MPV Commentary

Lazarus, or, The Right Use of Money.

1. steward--manager of his estate.

The manager was accused and had wasted his master's property.

3. cannot dig ... to beg, ashamed--he would be utterly destitute when dismissed from his position.

4. may receive me, &c.--the manager's primary concern was securing a new home after being cast out of the first one. This is the key to understanding the parable.

5-7. fifty ... fourscore--the manager reduced the debt of one creditor by half and that of another by one-fifth.

8. the lord--clearly the steward's master, as referred to in Luke 16:3 and 5.

commended, &c.--the master commended his steward for acting wisely and prudently in managing his estate.

children of this world--people who focus on earthly things (Psalm 17:14; Philippians 3:19).

their generation--for the purposes of their own fleeting lives. The manager's actions were shrewd and effective, but not motivated by a desire to please God or secure eternal life.

children of light--those who claim to be followers of Jesus (John 12:36; Ephesians 5:8). However, they often lack true wisdom and understanding.

9. Make ... friends of--use your resources to benefit others, just as the manager did by showing mercy to the poor (Daniel 4:27).

mammon of unrighteousness--treacherous wealth that can lead to ruin (Matthew 6:24).

ye fail--you will lose everything in life.

they may receive you--those you have helped will become witnesses for you on judgment day, and you will be welcomed into a heavenly home.

10. He, &c.--a maxim emphasizing the importance of faithfulness over wealth. Fidelity depends on a sense of responsibility, not the amount entrusted to us.

11-12. unrighteous mammon--the manager applied this term to all earthly wealth in contrast to true riches.

12. another man's ... your own--in this life, we are stewards of God's resources, but in eternity, what is rightfully ours will be our own possession.

13. can serve--be entirely at the command of; even where services are not opposed.

hate ... love--showing that these two concepts are in uncompromising hostility to each other.

14-18. covetous ... derided him--the Pharisees sneered at Jesus' teaching because it struck too close to home, revealing their own sinful nature.

15. justify yourselves--make a show of righteousness.

highly esteemed among men--people who are carried away by appearances (1 Samuel 16:7; Luke 14:11).

16. The law, &c.--the Pharisees were eager to follow the letter of the law but ignored its true spirit (Matthew 11:13).

and every man presseth, &c.--publicans and sinners are pressing into God's kingdom, while you, who claim to be followers of Jesus, remain blind to the signs of the times.

17. it is easier, &c.--it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one stroke of a pen to fail (Matthew 5:17-18).

18. putteth away his wife, &c.--Jesus was not weakening the law but highlighting its high requirements in contrast to God's new economy.

19. purple and fine linen, &c.--the rich man had everything he desired, but it brought him no joy or satisfaction.

20, 21. laid--having to be carried and put down.

full of sores--open, running sores that were not treated with ointment (Isaiah 1:6).

21. desiring to be fed with--but was not [Grotius, Bengel, Meyer, Trench, &c.]. The words may mean indeed "was fain to feed on," or "gladly fed on," as in Luke 15:16.

licked, &c.--a touching act of pity from a dog, highlighting the rich man's heartless indifference to his suffering neighbor.

22. died--his burial was unimportant, while the rich man's funeral procession was elaborate.

in to Abraham's bosom--as if reclining next to him at the heavenly feast (Matthew 8:11).

23. in hell--not the final place of the lost but a depiction of their torment and suffering.

seeth Abraham--he sees Abraham, not God, and therefore cannot cry out to Him.

24. Father Abraham--a well-founded claim of natural descent that is unavailing.

mercy on me--who never showed mercy to Lazarus in life.

send Lazarus--the pining victim of his merciless neglect.

25-26. Son--stinging acknowledgment of the claimed relationship.

thou ... Lazarus, &c.--by God's law, our present desires determine our future bliss. The rich man could expect no good things after death because he was consumed by earthly desires. Conversely, those who suffer in this life will find consolation and release from evil in eternity (Luke 6:21).

26. besides all this--independently of this consideration.

a great gulf fixed--an irrevocable decree has placed a vast impassable abyss between the two states and their occupants.

27-31. Then he said--abandoning all hope for himself, the rich man asked Abraham to send Lazarus back to his family as a warning.

send him to my father's house, &c.--no good will be awakened in the hearts of the lost; instead, they will reproach God and the old economy for not warning them sufficiently.

30. Nay--giving the lie to Abraham's response.

but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent--the greatest miracle will have no effect on those who are determined not to believe.