16:1 And he said also unto his disciples, 1 There was a
certain rich man, which had a steward; and the same was
accused unto him that he had wasted his goods.
(1) Seeing that men often purchase friendship for themselves at
the expense of others, we are to be ashamed if we do not
please the Lord or procure the good will of our neighbours
with the goods which the Lord has bestowed on us freely and
liberally, making sure that by this means riches, which are
often occasions of sin, are used for another end and
purpose.
16:8 And the lord commended a the unjust steward, because he
had done wisely: for the b children of this world are in
their generation wiser than the children of light.
(a) This parable does not approve the steward's evil
dealing, for it was definitely theft: but parables are
set forth to show a thing in a secret way, and as it
were, to present the truth by means of an allegory,
even though it may not be exact: so that by this
parable Christ means to teach us that worldly men are
more clever in the affairs of this world than the
children of God are diligent for everlasting life.
(b) Men that are given to this present life, contrary to
whom are the children of light: Paul calls the
former carnal and the latter spiritual.
16:9 And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the
mammon c of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may
receive you into everlasting d habitations.
(c) This is not spoken of goods that are gotten wrongly,
for God will have our bountifulness to the poor proceed
and come from a good fountain: but he calls those
things riches of iniquity which men use wickedly.
(d) That is, the poor Christians: for they are the
inheritors of these habitations; Theophylact.
16:102 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.
(2) We ought to take heed that we do not abuse our earthly
work and duty and so be deprived of heavenly gifts: for
how can they properly use spiritual gifts who abuse worldly
things?
16:11 If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous
mammon, who will commit to your trust the c true
[riches]?
(c) That is, heavenly and true riches, which are contrary
to material wealth which is worldly and quickly
departing.
16:12 And if ye have not been faithful in that which is f
another man's, who shall give you that which is your own?
(f) In worldly goods, which are called other men's because
they are not ours, but rather entrusted to our care.
16:133 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.
(3) No man can love God and riches simultaneously.
16:154 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.
(4) Our sins are not hidden to God, although they may be hidden
to men, yea although they may be hidden to those who
committed them.
16:165 The law and the prophets [were] until John: since that
time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man
presseth into it.
(5) The Pharisees despised the excellency of the new covenant
with respect to the old, being ignorant of the perfect
righteousness of the law; and Christ declares by the
seventh commandment how they were false expounders of
the law.
16:18 Whosoever putteth away his wife, and marrieth another,
committeth adultery: and whosoever marrieth her g that
is put away from [her] husband committeth adultery.
(g) They that gather by this passage that a man cannot be
married again after he has divorced his wife for
adultery, while she lives, reason incorrectly: for
Christ speaks of those divorces which the Jews had
which were not because of adultery, for adulterers
were put to death by the law.
16:196 There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in h
purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:
(6) The end of the poverty and misery of the godly will be
everlasting joy, as the end of riotous living and the cruel
pride of the rich will be everlasting misery, without any hope
of mercy.
(h) Very gorgeously and sumptuously, for purple garments
were costly, and this fine linen, which was a kind of
linen that came out of Achaia, was as precious as gold.
16:23 And in hell i he lift up his eyes, being in torments,
and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
(i) Heavenly and spiritual things are expressed and set
forth using language fit for our senses.
16:277 Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou
wouldest send him to my father's house:
(7) Seeing that we have a most sure rule to live by, laid forth
for us in the word of God, men seek rashly and vainly for
other revelations.
