From :
The Geneva Bible
New Testament ,
The Holy Gospel Of Jesus Christ,
According To Luke Chapter 16
1 The parable of the steward accused to his master.
13 To serve two masters.
16 The Law and the Prophets.
19 Of Lives and Lazarus.
1 And he said also unto his disciples, (1) (*) There
was a certain rich man, which had a steward, and
he was accused unto him, that he wasted his
goods.
(1) Seeing that men oftentimes purchase
friendship to themselves, by other men's costs, it
is a shame for us, if with a free and liberal
bestowing of the goods which the Lord hath given
us to that purpose, we do not please him, nor
procure the good will of our neighbors, seeing that
by this only means, riches, which are oftentimes
occasions of sin, are turned to another end and
purpose.
(*) Christ teacheth hereby, that likewise as he
which is in authority and hath riches, if he get
friends in his prosperity, may be relieved in his
adversity; so our liberality towards our neighbor
shall stand us in such stead at the day of judgment
that God will accept it as done unto him.
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 master taketh away from me
the stewardship. I cannot dig, and to beg I am
ashamed.
4 I know what I will do, that when I am put out
of the stewardship, they may receive me into their
houses.
5 Then called he unto him every one of his
master's debtors, and said unto the first, How
much owest thou unto my master?
6 And he said, A hundred measures of oil. And he
said to him, Take thy writing, and sit down quickly,
and write fifty.
7 Then said he to another, How much owest thou?
And he said, A hundred measures of wheat. Then
he said to him, Take thy writing and write
fourscore.
8 And the Lord commended (*) the (a) unjust
steward, because he had done wisely. Wherefore
the (b) children of this world are in their
generation wiser than the children of light.
(*) God, who doeth here represent the master of
the house, doeth rather commend the prodigal
waste of his goods, and the liberal giving of the
same to the poor, than the strait keeping and
hording of them.
(a) This parable doth not approve the steward's
naughty dealing, for it was very theft; but parables
are set forth, to shew a thing in a covertly, and as
it were, under a figure to represent the truth,
though it agree not thoroughly with the matter
itself; so that Christ meaneth by this parable to
teach us, that worldly men are more heady in the
affairs of this world, than the children of God are
careful for everlasting life.
(b) Men that are given to this present life,
contrary to whom the children of light are set;
Paul calleth those spiritual, and the other carnal.
9 And I say unto you, Make you friends (*) with
the riches (c) of iniquity, that when ye shall
want, they may receive you into everlasting (d)
habitations.
(*) That is, either wickedly gotten or wickedly
kept, or wickedly spent; and hereby we be
warned to suspect riches which for the most part
are an occasion to their possessors of great
wickedness.
(c) This is not spoken of goods that are evil
gotten, for God will have our bountifulness to the
poor, proceed and come from a good fountain,
but he calleth those riches of iniquity, which men
use naughtily.
(d) To wit, the poor Christians; for they are the
inheritors of these Tabernacles, Theophylact.
10 (2) He that is faithful in the least, he is also
faithful in much; and he that is unjust in the least,
is unjust also in much.
(2) We ought to take heed that for abusing our
earthly function and duty, we be not deprived of
heavenly gifts; for how can they use spiritual gifts
aright, who abuse worldly things?
11 If then ye have not been faithful in (*) the
wicked riches, who will trust you in the (e) true
treasure?
(*) They which can not well bestow our worldly
goods, will bestow evil spiritual treasures and
therefore they ought not to be committed unto
them.
(e) That is, heavenly and true riches; which are
contrary to worldly and flitting substance.
12 And if ye have not been faithful in (f) (*)
another man's goods, who shall give you that
which is () yours?
(f) In worldly goods, which are called other
men's, because they are committed to our credit.
(*) As are riches and such like things, which God
hath given not for ourselves only, but to bestow
upon others.
() Christ calleth the gifts which he giveth unto us,
ours.
13 (*) (3) No servant can serve two masters; for
either he shall hate the one, and love the other, or
else he shall lean to the one, and despise the
other. Ye cannot serve God and riches.
(*) Matthew 6:24 .
(3) No man can love God and riches together.
14 All these things heard the Pharisees also which
were covetous, and they (*) scoffed at him.
(*) Because they judged no man happy, but those
that were rich.
15 (4) Then 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
be hidden to men, yea although they be hidden to
them whose sins they are.
(*) Which love outward appearance, and vain
glory.
16 (*) (5) The Law and the Prophets endured
until John; and since that time the kingdom of God
is preached, and every man () presseth into it.
(*) Matthew 11:12 .
(5) The Pharisees despised the excellency of the
new Covenant, in respect of the old, being ignorant
of the perfect righteousness of the Law, and how
false expounders they were of the Law, Christ
declareth by the seventh Commandment.
() Their zeal is so inflamed, that they follow the
Gospel without respect of worldly things.
17 (*) Now it is more easy that heaven and earth
should pass away, than that one title of the Law
should fall.
(*) Matthew 5:18 .
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.
(*) Matthew 5:32; Matthew 19:9;
1 Corinthians 7:11 .
(g) They that gather by this place, that a man
cannot be married again after he hath put away
his wife for adultery, while she liveth, reason
fondly; for Christ speaketh of those divorces
which the Jews used, of which sort we cannot
take the divorcement for adultery, for adulterers
were put to death by the Law.
() That is, which is not lawfully divorced.
19 ¶ (6) There was a (*) certain rich man, which
was clothed in (h) purple and fine linen, and fared
well and delicately every day.
(6) The end of the poverty and misery of the
godly, shall be everlasting joy; as the end of
riotousness and cruel pride of the rich shall be
everlasting misery, without all hope of mercy.
(*) By this story is declared what punishment they
shall have, which live deliciously and neglect the
poor.
(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 dear as gold.
20 Also there was a certain beggar named
Lazarus, which was laid at his gate full of sores.
21 And desired to be refreshed with the crumbs
that fell from the rich man's table; yea, and the
dogs came and licked his sores.
22 And it was so that the beggar died, and was
carried by the Angels into (*) Abraham's ()
bosom. The rich man also died, and was buried.
(*) As the fathers in the old Law were said to be
gathered into the bosom of Abraham, because
they received the fruit of the same faith with him;
so in the New Testament we say that the
members of Christ are joined to their head, or
gathered unto him.
() Whereby is signified that most blessed life,
which they that die in the faith that Abraham did,
shall enjoy after this world.
23 And being in hell in torments, (i) he lifted up
his eyes, and saw Abraham afar off, and
Lazarus in his bosom.
(i) Heavenly and spiritual things are expressed,
and set forth under colors and resemblances fit
for our senses.
24 Then 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.
(*) Christ describeth spiritual things by such
manner of speech, as is most proper to our
understanding for our souls have neither fingers
nor eyes, neither are they thirsty or speak; but the
Lord as it were in a table, painteth forth the state
of the light to come, as our capacity is able to
comprehend it.
25 But Abraham said, (*) Son, remember that
thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy () pleasures,
and likewise Lazarus () pains; now therefore is
he comforted, and thou art tormented.
(*) In calling him son, he taunteth his vain
boasting, who in his life vaunted himself to be the
son of Abraham; warning us also hereby how
little glorious titles avail.
() Or, good things.
() Or, evil things.
26 Besides all this, between you and us there is a
great (*) gulf set, so that they which would go
from hence to you, cannot, neither can they
come from thence to us.
(*) Or, swallowing pit.
27 (7) 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 unto us in the word of God, rashly
and vainly do men seek for other revelation.
28 (For I have five brethren) that he may testify
unto them, lest they also come into this place of
torment.
29 Abraham said unto him, They have Moses and
the (*) Prophets; let them () hear them.
(*) Which declareth that it is to late to be
instructed by the dead, if in their lifetime they
cannot profit by the lively word of God.
() As faith cometh by God's word, so is it
maintained by the same. So that neither we ought
to look for Angels from heaven, or the dead to
confirm us therein, but only the word of God is
sufficient to life everlasting.
30 And he said, Nay father Abraham, but if one
come unto them from the dead, they will amend
their lives.
31 Then he said unto him, If they hear not Moses
and the Prophets, neither will they be persuaded,
though one rise from the dead again.
Gospel of Luke with Footnotes :
http://www.genevabible.org/files/Geneva_Bible/New_Testament/Luke_F.pdf
Geneva Bible With Footnotes
http://www.genevabible.org/Geneva.html
Calvin
http://www.reformed.org/books/institutes/entire.html
