understanding won’t leave properties after their death because in their
lifetime they have made many friends by using properties very well for the sake
of the Lord.
5) When we spend our money
influence
status and
opportunities and even we enjoy our leisure time
we should never forget the
eternal kingdom in heaven.
Luke. 16:10 “He who is faithful in
what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least
is unjust also in much.”
YLT: “`He who is faithful
in the least
[is] also faithful in much; and he who in the least [is]
unrighteous
is also unrighteous in much;”
Meaning of Words: “much”: abundant
great
often.
Spiritual Meaning: “what is least”
indicates things in this life and here it specially indicates mammon (See
v.13). “Much” indicates things in the coming and here it specially indicates
the abundant reward of the Lord (See Matt. 25:21
23).
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) One’s faithfulness is not determined by how much
one has been entrusted but by the character of the one who spends the money.
2) Faithfulness and justice lay stress on quality
instead of quantity. In everything we should be faithful and just and hold the
standpoint and should not let anything go at will.
3) If one wants to achieve success
first he has to
do from what is least. It is said that great oaks grow from little acorns and a
ten thousand-li journey must start with the very first step. All great works in
the world are the accumulation of what is least.
4) One’s performance in what is least is sufficient
to show his attitude towards what is much.
5) It is true that he who is able to do what is
least may be unable to what is much. However
how could the one who is unable
to do what is least well do what is much?
Luke. 16:11 “Therefore if you have not
been faithful in the unrighteous mammon
who will commit to your trust the true
riches?”
YLT: “if
then
in the
unrighteous mammon ye became not faithful the true who will entrust to you?”
Literal Meaning: “who will commit to
your trust the true riches?” “The true riches” is “the true” in the original.
All is vanity under the sun (Eccl. 1:2-3) and only the spiritual things are
true.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) If we are unfaithful in spending money that God
has entrusted to us (See 1Chron. 29:14)
God will not give us the heavenly
riches that have been prepared for us (See Matt. 25:34).
2) How could the one who is unfaithful in spending
the worldly money be qualified to enjoy the spiritually true riches in the
Luke. 16:12 “And if you have not been
faithful in what is another man's
who will give you what is your own?”
YLT: “and if in the
other’s ye became not faithful your own
who shall give to you?”
Literal Meaning: “what is another
man’s” indicates properties in the world. They could not be brought when men
are born and they could not be taken away when men die. They are what God has
entrusted to us to manage temporarily.
“What is your own” indicates the
spiritual riches that we could possess forever
including the eternal life and
God’s rewards.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) We should not possess ourselves of mammon
because it is “another man’s” and it is God’s. God entrusted mammon to us for
management in order to test whether we are faithful.
2) All that we have
including the material and
spiritual things are what we have received from God and therefore we should not
boast (See 1Cor. 4:7).
3) If we are unable to be faithful in material
properties
God will entrust the true riches of the eternal age to us.
4) Only the things that could be brought into
heaven are “our own” and they have been prepared by God for those who believe
in Him from the foundation of the world (See Matt. 25:34).
Luke. 16:13 “‘No
servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the
other
or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot
serve God and mammon.’”
YLT: “`No domestic is
able to serve two lords
for either the one he will hate
and the other he will
love; or one he will hold to
and of the other he will be heedless; ye are not
able to serve God and mammon.’”
Meaning of Words: “mammon”: money
profit
treasures.
Literal
Meaning: citizens of the
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Believers are servants
however
we are only the
servants of God instead of treasure.
2) Treasure on earth is the enemy of God and it
will steal the service of God’s people that God deserves. When believers treat
treasure as their lord
they could not serve God wholeheartedly.
3) Today
the greatest temptation for believers is
to serve two masters------they want to serve both God and money. Consequently
God is always despised.
4) Those who love and serve God and mammon
just as
whoever has two wives------“whoever divorces his wife and marries another” and
whoever has two husbands------“whoever marries her who is divorced from her
husband” (See v.18)
commit the spiritual adultery.
5) A double-minded attitude is unacceptable and
there could be nothing such as a spiritual hedger. One is not serving God at
all unless he serves Him wholeheartedly.
6) If one is greedy for the earthly treasure
he
could not love God whole-heartedly. We cannot love God and mammon. Only when
men love God will their hearts be broadened. What great broadens one’s heart is
that one is delivered from the attraction of mammon and loves God only.
7) The love of money is a root of all kinds of
evil. If someone is greedy for money
he will stray from the faith (1Tim.
6:10).
8) Men could earn money
however
men should not
worship money. The hearts of those who worship money could hold God. Money is
not our religion and we should never let money become our God.
Luke. 16:14 “Now the Pharisees
who
were lovers of money
also heard all these things
and they derided Him.”
YLT: “And also the
Pharisees
being lovers of money
were hearing all these things
and were
deriding him
”
Literal Meaning: “the Pharisees
who
were lovers of money” The Pharisees thought that their money is God’s blessing
and the clear proof that their observance of the Law is acceptable to God.
“Also heard all these things
and they
derided Him.” Probably they derided Jesus that how could he live and preach for
God without money.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Those who are lovers of money must treat mammon
as their lord in their hearts and love
value and serve mammon (See v.13). It
is no wonder that they despise the Lord Jesus and laugh at His words.
2) Those who love mammon for the sake of mammon
actually love themselves and consequently they will neglect others.
Luke. 16:15 “And He said to them
‘You are those who justify yourselves before men
but God
knows your hearts. For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in
the sight of God.”
YLT: “and he said to
them
`Ye are those declaring yourselves righteous before men
but God doth
know your hearts; because that which among men is high
[is] abomination before
God;”
Literal Meaning: “but God knows your
hearts.” The Lord Jesus here reminded the Pharisees that though they were pious
apparently
God knows clearly the greed and ugliness of their hearts.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) One’s heart towards God determines his attitude
towards mammon. We should pursue what is precious in the sight of God. We should
abominate what God abominates and love what He loves.
2) “What is highly esteemed among men is an
abomination in the sight of God.” Mammon
which men are greedy for
is
abominable in the sight of God because some have strayed from the faith in their
greediness
and pierced themselves through with many sorrows (1Tim. 6:10).
Luke. 16:16 “‘The
law and the prophets were until John. Since that time the
YLT: “the law and the
prophets [are] till John; since then the reign of God is proclaimed good news
and every one doth press into it;”
Meaning of Words: “press”: to force
to crowd oneself into
and do one’s utmost.
The
Background: When the Lord’s
forerunner John the Baptist and the Lord Himself started to work to preach the
glad tidings of the
Literal
Meaning: “the law and the
prophets were until John” “The law and the prophets” refers to the revelation
of the whole Old Testament. It shows that the dispensation of the Old Testament
was ended until John the Baptist.
“Since that time the
“Everyone is pressing into it.” “Press”
refers to “force” in the original. If one wants to enter the
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) It is the free grace for one’s being saved.
However the one who wants to enter the
2) One has to “press” into the
3) Through many tribulations we must enter into the
4) The Lord’s words imply that if men want to enter
into the
5) We should pay any price to let Christ reign in
us. In this way we are living in the reality of the
6) The opposite side of “press” is common. We do
not need to be offended
commit sins or love the world purposely
if we are
only common Christians who muddle along
we will not be able to enter into the
Luke. 16:17 “And it is easier for
heaven and earth to pass away than for one tittle of the law to fail.”
YLT: “and it is easier to
the heaven and the earth to pass away
than of the law one tittle to fall.”
Meaning of Words: “pass away”: go;
“fail”: fall.
Literal Meaning: “heaven and earth to
pass away” indicates that the present heaven and earth will pass away in future
(See 2Pet. 3:10
12; Heb. 1:11-12; Rev. 21:1).
“It is easier…than for one tittle of the
law to fail.” “One tittle” describes the filament added to letters or the
outstanding part. “One tittle of the law” refers to the smallest requirement of
the Law.
“It is easier…than…to fail.” It is the
wording from the opposite side. It indicates that all the requirements of the
Law will be fulfilled and realized completely in the
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) The Law has its authority and it will not pass
away till all the demands of the Law have been accomplished.
2) The Law bounded the dispensation of the Old
Testament and the service of the Lord Jesus brought in the dispensation of the
New Testament. His service completely fulfilled the Law
including the
slightest thing of the Law (See 21:33).
3) Since Christ has fulfilled the Law
Christians
do not need to keep the regulations of the Law. We keep the spirit of the Law
as long as we live in Christ.
Luke. 16:18 “‘Whoever
divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery; and whoever marries her
who is divorced from her husband commits adultery.”
YLT: “`Every one who is
sending away his wife
and marrying another
doth commit adultery; and every
one who is marrying her sent away from a husband doth commit adultery.”
Meaning of Words: “divorce”: release
depart.
Literal Meaning: “Whoever divorces his wife
and marries another commits adultery.”
According to the custom of the Jews in the ancient time
divorce is set up by
the husband’s unilateral declaration of divorce to his wife. The husband does
not need to ask for the agreement of his wife and divorce does not need to be
decided through the judicial procedure.
“Adultery” in the original refers to
“the sex that destroys the marriage”. The only legal reason for divorce is that
one has committed adultery because in God’s sight adultery is the behavior that
destroys the union of husband and wife. He who divorces his wife and marries
another without reason commits adultery and owes to his wife. The words of the
Lord again show that according to the regulations of the law at that time
though the husband has the right to divorce his wife
he still cannot be
remitted from the condemnation of morality and conscience.
“Whoever marries her who is divorced
from her husband commits adultery”
Since the only legal reason for divorce is that one has committed adultery. And
whoever remarries after divorce commits adultery in the sight of God because
this disobeys the order that God had made when He created man and woman and
destroys the oneness of God.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) The Lord here approves the authority of the Law
and the requirements of the Law do not fail all the time
e.g. whoever
remarries after divorce still commits adultery and sins against God.
2) Whoever marries the one who commits adultery
also commits adultery.
3) The union of man and woman is not only the
outward behavior but also the change of nature (Matt. 15:19; 1Cor. 6:16).
4) Marriage is the most important thing for
Christians in their lifetime. Therefore before marriage we should open our eyes
so as to observe each other carefully
lest we may regret and after marriage we
should close our eyes and should not find fault with each other.
5) Believers should not walk according to the
worldly trend or be satisfied when we have obeyed the national law. In
everything believers should prove what is the will of God (See
Luke. 16:19 “‘There
was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared
sumptuously every day.”
YLT: “`And a certain man
was rich
and was clothed in purple and fine linen
making merry sumptuously
every day
”
The
Background: “rich man” sometimes
men call him “Dives” (it originates from the Latin word “magnate”).
Literal Meaning: “a certain rich man”
The Lord Jesus
being directed against the Pharisee’s mocking at His words concerning
mammon (See v.13-14)
specially set an example of the miserable end of a rich
man to warn them that they should not reject the gospel of the Savior because
of the love of money.
“Who was clothed in purple and fine
linen.” “Purple” is the symbol of the royal family and honorable men (See Esth.
8:15; Prov. 31:22; Rev. 18:12). “Fine linen” is the valuable clothes that are
made by fabric of linen.
“Fared sumptuously every day” “Fared
sumptuously” in the original means that “one not only eats delicacies from land
and sea but also seeks extravagance and tries his best to live a life of
pleasure”.
Luke. 16:20 “But there was a certain
beggar named Lazarus
full of sores
who was laid at his gate
”
YLT: “and there was a
certain poor man
by name Lazarus
who was laid at his porch
full of sores
”
Meaning of Words: “Lazarus”: the one
whom God helps.
Literal Meaning: “but there was a
certain beggar named Lazarus” “Lazarus” was not the one whom the Lord asked to
rise from the dead (See John. 11:43-44). The Lord Jesus did not name figures in
the parables that He had said. And here he mentioned not only Lazarus but also
Abraham
Moses and other true characters. Therefore the following passage is a
true story instead of a fictitious parable.
“Full of sores” It is the common medical
term in Greek and it is only recorded here in the New Testament. “Full of
sores” is in strong contrast to “clothed in purple and fine linen”.
“Who was laid at his gate” Obviously
this rich man was not a
ferocious one who bullied the poor
otherwise
he would not let a beggar beg
for food at his gate. His problem was that he only saw delicacies and did not
see the poor. He did not spend money well and disappointed God’s intention to
entrust to him much money.
Enlightenment in the Word: “Lazarus” in the original means “the one whom God
helps”. God helps us both in the material and the Spirit.
Luke. 16:21 “desiring to be fed with
the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table. Moreover the dogs came and
licked his sores.”
YLT: “and desiring to be
filled from the crumbs that are falling from the table of the rich man; yea
also the dogs
coming
were licking his sores.”
The
Background: “desiring to be fed with the
crumbs which fell from the rich man's table” It is said that at that time the Jews did not use
knives and forks or scarves when having a meal and they used their hands to
take food. In rich houses
they used bread to wipe their hands and threw away
the bread that had been used. What Lazarus waited for at the gate was this kind
of bread.
Literal Meaning: “Moreover the dogs came and
licked his sores.” This sentence has
two meanings: 1) the Jews treated those whom they despised as dogs and
therefore it indicates that the condition of Lazarus was as pitiful as dogs and
his suffering cannot be sympathized with by men. 2) The sores would spill
blood. Dogs’ licking the scores is to lick the blood
showing that he was
tormented to death by the dogs (See 1Kings. 21:19).
Luke. 16:22 “So it was that the beggar
died
and was carried by the angels to Abraham's bosom. The rich man also died
and was buried.”
YLT: “`And it came to
pass
that the poor man died
and that he was carried away by the messengers to
the bosom of Abraham and the rich man also died
and was buried;”
The
Background: “bosom” draws
materials from the scene that the Jews attend a banquet------everyone who
attends a banquet reclines on his elbow
like learning on the bosom of the one
who was behind him (See John. 13:23). Therefore “bosom” means that one sits
down with another.
Literal Meaning: “was carried to
Abraham’s bosom” It indicates that he enjoys the blessing with Abraham in the
paradise. After their death men’s souls depart from their bodies and gathers
with souls of ancestors
waiting for the judgment of the last day.
Abraham was the father of those who have
been justified by faith (Rom. 4:11-12) and therefore his “bosom” symbolizes the
temporal residence for the righteous after their death. It is a place of
blessing and the pleasures there are great pleasures that have been prepared
for those who are like Abraham.
The Lord did not obviously mention the
reason why the beggar Lazarus enjoyed this special grace after his death.
However
according to the principle how God gives grace to men
we could infer
that he relied on God during his lifetime. And from the words in v.29 and v.31
of this chapter
he probably listened to the words of God by faith.
“The rich man also died and was buried.” Please note that when he died
it was not
recorded that he was carried by “the angels” like Lazarus.
The rich man took good care of himself
during his lifetime. He spent money for himself
being clothed in purple and
fine linen and eating the delicacies from land and sea. However
after his
death he was just buried.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) The angels are ministering spirits sent forth to
minister for those who will inherit salvation (Heb. 1:14). They encamp all
around us and deliver us (Ps. 34:7) and always behold the face of God the
Father (Matt. 18:10). When the Saints died
they would carry them to the
paradise.
2) The difference between the rich man and Lazarus
does not lie in the worldly richness or poorness but their relation with the
world. The rich man dedicated himself to the world and served it whole-hearted
and his end was vanity and pain. Lazarus demanded nothing from the world and
therefore he turned to look upon God and he rested in the end.
3) Richness may not be the sign that one has been
blessed by God and poorness may not be the result that one has been cursed by
God. Sometimes
richness contrarily is the test of one’s faithfulness because
everyone to whom much is given
from him much will be required (See 12:48).
4) The poor would die and “the rich man also died”
and everyone would die no matter who he is. And as it is appointed for men to
die once
but after this the judgment (Heb. 9:27).
5) “The rich man also died and was buried.” Flesh and blood cannot inherit the
Luke. 16:23 “And being in torments in
Hades
he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off
and Lazarus in his
bosom.”
YLT: “and in the hades
having lifted up his eyes
being in torments
he doth see Abraham afar off
and
Lazarus in his bosom
”
Literal Meaning: “and being in
torments in Hades” “Hades” is the place where souls of men stay temporarily
after their death and wait for the judgment of God in the last day (Acts. 2:27
31). It has two parts and one part is for souls of the righteous and it is also
called the paradise (See 23:43) and the other take souls of sinners in (Job.
24:19). There is a great gulf fixed between two parts and one cannot pass from
this part to the other (See v.26).
When the Lord comes again
the dead in
Christ will rise first and shall be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in
the air (See 1Thess. 4:16-17). Everyone shall be judged before the judgment
seat of Christ according to what he has done and worked (See 1Pet. 4:17; 2Cor.
5:10). The one who overcomes shall be rewarded and the one who fails shall be
punished (See 2Tim. 4:8; Matt. 24:45-51).
Concerning the souls of those who have
not been saved
they are in torments in Hades. Until the end of the kingdom of
a thousand years and the beginning of a new heaven and a new earth
they shall
be judged before the great white throne and shall be cast into the lake of fire
with Hades
i.e. the hell
and suffer forever. The Bible calls it “the second
death” (See Rev. 20:11-15; Matt. 25:41).
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) We should never hold that death ends all one’s
troubles. After their death men’s souls do not perish and their senses
functions and memories still work normally.
2) The rich man was cast into Hades not because of
his wealth but his attitude towards wealth.
3) From the misfortune of the rich man
it seems that
the wicked suffers from the time he is in Hades after his death.
4) During his lifetime the heart of the rich man
towards God was like “Hades”------he only received and was never satisfied (See
Prov. 30:15-16) and therefore after his death he was swallowed up by “Hades”.
Luke. 16:24 “‘Then
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.'”
YLT: “and having cried
he said
Father Abraham
deal kindly with me
and send Lazarus
that he may dip
the tip of his finger in water
and may cool my tongue
because I am distressed
in this flame.”
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) During his lifetime the rich man thought that he
was a son of Abraham (“Father Abraham”) and there would be no problem for him
after his death and he took his mind at ease and fared sumptuously (See v.19).
And therefore he suffered the end of torment. It also warned believers that:
a) God
only values our intentions and conduct instead of our status.
b) God
only values our present states instead of our past conditions (the genealogy).
c) God
only values the individual spiritual state before Him instead of the good and
bad of the corporate one (the assembly) where we are.
2) During his lifetime
Lazarus was laid at the
gate of the rich man (See v.20). It could be said that he was “sent” by God to
remind the rich man to spend wealth that God had entrusted to him well.
Unfortunately
he had missed the opportunity after his death and God no longer
“sent Lazarus”.
3) When we encounter one who deserves to be
sympathized with
it is a chance given by God to remind and help us.
4) “Lazarus” in the original means “the one whom
God helps”. Today when men are alive
they could receive help from God.
However
after their death
it is impossible for men to hope for the help from
God.
5) “I am tormented in this flame.” The world that is burnt by the unlimited desire
is also tormented.
Luke. 16:25 “But Abraham said
‘Son
remember that in your lifetime you received your
good things
and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you
are tormented.”
YLT: “`And Abraham said
Child
remember that thou did receive thou thy good things in thy life
and
Lazarus in like manner the evil things
and now he is comforted
and thou art
distressed;”
Literal Meaning: “remember that in
your lifetime” It shows that men’s memory still exists after their death.
“But now he” It refers to the time and
location.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) The torments that the rich man suffers (“you are
tormented”) are not only the torment of flame (See v.24)
but also the torment
of “remembrance” and regret and the pain that his supplication cannot be
answered (See v.27-31). Indeed his torments never end in the eternal age.
2) The choice of this life determines one’s eternal
end after his death. Once one died
his end will be fixed. Then it will be
impossible for one to choose to receive good things or evil things (See v.26).
3) “Is comforted” and “the Comforter” (John. 14:16)
are of the same subgroup in the original. During their lifetime believers have
the comfort and guidance of the Holy Spirit aside and after our death we are
called to draw near to the Lord whom we believe------be with the Lord (Pill.
1:23).
Luke. 16:26 “And besides all this
between us and you there is a great gulf fixed
so that those who want to pass
from here to you cannot
nor can those from there pass to us.'”
YLT: “and besides all
these things
between us and you a great chasm is fixed
so that they who are
willing to go over from hence unto you are not able
nor do they from thence to
us pass through.”
Literal Meaning: “so that
those…cannot” should be translated more correctly as “with the aim that those…
cannot”. The aim of setting up the great gulf is to make the impassable barrier
between these two kinds of men.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) In Hades each one is separated and cannot
communicate with another. However
in
2) Before we believe in the Lord
we are enemies of
God and there was the middle wall of separation between us and others. But
thank the Lord. He abolished in His flesh the enmity on the cross so that we
could have peace with both men and God (See Eph. 2:14-16).
Luke. 16:27 “‘Then
he said
‘I beg you therefore
father
that you would send him to my father's house
”
YLT: “`And he said
I
pray thee
then
father
that thou mayest send him to the house of my father
”
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) “I beg you therefore
father
that you would send him to
my father's house.” It is the appeal
from Hades------the souls that are tormented in Hades and regret deeply hope
that their family members could receive the salvation during their lifetime and
be remitted from their torments. Hope this appeal could move the hearts of very
many believers that they could receive the burden to preach the glad tidings to
their family members and friends.
2) The greatest pain for believers is that they see
their family members being tormented in Hades in the other side of the great
gulf.
Luke. 16:28 “for I have five brothers
that he may testify to them
lest they also come to this place of torment.'”
YLT: “for I have five
brothers
so that he may thoroughly testify to them
that they also may not
come to this place of torment.”
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) It may be the first time for the rich man to
care about others. Unfortunately
it is too late for men to regret in Hades.
2) You who are unwilling to believe in the Lord
today
please hear the appeal of hell and the prayer of your family members.
3) The rich man died and there are still “five
brothers”. Those who
during their lifetime
are greedy for the material
enjoyments and neglect the eternal life like that rich man are countless.
Luke. 16:29 “Abraham said to him
‘They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.'”
YLT: “`Abraham saith to
him
They have Moses and the prophets
let them hear them;”
Literal Meaning: “They have Moses and the
prophets; let them hear them” “Moses and the
prophets” is known as the whole Old Testament.
From this verse we could know that the
difference of the ends of the rich man and Lazarus does not lie in their
richness or poorness
or their reception of good things or evil things but that
they did not hear Moses and the prophets during their lifetime------they did
not believe in the word of God.
Luke. 16:30 “And he said
‘No
father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the
dead
they will repent.'”
YLT: “and he said
No
father Abraham
but if any one from the dead may go unto them
they will
reform.”
Luke. 16:31 “But he said to him
‘If they do not hear Moses and the prophets
neither will
they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.’”
YLT: “And he said to him
If Moses and the prophets they do not hear
neither if one may rise out of the
dead will they be persuaded.’”
Literal Meaning: “If they do not hear Moses
and the prophets” means “if they do
not hear the word of God” (See the notes in v.29).
“Neither will they be persuaded though
one rise from the dead.” Later another
Lazarus rose from the dead and the Jews still did not believe in Him (See John.
12:9-10). Afterwards
the Lord Jesus Himself rose from the dead
the Jews still
did not believe in Him (See Matt. 28:11-15; Acts. 13:30-40
44-45).
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) If men have received the revelation of God
(“Moses and the prophets”) and still overlook men’s sufferings and do not love
men and God
and he still remained unmoved even if he had many supernatural
revelations.
2) If one’s heart is closed and rejects the word of
God
any evidence------even resurrection------could not change him.
3) Christ is the firstborn from the dead (Col.
1:18) and only He is the reality of resurrection (John. 11:25). If men do not
believe and rely on Christ
resurrection is only a reason which is of no use to
them.
III.
Outlines of the Spiritual Lessons
Christians’
Principle of the Management of Money
I. Christians are the Lord’s stewards who
have been entrusted by the Lord to spend money (v.1).
II. Christians should give an account of
money that the Lord has entrusted to us (v.2).
III. Christians should learn to spend money
well from the sons of this world (the world) (v.8).
IV. Christians should make friends that
profit the everlasting age by money (v.9).
V. Whether Christians are faithful in money
affects the commitment of spiritual things (v.10-11).
VI. Christians should hold that money is not
our own (v.12).
VII. Christians should not let money replace
God’s place in our hearts (v.13).
VIII. Christians should not be lovers of
money (v.14).
IX. Christians should not spend money only
for themselves and should share it with others (v.19-20).
The Knowledge of
Mammon
I. Mammon is unrighteous by nature (v.9a).
II. Mammon would be useless (v.9b).
III. Mammon would be contributory to our
reward in the eternal age (v.9c).
IV. Mammon is only the least and it is
incomparable with the reward in future (v.10).
V. Mammon is false and unreal (v.11).
VI. Mammon is the external thing instead of
the internal thing (v.12).
VII. Mammon is the enemy of God and seizes
the position of men’s hearts with God (v.13).
VIII. Mammon could entangle men in torments
of God’s punishment after their death (v.23-24).
Several Meaningful
Parables
II. The unrighteous mammon and the true
riches (v.9
11).
III. What is least and what is much (v.10).
IV. What is another man’s and what is your
own (v.12).
V. Serving God and serving mammon (v.13).
VI. What is highly esteemed among men and
what God abominates (v.15).
The Comparison between
the Rich Man and Lazarus
I. The rich man was clothed in purple and
fine linen and Lazarus was full of sores (v.19-20).
II. The rich man fared sumptuously and
Lazarus desired to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the table (v.19
21)------in his lifetime the rich man received good things and Lazarus received
evil things (v.25a).
III. The rich man died and was buried and
Lazarus was carried by the angels (v.22).
IV. The rich man was in torments in Hades
and Lazarus enjoyed the blessing in Abraham’s bosom (v.22-23)------after his
death the rich man is tormented and Lazarus is comforted (v.25b).
V. The torments that the rich man suffers
after his death is extreme in degree and “forever and unlimited” in time and
Lazarus’ suffering in his lifetime is slight and limited (v.21
24b).
VI. The rich man cannot pass to the side of
blessing and Lazarus cannot pass to the side of torments (v.26).
The Place and State
of
I. After one’s death his body is buried and
his soul still exists (v.22).
II. After their death souls would go to
Hades: believers are in the paradise (Abraham’s bosom) and unbelievers are in
the flame of Hades (v.22-24).
III. After their death souls could see
speak and have the senses of pain and souls of believers could be comforted
(v.23-25).
IV. After one’s death he cannot change the
place which his soul belongs to (v.26).
V. After one’s death he still has the sense
of conscience and he would regret what he had done during his lifetime
(v.27-29).
VI. After their death men cannot communicate
with living ones (v.27-29).
──
Caleb Huang《Christian Digest Bible
Commentary Series》
Translated by Sharon Ren