translation_id: net-engnet

book_id: LUK

label: NET study note

text: His manager was the steward in charge of managing the house. He could have been a slave trained for the role.


text: Although phrased as a question, the charges were believed by the owner, as his dismissal of the manager implies.


text: Thinking ahead, the manager develops a plan to make people think kindly of him ( welcome me into their homes ).


text: A measure (sometimes translated “bath”) was just over 8 gallons (about 30 liters). This is a large debt – about 875 gallons (3000 liters) of olive oil, worth 1000 denarii, over three year’s pay for a daily worker.


text: The bill was halved ( sit down quickly, and write fifty ). What was the steward doing? This is debated. 1) Did he simply lower the price? 2) Did he remove interest from the debt? 3) Did he remove his own commission? It is hard to be sure. Either of the latter two options is more likely. The goal was clear: The manager would be seen in a favorable light for bringing a deflationary trend to prices.


text: The hundred measures here was a hundreds cors. A cor was a Hebrew dry measure for grain, flour, etc., of between 10-12 bushels (about 390 liters). This was a huge amount of wheat, representing the yield of about 100 acres, a debt of between 2500-3000 denarii.


text: The percentage of reduction may not be as great because of the change in material.


text: Is the manager dishonest because of what he just did? Or is it a reference to what he had done earlier, described in v. 1 ? This is a difficult question, but it seems unlikely that the master, having fired the man for prior dishonesty, would now commend those same actions. It would also be unusual for Jesus to make that point of the story the example. Thus it is more likely the reference to dishonesty goes back to the earliest events, while the commendation is for the cleverness of the former manager reflected in vv. 5-7 .


text: Where this parable ends is debated: Does it conclude with v. 7 , after v. 8 a, after v. 8 b, or after v. 9 ? Verse 8 a looks as if it is still part of the story, with its clear reference to the manager, while 8b looks like Jesus’ application, since its remarks are more general. So it is most likely the parable stops after v. 8 a.


text: The passive refers to the welcome of heaven.


text: The point of the statement faithful in a very little is that character is shown in how little things are treated.


text: Entrust you with the true riches is a reference to future service for God. The idea is like 1 Cor 9:11 , except there the imagery is reversed.


text: The contrast between hate and love here is rhetorical. The point is that one will choose the favorite if a choice has to be made.


text: See the note on Pharisees in 5:17 .


text: John refers to John the Baptist.


text: Until John; since then. This verse indicates a shift in era, from law to kingdom.


text: The kingdom of God is a major theme of Jesus. It is a realm in which Jesus rules and to which those who trust him belong. See Luke 6:20; 11:20; 17:20-21 .


text: The examples of marriage and divorce show that the ethical standards of the new era are still faithful to promises made in the presence of God. To contribute to the breakup of a marriage, which involved a vow before God, is to commit adultery . This works whether one gets a divorce or marries a person who is divorced, thus finalizing the breakup of the marriage. Jesus’ point concerns the need for fidelity and ethical integrity in the new era.


text: Purple describes a fine, expensive dye used on luxurious clothing, and by metonymy, refers to clothing colored with that dye. It pictures someone of great wealth.


text: This is the one time in all the gospels that a figure in a parable is mentioned by name. It will become important later in the account.


text: When the dogs came and licked his sores it meant that he was unclean. See the negative image of Rev 22:15 that draws on this picture.


text: The shorter description suggests a different fate, which is confirmed in the following verses.


text: The Greek term Hades stands for the Hebrew concept of Sheol . It is what is called hell today. This is where the dead were gathered ( Ps 16:10; 86:13 ). In the NT Hades has an additional negative force of awaiting judgment ( Rev 20:13 ).


text: Hades is a place of torment , especially as one knows that he is separated from God.


text: The rich man had not helped Lazarus before, when he lay outside his gate (v. 2 ), but he knew him well enough to know his name. This is why the use of the name Lazarus in the parable is significant. (The rich man’s name, on the other hand, is not mentioned, because it is not significant for the point of the story.)


text: The dipping of the tip of his finger in water is evocative of thirst. The thirsty are in need of God’s presence ( Ps 42:1-2 ; Isa 5:13 ). The imagery suggests the rich man is now separated from the presence of God.


text: Fire in this context is OT imagery; see Isa 66:24 .


text: The great chasm between heaven and hell is impassable forever. The rich man’s former status meant nothing now.


text: To warn them. The warning would consist of a call to act differently than their dead brother had, or else meet his current terrible fate.


text: If someone from the dead goes to them. The irony and joy of the story is that what is denied the rich man’s brothers, a word of warning from beyond the grave, is given to the reader of the Gospel in this exchange.


text: The concluding statement of the parable, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead , provides a hint that even Jesus’ resurrection will not help some to respond. The message of God should be good enough. Scripture is the sign to be heeded.