Luke 16:7 - Then he said to another, ‘How much do you owe?’ He said, ‘A hundred cors of wheat.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill, and write eighty.’
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What does "Luke 16:7" mean?
This verse is part of the Parable of the Unjust Steward (also sometimes called the Parable of the Dishonest Manager) found in Luke 16:1-13. To understand the meaning of Luke 16:7, we need to consider it within the context of the parable as a whole.
Here's a breakdown of the verse and its significance:
"Then he said to another, ‘How much do you owe?’": The "he" here refers to the dishonest steward/manager. He's already made a deal with one debtor, and now he's approaching another. He's trying to secure his future after he gets fired.
"He said, ‘A hundred cors of wheat.’": This debtor owes the master a significant amount of wheat. A "cor" was a large unit of measure, roughly equivalent to 10 bushels or 110 gallons. A hundred cors would be a very large debt, suggesting this debtor was likely a tenant farmer or a merchant.
"He said to him, ‘Take your bill, and write eighty.’": The steward instructs the debtor to reduce the amount owed on the bill by 20%, lowering it to 80 cors. He's again reducing the debt without the master's knowledge or consent, further demonstrating his dishonesty.
Meaning and Interpretation:
The key point is the unjust steward's dishonest action of reducing debts. His goal isn't to do the right thing, but to ingratiate himself with the master's debtors so that they will help him when he is fired.
Here's how the verse contributes to the overall meaning of the parable:
Emphasis on Cleverness, Not Morality: The parable isn't praising dishonesty. Instead, it's highlighting the shrewdness and resourcefulness of the steward, even in his wrongdoing. Jesus is using this as a contrast to the lack of diligence and foresight that his followers often show in spiritual matters.
Preparation for the Future: The steward is using the resources at his disposal, however dishonestly, to prepare for his future unemployment. Jesus is challenging his listeners to be equally wise in using earthly resources to secure their eternal future.
Use of Worldly Wealth Wisely: The parable encourages us to use worldly wealth to gain friends and influence for eternal purposes. This could mean using our resources to support those in need, spread the Gospel, or otherwise contribute to God's kingdom.
In short, the verse illustrates the steward's continued dishonesty and his clever manipulation of the system for his own benefit. Jesus uses this example to challenge his followers to be as wise and resourceful in pursuing their spiritual goals as the steward was in pursuing his selfish ones.
The Master's Reaction and the Lesson:
Importantly, after discovering the steward's actions, the master commends the steward for his shrewdness (Luke 16:8). This isn't an endorsement of dishonesty, but a recognition of the steward's strategic thinking.
The overall lesson of the parable is not to be dishonest, but to be as diligent, resourceful, and forward-thinking in using earthly wealth to build a relationship with God as the steward was in preparing for his earthly future. In other words, to put as much energy and thought into our spiritual lives as the unjust steward put into his corrupt scheme.
Luke 16:7 - Then he said to another, ‘How much do you owe?’ He said, ‘A hundred cors of wheat.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill, and write eighty.’
What does "Luke 16:7" mean?
This verse is part of the Parable of the Unjust Steward (also sometimes called the Parable of the Dishonest Manager) found in Luke 16:1-13. To understand the meaning of Luke 16:7, we need to consider it within the context of the parable as a whole.
Here's a breakdown of the verse and its significance:
"Then he said to another, ‘How much do you owe?’": The "he" here refers to the dishonest steward/manager. He's already made a deal with one debtor, and now he's approaching another. He's trying to secure his future after he gets fired.
"He said, ‘A hundred cors of wheat.’": This debtor owes the master a significant amount of wheat. A "cor" was a large unit of measure, roughly equivalent to 10 bushels or 110 gallons. A hundred cors would be a very large debt, suggesting this debtor was likely a tenant farmer or a merchant.
"He said to him, ‘Take your bill, and write eighty.’": The steward instructs the debtor to reduce the amount owed on the bill by 20%, lowering it to 80 cors. He's again reducing the debt without the master's knowledge or consent, further demonstrating his dishonesty.
Meaning and Interpretation:
The key point is the unjust steward's dishonest action of reducing debts. His goal isn't to do the right thing, but to ingratiate himself with the master's debtors so that they will help him when he is fired.
Here's how the verse contributes to the overall meaning of the parable:
Emphasis on Cleverness, Not Morality: The parable isn't praising dishonesty. Instead, it's highlighting the shrewdness and resourcefulness of the steward, even in his wrongdoing. Jesus is using this as a contrast to the lack of diligence and foresight that his followers often show in spiritual matters.
Preparation for the Future: The steward is using the resources at his disposal, however dishonestly, to prepare for his future unemployment. Jesus is challenging his listeners to be equally wise in using earthly resources to secure their eternal future.
Use of Worldly Wealth Wisely: The parable encourages us to use worldly wealth to gain friends and influence for eternal purposes. This could mean using our resources to support those in need, spread the Gospel, or otherwise contribute to God's kingdom.
In short, the verse illustrates the steward's continued dishonesty and his clever manipulation of the system for his own benefit. Jesus uses this example to challenge his followers to be as wise and resourceful in pursuing their spiritual goals as the steward was in pursuing his selfish ones.
The Master's Reaction and the Lesson:
Importantly, after discovering the steward's actions, the master commends the steward for his shrewdness (Luke 16:8). This isn't an endorsement of dishonesty, but a recognition of the steward's strategic thinking.
The overall lesson of the parable is not to be dishonest, but to be as diligent, resourceful, and forward-thinking in using earthly wealth to build a relationship with God as the steward was in preparing for his earthly future. In other words, to put as much energy and thought into our spiritual lives as the unjust steward put into his corrupt scheme.