I am resolved what to do . The first part of the parable teaches, then, this great and all-important lesson to men—that they will do well to provide against the day of dismissal from life. The second part points out very vividly how kindness, charity, beneficence, towards those poorer, weaker, more helpless than ourselves is one way, and that a very sure and direct way, of. so providing against the inevitable dissmission, or death. read more
Said within himself - Thought, or considered.My lord - My master, my employer.I cannot dig - This may mean either that his employment had been such that he could not engage in agriculture, not having been acquainted with the business, or that he was “unwilling” to stoop to so low an employment as to work daily for his support. “To dig,” here, is the same as to till the earth, to work at daily labor.To beg - These were the only two ways that presented themselves for a living - either to work for... read more
I am resolved - He thought of his condition. He looked at the plans which occurred to him. He had been dishonest, and knew that he must lose his place. It would have been better to have “considered before this,” and resolved on a proper course of life, and to be faithful to his trust; and his perplexity here teaches us that dishonesty will sooner or later lead us into difficulty, and that the path of honesty is not only the “right” path, but is the path that is filled with most comfort and... read more
Luke 16:2-4. And he called him, and said, How is it that I hear this of thee His lord, having called him, told him what was laid to his charge; and as he did not pretend to deny the accusation, he ordered him to give in his accounts, because he was determined he should occupy his office no longer. Then the steward said, What shall I do? The steward, having heard his doom pronounced, began to consider with himself, how he should be supported when he was discarded. He was of a disposition so... read more
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
within = in. Greek. en. App-104 . lord = master, as in Luke 16:13 . App-98 . A. taketh away = is taking away. from. Greek. apo. App-104 . I cannot dig, &c. = to dig, I am not (Greek. ou. App-105 ) strong enough. beg. Greek. epaiteo. Compare App-134 . Occurs only here in Authorized Version, but See Luke 18:35 . ashamed . Ashamed to beg, but not ashamed to embezzle. read more
I am resolved , &c.; or, I haveit! I know , &c. App-132 . to do = I will do. when I am put out of = when I shall have been removed from. they: i.e. the debtors. into . Greek. eis. App-104 . their = their own. read more
And the steward said within himself, What shall I do, seeing that my Lord taketh away the stewardship from me? I have not strength to dig; to beg I am ashamed.Said within himself ... This was the first commendable thing the steward did. Like the prodigal who also said "to himself" that he would arise and go to the Father, this man also faced bitter, unwelcome truth about HIMSELF. He lied to the Lord and to the debtors, but he told himself the truth. Many a hapless soul today simply does not... read more
I am resolved what to do, that, when I am put out of the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses.Hobbs said that this place might be rendered, "I've got it; I know what I will do!"[12] His dishonest purpose was soon revealed. He would involve all the debtors in defrauding the lord, and then presume upon their charity when he needed it. Human gratitude for past favors is a broken reed indeed; and that is possibly the reason why the parable allows the presumption that he received it to... read more
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The Pulpit Commentary - Luke 16:3
What shall I do? for my lord taketh away from me the stewardship . This day of dismissal must be prepared for; very carefully, very anxiously, the man who has received the sentence of doom ponders over his future. The lesson of the Master is spoken to all; it is a solemn warning to each of us to see what we can do by way of providing for the inevitable day when we shall find ourselves alone and naked and perhaps friendless in the great, strange world to come. The hero of the parable seems... read more