Prior Book | Prior Chapter | Prior Verse | Next Verse | Next Chapter | Next Book | Viewing NASB and Amplified 2015 | |
NASB | Luke 16:9 "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. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Luke 16:9 "And I tell you [learn from this], make friends for yourselves [for eternity] by means of the wealth of unrighteousness [that is, use material resources as a way to further the work of God], so that when it runs out, they will welcome you into the eternal dwellings. |
Subject: What does Luke 16 mean? I don't get it. |
Bible Note: I would link this parable to another one - the ungrateful servant. In that parable, we see ourselves, who, being forgiven our sins by the atoning sacrifice of Christ on the cross, then take hold of others for the small debts they owe us and demand every "penny". This unjust steward practiced the Lord's prayer "Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors" better than we, the church often do. Remember, it was the sinner who went away justified after pouring his heart out to God, not the Pharisee, who was proud he was not so bad off. Where our treasure is, there will our heart be also. Picture Mary cradling Jesus in her arms. Can anyone doubt who her Treasure was? Or where her heart was? So too should our Treasure be. Then our heart is always in Him, the living Christ, and, therefore, and come and reside within us. We will then give up all things to follow Him. Do not ask for temporal things - for He knows our needs. Simply live according to His Way - Love Him, and keep His commandments. "You cannot serve both God and Mammon". The sinner in the Luke 16 parable held on less tightly to mammon than we Christians. Always return to the 10 Commandments. Thou shalt not covet. Love God, keep His Commandments, confess them regularly, for we break them in our hearts and minds continually. Know that without the sacrifice of the Holy Lamb of God upon the Cross, your confession would be of no avail, but becuase of His sufferings, death, and resurrection, so shall we spend eternity in His presence. That is our reward for simply being His. And since we are His, we glady receive all things from Him. Therefore, we need covet nothing from man, nor even demand just payments from man. Love thine enemies, pray for those who persecute, bless those who curse you, and yes, be cheated even out of what you are owed, since, in the end, we all owe a debt to Christ that we can never repay. "And now, I give you a new commandment, that you should love one another as I have loved you". "Greater love hath no man than this, than that he should lay down his life for his friends". Go to Christ in prayer in these last days, and ask Him how you, as the grateful servant of the Living Christ, can live this out in all boldness (Acts 4). |