Luke 16 5

Luke 16:5 kjv

So he called every one of his lord's debtors unto him, and said unto the first, How much owest thou unto my lord?

Luke 16:5 nkjv

"So he called every one of his master's debtors to him, and said to the first, 'How much do you owe my master?'

Luke 16:5 niv

"So he called in each one of his master's debtors. He asked the first, 'How much do you owe my master?'

Luke 16:5 esv

So, summoning his master's debtors one by one, he said to the first, 'How much do you owe my master?'

Luke 16:5 nlt

"So he invited each person who owed money to his employer to come and discuss the situation. He asked the first one, 'How much do you owe him?'

Luke 16 verses

Luke 16 5 Meaning

Luke 16:5 describes the cunning steward's immediate and strategic action upon hearing of his impending dismissal. He promptly began to summon each of his master's debtors individually to ascertain the exact amount of their outstanding obligation, laying the groundwork for his dishonest scheme to secure his future after being removed from his position. The verse highlights his decisive and methodical approach to address a crisis through shrewd worldly wisdom.

Luke 16 5 Context

Luke 16:5 is part of the "Parable of the Unjust Steward," recorded in Luke 16:1-13. This parable is unique and often challenging, following a series of parables about "lost" items (the lost sheep, lost coin, lost son) in Luke 15 that highlight God's welcoming grace for sinners. The context shifts to teachings about wealth and discipleship. In Luke 16:1-2, the steward is accused of wasting his master's possessions and is told he will be dismissed. This news creates a crisis for him, forcing him to devise a plan for his future livelihood, as described in verses 3-4. Verse 5 begins his execution of this plan. Historically, a steward (οἰκονόμος, oikonomos) managed a wealthy household or estate, including financial accounts and business dealings. Debtors often owed payment in agricultural products like oil and wheat, or a combination of principal and interest/commission built into the stated amount. Usury was sometimes condemned, but methods existed to skirt the law. The steward's actions in reducing the debt are understood not as benevolence but as shrewd manipulation to gain favor by giving away what was effectively the master's (or perhaps even his own expected commission on the loans).

Luke 16 5 Word analysis

• So, summoning (Προσκαλεσάμενος, Proskalesamenos):
  • This is an aorist middle participle from προσκαλέω (proskaleō), meaning "to call to oneself," "to summon."
  • Significance: The steward took initiative; this was a deliberate, calculated move. The middle voice suggests he called them for his own purpose, indicating agency and self-interest.
  • It shows immediate, decisive action, highlighting his proactive nature in a crisis.
• his lord's debtors (τοὺς χρεοφειλέτας τοῦ κυρίου αὐτοῦ, tous chreopheiletas tou kyriou autou):
  • Debtors (χρεοφειλέτας, chreopheiletas): From χρέος (chreos "debt") and ὀφείλω (opheilō "to owe"). Those who owe money or goods.
  • His lord's (τοῦ κυρίου αὐτοῦ, tou kyriou autou): This clearly identifies whose money/goods were at stake. The steward's position was as a manager of another's assets.
  • Significance: These are the people who held financial obligations to the master. The steward is dealing directly with the master's resources, not his own, implying an abuse of his entrusted authority for personal gain.
• one by one (ἕνα ἕκαστον, hena hekaston):
  • Literally "one each."
  • Significance: This emphasizes the methodical and individualized nature of the steward's approach. It was not a public declaration but a series of private, carefully orchestrated encounters. This suggests careful negotiation and avoiding suspicion.
• he said to the first (ἔλεγεν τῷ πρώτῳ, elegem tō prōtō):
  • Said (ἔλεγεν, elegem): Imperfect tense, suggesting a continuing or repeated action, as he would repeat this process with others.
  • Significance: The specific engagement with the "first" debtor sets the stage for the concrete examples of debt manipulation that follow in Luke 16:6-7. It marks the initiation of his plan.
• 'How much do you owe my lord?' (Πόσον ὀφείλεις τῷ κυρίῳ μου; Poson opheileis tō kyriō mou?):
  • How much (Πόσον, Poson): Direct query about the quantity or amount.
  • You owe (ὀφείλεις, opheileis): From ὀφείλω (opheilō "to owe"), establishing the nature of their relationship.
  • My lord (τῷ κυρίῳ μου, tō kyriō mou): The steward frames the question as if acting on the master's behalf, maintaining the façade of his legitimate role while planning to betray it.
  • Significance: This direct question initiates the renegotiation. The steward needed to confirm the existing debt before proposing a reduction. It highlights his detailed knowledge of the master's books.

Luke 16 5 Bonus section

The "debtors" would have often been tenant farmers who owed specific quantities of produce (like oil or wheat) to the master as rent or loan repayment. The amounts recorded by the steward likely included the principal sum plus his commission or profit for facilitating the loan/transaction. By "cutting" their bills, he was effectively giving up his portion or a fraudulent markup he had added. The debtors would perceive this as a favor from the steward, securing their gratitude for his post-stewardship unemployment. This parable, and verse 5's action, underscore a key aspect of Luke's Gospel: the right use of wealth and possessions and the nature of discipleship in light of a coming kingdom. It is not advocating unrighteousness but extracting a principle of practical wisdom and urgency from an unlikely source for the believer's benefit.

Luke 16 5 Commentary

Luke 16:5 initiates the core action of the Unjust Steward's shrewd plan. Upon learning of his dismissal, he wastes no time, immediately calling the master's debtors one by one. His precision in knowing each debt and personally engaging each debtor reveals a deep understanding of his own predicament and the levers he could pull. He is not panicking but methodically preparing for his future by leveraging the master's assets for his own gain, even if it meant further depleting them. Jesus uses this steward's worldly diligence and foresight, despite his dishonesty, as an analogy. The point is not to commend his fraud but his intentionality, initiative, and the clear objective with which he acted. Believers are implicitly challenged to show a similar degree of focused action and strategic thinking in utilizing their "worldly" resources for eternal purposes and building relationships that will endure. The steward’s example prompts reflection on how readily and effectively "the sons of this world" apply themselves to their temporal affairs compared to the commitment often seen in "the sons of light" concerning their eternal destiny.