In today’s study our titles are; Verses 1-18 The parable of the dishonest steward. Verses 19-31 The rich man and Lazareth. Remembering just what a parable is from the last chapter and who it is directed at, God’s Elect. Luke 16 and verse 1 reads.
Luke 16:1] And he said also unto his disciples, There was a certain rich man, which had a steward; and the same was accused unto him that he had wasted his goods.
In this parable the rich man is God, and the word Wasted is embezzled. This steward is guilty of filthy lucre.
Luke 16:2] And he called him, and said unto him, How is it that I hear this of thee? give an account of thy stewardship; for thou mayest be no longer steward.
Stewardship is management. Let’s go to 1Peter 4 and verse 5 reads.
1Pet.4:5] Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead.
Are you ready to give your account to the LORD, who is the only One able to judge the living and the dead, this is spiritually speaking of your soul.
1Pet.4:6] For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.
When Jesus was in the tomb for three days, he went to those in prison (those on the other side of the gulf) and many were saved.
1Pet.4:7] But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.
[8] And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.
Charity is Love. This steward was just fired for mismanaging the affairs of a rich man. Back to Luke 16 and verse 3 reads.
Luke 16:3] Then the steward said within himself, What shall I do? for my lord taketh away from me the stewardship: I cannot dig; to beg I am ashamed.
More worried about himself than who he worked for. This was the problem to begin with and now he is too ashamed to beg or dig ditches. Seems he was a little lazy to begin with and will now plot a way out.
Luke 16:4] I am resolved what to do, that, when I am put out of the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses.
Now he’ll have to find a couch to sleep on.
Luke 16:5] So he called every one of his lord’s debtors unto him, and said unto the first, How much owest thou unto my lord?
Think of today’s churches and false teachers.
Luke 16:6] And he said, An hundred measures of oil. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and sit down quickly, and write fifty.
Gave him a fifty percent discount.
Luke 16:7] Then said he to another, And how much owest thou? And he said, An hundred measures of wheat. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and write fourscore.
Gave this man an eighty percent discount. He must have had a swimming pool at his house.
Luke 16:8] And the lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely: for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light.
The lord gave the unjust steward credit for being wiser than the debtors. Because the debt was still against those that owed, this steward made money off of them before he left. Now, read that last part more carefully and you will be given an example for us in these end times. First, whenever you hear (ears to hear) Generation, you should automatically think of the generation of the fig tree. It says, the children of this world are wiser than the children of Light. In other words; the Serpent’s seed are wiser than the woman’s seed. This is true, it is the woman’s seed that are deceived in these end times.
Luke 16:9] And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations.
In Luke 15 we explained that parables are for the Elect in the end times to understand. This verse 9 proves this by Jesus’s choice of words. Let’s start with the word Mammon, G3126 mammōnas pronounced mam-mo-nas’. And means; mammonas that is avarice (deified). 3. riches (where it is personified and opposed to God). Let’s look at this word Avarice, it is an extreme, insatiable desire to gain and hoard wealth or material possessions, in other words; Greed. Now let’s look at this word Deified, it means; to elevate, worship, or treat someone or something as if they were god (lower case). It comes from the Latin word Deus, to make a god. Also, Jesus is speaking Greek and chose a Chaldean word to show us this is meant for those in the end times when the king of Babylon (Satan) would be here claiming to be Christ but is the antichrist. Now let’s look at that fact Jesus said “The mammon of unrighteousness, that, when you fall, you may receive you into everlasting habitations”. That is what we call Hell, the lake of fire at the end of the millennium. It is as everlasting as everlasting life, meaning it is forever, it is the death of the soul. Now we can understand 1Timothy 6 and verse 6 reads.
1Tim.6:6] But godliness with contentment is great gain.
[7] For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.
[8] And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.
[9] But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.
[10] For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
The only thing that you can take with you are your good works. It is not a material thing, but godliness. We are rich in faith, and nothing of this world follows us to heaven. Back to Luke 16 and verse 10 reads.
Luke 16:10] He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.
Luke speaks more on this in chapter 19, when he had given to one 1 pound and received 10 pounds in return, he says this in verse 16 and it reads.
Luke 19:16] Then came the first, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds.
[17] And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities.
This Elect was a doer of his will. Back to Luke 16 and verse 11 reads.
Luke 16:11] If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?
[12] And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man’s, who shall give you that which is your own?
It is hard to plant seeds in an established church, more interested in the traditions of men than the Word of God. Let’s go to 1Peter 1 and verse 3 reads.
1Pet.1:3] Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
[4] To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,
[5] Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
The fifth trump, which we are in now, is a time for eyes and ears to be opened to his Word. The famine of the end times (Amos 8:11) is for the world and not for God’s Elect. He will open our eyes (revealed) in the last time. Do not overlook it is for our Salvation. Back to Luke 16 and verse 13 reads.
Luke 16:13] No servant can serve two masters: for 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.
Remember mammon is evil, look at the churches today. They teach the rapture doctrine as if it is the word of God. They are liars, false teachers, an evil that has invaded the churches today. Let’s go to Galatians 1 and verse 8 reads.
Gal.1:8] But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
Remember, many antichrists are in the world today. Antichrist means; instead of Christ.
Gal.1:9] As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.
[10] For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.
And then that person has become an antichrist. Back to Luke 16 and verse 14 reads.
Luke 16:14] And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided him.
Look at this word Derided, G1592 and means; 1. to deride by turning up the nose, to sneer at, to scoff at. I tell you that God will not be mocked or scoffed at. But we must remember that these Pharisees are Kenites, noted as covetous, in other words, men with great sins.
Luke 16:15] And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.
Jesus just called them an abomination in the sight of God. Let’s go to Matthew 6 and verse 1 reads.
Mat.6:1] Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.
[2] Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
[3] But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:
[4] That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.
[5] And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
[6] But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
Their (The Pharisees) reward is to be received into everlasting habitation, Hell, damnation of their souls. Back to Luke 16 and verse 16 reads.
Luke 16:16] The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it.
Jesus spoke of this back in Luke 7 and verse 28 reads.
Luke 7:28] For I say unto you, Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist: but he that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.
Because the spirit is greater than flesh.
Luke 7:29] And all the people that heard him, and the publicans, justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John.
[30] But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized of him.
Back to Luke 16 and verse 17 reads.
Luke 16:17] And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail.
Because Jesus is the law, he is the Word that the prophets spoke. Let’s go to Matthew 5 and verse 17 reads.
Mat.5:17] Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
[18] For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
Here we have it again, this heaven and earth shall pass. This means this heaven and earth age, Ion in the Greek, and means; this earth age, a length of time. We have three heaven and earth ages. Check my study on the home page or in Topical Teachings titled Three Heaven and Earth Ages. Also, Genesis 1:1-2 in Daily Studies. Jesus is the Word of God and “For the Testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy” Rev.19:10. Back to Luke 16 and verse 18 reads.
Luke 16:18] Whosoever putteth away his wife, and marrieth another, committeth adultery: and whosoever marrieth her that is put away from her husband committeth adultery.
This does not pertain to Deuteronomy 22:22 where it says that if a man be found with a married woman, they shall both be put to death. This is saying that if two be divorced, it is adultery, a sin. Jesus came not into the world for judgement, but for Salvation. If you are a divorcee, repent and your sin shall be forgiven, or I teach in vain. Let’s go to Jeremiah 3 and verse 8 reads.
Jer.3:8] And I saw, when for all the causes whereby backsliding Israel committed adultery I had put her away, and given her a bill of divorce; yet her treacherous sister Judah feared not, but went and played the harlot also.
God is a divorcee period. The house of Israel and the house of Judah played the harlot and God divorced them both. So, why did Jesus bring this up? He wants all to know it is a sin, and for sin he requires repentance. Repent then and be forgiven. Now, we go into the parable of the Rich man and Lazarus. To understand this, we need to understand that paradise has two sides, those that overcome and those who haven’t. Remember sin cannot stand before God, therefore Jesus’s blood from on the cross cloaks our sins, and we that overcome by pronouncing that Jesus Christ is the Son of God are able to stand before God. Luke 16 and verse 19 reads.
Luke 16:19] There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:
He was dressed with royalty and was a big deal, within himself. I promise you that this fine linen will not be brought with him to heaven. For our works are the righteous acts that make up our fine linen.
Luke 16:20] And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,
[21] And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.
This man was poor and by the dogs licking his sores, was in need. Note that he begged at the rich man’s gate for crumbs. Did not say if he ever received any, but by what happens next, I’d say the rich man never fed him. For if he had, he would have received rewards.
Luke 16:22] And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;
Before we continue, I want to point out something that is written in the second book of Esdras. (Ezra in Hebrew) Of all the books of the Apocrypha, I cannot overlook this book. Other books, yes because they are not of God. But this book I cannot because it is written by the same writer of the book of Ezra. Ezra wrote in second Esdras chapter 7 from verse 77 and down, about this gulf we are speaking of here in Luke 16. In second Esdras 7:80 he notes there are seven ways of torments. The third way is described as this.
2Esdras 7:80] The third way, they will see the reward laid up for those who have believed the covenants of the Most High.
Now most Apocrypha do not include any of the verses past verse 70, I think for a sinister reason. It is because second Esdras is the Word of God and they are hiding the truth from the children of God. This is why I recommend the Edgar J. Goodspeed Apocrypha, it is the only complete version left. Ezra and Nehemiah both wrote the Masoretic Text, which corrected many of the false teachings of the Kenites that corrupted scripture as early as 1Chronicles 2:55. Back to Luke 16 and verse 23 reads.
Luke 16:23] And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
Hell is mostly used for the word grave. But here it is used for the place of, or state of, departed souls. G86. Torments should have been translated as torture or extreme shame. He could see Abraham and Lazarus afar off. We will see that he is able to speak to Abraham.
Luke 16:24] And 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 tormented in this flame.
I am ashamed to be on this side of the gulf. Please, he asks, let Lazarus dip his finger in the Living Water, Christ. Let’s go to Isaiah 66 and verse 24 reads.
Isa.66:24] And they shall go forth, and look upon the carcases of the men that have transgressed against me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh.
Abhorring to all that die in the flesh. When the flesh dies it returns to the dust from whence it comes, but the spirit returns to God that gave it, Ecc.12:7, but all return to paradise on one side or the other. In Zechariah 14 he gives a gross observance of the seventh trump when all flesh is done away with and all are turned to spiritual bodies. Zechariah 14 and verse 12 reads.
Zec.14:12] And this shall be the plague wherewith the LORD will smite all the people that have fought against Jerusalem; Their flesh shall consume away while they stand upon their feet, and their eyes shall consume away in their holes, and their tongue shall consume away in their mouth.
Back to Luke 16 and verse 25 reads.
Luke 16:25] But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.
Let’s go to James 5 and verse 1 reads.
James 5:1] Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you.
[2] Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten.
[3] Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days.
[4] Behold, the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth.
[5] Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter.
[6] Ye have condemned and killed the just; and he doth not resist you.
What you sow, that you reap. Back to Luke 16 and verse 26 reads.
Luke 16:26] And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.
Here is the proof that there is a gulf between the right side and the left side of paradise. Heaven, paradise, has two sides. Whether good, bad or ugly, all when they die go to paradise. No one is still in the grave as some preachers teach, they are false teachers and you should not be in their churches. But find my study called, “Where are the dead”? in Topical Teachings.
Luke 16:27] Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father’s house:
[28] For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.
This rich man had compassion for his own brothers. But if only he had compassion on the poor man that begged at his gate.
Luke 16:29] Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.
They have the law and the prophets, but they didn’t believe in the Word of God. Let’s go to Isaiah 8 and verse 19 reads.
Isa.8:19] And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to the dead?
[20] To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.
They have no Light, Jesus Christ, they are unbelievers. Back to Luke 16 and verse 30 reads.
Luke 16:30] And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.
Jesus is telling this parable himself. He knew that he himself would be crucified and be raised from the dead on the third day. How is it that this rich man is confident that his brothers would repent? Knowing that it takes repentance for Salvation shows us here that this rich man received his knowledge of times of Old, that is taken when we come through the law of Water.
Luke 16:31] And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.
Let’s go to John 5 and verse 45 reads.
John 5:45] Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust.
[46] For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me.
[47] But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?
Now let’s go to John 12 and verse 10 reads.
John 12:10] But the chief priests consulted that they might put Lazarus also to death;
[11] Because that by reason of him many of the Jews went away, and believed on Jesus.
We see here in Luke 16 that there is indeed a gulf, a separation or judgement at the time of death of the flesh. These would be those that do not overcome, Jesus visited the other side of the gulf at the time of his death, he went and many were saved. Let’s go to 1Peter 3 and verse 18 reads.
1Pet.3:18] For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:
[19] By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison;
Great chapter, let’s go to his throne.
Father, we thank you for your word and ask that you bless all that love you in Jesus’s precious name, Amen.
KJV along with The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of The Bible