The Parable of the Unrighteous Steward

1Then Jesus said to ²⁵³his disciples, “There was a rich man whose steward was accused of squandering his possessions.

2So he called the steward in and said to him, ‘What is this I hear about yoʋ? Give an account of yoʋr stewardship, for yoʋ can no longer be steward.’

3The steward said to himself, ‘What should I do, now that my master is taking my stewardship away from me? I am not strong enough to dig, and I am ashamed to beg.

4I know what I will do so that, when I am removed from my stewardship, people will receive me into their homes.’

5So he summoned each one of his master's debtors. He said to the first, ‘How much do yoʋ owe my master?’

6The man said, ‘A hundred measures of oil.’ The steward said to him, ‘Take yoʋr bill, sit down quickly, and write fifty.’

7Then he said to another, ‘And how much do yoʋ owe?’ The man said, ‘A hundred measures of wheat.’ The steward said to him, ‘Take yoʋr bill and write eighty.’

8So the master commended the unrighteous steward because he had acted shrewdly. For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than are the people of the light.

9And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous wealth so that when ²⁵⁴you die, those friends will receive you into eternal dwellings.

10“He who is faithful with very little is also faithful with much, and he who is dishonest with very little is also dishonest with much.

11If then you have not been faithful with unrighteous wealth, who will entrust you with true riches?

12And if you have not been faithful with the property of another, who will give you ²⁵⁵property of your own?

13No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”

The Law and the Kingdom of God

14Now the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard all these things and began ridiculing Jesus.

15So he said to them, “You present yourselves as righteous in the sight of men, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God.

16“The Law and the Prophets were proclaimed until John; since then the good news of the kingdom of God has been preached, and everyone tries to force their way into it.

17But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one stroke of a letter to be dropped from the law.

18“For example, any man who divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery, and ²⁵⁶any man who marries a woman divorced from her husband commits adultery.

The Rich Man and Lazarus

19“Now there was a certain rich man who would dress in purple and fine linen, enjoying himself each day as he lived lavishly.

20²⁵⁷There was also a poor man named Lazarus, who was laid at the rich man's gate, covered with sores.

21He longed to be filled with ²⁵⁸the crumbs that fell from the rich man's table, but instead the dogs would come and lick his sores.

22Now the poor man died and was carried away by the angels to Abraham's side, and the rich man also died and was buried.

23As he was in torment in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off, and Lazarus at his side.

24So he called out and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in agony in these flames.’

25But Abraham said, ‘Son, remember that in yoʋr lifetime yoʋ received yoʋr good things, and in the same way Lazarus received bad things, but now he is ²⁵⁹here being comforted, while yoʋ are in agony.

26And besides all this, a great chasm has been set in place between you and us, so that those who want to cross over to you from here cannot do so, nor can anyone cross over to us from there.’

27The rich man said, ‘Then I beg yoʋ, father, to send Lazarus to my father's house,

28for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’

29Abraham said ²⁶⁰to him, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; they can listen to them.’

30He said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’

31But Abraham said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead.’ ”