Luke 16:5

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Luke 16:1-18

We mistake if we imagine that the design of Christ's doctrine and holy religion was either to amuse us with notions of divine mysteries or to entertain us with notions of divine mercies. No, the divine revelation of both these in the gospel is intended to engage and quicken us to the practice of Christian duties, and, as much as any one thing, to the duty of beneficence and doing good to those who stand in need of any thing that either we have or can do for them. This our Saviour is here... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Luke 16:1-13

16:1-13 Jesus said to his disciples, "There was a rich man who had a steward. He received information against the steward which alleged that he was dissipating his goods. He called him, and said to him, 'What is this that I hear about you? Give an account of your stewardship, for you can no longer be steward.' The steward said to himself, 'What am I to do? I have not the strength to dig, and I am ashamed to beg. I know what I will do, so that, when I am removed from my stewardship, they will... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 16:5

So he called every one of his Lord's debtors ,.... Either the Gentiles, who were greatly indebted to God, having sinned against him, and the law, and light of nature, at a great rate; into whose affections, houses, and palaces, the Jews found ways and means to introduce themselves; and, in process of time, got leave to have synagogues built, and their worship set up again: or else the Jews, their countrymen; since these were under those stewards, tutors, and governors, and were debtors to do... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Luke 16:1-9

Cleverness and sagacity. There is a wide difference between worldly cleverness and spiritual sagacity; of these two acquisitions, the former is to be questioned if not avoided, the latter to be desired and attained. Christ's teaching here will be entirely misunderstood if we fail to discriminate between them. I. THE EMPLOYER 'S COMMENDATION OF HIS STEWARD 'S CLEVERNESS . " His lord" (not our Lord) commended the unjust steward because he had acted "shrewdly" (not... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Luke 16:1-13

The unjust steward. Whereas the three preceding parables were spoken to the Pharisees, this is spoken to the disciples. It is not quite certain whether all the parables were uttered at or about the same time; but the use of the word "also" ( Luke 16:1 ) suggests that they were. Anyhow, the saying before us has reference to a different kind of wasting from that of the younger son—a wasting against which the followers of Jesus are solemnly warned. We are called to listen to the Master as... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Luke 16:1-13

Money as a means of grace. The previous chapter was spoken against the pride of the Pharisaic party, who were too exclusive to welcome publicans and sinners to the same feast of privilege as themselves. The parable now before us was spoken against their covetousness. It will be found that, as the graces are to be found and grow together, so do the vices of mankind. The idolatry of wealth goes hand-in-hand with pride. In warning his disciples, however, against the vice, our Lord... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Luke 16:1-31

The Lord ' s teaching on the right use of earthly possessions with regard to the prospect of another world, in the form of the two parables of the unjust steward, and Dives and Lazarus. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Luke 16:5

Our indebtedness to our Lord. "How much owest thou unto my Lord?" Taking these words quite apart from the context to which they properly belong, we may let them suggest to us the very profitable question, how much we, as individual men, owe to him who is the Lord of all. I. WE OWE HIM FAR MORE THAN WE CAN ESTIMATE . Who shall say how much we owe our God when we consider: 1 . The intrinsic value of his gifts to us. How much are we indebted to him who gave us our... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Luke 16:5-6

and 7 simply paint in the details of the interesting picture of the parable. This singular plan of providing for himself by becoming a benefactor of the debtor, remarks Professor Bruce, was by no means the only possible one under the circumstances; but the Speaker of the pa-table made his hero make choice of it as the aim of the imaginary narrative was to teach the value of beneficence as a passport into the eternal habitations. Various explanations have been suggested to account for the... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Luke 16:5

Called every one - As he was “steward,” he had the management of all the affairs, and, of course, debts were to be paid to him.Debtors - Those who “owed” his master, or perhaps “tenants;” those who rented land of his master. read more

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