Luke 16:7 kjv
Then said he to another, And how much owest thou? And he said, An hundred measures of wheat. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and write fourscore.
Luke 16:7 nkjv
Then he said to another, 'And how much do you owe?' So he said, 'A hundred measures of wheat.' And he said to him, 'Take your bill, and write eighty.'
Luke 16:7 niv
"Then he asked the second, 'And how much do you owe?' "?'A thousand bushels of wheat,' he replied. "He told him, 'Take your bill and make it eight hundred.'
Luke 16:7 esv
Then he said to another, 'And how much do you owe?' He said, 'A hundred measures of wheat.' He said to him, 'Take your bill, and write eighty.'
Luke 16:7 nlt
"'And how much do you owe my employer?' he asked the next man. 'I owe him 1,000 bushels of wheat,' was the reply. 'Here,' the manager said, 'take the bill and change it to 800 bushels. '
Luke 16 7 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Parable Context | ||
| Lk 16:1 | Jesus also said to his disciples, "There was a rich man who had a manager..." | Introduction to the parable of the dishonest manager. |
| Lk 16:8 | The master commended the dishonest manager for his shrewdness... | Commendation of the manager's worldly wisdom. |
| Lk 16:9 | "I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous wealth..." | Jesus' application of the parable: using earthly wealth for eternal gain. |
| Stewardship & Wealth | ||
| Lk 12:42 | And the Lord said, "Who then is the faithful and wise manager..." | Discussion of faithful stewardship. |
| Lk 16:10 | "One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much..." | Principle of faithfulness in managing all resources. |
| Lk 16:11 | "If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches?" | Link between earthly stewardship and heavenly rewards. |
| Lk 16:13 | "No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one..." | Cannot serve both God and wealth. |
| Mt 6:24 | "No one can serve two masters...You cannot serve God and money." | Parallel teaching on serving God or money. |
| Mt 25:14-30 | The Parable of the Talents. | Stewardship, faithfulness, and accountability. |
| 1 Cor 4:2 | "Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found trustworthy." | Requirement of trustworthiness in stewardship. |
| Debt & Forgiveness | ||
| Ex 22:25 | "If you lend money to any of my people, to the poor among you, you shall not be to him as a moneylender..." | Prohibition of charging interest to fellow Israelites. |
| Lev 25:36-37 | "You shall not take interest from him or profit..." | Further instructions against usury. |
| Deut 15:1-2 | "At the end of every seven years you shall grant a release." | The practice of debt release in Israel. |
| Mt 6:12 | "and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors." | Prayer for spiritual forgiveness akin to debt release. |
| Lk 11:4 | "and forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us." | Parallel prayer, linking forgiveness with spiritual indebtedness. |
| Worldly Wisdom vs. Heavenly Wisdom | ||
| Mt 10:16 | "Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves." | Command to be shrewd for God's purposes. |
| Prov 6:6 | "Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise." | Observation of natural creatures for wisdom. |
| Col 4:5 | "Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time." | Applying wisdom in dealings with unbelievers. |
| Jas 3:13 | "Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom." | Distinction between worldly and godly wisdom. |
| Jas 3:15 | "This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic." | Contrast of earthly wisdom with heavenly wisdom. |
| Eph 5:15-16 | "Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time..." | Urging wise use of time and resources. |
Luke 16 verses
Luke 16 7 Meaning
Luke 16:7 describes the shrewd manager's second interaction with a debtor, where he asks the debtor the amount owed. The debtor replies "An hundred measures of wheat," to which the manager immediately instructs him to reduce it to "fourscore" (eighty measures). This action is part of the manager's cunning plan to secure his future after being dismissed from his stewardship, by gaining favor with his master's debtors through reducing their obligations. The core of the verse illustrates the precise and decisive nature of his worldly prudence.
Luke 16 7 Context
Luke 16:7 is an integral part of the Parable of the Dishonest Manager (Luke 16:1-13). This parable begins with a rich man who discovers his manager has been squandering his possessions. When confronted, the manager devises a plan to secure his future. Rather than resorting to manual labor or begging, he chooses to ingratiate himself with his master's debtors by reducing their outstanding bills. This verse recounts the second instance of this action, specifically concerning a debtor who owes wheat. The parable is part of a broader discourse in Luke's Gospel that addresses discipleship, the proper use of material possessions, and the dangers of greed, especially for those who loved money, like the Pharisees mentioned immediately after this parable (Luke 16:14). Historically, large estates with managers were common, and debts, particularly for produce like oil and wheat, were standard forms of commerce. The "measures" (κóρους - korous for dry measure) represent substantial quantities, underscoring the magnitude of the reduction. It is plausible that these reductions might have been eliminating unlawful interest or inflated charges that the manager or the master had originally added, thus aligning the debt closer to an ethical standard in the eyes of the debtors and, perhaps, even the law. The shrewdness lies in recognizing a dire situation and taking decisive, if unorthodox, action to prepare for the future.
Luke 16 7 Word analysis
- Then said he: Refers to the dishonest manager, indicating his proactive continuation of his scheme after having dealt with the first debtor. It highlights his intentional, calculated moves.
- to another: Emphasizes that this was not an isolated act but part of a systematic plan to approach multiple debtors, building a network of obligation and future support for himself.
- And how much owest thou?: A direct, business-like question from the manager. It reveals his method of operation: ascertain the specific debt and then immediately act upon it. The manager is clearly in charge of the renegotiation.
- And he said, An hundred measures of wheat: The debtor's swift and direct reply, stating the full, large quantity of his debt in a commonly used unit for agricultural products.
- measures: From Greek "κóρους" (korous), plural of koros, a significant dry measure (approximately 10-12 bushels or ~400 liters), indicating a large commercial quantity rather than a small personal debt. This type of debt was common in an agricultural society.
- wheat: A staple commodity, vital for sustenance and trade, indicating a substantial commercial transaction or agricultural produce rent.
- And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and write fourscore: This part of the verse, though a manager's instruction, completes the action initiated by the debtor's reply.
- Take thy bill, and write fourscore: The manager's command to reduce the debt from 100 to 80 measures. This substantial reduction, a 20% cut, was enough to make the debtor indebted to the manager's kindness and potentially win his future favor. This action is swift and authoritative, demonstrating the manager's immediate and shrewd decision-making in the face of his impending unemployment.
Luke 16 7 Bonus section
The significant debt reduction from 100 to 80 measures of wheat, alongside the oil reduction from 100 to 50 (Lk 16:6), has been interpreted in various ways. Some scholars suggest that these reductions removed unlawful interest or excessive charges the manager or even the master had added to the principal, effectively making the manager appear as a benefactor by correcting an exploitation. Other interpretations see the manager as squandering the master's principal for his own gain, with the master commending only the "shrewdness" (foresight, decisive action) rather than the act of squandering itself. The latter view typically emphasizes the stark contrast between worldly cunning and the spiritual lack of it among the "children of light" (Lk 16:8), implying that Christians often lack the strategic planning for eternal goals that worldly individuals employ for temporary gains. The parable does not endorse dishonest actions but rather challenges believers to apply the same level of purpose, urgency, and practical wisdom seen in the world towards kingdom matters.
Luke 16 7 Commentary
Luke 16:7 showcases the shrewdness of the manager as he systematically reduces debts owed to his master, securing alliances for his uncertain future. The manager's immediate instruction to the debtor to change the bill from 100 to 80 measures of wheat reveals his practical wisdom in addressing a crisis. He doesn't seek justification but takes decisive action, demonstrating foresight and planning, which his master commends (though not his dishonesty). This specific instance, following the reduction of oil debt, reinforces the systematic nature of his efforts. Jesus uses this worldly example to teach spiritual principles: if unbelievers are so shrewd in securing their temporal futures, believers should be even more so in planning for their eternal future. It's a call for radical faithfulness in stewardship, leveraging earthly resources and opportunities to gain heavenly rewards, even if it means acting with unusual foresight and purpose, akin to the worldly shrewdness displayed by the manager.Examples: A Christian using their financial resources to support missions and share the Gospel (making friends for eternity). A believer wisely managing their time, spending it on spiritual growth and serving others, rather than only on temporal pursuits.