Luke 16 6

Luke 16:6 kjv

And he said, An hundred measures of oil. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and sit down quickly, and write fifty.

Luke 16:6 nkjv

And he said, 'A hundred measures of oil.' So he said to him, 'Take your bill, and sit down quickly and write fifty.'

Luke 16:6 niv

"?'Nine hundred gallons of olive oil,' he replied. "The manager told him, 'Take your bill, sit down quickly, and make it four hundred and fifty.'

Luke 16:6 esv

He said, 'A hundred measures of oil.' He said to him, 'Take your bill, and sit down quickly and write fifty.'

Luke 16:6 nlt

The man replied, 'I owe him 800 gallons of olive oil.' So the manager told him, 'Take the bill and quickly change it to 400 gallons. '

Luke 16 verses

Luke 16 6 Meaning

Luke 16:6 is part of the Parable of the Dishonest Manager (Luke 16:1-13), spoken by Jesus to His disciples. In this specific verse, the dishonest manager, having been dismissed from his position, instructs the first debtor, who owes "a hundred measures of oil" (Luke 16:5), to quickly alter his debt note from one hundred to fifty measures. This action is part of the manager's calculated scheme to gain favor with his master's debtors, ensuring he will be welcomed into their homes after his dismissal, by lessening their obligations to the master. It highlights his worldly shrewdness in preparing for his uncertain future.

Luke 16 6 Context

Luke 16:6 is situated within the "Parable of the Dishonest Manager" (Luke 16:1-13), a distinct teaching from Jesus. The rich man's manager is accused of squandering his master's possessions (Luke 16:1) and is subsequently dismissed. Realizing his precarious situation—unfit for manual labor and ashamed to beg (Luke 16:3)—the manager devises a shrewd plan to secure his future. The verse directly describes his first step in this plan, immediately following his summoning of his master's debtors. Historically, during this period, stewards or managers often had significant authority over their master's affairs, including transactions and debt collection, making their word on altering a bill plausible within their delegated power. This context of immediate dismissal and uncertain future is crucial for understanding the manager's desperate yet calculated actions. The parable is part of a larger section in Luke (chapters 12-16) that addresses the proper use of possessions, discipleship, and priorities in light of the coming Kingdom.

Luke 16 6 Word analysis

• And he said: Refers to the dishonest manager, emphasizing his decisive, direct command to the debtor, showcasing his authority and quick action.
• ‘Take’ (Λάβε - Labe): An imperative verb, "take," "receive." This implies the physical possession of a document that belongs to the debtor or is recognized by them as their obligation.
• ‘your’ (σου - sou): Indicates possession. The document is "your" bill or "your" note, signifying the debtor's responsibility for it or their original receipt.
• ‘bill’ (τὸ γράμμα - to gramma): A key term. Gramma means "a written character," "letter (of the alphabet)," "written document," "bond," or "certificate." In this context, it refers to the written acknowledgment of debt, likely a promissory note or a bond signed by the debtor, or a record held by the debtor of their agreement. It underscores the legality of the transaction.
• ‘and’ (καὶ - kai): Simple conjunction linking the actions.
• ‘sit down’ (καθίσας - kathisas): A participle meaning "having sat down" or "sit." The manager instructs the debtor to physically sit, possibly indicating the need for calm, deliberate action to amend a legal document, or perhaps implying the gravity of the alteration.
• ‘quickly’ (τάχεως - tacheōs): An adverb meaning "speedily," "hastily," "without delay." This highlights the manager's urgency. He is working against time, needing to secure future relationships before his dismissal is finalized or before the master realizes the extent of his actions.
• ‘write’ (γράψον - grapson): An imperative verb, "write." The manager commands the debtor himself to write, or perhaps for the debtor to supervise the writing of, the new amount on his own debt document. This involves the debtor directly in the dishonest act, implicating him and potentially making him more obligated to the manager.
• ‘fifty’ (πεντήκοντα - pentēkonta): The numerical amount. The previous verse stated "a hundred measures of oil." By commanding the debtor to write "fifty," the manager is instructing a 50% reduction of the original debt. The absence of specific units (measures, denarii) means it directly refers to the measures mentioned earlier, specifically of oil.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "Take your bill, and write fifty.": This concise command reveals the manager's practical and cunning strategy. By directly involving the debtor in the act of reducing his own debt, the manager creates an immediate sense of gratitude and obligation. The swiftness ("quickly") is crucial to prevent detection or interference from the master.
• "He said, ‘Take your note and sit down quickly and write fifty.’": This sequence emphasizes the manager's firm direction and control over the process. He knows exactly what needs to be done and how to engage the debtor to achieve his self-serving objective efficiently. The act of "sitting down" lends a pseudo-official air to the dishonest transaction.

Luke 16 6 Bonus section

• Nature of the "bill": In the Greco-Roman world, debts were often formalized in contracts. The gramma here could refer to the written acknowledgement of debt, likely stored with the master, or a copy held by the debtor. The manager's instruction for the debtor to write implies an amendment to the existing document, or creation of a new, falsified one under the manager's immediate authority.
• Ethical implications for the debtor: The debtor willingly participates in a fraudulent act, becoming an accomplice. This act benefits him greatly, creating a vested interest in the manager's well-being and thus the promised hospitality.
• "Measures" (Βάτος - batos / Κόρος - koros): Though not explicit in verse 6, the preceding verses mention "a hundred measures (bates) of oil" and "a hundred measures (koroi) of wheat." A "batos" was a liquid measure, roughly 8-9 gallons, so 100 bates was a substantial amount. The 50% reduction was thus significant, creating a substantial obligation for the debtors to the manager.

Luke 16 6 Commentary

Luke 16:6 serves as the pivotal moment revealing the dishonest manager's ingenious, albeit unethical, plan. His shrewdness is not in earning or producing wealth, but in skillfully manipulating existing circumstances to create future security for himself. By unilaterally reducing the master's receivables, he forgives a substantial portion of the debtors' burdens. This creates an immediate and tangible favor, ensuring their indebtedness to him personally, and consequently, their future hospitality when he is unemployed. The urgency conveyed by "quickly" underscores the desperate yet calculated nature of his actions. This verse, therefore, sets the stage for the parable's counter-intuitive praise: not for the manager's integrity, but for his strategic foresight in preparing for an uncertain future with the resources at his disposal, which Jesus then uses to highlight the greater imperative for believers to exercise similar foresight in using earthly resources for eternal purposes (Luke 16:9).