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Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Luke 16:13

Luke 16:13. No servant can serve two masters See note on Matthew 6:24. As if he had said, You cannot be faithful to God, if you trim between him and the world; if you do not serve him alone. Beware, therefore, of indulging, even in the least degree, the love of the world, 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 while he is... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Luke 16:1-17

103. The shrewd manager (Luke 16:1-17)This story was told not to the Pharisees but to the disciples of Jesus. It concerned a shrewd businessman whom the owner of a business appointed as manager. In this business, dealings were made by exchange of goods rather than payment of money, a practice that enabled the manager to cheat the owner. When the owner found out, he decided to dismiss him (Luke 16:1-2).The manager then thought of a plan to ensure help from his business friends after his... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Luke 16:13

servant = domestic household servant. Greek. oiketes. Occurs only here; Acts 10:7 . Rom 14:4 . 1 Peter 2:18 . can = isable to. serve = do bondservice. Greek. douleuo. As in Luke 15:29 . masters = lords, as in verses: Luke 16:3 , Luke 16:5 , Luke 16:5 , Luke 3:8 . the other . Same as "another" in Luke 16:7 . cannot = are not (Greek. ou. App-105 ) able to. God. See App-98 . read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Luke 16:13

No servant can serve two masters: either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.This contrasts God and Mammon (personified) as deities between whom every soul must choose. Any attempt to serve both is actually the service of Mammon. Summers pointed out that Luke here used a word for "servant" which actually means "house servant";[23] and this gives an equivalent meaning that "nobody can be a house boy in... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Luke 16:13

Luke 16:13. 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, while he is anxiously pursuing the world for its own sake." In this manner did our Lord recommend the true use of riches, power, knowledge, and the other advantages of the present life,... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Luke 16:13

13. can serve—be entirely at the command of; and this is true even where the services are not opposed. hate . . . love—showing that the two here intended are in uncompromising hostility to each other: an awfully searching principle! read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Luke 16:1-13

1. Discipleship as stewardship 16:1-13Jesus instructed His disciples about their use of material possessions. He taught them to be prudent in the use of wealth and to beware of the danger of loving it (cf. 1 Timothy 6:10). read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Luke 16:10-13

The implications of heavenly stewardship 16:10-13Jesus proceeded to draw two more lessons from the parable He had just told. One was the importance of faithfulness for Jesus’ agents. The other was the importance of undivided loyalty to Jesus. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Luke 16:13

Even though one may have both God and mammon, namely, be a believer and have earthly resources, it is impossible to serve them both. They both demand total allegiance (cf. Matthew 6:24). Love for God will result in mammon taking second place in life. Conversely if one puts mammon first, God can have only second place (cf. 1 Timothy 6:10). This fact should serve as a warning against unfaithfulness to God and as a warning against enslavement by mammon. Jesus’ personified mammon to picture it as... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 16:1-31

The Unjust Steward. The Rich Man and Lazarus1-13. Parable of the Unjust Steward (peculiar to Lk). The details of this somewhat difficult parable are probably not significant. It is intended to illustrate the proper use of wealth. Christians should use it so well here on earth, by expending it not selfishly on their own pleasures, but unselfishly for the good of others, and for the advancement of God’s kingdom, that instead of hindering them from reaching heaven, it will help them to enter... read more

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