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Luke
16
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1
Jesus told this story to his disciples: "There was a certain rich man who had a manager handling his affairs. One day a report came that the manager was wasting his employer's money.
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Luke
16
:
2
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.'
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Luke
16
:
3
"The manager thought to himself, 'Now what? My boss has fired me. I don't have the strength to dig ditches, and I'm too proud to beg.
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Luke
16
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4
Ah, I know how to ensure that I'll have plenty of friends who will give me a home when I am fired.'
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Luke
16
:
5
"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?'
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Luke
16
:
6
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.'
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Luke
16
:
7
"'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.'
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Luke
16
:
8
"The rich man had to admire the dishonest rascal for being so shrewd. And it is true that the children of this world are more shrewd in dealing with the world around them than are the children of the light.
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Luke
16
:
9
Here's the lesson: Use your worldly resources to benefit others and make friends. Then, when your earthly possessions are gone, they will welcome you to an eternal home.
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Luke
16
:
10
"If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won't be honest with greater responsibilities.
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Luke
16
:
11
And if you are untrustworthy about worldly wealth, who will trust you with the true riches of heaven?
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Luke
16
:
12
And if you are not faithful with other people's things, why should you be trusted with things of your own?
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Luke
16
:
13
"No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money."
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Luke
16
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14
The Pharisees, who dearly loved their money, heard all this and scoffed at him.
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Luke
16
:
15
Then he said to them, "You like to appear righteous in public, but God knows your hearts. What this world honors is detestable in the sight of God.
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Luke
16
:
16
"Until John the Baptist, the law of Moses and the messages of the prophets were your guides. But now the Good News of the Kingdom of God is preached, and everyone is eager to get in.
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Luke
16
:
17
But that doesn't mean that the law has lost its force. It is easier for heaven and earth to disappear than for the smallest point of God's law to be overturned.
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Luke
16
:
18
"For example, a man who divorces his wife and marries someone else commits adultery. And anyone who marries a woman divorced from her husband commits adultery."
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Luke
16
:
19
Jesus said, "There was a certain rich man who was splendidly clothed in purple and fine linen and who lived each day in luxury.
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Luke
16
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20
At his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus who was covered with sores.
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Luke
16
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21
As Lazarus lay there longing for scraps from the rich man's table, the dogs would come and lick his open sores.
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Luke
16
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22
"Finally, the poor man died and was carried by the angels to be with Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried,
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Luke
16
:
23
and his soul went to the place of the dead. There, in torment, he saw Abraham in the far distance with Lazarus at his side.
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Luke
16
:
24
"The rich man shouted, 'Father Abraham, have some pity! Send Lazarus over here to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue. I am in anguish in these flames.'
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Luke
16
:
25
"But Abraham said to him, 'Son, remember that during your lifetime you had everything you wanted, and Lazarus had nothing. So now he is here being comforted, and you are in anguish.
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Luke
16
:
26
And besides, there is a great chasm separating us. No one can cross over to you from here, and no one can cross over to us from there.'
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Luke
16
:
27
"Then the rich man said, 'Please, Father Abraham, at least send him to my father's home.
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Luke
16
:
28
For I have five brothers, and I want him to warn them so they don't end up in this place of torment.'
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Luke
16
:
29
"But Abraham said, 'Moses and the prophets have warned them. Your brothers can read what they wrote.'
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Luke
16
:
30
"The rich man replied, 'No, Father Abraham! But if someone is sent to them from the dead, then they will repent of their sins and turn to God.'
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Luke
16
:
31
"But Abraham said, 'If they won't listen to Moses and the prophets, they won't listen even if someone rises from the dead.'"