Luke 16 · Verse 4

Luke 16:4

I am resolved what to do, that, when I am put out of the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses.
Luke 16:4, King James Version

Luke 16:4 in other translations

BSBI know what I will do, so that after my removal from management, people will welcome me into their homes.’
WEBI know what I will do, so that when I am removed from management, they may receive me into their houses.’
ASVI am resolved what to do, that, when I am put out of the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses.
YLTI have known what I shall do, that, when I may be removed from the stewardship, they may receive me to their houses.
DARBYI know what I will do, that when I shall have been removed from the stewardship I may be received into their houses.
BBEI have come to a decision what to do, so that when I am put out of my position they will take me into their houses.
WebsterI am resolved what to do, that when I am removed from the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses.

What does Luke 16:4 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
4. may receive me, &c.--Observe his one object--when cast out of one home to secure another. This is the key to the parable, on which there have been many differing views.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 4. I am resolved. He thought of his condition. He looked at the plans which occurred to him. He had been dishonest, and knew that he must lose his place. It would have been better to have considered before this, and resolved on a proper course of life, and to be faithful to his trust; and his perplexity here teaches us that dishonesty will sooner or later lead us into difficulty, and that the path of honesty is not only the right path, but is the path that is filled with most comfort and peace.

When I am put out, &c. When I lose my place, and have no home and means of support.

They may receive me, &c. Those who are now under me, and whom I am resolved now to favour. He had been dishonest to his master, and, having commenced a course of dishonesty, he did not shrink from pursuing it. Having injured his master, and being now detected, he was willing still farther to injure him, to take revenge on him for removing him from his place, and to secure his own interest still at his expense. He was resolved to lay these persons under such obligations, and to show them so much kindness, that they could not well refuse to return the kindness to him and give him a support. We may learn here,

1st. That one sin leads on to another, and that one act of dishonesty will be followed by many more, if there is opportunity.

2nd. Men who commit one sin cannot get along consistently without committing many more. One lie will demand many more to make it appear like the truth, and one act of cheating will demand many more to avoid detection. The beginning of sin is like the letting out of waters, and no man knows, if he indulges in one sin, where it will end.

3rd. Sinners are selfish. They care more about themselves than they do either about God or truth. If they seek salvation, it is only for selfish ends, and because they desire a comfortable abode in the future world rather than because they have any regard to God or his cause.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 4 They may receive me - That is, the debtors and tenants, who paid their debts and rents, not in money, but in kind; such as wheat, oil, and other produce of their lands.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Luke 16:1-12

Whatever we have, the property of it is God's; we have only the use of it, according to the direction of our great Lord, and for his honour. This steward wasted his lord's goods. And we are all liable to the same charge; we have not made due improvement of what God has trusted us with. The steward cannot deny it; he must make up his accounts, and be gone. This may teach us that death will come, and deprive us of the…

Read the full comment on Luke 16:1-12 →

Luke 16:4 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ἔγνωνegnōnI knowG1097
τίtiwhatG5101
ποιήσω,poiēsōI may doG4160
ἵναinaso thatG2443
ὅτανhotanwhenG3752
μετασταθῶmetastathōI may have been removedG3179
τῆςtēstheG3588
οἰκονομίαςoikonomiasmanagementG3622
δέξωνταίdexōntaithey may receiveG1209
μεmemeG3165
εἰςeisintoG1519
τοὺςtoustheG3588
οἴκουςoikoushomesG3624
αὐτῶν.autōnof them.G846

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Luke 16:4

  • James 3:15

    This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.

  • Jeremiah 4:22

    For my people is foolish, they have not known me; they are sottish children, and they have none understanding: they are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge.

  • Proverbs 30:9

    Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the Lord? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Pr 30:9; Jer 4:22; Jas 3:15

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Luke 16:3

    Then the steward said within himself, What shall I do? for my lord taketh away from me the stewardship: I cannot dig; to beg I am ashamed.

  • Luke 16:4

    I am resolved what to do, that, when I am put out of the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses.

  • Luke 16:5

    So he called every one of his lord’s debtors unto him, and said unto the first, How much owest thou unto my lord?

Read all of Luke 16

Luke 16:4 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Yo sé lo que haré para que cuando fuere quitado de la mayordomía, me reciban en sus casas.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		je sais ce que je ferai, afin que, quand je serai renvoyé de mon administration, je sois reçu dans leurs maisons.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Ich weiß, was ich tun werde, auf daß sie mich, wenn ich der Verwaltung enthoben bin, in ihre Häuser aufnehmen.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Scio quid faciam, ut, cum amotus fuero a villicatione, recipiant me in domos suas.