Luke 16: Preparing to Meet God

New Testament: Student Study guide, (2003), 66–67

The parables in Luke 15 emphasized how much the Lord loves the sinner and rejoices when someone who is “lost” decides to repent. The parables and teachings in Luke 16 add to those ideas by reminding us why it is important to turn to the Lord before the judgment.

Understanding the Scriptures

Luke 16

Steward (vv. 1–3)Servant 
Stewardship (vv. 2–4)Responsibility 
Mammon (vv. 9, 11, 13)Worldly wealth and riches 
Abomination (v. 15)Wickedness 
Fared sumptuously (v. 19)Lived in luxury 
Abraham’s bosom (v. 22)The spirit world, more specifically paradise 
Hell (v. 23)Spirit prison 

Luke 16:1–15—Why Did the Lord Use the Unjust Steward as an Example in This Parable?

Jesus was not saying that we should be dishonest like the steward. Instead He taught that even a man whose life is centered around money knows enough to plan for the future. How much more should those who understand the things of God plan for the future—the next life. Those covetous Pharisees were pretending to be followers of God but paid more attention to obtaining what the world offered.

Luke 16:14–23—“The Pharisees … Derided Him”

The Prophet Joseph Smith made several inspired changes to this text, as found in JST,  Luke 16:16–23. These changes enhance our understanding of (1) the blatant wickedness of the Pharisees, (2) the direct manner in which the Savior rebuked them, and (3) the specific sins the Pharisees were guilty of, which in turn led to the teachings and parable directed to them in Luke 16:18–31.

Jesus Christ bridged the gulf between paradise and spirit prison.

Studying the Scriptures

Do activity A as you study Luke 16.

Activity A iconRewrite a Parable in Your Own Words

Choose either the parable of the unjust steward (see Luke 16:1–14) or the parable of the rich man and Lazarus (see Luke 16:19–31) and do the following:

  1. 1.

    Read the first verse of the parable.

  2. 2.

    Rewrite that verse in your own words.

  3. 3.

    Continue this pattern for each verse of the parable.