Luke 16 2

Luke 16:2 kjv

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.

Luke 16:2 nkjv

So he called him and said to him, 'What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your stewardship, for you can no longer be steward.'

Luke 16:2 niv

So he called him in and asked him, 'What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your management, because you cannot be manager any longer.'

Luke 16:2 esv

And he called him and said to him, 'What is this that I hear about you? Turn in the account of your management, for you can no longer be manager.'

Luke 16:2 nlt

So the employer called him in and said, 'What's this I hear about you? Get your report in order, because you are going to be fired.'

Luke 16 verses

Luke 16 2 Meaning

The master in the parable summons his manager (oikonomos) due to serious accusations of mishandling funds and wasting his property. He demands a complete audit and an explanation for the reported squandering. This demand is accompanied by an unequivocal declaration that the steward is being dismissed and will no longer manage his affairs. It represents a call for immediate and absolute accountability for entrusted responsibilities and the termination of a position due to proven or alleged negligence.

Luke 16 2 Context

Luke 16 begins with the parable of the unjust steward. The verse itself follows directly after Luke 16:1, which introduces the premise: "There was a certain rich man, which had a steward; and the same was accused unto him that he had wasted his goods." Luke 16:2 is the immediate and direct consequence of this accusation. Jesus tells this parable to His disciples (and implicitly to the Pharisees who are listening, as seen later in verse 14) to illustrate a spiritual truth using an earthly example. The parable deals with issues of wealth, stewardship, cunning, and preparation for the future. The historical context includes the typical societal structure of the time where wealthy landowners employed managers (oikonomos) to oversee their extensive estates, and these stewards had significant power but were fully accountable to their masters. Mismanagement or theft was a severe breach of trust and would immediately result in dismissal and an audit. There's no direct polemic in this verse, but the parable later implicitly contrasts worldly shrewdness with spiritual preparedness, indirectly challenging a reliance solely on earthly riches.

Luke 16 2 Word analysis

• And he called him, (καλέσας αὐτὸν - kalesas auton): This highlights the master's authority. He doesn't just send a message; he summons the steward directly. It signifies a confrontation with intent to resolve an issue, underscoring the gravity of the situation.
• and said unto him, (εἶπεν αὐτῷ - eipen autō): Simple transition, but points to a direct, face-to-face confrontation, no intermediaries.
• How is it that I hear this of thee? (Τί τοῦτο ἀκούω περὶ σοῦ - Ti touto akouō peri sou?): A rhetorical question implying grave disappointment and demanding immediate explanation. The master has heard reports ("this of thee"), not personally witnessed the squandering, yet he treats the accusation seriously. It indicates the information is compelling enough to warrant a direct challenge.
• give an account (Ἀπόδος τὸν λόγον - Apodos ton logon): Literally "give back the account." Logos (λόγον) here refers to a detailed reckoning, a report, or an itemized statement of financial dealings. This is a demand for a comprehensive audit and explanation of all management decisions, not just a casual conversation. It implies a detailed record-keeping expectation.
• of thy stewardship; (τῆς οἰκονομίας σου - tēs oikonomias sou): Oikonomia (οἰκονομίας) refers to the administration, management, or superintendence of a household or estate. It encapsulates the steward's entire professional role and responsibilities. The master expects a full breakdown of how he managed his entire entrusted domain.
• for thou mayest be no longer steward. (οὐ γὰρ δύνασαι ἔτι οἰκονομεῖν - ou gar dynasai eti oikonomein): This phrase unequivocally states the termination of the steward's position. The Greek construction "οὐ γὰρ δύνασαι ἔτι" means "for you are no longer able to." It is a decisive dismissal; the decision has already been made, even before the account is given. The audit is for accountability and records, not for a potential reinstatement.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "And he called him, and said unto him": This is an action of formal summoning, emphasizing the master's superior position and control. The direct address underscores the weight of the coming pronouncements.
• "How is it that I hear this of thee?": This signifies a breach of trust has occurred or is strongly suspected based on reliable information. It indicates that the master values accountability and acts decisively when trust is violated.
• "give an account of thy stewardship": This is the core demand: full transparency and documentation of all responsibilities managed. It implies that stewardship is not merely a title but an ongoing responsibility for which one must always be prepared to render an exact record.
• "for thou mayest be no longer steward": This is a declaration of irreversible termination. It sets the immediate crisis for the steward and motivates his subsequent cunning actions. It underscores the high stakes of faithfulness in entrusted positions.

Luke 16 2 Bonus section

The severity and immediacy of the dismissal in this verse highlights the concept of swift judgment for mismanagement or unfaithfulness, whether in secular or spiritual spheres. It shows that opportunity and trust are conditional; once squandered, they are irrevocably lost. The rich man's actions parallel how God operates in discerning faithfulness in His stewards (us), where a period of grace is followed by a time of reckoning. This verse also serves as a strong setup for understanding the steward's unusual shrewdness later in the parable; it is an act of desperation born from this firm termination.

Luke 16 2 Commentary

Luke 16:2 is the pivotal moment of crisis for the unjust steward. It presents a clear picture of immediate, non-negotiable accountability for a mismanaged trust. The master, acting with complete authority, confronts his steward not with an accusation of theft he witnessed, but based on a "report" of squandering. This indicates that our actions, especially in roles of responsibility, are often observed and reported. The demand for an "account" (logos) is a universal principle of stewardship: everything entrusted, whether material wealth, spiritual gifts, or time, will require a full reckoning. The decisive statement "thou mayest be no longer steward" underlines that consequences for unfaithfulness are severe and final. It forces the steward to confront the reality of his dismissal and plan for his earthly future, which, by analogy, Jesus uses to provoke thoughts about eternal preparedness. The abrupt termination serves as a sharp reminder of the ephemeral nature of earthly appointments when contrasted with eternal realities.