My guidelines for studying a parable were culled from the following two books:
- Understanding and Applying the Bible by Robertson McQuilkin
- The New How To Study Your Bible by Kay Arthur
You can hover your pointer over (most) any verse reference to read the
corresponding verse(s). (Scriptural cross-references are THE most
important resource!)
Luke 16:1-13 (NASB)
1 Now He was also saying to the disciples, "There was a rich man who had a manager, and this manager was reported to him as squandering his possessions.
2 "And he called him and said to him, 'What is this I hear about you? Give an accounting of your management, for you can no longer be manager.'
3 "The manager said to himself, 'What shall I do, since my master is taking the management away from me? I am not strong enough to dig; I am ashamed to beg.
4 "I know what I shall do, so that when I am removed from the management people will welcome me into their homes.'
5 "And he summoned each one of his master's debtors, and he began saying to the first, 'How much do you owe my master?'
6 "And he said, 'A hundred measures of oil.' And he said to him, 'Take your bill, and sit down quickly and write fifty.'
7 "Then he said to another, 'And how much do you owe?' And he said, 'A hundred measures of wheat.' He *said to him, 'Take your bill, and write eighty.'
8 "And his master praised the unrighteous manager because he had acted shrewdly; for the sons of this age are more shrewd in relation to their own kind than the sons of light.
9 "And I say to you, make friends for yourselves by means of the wealth of unrighteousness, so that when it fails, they will receive you into the eternal dwellings.
10 "He who is faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much; and he who is unrighteous in a very little thing is unrighteous also in much.
11 "Therefore if you have not been faithful in the use of unrighteous wealth, who will entrust the true riches to you?
12 "And if you have not been faithful in the use of that which is another's, who will give you that which is your own?
13 "No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth."
1 Now He was also saying to the disciples, "There was a rich man who had a manager, and this manager was reported to him as squandering his possessions.
2 "And he called him and said to him, 'What is this I hear about you? Give an accounting of your management, for you can no longer be manager.'
3 "The manager said to himself, 'What shall I do, since my master is taking the management away from me? I am not strong enough to dig; I am ashamed to beg.
4 "I know what I shall do, so that when I am removed from the management people will welcome me into their homes.'
5 "And he summoned each one of his master's debtors, and he began saying to the first, 'How much do you owe my master?'
6 "And he said, 'A hundred measures of oil.' And he said to him, 'Take your bill, and sit down quickly and write fifty.'
7 "Then he said to another, 'And how much do you owe?' And he said, 'A hundred measures of wheat.' He *said to him, 'Take your bill, and write eighty.'
8 "And his master praised the unrighteous manager because he had acted shrewdly; for the sons of this age are more shrewd in relation to their own kind than the sons of light.
9 "And I say to you, make friends for yourselves by means of the wealth of unrighteousness, so that when it fails, they will receive you into the eternal dwellings.
10 "He who is faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much; and he who is unrighteous in a very little thing is unrighteous also in much.
11 "Therefore if you have not been faithful in the use of unrighteous wealth, who will entrust the true riches to you?
12 "And if you have not been faithful in the use of that which is another's, who will give you that which is your own?
13 "No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth."
Important Information
Author:
- The physician Luke who is also the author of acts. (both books were addressed to Theophilus)
Date written:
- Sometime between A.D. 70 and A.D. 90
Purpose:
- Luke tells us his purpose in Lk 1:1-4 He writes in a mostly chronological order. The Book of Luke and Acts should be considered together as a two volume work. Some see the purpose as an apologetic as well and maybe even political. (to soothe the Roman politicians of the day)
Intended audience:
- Mostly Gentiles. Although in this section Jesus is talking to religious leaders of the day and his disciples.
Main characters:
- In Lk 16:1-8 the main characters are a rich man, the rich man's manager, and some of the debtors of the rich man. In Lk 16:9-13 the main character is Jesus as he provides follow up and instruction based on the parable.
Type of Literature:
- Luke is in Gospel format but The Bible Background Commentary states that Luke's style is more in the line of a historical writing than a biographical writing. However Lk 16:1-8 is a parable and must be treated accordingly.
Main theme(s) of these verses:
- To truly answer this, one must know the full meaning of the parable but at first glance it seems Jesus is discussing how to deal with money. (I know there is more to it!)
Initial Observations
Things emphasized
- the people of this age are shrewder in relating to their own kind than the people of the light. (believers!?)
- We are to use the wealth of unrighteousness well!
- How can we expect more if we don't treat well what already have?
- At the same time we cannot serve two masters. We cannot serve both God and money.
Things Alike-Comparisons
- Obviously the parable has some comparisons in it but I must look deeper to say anything concrete.
- It is true (generally) that how we treat the little things is how we (I) will treat the big things.
Terms of Conclusion
- Lk 16:13 seems to be the statement of conclusion. (as are Lk 16:11-12 )
Cause and Effect
- If we make friends by means of the wealth of unrighteousness we will be received by these friends in the eternal dwellings. BUT I don't know what this means!
- If we have not been faithful in the use of unrighteous wealth how will be entrusted with the true riches?
- If we are not faithful with that which is not our own how will be given that which is our own?
Textual Context
- Immediately after in Lk 16:19-30 Jesus tells another story (or parable?) concerning use of wealth. Are they related? (there is a bigger picture to this story as well!)
Bibliography
- God's Word: Today's Bible Translation That Means What It Says Holiday, FL: Green Key Books, n.d.. WORDsearch CROSS e-book.
- – Holman Christian Standard Bible Nashville: Holman Bible, 1999. WORDsearch CROSS e-book.
- – Holman Christian Standard Bible Nashville: Holman Bible, 1999. WORDsearch CROSS e-book.
- Keener, Craig S. The IVP Bible Background Commentary – New Testament. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1993. WORDsearch CROSS e-book.
- Holy Bible, New American Standard La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995. WORDsearch CROSS e-book.
- The Holy Bible: New King James Version Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1988. WORDsearch CROSS e-book.
- Pfeiffer, Charles F. and Everett F. Harrison, ed. The Wycliffe Bible Commentary. Chicago: Moody Bible Institute, 1990. WORDsearch CROSS e-book.
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