Luke 16

You may make your acquittance and write, Received in full payment. Luke 16:25: Son, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things. But a saint's happiness is in reversion; the righteous has hope in his death.

Some think, if God should send an angel from heaven and declare his mind, then they should rather believe him; or if he should send one from the damned, and preach the torments of hell all in flames, then they would believe. But (Luke 16:31): "If they believe not Moses and the P…

It is a bad sign God is not their Father: 1. Who are fierce and cruel, as if with Romulus they had sucked the milk of a wolf (Romans 3:17). The way of peace have they not known, they sport in mischief; these are they who are of a persecuting spirit, as Maximinus, Dioclesian, Ant…

This is the stone which the builders refused. Others deride him (Luke 16:14). Others throw off his yoke (Luke 19:14).

Did we think thus when we come into God's house, Perhaps this will be the last time that ever God will counsel us about our souls; before another sermon death's alarm will sound in our ears: with what attention and devotion should we come here, and our affections would be all on…

(Ezekiel 33:31) They sit before you as my people, and they hear your words, but their heart goes after their covetousness. A covetous hearer derides the word, (Luke 16:14). The Pharisees who were covetous heard all, and they derided him.

Thus covetousness obstructs the efficacy of the word, and makes it prove abortive. Such whose hearts are rooted in the earth will be so far from profiting by the word, that they will be ready rather to deride it (Luke 16:14). The Pharisees who were covetous derided him.

But sinners are worse than brutish, they fear not the fire of Hell till they are in it. Most have their conscience asleep or [reconstructed: seared]; but when they shall see the vials of God's wrath dropping, then they will cry out as Dives, O I am tormented in this flame! (Luke…

This made Averroes deny a providence, and made Asaph say, "Surely I have cleansed my heart in vain" (Psalm 73:12), but there is no cause of envy at their prosperity, if we consider two things. 1. This is all they must have (Luke 16:25): "Son, remember that you in your lifetime r…

The angel never poured out his vial but some woe followed; (Revelation 16:3) when the bitter vials of God's wrath are poured out, damnation follows. Dives cries out, O I am tormented in this flame; (Luke 16:24). In Hell there's not a drop of mercy.

A great estate may be like a long trailing garment, more burdensome than useful: many that have great incomes and revenues have not so much comfort in their lives, as some that go to their hard labor. 9. If you have less daily bread, you will have less account to give: the riche…

And thus Abraham did in his own person inherit it: for he was translated from this world, after his death, into the glory of heaven. And in that respect, the glory of heaven is rather called the bosom of Abraham, Luke 16, than of any other the Patriarchs, both for the excellency…

For so soon as he saw the fingers of a man's hand, writing upon the wall, he became quite confounded in himself: his countenance was changed, and his thoughts troubled him; so that the joints of his loins were loosed, and his knees smote one against the other: What comfort had h…

I answer: God rewards them that seek him, First, by offering himself graciously to be found of them that seek him: for he never hides himself, nor turns away from the soul that seeketh him; but rather turns to him, and meets him that comes to him: he is that good Father, which s…

For the souls of the godly lie under the altar, and cry, How long Lord Jesus (Revelation 6:9)? Dives in soul did suffer the woe and torments of hell: and Lazarus had joy in Abraham's bosom (Luke 16:23). Again some others think, that men's souls after this life do pass from one m…

Argument 6 Argument 6. We are not Lords of an estate, but Stewards; and how soon may we hear that word, redde rationem, Give an account of your stewardship, for you may be no longer Steward, Luke 16. 2. An estate is a talent to trade with, 'tis as dangerous to hide our talent, a…

And to this agree Chrysostom, Ambrose, and Isidore, who says: Behold, a sign is not necessary to believers who have already believed, but to infidels that they may be converted. Lastly, our faith is to be confirmed not by revelations and apparitions of dead men, but by the writi…

Now if Abraham knew not his posterity, neither Mary nor Peter nor any other of the saints departed know us and our estate, and consequently they cannot make any particular intercession for us. If they say that Abraham and Jacob were then in Limbo, which they will have to be a pa…

We for our parts deny it, as having no warrant in the word of God, which mentions only two places for men after this life — heaven and hell — with the twofold condition thereof: joy and torment. Luke 16:25-26; John 3:36; Revelation 22:14-15; Revelation 21:7-8; Matthew 8:11. Nay,…

As yourselves (to speak in your own language) if wars should beset you, and your country house were plundered and pulled down, you would comfort yourselves with this, I have yet a city house to retire to. Neither is the terming the glory of heaven, and that as it is bestowed upo…

Secondly, consider we now again the case and outward condition of such a soul, that of itself would fall out to it upon the dissolution of the body. 1. It fails of all sorts of comforts it had in and by its union with the body in this world (Luke 16:9). When you fail, says Chris…

This has been confirmed in the experience of all that ever lived. The rich glutton (Luke 16) has the better life as to externals, and Lazarus had a poor, afflicted life — but when death comes, the rich glutton goes to hell, and Lazarus goes to the bosom of Abraham. This is laid…

And this is a reason of the former; to wit, that no other can absolve but God, the party offended, who is judge. We mark it for this practical use which the Apostle makes of it, which is to bid us lay less weight upon others, thinking well of us, or absolving us; and on our own…

I do not intend that we are to imitate the Martyr who put his hand in the fire, the night before he suffered, to try how he could endure burning-quick; but that we are to lay the supposition, what if it so fall out; (as Christ being persuaded his suffering was to come, acted sor…

4. We live and act in Christ, and are changed from glory to glory; it is but a growing change by degrees. Then the kingdom of heaven and glory is not in this life, nor hell in this life, as these dreamers say; the conditions of happiness, and misery, that follow Lazarus, and the…

For all the like places Arminians expound of the body, of the whole body of the visible Church, externally called; now this is most absurd, that all and every one should be saved, to whom Apostles, and Pastors were sent to preach the Gospel, then all must be restricted to the ch…

2. His human nature thus knowing all, [I know your works, your labor, and your patience, etc. (Revelation 22)] He therewith has an act of memory, and recalls how himself was once affected, and how distressed while on earth, under the same or the like miseries: For the memory of…

And yet thus much I say, that many times without laying out of money, he cannot be had, without parting with money we cannot get him, the case so stands that sometimes, the holding fast a man's money lets go the Lord Jesus Christ, you have a famous example in the young man (Matt…

The law is represented by Moses, and the prophets by Elias. Both did frequently foretell and prefigure the death and resurrection of Christ, and all the Scripture which was then written, was usually called by this term, Law and Prophets, (Acts 24:14) believing all things that ar…

(1.) Some will not believe the Gospel, except they see a miracle, or hear an oracle. Christ represents their thoughts (Luke 16:30): in fact, Father Abraham, if one went to them from the dead, then they would repent. They would have other ways of assurance than God allows, and ar…

4. It was injurious to Christ, to hope to learn something from Moses and Elijah which Christ could not teach them, and to equal them with his Lord and Master, in building tabernacles for all three alike and without difference, was some lessening of his respect to Christ. If they…

6. Their last office is at death and judgment. In death to convey our souls to Christ (Luke 16:22): And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom, that so we may enjoy our rest in heaven. In the last day they will gather the bodies…

Further, we must consider we have not onely received them; but that we have so received them, as that they are not our own, with which we may doe what we list, but talents lent vs for a time, and left with vs to employ, ouer which we are but stewards and bayliffes, not lords or…

For none will seek after the physician, but such as feel themselves vehemently sick, and that desire both the remedy and their health. And therefore they compare this place with that in Luke 16:15: That which is highly esteemed before men, is an abomination in the sight of God.…

They were not content with God alone, but sought a thousand inventions: for what will satisfy him that forsakes the Lord? Christ speaks also in this sort; They have Moses and the Prophets, let them hear them (Luke 16:29). For although Abraham be brought in speaking there, yet is…

Mark 1:1. The beginning of the Gospel. Though what we have hitherto taken out of Matthew and Luke is a part of the Gospel, yet it is not without reason that Mark makes the beginning of the Gospel to be the preaching of John the Baptist. For the Law and the Prophets then came to…

19. Whoever then shall break one of these least commandments, and shall so teach men, shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whoever shall have done and taught them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. Luke 16:17 17. Now it is easier for heaven an…

32. But I say to you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, except on account of unchastity, causes her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry a woman that is put away commits adultery. Luke 16:18 18. Whosoever puts away his wife, and marries another, commits adultery:…

36. If therefore your whole body shall be luminous, not having any part dark, the whole shall be luminous, as when a candle enlightens you by its brightness. Luke 16:13 13. No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other, or will hold to the…

Widely different is the account which Christ gives us, when he says, that the law and the prophets were till John, and that since that time the kingdom of God began to be preached, (Luke 16:16) Mark, too, as we mentioned a little ago, declares that the preaching of John was the…

—In an earlier portion of this Commentary, to which our author refers, (Harmony, volume 1 page 337,) no direct or formal explanation of the word Mammon is to be found; but a careful reader of the expository remarks on Matthew 6:24 will easily perceive that Calvin understands ric…

28. For I say to you, Among those who are born of women, there is not a greater Prophet than John the Baptist; yet he that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he. Luke 16:16 16. The Law and the Prophets (were) till John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached,…

The present division of the Scriptures is more copious than what we find in other passages; for besides the Law and the Prophets, he adds, in the third place, the Psalms, which, though they might with propriety have been reckoned among the Prophets, have, something distinct and…

Acts 17:30: 'But now commandeth all men, everywhere, to repent.' Luke 16:30: 'Nay Father Abraham, but if one went to them from the dead, they would repent.' 2 Peter 3:9: 'The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness, but is long-suffering toward us,…

Luke 16:16: 'The Law and the Prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presses into it.' In these words two things may be observed: first, wherein the work and office of John the Baptist consisted, namely, preaching the kingdom of Go…

You will be in different interests, and in exceedingly different states, as long as you live; they the children of God, and you the children of Satan. And you will be parted in another world; when you come to die, there will be a vast separation made between you (Luke 16:26). An…

Such as are commonly despised by their fellow creatures, Christ does not despise (1 Corinthians 1:28). Christ condescends to take notice of beggars (Luke 16:22), and of servants, and people of the most despised nations. He that is thus high, condescends to take a gracious notice…

For such feasting the land mourns. 5. When feastings are frequent: feasts are not for every day, that was the thing taxed in the glutton (Luke 16), that he fared deliciously every day. 6. When we spend too much of the day at any time, or too much time any day in feasting, when w…

These persons, if they had all the gifts that Mary had, yet would they not acknowledge nor praise God in them. For as Christ says (Luke 16): He that is faithful in the least, is faithful also in much: and he that is unrighteous in the least, is unrighteous also in much. Therefor…

Our savior tells us, that the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force, Matthew 11:12. It is not of the outward violence of its Enemies seeking to destroy it, that our savior speaks, but of that spiritual servency and ardency of mind, that is in those…