ST LUKE
CHAPTER 16
Jesus gives the parable of the unjust steward—He teaches of service and condemns divorce—He gives the parable of the rich man and Lazarus.
1 AND he [ Christ. ] 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.
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.
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.
4 I am resolved what to do, that, when I am put out of the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses.
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?
6 And he said, An hundred measures of oil. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and sit down quickly, and write fifty.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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?
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.
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.
16 The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it.
18 Whosoever putteth away his wife, and marrieth another, committeth adultery: and whosoever marrieth her that is put away from her husband committeth adultery.
---Start Parable of the rich man and the beggar ---
19 ¶ There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple [ Purple is known as a ‘royal' color because it was the hardest dye to extract. It came from sea snails, so only royalty could afford it.] and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:
21 And desiring to be fed with the crumbs [What was life like for Lazarus? Probably a life of depression and misery] which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.
22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels [Note who took the beggar home.] into Abraham’s bosom: [Where is Abraham's bosom? It is an exalted paradise where Abraham dwells, it is where the just of all of the ages dwell so what do we know about Lazuras? He was a good member of the church that was diligent in keeping God's commandments] the rich man also died, [Notice the contrast of how non-chalant it is said "he died & was burried", notice the contrast to all the detail about Lazuras. Who probly had the biggest funeral? Who had the most people come to their funeral? Lazuras most likely just had the branch president and the Relief society President. The Savior puts it all in context. What is also interesting is where Jesus got this story from. There is a classical Egyptian story from around this, roughly around this time period of a powerful Egyptian magician who his father sees someone who's poor and someone who's wealthy and thinks that, you know, the poor guy feels so bad for him and the wealthy guy, he's great. So his magician son, in order to teach his father, takes him to the afterlife and shows him what happens in the next life. He shows him how the poor man is doing well and the rich man isn't and so on.
In the Egyptian story the poor man is with Osiris, right? The Savior retells that same story, only he calls it Lazarus and the rich man, and Lazarus is in Abraham's bosom. Right. Jesus has just taken an Egyptian story and reinterpreted it in a Jewish way. So Jesus, as a Jew, took an Egyptian story and instead of saying this was about Osiris, He said, he's in Abraham's bosom(instead of living with Osiris). it does not matter how many come to your funeral; want matters is what? How good of life you have lived.] and was buried;
23 And in hell he [ The rich man. ] lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
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.
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,[Who got the better deal? Mortality is just a moment, those that endure it well will receive blessings for eternity. ] and thou art tormented.
26 And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed:[ There is a border or boundry fixed in paradise and the spirits of the righteous are not mixed with the spirits of the un-righteous. Story of Papa before he died, his mom visited him. Told him she would be coming to get him, he said he had to clear up a few things. He asked why Parnell could not help her raise Levi? She said Parnell was in a different place. The only spirits on the good side are those that have had their Temple ordinances done, they live as families. We do not recognize the power of God - because if God went to the spirits on the other side - those that were not worthy of his presence would be consumed.] so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.