Luke 16

1 Ref He also said to his disciples, "There was a certain rich man who had a manager. An accusation was made to him that this man was wasting his possessions.

2 Ref He called him, and said to him, 'What is this that I hear about you? Give an accounting of your management, for you can no longer be manager.'

3 Ref "The manager said within himself, 'What will I do, seeing that my lord is taking away the management position from me? I don't have strength to dig. I am ashamed to beg.

4 Ref I know what I will do, so that when I am removed from management, they may receive me into their houses.'

5 Ref Calling each one of his lord's debtors to him, he said to the first, 'How much do you owe to my lord?'

6 Ref He said, 'A hundred batos{100 batos is about 395 litres, 104 U. S. gallons, or 87 imperial gallons.} of oil.' He said to him, 'Take your bill, and sit down quickly and write fifty.'

7 Ref Then said he to another, 'How much do you owe?' He said, 'A hundred cors{ 100 cors = about 3,910 litres or 600 bushels. } of wheat.' He said to him, 'Take your bill, and write eighty.'

8 Ref "His lord commended the dishonest manager because he had done wisely, for the children of this world are, in their own generation, wiser than the children of the light.

9 Ref I tell you, make for yourselves friends by means of unrighteous mammon, so that when you fail, they may receive you into the eternal tents.

10 Ref He who is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much. He who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much.

11 Ref If therefore you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?

12 Ref If you have not been faithful in that which is another's, who will give you that which is your own?

13 Ref No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to one, and despise the other. You aren't able to serve God and mammon{"Mammon" refers to riches or a false god of wealth.}."

14 Ref The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, also heard all these things, and they scoffed at him.

15 Ref He said to them, "You are those who justify yourselves in the sight of men, but God knows your hearts. For that which is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God.

16 Ref The law and the prophets were until John. From that time the Gospel of the Kingdom of God is preached, and everyone is forcing his way into it.

17 Ref But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away, than for one tiny stroke of a pen in the law to fall.

18 Ref Everyone who divorces his wife, and marries another, commits adultery. He who marries one who is divorced from a husband commits adultery.

19 Ref "Now there was a certain rich man, and he was clothed in purple and fine linen, living in luxury every day.

20 Ref A certain beggar, named Lazarus, was laid at his gate, full of sores,

21 Ref and desiring to be fed with the crumbs that fell from the rich man's table. Yes, even the dogs came and licked his sores.

22 Ref It happened that the beggar died, and that he was carried away by the angels to Abraham's bosom. The rich man also died, and was buried.

23 Ref In Hades, he lifted up his eyes, being in torment, and saw Abraham far off, and Lazarus at his bosom.

24 Ref 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 in anguish in this flame.'

25 Ref "But Abraham said, 'Son, remember that you, in your lifetime, received your good things, and Lazarus, in like manner, bad things. But now here he is comforted and you are in anguish.

26 Ref Besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, that those who want to pass from here to you are not able, and that none may cross over from there to us.'

27 "He said, 'I ask you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father's house;

28 Ref for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, so they won't also come into this place of torment.'

29 Ref "But Abraham said to him, 'They have Moses and the prophets. Let them listen to them.'

30 Ref "He said, 'No, father Abraham, but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.'

31 Ref "He said to him, 'If they don't listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if one rises from the dead.'"

Chapter 16 of 24

Begin Your Journey of Faith

We all start at different points in our walk with Christ. No matter where you are, we're here to support you as you grow in faith.

Accept Jesus Christ as Your Savior

If you haven’t made the decision to follow Jesus yet, we want to walk with you as you discover the new life He offers.

Read "A Truly Free Gift"

What Guides Our Walk With Christ

Discover the biblical truths and core beliefs that shape how we live, serve, and walk faithfully with Christ each day.

Explore Our Beliefs

Join a Community of Believers

Don’t walk through life alone. Find others to connect with, whether in person or online, and grow together in Christ.

Discover Where We Meet