Big Idea: Material wealth can go with spiritual poverty; in the end it is spiritual wealth that matters.

Understanding the Text

There has been no change of audience since 16:14: Jesus is still speaking primarily to the Pharisees. (He will return to teaching the disciples in 17:1.) Luke has characterized the Pharisees as lovers of money (16:14), so this parable is a warning to the affluent. It is thus the culmination of a theme, already set out in the blessings and woes of 6:20–26, that has run strongly through these middle chapters of the Gospel, especially in 12:13–34; 14:1–24, 33–34; 16:1–15: treasure in heaven is more important than wealth and comfort on earth.

Central to this teaching on wealth has been the assumption that this world is not the end, and that how we use our wealth he…