Luke 16:5

5 `And having called near each one of his lord's debtors, he said to the first, How much dost thou owe to my lord?

Luke 16:5 Meaning and Commentary

Luke 16:5

So he called every one of his Lord's debtors
Either the Gentiles, who were greatly indebted to God, having sinned against him, and the law, and light of nature, at a great rate; into whose affections, houses, and palaces, the Jews found ways and means to introduce themselves; and, in process of time, got leave to have synagogues built, and their worship set up again: or else the Jews, their countrymen; since these were under those stewards, tutors, and governors, and were debtors to do the whole law; and had, by breaking the law, contracted large debts; and against whom the ceremonial law stood as an handwriting: these the steward called

unto him, and said unto the first, how much owest thou unto my
Lord?
and it is observable, that the debts of these men, of the first, lay in oil, and of the other in wheat; things much used in the ceremonial law, in the observance of which they had been, greatly deficient; see ( Exodus 29:40 Exodus 29:41 ) ( Numbers 15:4-12 ) ( Ezekiel 45:13 Ezekiel 45:14 )

Luke 16:5 In-Context

3 `And the steward said in himself, What shall I do, because my lord doth take away the stewardship from me? to dig I am not able, to beg I am ashamed: --

4 I have known what I shall do, that, when I may be removed from the stewardship, they may receive me to their houses.

5 `And having called near each one of his lord's debtors, he said to the first, How much dost thou owe to my lord?

6 and he said, A hundred baths of oil; and he said to him, Take thy bill, and having sat down write fifty.

7 `Afterward to another he said, And thou, how much dost thou owe? and he said, A hundred cors of wheat; and he saith to him, Take thy bill, and write eighty.